As many amazing photo shoots as I have been able to do, up until last week, there had been only one that very literally moved me to tears - the photo shoot I did of my now very dear friends Dave & Jill Strasburg. Last week, that number jumped to two.
Last week, I had one of the funnest photo shoots I have ever had. However, I didn't realize then, that when I would later go through and EDIT their pictures, that they would seriously touch my heart.
As I went through trying to find the 10 images that I would edit for their sample edits (which, as you can see, didn't stop at 10), I soon realized that I had a steady stream of tears falling down my cheeks that hasn't seemed to stop, even now, as I am posting these proofs. I remember feeling similarly when I edited Dave & Jill's pictures...but this time, the emotions were even stronger because of this particular situation. This sweet couple, Patrick & Nadeane, are each others' SECOND marriage.
I would be lying if I said that there haven't been moments that I have doubted whether or not I will ever find this kind of love. Actually SEEING it in front of my eyes brought SO much hope to my heart. Patrick and Nadeane love each other so much that the air around them was THICK with passion. What an HONOR to be a spectator of that....and what a miracle to me.
Their love was so ridiculously strong and passionate, that I felt as if they were in their own world...hopelessly in love...and I was on the outside, so blessed to be a witness of it. There is a serious magic that happens when my subjects forget they are being photographed and get lost in each other. This was one of those magical moments.
It's not every day that I am honored to witness something like this. I see happy families constantly and I see people who love each other. But love like this.....it literally shot right through to my soul. Their passion and love for each other was literally intoxicating....even for those standing nearby. There was NO DOUBTING that this is real. And what a comfort for my heart....that has ached so much....to see that love like this...IS OUT THERE.
Other than the passion that literally made my soul vibrate, there was something else that moved me. This sweet couple PLAYED together. They are so passionately and unconditionally in love with each other....and they PLAY!!!! Oh, how they play. It was so ridiculously fun....it was as if I wasn't even there. It was then that I realized possibly for the first time, that not only did I want that type of passion among so many other things....but I wanted someone I could PLAY WITH too...someone who could make me laugh. Patrick & Nadeane were hilarious...pulling some of the silliest poses and shamelessly skipping as if they couldn't care LESS what anyone else would think. They have been through so much heartache....and after everything....they have found the purest form of TRUE LOVE....and nothing else matters. Why SHOULDN'T they skip?! LOL!
Until Patrick and Nadeane have a minute to go through all of the images from their shoot and choose the 10 pictures that they would like for me to edit, I thought it would be fun to choose a few of MY favorites to edit and post as a sneak peek for them. As you can see, and as I already mentioned, I obviously couldn't limit it to 10. I couldn't get ENOUGH of this couple.
It's customary for me to thank my clients for giving me the opportunity to be their photographer. However, this time around, in addition, I feel like I need to thank Patrick and Nadeane for so much more. Thank you for allowing me to be a spectator of the love you share....a "Second Chance at Love" that is so PURE, that I couldn't help to feel it in MY OWN heart. It's almost as if with every photo I edited, my heart became stronger and felt just a little more hope than it did the moment before...hope for love like this. Now I know...because I have witnessed it....that true love is out there - love that is kind, passionate, unfailing and even playful. How grateful I am to KNOW that there is someone out there like that for me...someone I can get completely lost in and will be lost in me, someone I can hold fast to in ANY storm and someone who won't let me go for anything....and someone that I canlaugh with, play with......and skip with. I gained more from this shoot than I ever dreamed possible....thank God for this sweet couple and the hope and peace they have brought to my heart. What a true HONOR to be your photographer.
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July 2011
July 27, 2011
July 25, 2011
{barney fam}
From the very first shot of this family, I am sure you can easily tell just how much fun this family photo shoot was! LOL! What fun to be able to shoot family pics for my dear friend Frank and his awesome family. It's been a long time since these siblings have had their pics taken together. It was about time!! And what a FUN group of siblings...all 9 of them. And SO much energy. They must have seriously worn their cute mama out. LOL!
Until the Barney fam is able to review all of the pictures from their shoot and choose the 10 images that they would like for me to edit, I thought it would be fun to choose a few of MY faves to edit and post as a little sneak peek. Considering we had a VERY small area to shoot in and VERY LIMITED time before the sun crept in on us, I am SO THRILLED with how these turned out.
In addition to pics of the entire Barney fam, I also took a bunch of pics of Frank and his two awesome kids and also shot a few pics of one of Frank's beautiful sisters and her cute family. SO FUN!! LOVE LOVE LOVE how these pics of my dear friend Frank and his kids turned out.
As you can see, his son is QUITE a character. LOL! So funny!
Overall, I am so pleased with this shoot of a very dear friend who I love and his AWESOME family that I loved right away as well. Many thanks to the Barney family, for giving me the opportunity to take your family portraits for you and for your patience in waiting for your proofs!!! I hope you are as pleased with these few proofs as I am. I will have a proofing CD ready for you within the next few days and look forward to seeing what YOUR faves are. SO wonderful to meet all of you and be around your positive and AWESOME energy! Such a SERIOUSLY crazy fun shoot! :-)
July 16, 2011
{drabner fam}
Every now and again, I get to meet and shoot a family that I have so much fun with, it doesn't even remotely resemble "work." This is one of those families. What a blast we had.....loved them from the get go! We talked and laughed throughout the entire shoot.
Until the Drabner fam has a chance to review all of the images from their shoot and choose the 10 pics that they would like for me to edit, I thought I would choose a few of MY faves to edit and post as a little sneak peek.
This next shot is my fave....it's the "Family: Isn't it about...time?!" pose. So precious and cheesy. LOL Love it!
SUCH a ridiculously fun and GORGEOUS family. Look at these girls...those EYES! WOW!! BREATHTAKING!
And as for this awesome mom and dad...look how ridiculously romantic they are! Ooh...so love that. Love to see couples that have been together for so long, that still have SO much love and passion in their relationship. LOVE THAT!
We had a lot of "FIRSTS" on this photo shoot...including one that is represented in the photo below. As the shoot came to an end and we were heading to the parking lot, the youngest little angel in this fam came up to me and said, "But we didn't get any pictures with you in it?" LOL! So darling...I could just smooch the crud out of her. And she truly wanted ME in one of their family pictures. LOL! Love it. So despite the fact that I was a hot mess and obviously not planning on being IN any pictures,and considering we only had a PILLAR to work with as a tripod, I love how this fun "impromptu" Drabner Fam+Me pic turned out. LOL! Hit it! LOVE THAT!
Many thanks to this ridiculously fun family for giving me the opportunity to take your family portraits this year. I will have a proofing CD ready for you within the next few days and look forward to seeing what your faves are.