I am always drawn to a newborn’s eyes. They are always so wise, clear and untarnished. Fresh, little eyes that have never seen anything but love and sacrifice on their behalf. I wonder what other things their eyes may have beheld and what they will witness in the future.
Congratulations to Jennifer Barker, the winner of Your Homebased Mom’s giveaway for a free lifestyle session with (wink) me! Jennifer chose to have a family lifestyle session in the beautiful wetland park behind her home. It was a perfect fit as her children have grown up there and everyone felt at home, even me! Aren’t they picture perfect?!
There is something sweet about meeting a brand new baby. It is particularly sweet when it’s his first day here. I had the opportunity of photographing this little buddie’s big sister when she was only a year old. At the time she loved to shake your hand and say, “nice to meet ya!” It was something I made a point of capturing. Now this dear little family has met someone new and he is more than just nice, he is perfect.
The arrival of any new baby is met with anticipation and wonder, but the arrival of a first baby has a magic all it’s own. A couple begins in love with eachother. Their love deepens and grows into new life, enveloping a tender new spirit when it arrives and the three become one.
Baby boys come bundled in dreams and cradled in a cloud of endless possibility…
The family that boats together, stays together…laughs together, and genuinely loves each other. It was just another relaxing morning on the river, except for one thing…me! A self professed camera shy family, this crew was a joy to work with. Their laughter and love for life was infectious and heart-warming. I loved how the boat defined them, adventurous, fun, relaxed. A boat is a refuge from the water, and a loving family is a refuge from the world.
My friend threw a surprise sweet 16 for her youngest daughter recently and invited me over to take a few detail shots of her party planning genius! It really was a “sweet 16,” with cupcakes, a candy bar, and a tender daddy daughter moment. Dad was in-charge of picking up the 16 balloons from the grocery store and when he couldn’t fit them all in the car, he walked all the way home to ensure their safe arrival. In my opinion nothing could be sweeter.
My baby brother just turned 22 and this session found me in reverie of my own childhood. I grew up as the oldest of three and we had about 6 years between us, very similarly to this darling family. It was thought provoking for me to witness the dynamics between these three siblings, beginnings of relationships that will last their whole lives. Even though my brother and I are years apart and miles from each other there is a bond that I have with him, unlike any other I have known. There is an element of trust and a sense of security in my relationship with him. The best word I can find to define this emotion is loyalty. That’s how I feel about my brother, how these siblings will grow to feel about each other and really what familial relationships are all about.
Carrie is the President of the North Beaverton MOMs Club, a support group of moms who choose to stay at home with their children. Her adorable daughter welcomed me into her room and the two of us had an afternoon playdate. She showed me everything she loves, her dolly, her tea set, her vanity, shoes, and make-up! We read a book about cupcakes, we danced on the bed and played a little dress-up. As I interacted with this little princess and observed her mother with her, it really got me thinking about what it means to be a stay at home mom. From my own experience and in this particular case, I believe it means that this beautiful daughter knows not only how to put on make-up and take care of her dollys. She knows how to take care of herself and others because someone who loves her unconditionally, showed her how. As mothers it’s easy to lose sight of the value in what we do each day. To Carrie, when you look at these images I hope you are reminded that your daughter is lovely and gracious inside and out because of you, and that is priceless.
