Family Photo Day | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

With a new addition to the family, it was time to update!  This year, Paisley surprised me with her interest in photos.  She was curious about the camera and looking back at me through the lens.  I kept telling her to see what would happen in there (my camera) and she looked and looked and looked.  Nothing happened (good trick, right?) but I had fun getting some pictures of her in the meantime!

Eyes | Kirkland, WA Photographer

I am always looking in eyes, looking for the catchlights, looking for what the light tells me as well as the subject.  Her eyes are amazing, bright, clear, and blue.   Eyes tell you so much, not just about light but about the soul.  Isn’t the saying something like “Eyes are the window to the soul?”    

She’s EIGHT | Kirkland, WA Photographer

Kids are the true tale of time!  If you watch kids, you will learn that you are growing up (and older) too.  ; (  Sad news?  I will always feel young at heart and its hard to believe that time isn’t stopping.  I was with my daughter the other day, helping her shop for clothes.  I looked at myself in the mirror and realized that I am the mom.  I am the older one-I love to shop and I remember those school shopping sprees with my mom.  I remember what she looked like as she was presenting ideas and combinations to me.  She always seemed older-always my mom.  There was no possible room in my brain to believe that she once was in my young school age shoes-she was always mom to me.  That’s how my daughter will look at me…  I am always mom and OLD to her.

Her eighth birthday is a very special one.

Lindsey | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

Funny how I always have my camera with me and funny how somebody in my family is always in need of something having to do with my camera.  : ) Meet Lindsey.  She’s a little goofy, she’s a little serious, and she is a very busy wife, mother, student, and employee (well, and aunt, sister, daughter, friend, neighbor, etc.).  I always love when we get together-we have some serious competitiveness going on.  She wins at Scrabble, I win at Qwirkle.  ; )  Honestly, I never thought the day would come when we could mature beyond our sibling rivalry-we always seemed to be on two very different pages.  Then, we grow up-amazing how that happens to all of us.  Marriage, wifehood, motherhood and the like can put us all back on the same page.  Linds, I love you-you are beautiful.

Missing Teeth | Bellevue, WA Photographer

I love when 6-9 year old (ish) kids smile-there is bound to be some missing teeth!  It is adorable (ok, not always but here it is!)  You can see that she is a little timid- but not for long.  Not only is she proud of those missing teeth, she is creatively wearing Mrs. Potato Head’s earrings. What happened to my imagination?  Just curious…

Jenna | Kirkland, WA Photographer

I always love peeking through the veiwfinder to see and feel the experience on the other side.  I like to see what others are feeling about having a camera looking right into their lives-sometimes too close and their your personal space!  : )   It usually takes a bit to really relax and be okay in the situation.  Jenna is darling and looks good in any situation.  I love her spicy red hair, her bright smile and her simplicity.  She is so super kind and loves to meet new people and learn from the world around her!

My son | Kirkland, WA photographer

This little guy is always on the go!  While he is very capable of down time, her prefers to be playing, pretending and imagining.  Gone are the days that he was content on the family room floor.  I miss his chubby cheeks that were even bigger than his sister’s, I miss his feet doing circles as he concentrated, I miss rocking him in the middle of the night, I miss his middle of the night visits when he was scared, I miss those tiny flip flops, and the list goes on.  Now I enjoy playing trains, making his favorite dish-macaroni and cheese, making play date arrangements, seeing his sweet face as my daily alarm, watching him imagine a world and using the most incredible sound effects! When I get out the camera, he runs or walks backwards to avoid being “caught”.  He is goofy and I was proud of this capture!

He has always been a mellow guy, eager to give compliments and make one feel loved.  He didn’t walk until he was 18 months and I was never worried-I enjoyed having him close to me for longer than normal.  It is interesting that first-borns (my daughter) get to be the experiment child.  We learn and grow as parents with them, learn when to be worried and when to let go.  After child number one, we think a dropped pacifier will be just fine, a wet diaper for more than 20 seconds will be just fine, a dirty outfit will not put us on the CPS list, and that kids will develop and grow regardless of what we want or don’t want for them.  Our passions as parents are reflected in the way we raise our children. 

I love being a mother and I am very grateful for the experience-one of complete sacrifice on one hand and selfishness on the other.  Motherhood is a sacrifice as you give up your time to serve those in your care (constantly and continually) and selfishness because rearing children can be so rewarding and an emotional gift.  My children challenge me and I often lose patience.  I have to remind myself to stay calm, talk with kindness and show respect.  But through our daily challenges, we grow closer and we love deeper, sassiness and disrespect and all!  : )

The archives | Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

I love going back, reviewing the past.  I often find pictures that didn’t stick with me the first time I viewed them.  As I change, I find myself liking images that may not have impacted me on round one.  So, you can understand why round two (maybe three and four) is needed.  ; )  So, I remember being in this family’s backyard and while some of the members were putting on shoes or finalizing their last minute preparations for pictures, I took a stroll with the ones that were ready.   We were getting a grasp on lighting.  They were so accommodating and cooperative.  Maybe there was no pressure, they were simply allowing me to “get ready” for pictures.  Typically the bottom of shoes isn’t a pleasant view and maybe frowned upon (and possibly offensive in some cultures??) but aren’t rules made to be broken? : ) 

The Amazing Gager! |Queen Creek, AZ Photographer

This cute little boy (my nephew) is quite the entertainer.  He loves Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and doesn’t go anywhere without his weapon.  He often refers to himself as Donatello (or one of the other TMNT).  As you can see, he tucks the weapon in his pants when not in use.  He sleeps this way, eats this way, and even tries to go to the bathroom this way.  ; )  This is exactly who he is at age 4! 

Let’s Dance | Queen Creek Photographer

THIS is why I love doing what I do…  Can you even look at these without smiling?  Sometimes goofy really is best.  Remember my thoughts about being REAL?  Can you argue or disagree with their cute little personalities?  They were getting ready for a recital and these little ladies needed to have pictures in their costumes. Sometime (soon) the costumes will be put away, their bodies will grow to the next costume and these days will be a faint memory that only a mother could describe.  It’s hard to imagine that these days will go by as some days feel long and full.  But, its true.  They grow up!  And, want to know the worst part?  Someday they will be “too cool” for this sort of goofiness.  Their portraits at that time will take on new meaning and it will be just as wonderful but definitely different.  In the meantime, let’s take advantage of the moments they share and give away!