Each of us have a unique family dynamic. A story, a past, a history that is our own – storied and deep rooted. I suppose I am no different. But my family dynamic runs wide, rather than deep. I have the family I was born into, the family that became mine when I married, the family that has always loved me, and been loved, as though I’ve known them my whole life, though no blood flows common among us. And then there is my step-family; my step-father and his two children and their families. When he and my mother became a pair in 2004, I finally gained a real-live sister in his daughter, Gwen. We’ve spent the better part of these past years getting to know each other – settling in for talks at family gatherings. And though we don’t spend much time together outside of birthdays and Christmas, and...
Setting Fire to the Rain – Revisited
I wrote the following post last summer – just as my family and I made the decision to move from Austin, Texas back to our home – so that I could chase my dream of being a photographer. I was thinking of this post yesterday – over an amazing lunch filled with great food and even better conversation with my new friend Gina – and I wanted to share it again today. Because it’s just as true now as it was last July. Because I needed the reminder, that I am doing exactly what I set out to do. Making it happen. Making changes. Taking chances. And although I’m by no means racing down this course, the simple fact that I am on it at all makes my heart swell. – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –...
Snow Days, Leap Years, Portraits and Puddles.
Last Wednesday, Leap Day, February 29th, it snowed. Quite a lot. Winter arrived in Minnesota on the final day of February and dropped a few inches of heavy, wet, build-the-world’s-tallest-snowman snow. My girls reveled in it. Correction: Elena reveled in it. Stella refused to put on gloves and learned very quickly that snow is cold. And cold hands make for a miserable little girl. One week later, as fast as it came, the snow retreated once more. Spring is coming. I can smell it on the pavement in the morning. I hear it in the song of the birds. Soon, green grass, golden sunshine (that lasts past seven o’clock!), lilacs (oh how I missed the lilacs the last two years) and warm, fresh breathe-it-in-deep-and-sigh-it-out air will arrive. But before spring can…spring, the thaw must come. And with it-water. Puddles. I could photograph these girls all day long. It comes so...
belief in beauty+trusting the light
Every time I pick up my camera, I ask whoever stands in front of it to relax. To let go. To trust me. I ask that they free themselves of any insecurities they have – for they are beautiful, especially amid their (supposed) flaws. I squeal when the light hits the curves of a woman’s face just so, or when her eyes glow, her hair blowing ever so gently in a soft breeze. This is my passion – documenting life, capturing the true and unique beauty that each soul possesses. But when it becomes my turn in front of the camera….suddenly the quiet confidence, the belief in myself, the ability to turn off insecurity goes away. I’m a giant bundle of self-loathing complete with body image issues and ugly duckling syndrome. I laugh and say that’s why I’m the photographer – I hate getting my portrait taken, so I make...
