These were taken at the in-home family session demonstration for our first professional family photographer workshop in January. I have to admit I'm pretty proud to offer this as part of the Pinkle Toes photography workshops! I personally would LOVE to have the opportunity to go into a house and see how another photographer sets up a session from start to finish using available light (on a RAINY day, no less). This has been named as one of the best parts of each of the workshops we've had!
Finally, I can now start blogging my 2011 sessions! I didn't think I was ever going to get to this point, LOL. You guys might remember me talking about the newborn twins photo session I had in January. You might remember just how nervous I was ;-). Upon meeting these two, however, I realized there was nothing to be nervous about. They were SO precious and I loved getting to peer into their little personalities as we worked together.
I look forward to working with them again soon...I imagine I wouldn't even be able to recognize them.
Oh, one more image I want to share! We had gotten the babies settled in and were shooting away. Puppy dog was dying to be part of the action, so we called her up. As I looked at mom and dad, arms full of babies and laps full of puppy dog, I giggled, "Can you even believe this is your life now???"
No. I don't think they could.
Oh, one more image I want to share! We had gotten the babies settled in and were shooting away. Puppy dog was dying to be part of the action, so we called her up. As I looked at mom and dad, arms full of babies and laps full of puppy dog, I giggled, "Can you even believe this is your life now???"
No. I don't think they could.[P.S. Clients...NOW is the time to book your holiday sessions! I'm not kidding when I tell you have just a few openings left in October. We're going to have to look at September and even August for holiday family photo sessions. Please, don't wait! It breaks my heart to have to turn repeat clients away. Contact me if you want session details and to reserve a date.]
Last fall, I was extremely honored to be asked by one of my photography idols to photograph the birth of her second baby. Her work has always grabbed my heart: it's so pure, and honest, and emotive, and beautiful. To be honest, I had to pinch myself when I saw her e-mail (she's probably blushing now ;-). And then when I learned it would be a homebirth (sigh), I had to pinch myself again.I got the first notice that this might be the day at about 4 a.m. (so it goes for midwives and birth photographers). I could NOT sleep and I paced around for more word. By 8 a.m., I had heard nothing and I started to get a little nervous. With second-time moms, it's my biggest fear that I'm going to miss the birth and then with a homebirth, it can be a little tough because you definitely don't want to get there too early and disrupt the labor process.
But by about 10 a.m, I was so anxious, I pulled a crazy stalker move and I had to do a little drive-by. Oh, I was SO embarrassed to happen upon her and her hubby out for a walk in the cool air!!! (I'm dedicated. What can I say?) After talking to her for about 7-10 minutes I began to think that today might not actually be the day. I mean, here was this beautiful, radiant woman talking to me in complete sentences like it was no big deal and she never once had to stop for a contraction. So, I drove home.
No sooner had I walked in the door, I got a text from dad, "things are picking up here." Followed a few minutes by, "she would like you to come over."
Boy, I FLEW back to her house (I may or may not have breezed through a few "burnt orange" lights along the way). I could hear her outside of the house before I even got through the door...I pulled my camera out because I was so afraid to miss it.
The scene when I walked into the house took my breath away. Christmas lights twinkled and an excited "big brother to be" was hanging out with his grandparents. The birth tub was tucked away in a space that would become the baby's room. Soft music, warm steamy water, and a song coming from deep within mom that was somehow both primal and perfectly in tune. How I wish I had recorded that sound. It was amazing. The light was incredible (I should have known a birth by a fellow photographer would be picture perfect) and it illuminated this mobile of tiny, handmade paper cranes from her friends all over the country (world?). The peaceful energy of the room...the entire house...was both calming and exhilarating. Everyone was happy. No one was afraid. I do not exaggerate. *This* is birth.
[Google Reader and RSS fans, you'll need to click on this link to see the full slideshow]
All the way home that afternoon, I kept seeing the pictures in my head and humming a tune that my good friend, Lyndsay, used on the slideshow for the birth of our daughter. That tune has always been very dear to me and I've felt a bit protective over it. But this entire time, I couldn't get it out of my head. It belonged to this birth, too. Thank you, Lynds, for sharing this song with us.
And thank you to this beautiful family for inviting us into their home to witness such a personal and incredible event and then for allowing me to share it with you all on here.
We all came together at one of my favorite parks to throw leaves, laugh, and enjoy the amazing fall air last holiday season (yes...I'm still about 10 posts out from blogging 2011 sessions ;-). Mom's eyes had me captivated, but the little ones...they definitely stole my heart. I know family sessions aren't always the easiest thing to get everyone together for (who am I kidding...it's got to be more difficult than childbirth), but as I'm reminded by my own children every day, you don't get this back...not one second of it.
This is so my life (well, sans baby bump).
