The end of May

The last few weeks have brought so many chances to spend time with some pretty amazing people. One session I had recently was with this very beautiful lady. I met her through a mutual friend quite a few years ago and I have to say over the years of getting to know her she has grown more and more beautiful. I couldn't believe her eyes when I began editing the photos, they just draw you in!

I love the time I spend taking photos with people and how we basically get to laugh and smile (with a few model poses thrown in) through the span of a few hours. The time I get with these people is worth soooo much more to me then a few photos. My photos bring back so many wonderful memories of the time spent with people I consider friends. 

A little while back I spent some time with a baking friend. That's right I said baking! She is my recipe supplier! She loves to use "Stumble Upon" and finds some pretty amazing takes on common recipes and some new ones I would have never thought up. She is a super talented young lady with a great voice, some mad skills with a plethora of instruments and a heart to worship God. LOVE HER! 

 She is all set to graduate high school here soon and I am sure she has a very bright future. One I look forward to seeing blossom. 

One of my last sessions in May was of a best friends little brother. Although he is not quite as little as I remember he was when I met him over 12 years ago! How time flies. But, he has grown into an amazing young man with such a big heart. He is always so much fun to be around and our time taking photos was no different. 

He is all set to graduate in just a short few weeks and hopes to pursue athletic medicine. Such a talented athlete and team player I know that he will do amazing! 

May was such a blast getting to spend time with people in all walks of life. Looking forward to June and the many exciting things coming down my path. 

Thankful...

 There are many things in life to be thankful for. Children are definitely one of them. I was given the chance to photograph three little boys lately that reminded me of why children are so precious. Often times we forget how simple life should be. It gets so complicated with all the technology that surrounds us. So many things that compete for our attention. Oh the distractions! Kids are so curious about their worlds. Looking at things from an unbiased perspective. If we could only do the same some days!

These first photos are from a session with two little boys. The whole session was focused on letting them just be boys and run around and have fun. I will admit it is much harder to capture photos when the subjects move around this much!! But, they seemed to have a really good time and it made the session go by super fast and was all the more enjoyable seeing them enjoy themselves. Though there were a few tears, their laughter and little boy antics were a joy to capture.

 

My next little one session was for a one year birthday. This cute boy was a little timid at first but the smiles did come eventually! I got to have my daughter on this shoot and she really enjoyed a full football field to run around on ... Malachi seemed to find her pretty interesting or at least entertaining. 

                     

I truly love this age. The sponges they seem to be at this age reminds me to look around me a bit more. Not just ignore the simple things. Like remembering even a dandelion is actually an amazing creation, not just a weed in my yard! May we all see the world like a child. Simple. Beautiful. Wonderful. 

u

I love surprises! Well that's not entirely true, I love being apart of surprises. Sometimes I tend to be a bit to much of a planner to appreciate surprises for myself. But, getting to help plan a special gift for loved ones of two different families.Being apart of them this way has been such an amazing blessing.  Both were birthday gifts and both turned out better then I expected.

My first surprise session was for a beautiful lady, Amy, whom I met working for the credit union. She recently became a wife to an awesome man and a mommy to one adorable little girl, Lilyann. She wanted to do something special for her husband Joe's birthday. Surprises I think are similar for her husband as they are for me. But, surprise gifts... well those are a different story (wink, wink). So we planned a session for his birthday. Pictures of his two most special ladies! 

Amy's husband is a huge Oregon Ducks fan, and our session wouldn't have been complete without some Duck's apparel. Which of course were some of his favorite photos. We had so much fun on a surprisingly warm and sunny day at the end of March. Though Lilyann was at first not to keen on our photo session, a full belly and Amy's sister Melissa giving apparently a wonderful show behind me made for some super smiles toward the end of our time.

   

My next surprise session was for another birthday. This one was for a mom of four young men. Her oldest, Oran, thought it would be special to get photos taken of him and his brothers. I was so excited for this session, it was my first session where I got to travel. When Oran first approached me about doing the session he already had a location in mind. He wanted to make the day more exciting and enjoyable for his little brothers, so Westport's beaches it was. 

I truly enjoyed getting to be in such a relaxing environment for these photos. I absolutely love the beach. There is nothing more amazing to look out into the ocean and realize the grand creation surrounding you! Oran's brothers were great sports in smiling and running around all parts of Westport as I took photos of them. I really love getting to know people during our time together and these boys were great! 

This surprise has yet to be revealed and I am sooo excited to hear the reaction. I even got a sneak peak of the photos Oran chose to frame. He's got a pretty amazing heart to plan such a precious way to show his mom how special she is to all of them.

 I am so grateful for the chance to be a part of making these two people's birthdays a bit more special. I usually get to capture love between people. This was my first time getting to capture love for someone. I so appreciate both of these opportunities. And I pray that these photos are as special for those that received them as they were for me to capture.