Monthly Archives: June 2008

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Working/Playing…


Yesterday my daughter and I packed a suitcase (mine with clothes, hers with every toy imaginable and NO clothes) and booked it East for a session with Hailey, Ellie, and Addie at their lake house (their parents were there too). I texted my husband about five minutes after we arrived, letting him know that we *need* a lake house. He hasn’t responded yet….I can’t imagine why. ;)

We had such a great time, and our hosts were so gracious to take us on a boat tour of the lake, fed us an amazing dinner (followed by many bottles of wine in front of the roaring fire pit), made us pancakes for breakfast, and even let my Sam catch the biggest fish. This is definitely the sweet life.

The goal for this trip was to photograph the girls enjoying their lake house, doing all the stuff they love, so this family can decorate with fun, playful, natural images. I saw lots of empty wall space while there, and I think we accomplished our goal. Of course…I may need to go back out just one more time, just to make sure ;)

And, of course…what lake house is complete without a flying-leap-into-the-lake photograph?


Thanks Amy and Jamie for a fabulous time. We feel very spoiled, and Sam promises to let Jamie catch the biggest fish next time ;) Have a wonderful summer at the lake!

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Featured…

We’ve been featured on Blogs of Photogs -yay!  It does my heart good to see Sugar next to favorite blogs of mine like Becker and The Pioneer Woman.

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Portrait of a modern family…

One of my favorite things about these Adoption Sunday sessions is seeing first hand the many different ways that families are made.  Adoption is not just about a married couple that decides to adopt after battling infertility.

Families can consist of two mommies, two daddies, one parent, or one of each.  Biological children can come first, last, somewhere in the middle, or not at all.  Adoptees can travel from across the world, or across town, to find their forever homes.

Above all, these families are formed with love.  And passion.  It is about feeling that tug, listening to that inner voice, and following your heart.

Meet Z.Alexander and his Mommy.  She is a single parent and several years ago followed her heart into the world of foster parenting.  She first met Z when he was two years old, and last year his adoption was finalized.  He is forever hers, and she his.

He is a darling five year old little guy with a zest for life, just brimming with confidence and an outgoing personality.  His Mommy says he has come a very long way since the first time she met him, and I can only imagine how wonderfully his life changed the day they found one another.

She is currently fostering another little one, and it’s humbling to watch her handle two active children and know that she works and keeps up with these two, all on her own.  What an inspiration.

This image speaks volumes to me about love, patience, strength, and the overall beauty of adoption.

Thank you everyone for your kind emails, comments, phone calls, and overall support for this project.  We are just getting started, and look forward to the upcoming sessions that we have to look forward to.

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Smiley Ava…

Our second stop today was at Miss Ava’s house.

She was placed in her Mommy and Daddy’s arms at just over five weeks of age, and her family has an open relationship with her first mommy…visiting with her every month.   At almost ten months old, she is smiley, happy, active, and WALKING!  She has the cutest little toddle, and is obviously the center of her Mommy and Daddy’s lives.

See?  BUSY, and always (always!) moving…

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From Russia, with love…

Inna and Misha and their fun parents were our first stop during today’s Adoption Sunday sessions. Adopted from Russia at 9 and 8 months of age, they are now 12 and 10. Their parents tell us that they knew in their hearts that adoption was right for them, and they decided to pursue adoption rather than have biological children.

Today their lives are filled with the daily juggle of raising pre-teens, yet they continue to care and advocate for orphans across the world. Recently Inna and her mom traveled to Guatemala to work in orphanages there, and a return trip is planned in the next few weeks to build a playground for children that have never had one. Can you imagine?

These photos on the walls were taken just days after each arrived home from Russia. Personally, I love how BIG they are (all photos should be this big…what works of art!), and it was so fun to see how much each has changed (and how each has stayed the same) since their babyhood. See? You don’t have to put away those big portraits of your infant…keep them out, and enjoy the heck out of them!

I love the bond these two have, and as you can see, Mr. Misha was a tough nut to crack. ;) He had the most infectious laugh, and we couldn’t get him to stop giggling!

See?

We had a great time with this cute little family!

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