Miss N is one month old already

A few more just cause I couldn't resist seeing her bright eyed little face again!

My PREEMIE on a bike!

It's hard for me to believe that my first born is rockin' a bicycle. He was extremely proud of himself and all smiles.

He was 8 weeks premature and thrust into this world creating joy and worry all in a moment...well lets be serious labor was a few moments...

This is the little boy that we brought home on a monitor to watch his breathing.

This is the little baby that had IV's placed in his tiny head, the baby that screamed not cried... for what once felt like forever and now has flown by in the blink of an eye..

This is the little boy that taught me how to be a mom, the baby who hated tubs, parties and his bed.

This is the little guy I put on a school bus at the age of 2 and 3/4's.

This is the little guy that showed me how to trust others and to ask for help.

This is the little guy that I prayed and begged and pleaded with any and all higher powers would speak.

This is the little boy I thought I would never tell to SHUT UP but now do! (and I can't quite explain how elated and embarrassed needing to say that to him on occasion makes me feel)

As he road away on his bike I was amazed by the imprint he has left on this world so far.

He is the not so little boy that loves the tub, pool and ocean.

He is happy to go to birthday parties and sleeps on the top bunk.

He gives and creates smiles.

My family and I are forever indebted to the many teachers and therapists that have helped him carve his path to a well adjusted bright,little man.

As he biked away I was super grateful that he was riding a bike not a car..although I am sure that will happen all to fast as well.

the verdict is in..guilty of LOVE!

So if you really know me then you know how much I LOVE spontaneity, which is why I much prefer action shots than posed formals. This wedding was my first elopement and it filled my heart with so much joy to be present. The bride is my son Q’s therapist and she was his first kiss…well you can see why she looks so beautiful…watch out Tony there’s a younger man on your tail! I’m a sucker for little boys as I have two of my own, but look at these fella’s eagerly awaiting Mom’s wedding reveal... knocking at the door…PLEASE….they are SO handsome! Romance comes in many forms sometimes flowers, chocolates but in marriage it is a declaration of riding the weather through thick and thin….and what better time to remind each other than the “NOW”. Love is the look in her eyes as she stares at him during their vows….or the joy in his face when he first sees her when he reaches the top of the stairs. Everyone was clearly filled with joy (just look at the bride's mom and sister) for the two of you and your new beautiful family. XOXO to all…wishing you all the best!

With great pleasure I introduce baby "N"

There is nothing quite like the birth of your first child. You are filled with wonder, amazement and well a bit of fear. Beyond all of these emotions there is this amazing gush of love that cannot be described or contained.I just love how Mom and Dad pictured here couldn't keep their eyes off of baby "N"....can you feel the gush? Mom had saved this Tiffany box from her wedding shower and dreamed of putting a baby in it one day....to signify the best gift ever...that just makes me melt. Baby "N" is an alert little lady...clearly she is not going to miss the party if she is anything like her folks... so she is bright eyed in these photographs. Look at the face photograph with the stripes in the background... that is her looking at her Mommy...too much...so much sweetness.It seems like yesterday we did your engagement shoot...(oh wait it was..lol just kidding) and now your beautiful bundle xoxoxoxo to all!

& then there were 4!

I met this family a wee 11 months ago when there were only three. In some circles we call this Irish twins....which I have to admit is just adorable. I now have the pleasure of introducing baby "M". I love how her Daddy has already adjusted to his 7 week old baby girl, primping her dark wild hair and Mom is clearly so in love with her little lady. Check out Mr.Handsome he'll be walking soon....let the fun begin! I just love when babies suck their toes...it's just too much. Best wishes to all, I am so happy for you!

Meet the "R" family

When a family decides they would like to have a professional portrait taken it can surprisingly take you over with a sense of vulnerability. You are in fact letting a stranger into your life to observe you. All children face challenges, but when your child needs exceeded the typical the prospect of hiring a photographer is something most would choose not to do. All the what if's fill your brain and while you know it could go well..........well it may not. In my photographic practice I aim to assure my clients that while no one (not the participant or observer) likes a meltdown I am unfazed by this. From my own experiences in motherhood, life and as an educator I bring this understanding to my shoots. Besides who gets to decide what is typical when I typically have always had an affinity for the atypical?.....................hmm

All families have special needs, it is just that some are more evident than others. It should be noted that this shoot of the "R" family went fantastic and I felt honored to be trusted with these moments that move way too fast.

Part of HIStory

At the beginning of this month I took a photography business clarity course with Jeff Jochum. He made my head explode, but by doing so allowed me the freedom to focus with my work. I remember a group discussion about how as photographers we feel a sense of loss if we choose a niche..like we are missing out, but upon a month of thinking I paralleled this thought with part of my wedding vows my husband Adam and I borrowed by Madeleine L'Engle. She wrote and we vowed,

"If we commit ourselves to one person for life this is not, as many people think, a rejection of freedom; rather it demands the courage to move into all the risks of freedom, and the risk of love which is permanent; into that love which is not possession, but participation".

The path I refined at Jeff's workshop was that I want my photography to focus on families with special needs. Now all the revamping of my website etc. is all in progress but its is this creative dialogue I am still clarifying.

As a mother of two bright beautiful boys that have benefited tremendously from early intervention I am aghast by their spirit and incredible progress. What breaks my heart is to think that there are mom's out there that want and deserve treasured photo's of their children, but know that the studio experience or general photographer might not understand the behavior their children present...so they don't have professional photo's taken. They are embarrassed not of their children, but of the general lack of knowledge relating to their life circumstance. This from a mom who has practiced being in a mall with her child so he could learn to adapt to the sensory overload or arriving early at the party, with my bag packed of organic treats , so the party can build up around us, rather than walk into a full swing bash. I know being one of the first arrivals at the celebration will yield a more desired fun day.

I took these photo's of Quaid in the hospital because our path is imperfect, sometimes difficult always filled with joy, but all of it is part of his story..his history. I took photo's of my oldest Gavin when he was a premiee with an IV in his head at 5lb. perhaps I'll post some of them soon. Trick #1 of hospital photography is to ask for forgiveness not permission..oh and not a big fancy camera these are just a point and shoot my way of sketching. It is crazy that as a mom, photographer and teacher the only time I get to read is when my child is hospitalized for a few days... pretty pathetic, but I did get to leaf thru a suggested reading from my friend Christine Barker which was Me Ra Koh's new book, "Your Baby in Pictures"...us mom's are always multi tasking and repurposing things huh? I encourage mom's and dad's to break out their camera at the most innopportune time and when you call me to photograph your family don't worry about matching ,or the setting, or the pile of laundry that we all have. Let's just celebrate the tiny moments.

So here is my Q with the Mardi Gras beads he loves so much, managing to enjoy the texture with just one little hand. I am happy to report he is home and well.