moments… (Orlando Family Photographer)
About a week ago…I missed a moment. A moment to capture a memory. I was cold. tired. just not in the mood. The images, if I would have taken the time would have been perfect, my kids, new friends, having a fabulous time..but I thought to myself..next time. I thought about that day today and it upset me..I want those images now. It seems I’ve missed a lot lately. The little things that make my world go round. My kids. The everyday. The little things… In the beginning those are the things that fed my passion for photography. I wanted to remember, remember it all, but it seems I’ve gotten away from that. Now, in order for me to put forth any effort, magic must happen. my kids must be perfectly styled, be in a fantastic location, with some kick concept behind it all. As I sit here and think back..my favorite images are of my kids..just being. just doing. the little play. the little conversation..the little things you seem to forget, but really..they are the very things worth remembering.
I was going through some older files today and came across these. Just my kids, looking sally..hair all over..mismatched pieces of clothing..in my bed, torn apart…I took these on December 31, 2009. I remember walking thru my room..seeing them all in bed, looking and smiling and walking out. something told me..go get your camera. i listened. snap.snap.snap. Later that day, after downloading them..I remember not being overly impressed. I saw..snapshots. wild hair. dumpy clothing. a messy bed. I closed the file..and haven’t thought about them again…until today. This time..I saw something so much different. I saw my kids. the laughter. the love. little changes in each of them. and it made me smile. it was there..in front of me..the moment. captured. the last day of 2009, my kids. together.
Its funny. life. you never really know what’s going to happen..day to day. hour to hour. highs. lows. laughter. tears… people come into your life..some for a season..some forever. Life moves quickly…and really, when its all over, all you really have left..are the images. I missed my moment last week. lesson learned, it wont happen again. I urge you to make the effort, grab your camera… I know, for sure…you’ll be glad you did. ~xo M
a mama, and her boys… (Orlando Family Photographer)
Last week I had some fun w/ a cool family visiting from California. A mama and her three boys..throw in some tin walls, a skateboard and the top of an old school bus..we had a good time. Thanks Shay…the rest will be ready soon.
my halloween crew… (orlando child family photographer)
Alright, lets begin with these costumes…its not what I wanted. I wanted to punk them out 80’s style..the girls all Cyndi Lauper-ish..and the boy, some rocker from a hair band…but, do you think they liked my idea?? Umm, no! They had their own ideas, they actually thought that this was supposed to be about THEM..really..news flash. I lost control this year, gave in…and we headed to the Halloween Superstore.
I told them to get in the car..all four of them. And as the words came out of my mouth..I was thinking, what did you just say, have you lost your mind. You see, I had a sinus infection…we are talking THE MOTHER of all sinus infections. The left side of my face was throbbing..from temple down to jaw, I had a headache that is indescribable, and to bend over, or even look down..well, just not possible. As we got down the road. traffic. bumper to bumper. ummm, hmm…5:00, great time to make a “quick” run to the store…our 10 minute drive turned into about 30 and I knew then, that this was going to go downhill fast.
We pulled up..I looked at them all and gave instructions. “Raygan, you’re with Adler. Sayler, you’ve got Piper. There will be no hooting..no hollering. We will do this calmly. orderly. quickly. Got it?” They all looked at me, fear in their eyes…and shook their heads “YES”..saying not a word. We walk to the entrance of the store and…BAM… Something came over every.single.one of them. something saying..run, grab stuff, try on masks and scream as loud as you can. What the?? They lost all ability to control themselves…and I was quickly losing my ability as well.
We start the search for “the perfect” costume. A hippie, a clown, a fairy princess…no, no, no. I’m still thinking..let’s go 80’s…they are still thinking. heck no. It’s getting wild. I’ve lost Raygan and Adler…Piper has on a rainbow colored clown wig..Sayler is starting to stress. My head is pounding…All of a sudden hear.. Mom, come look at Adler, we found it…I walked over, pulled open the curtain…and there he stood…in a penguin costume. A penguin made of foam, he was smiling and waddling. Hmm.. I’m just going to put it out there and say. I don’t do penguins..and I most definitely don’t do foam. So in my mind, hell no. He was not going to be sporting the penguin suit. I snapped a picture, sent it to my husband w/ a text that read. “your son wants to be a penguin. yes or no. a quick reply would be appreciated.” Within seconds, a text…”No. I will take him myself.” Perfect. Adler, take it off. You’ll go w/ Dad later. One down…three to go.
The girls decided that the superstore didn’t have the “good stuff” and they wanted to go to Party City..and why I said yes, still I don’t know…we head that way. traffic. headache. throbbing face. we arrive…we go to the wall of costumes, pictures on the wall w/ numbers beside them..Piper decided on 192. A ladybug. We go in, we try it on. She thinks she is cute. I am still thinking 80’s. I tell her she can get it. 2 down..2 to go. Raygan grabs a Sailor costume, which sent Sayler over the edge. She had decided earlier that she wanted to be a sailor…get it..sailor/sayler…but, we just couldn’t find on that she liked..either too young…or too old. Raygan puts it on, it fits..she gives her sister a sassy little smirk that only a sister can give..Sayler starts again. I tell Raygan, put it in the bag, get Piper and go walk around. three down, one to go…
Sayler. She tried on a Raggedy Anne. no. A poodle skirt girl. no I was pushing the hippie chick at her. no. and then it happens. she starts to melt down..going on and on about that sailor costume. I was about to flip. Actually, I did flip. We were in this little curtain stall, the size of a port-o-potty..I was sweating, on the verge of vomiting from the headache and at that moment. I lost it. I told her to get dressed. I found Raygan and the little ones. They had picked out some candy treats. tootsie rolls. I looked at them and said…we’re leaving. Put the stuff down..NOW! Piper bursts into full on tears…Raygan starts telling Sayler its all her fault. Adler is just looking at me like…whoa. and Sayler..I think, was about to cry. Piper proceeds to throw herself on the ground, screaming..i love my ladybug…my tootsie rolls. Raygan is still on and on….I think at this point I resembled something out of the Exorcist. I’m sure my head must have spun around a few times…I grabbed her up, whipped those tootsie rolls across the counter and drug her little self right out of that store. I can only imagine what on lookers must have been thinking..
We are in the car. Piper saying..you took that Ladybug from me for no reason. I think she said at least 20 times. We drove home..I was on a rampage telling them. No costumes, no trick or treat…that’s it. Piper continued to moan on and on. Adler interjects, “Im good, I didn’t cause any problems did I Mom and Dad is taking me later.” Yeah, yeah I tell him.. later.
We get home. It is two hours later. I take as much medication legally allowed. The costumes.. zero down. four to go…my husband comes home. I go to bed.
The next morning, I did sit them all down and apologize for my “episode”..and told them that we would go out and get the costumes. one at time. and we did…
They were happy. A ladybug, a pirate, a sailor, and a pink lady…not the most original. but them…but I’m telling ya, next year..we’re going 80’s…
As I finish this, I’m thinking, this is not what I sat down to write about..the costume episode, but I guess I’m just keeping it real. I’m sure you all have had some sort of ‘moment’ like that yourself…and what I think we can all take from my fall from motherhood is…Don’t take your children costume shopping when you are a walking sinus infection. A good lesson to learn.
Hope you all had a fabulous Halloween. We did.
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Fun Family of Five… (Orlando Family Photographer)
I met up with this family tonight for a little mini-shoot…earlier today we chatted on the phone a bit and I found out that they were coming from quite a distance…like 3 hours of driving for a 15 minute mini-shoot…Aggg..I’ll be honest and tell ya I was feeling a little bit of pressure. She told me it had been a while since they had a family image taken…like only two kids, and at that time the baby, which is now the middle child was ..something like three.. (ok, I may have that totally wrong..but it had been awhile..I know that) So..again..3 hours driving..15 minutes of shooting…yah, I wanted to get it right..I know she is checking..I told her I’d pop something up tonight, its late here…2am…2:32am to be exact…why I’m up..I have no clue…I guess because a promise is a promise…no…no…she didn’t make me spit shake on it..but I wanted to get them up for her…I’m sure she’s in bed by now..but first thing in the morning….BAM!
Thank you so much for allowing me to capture your family…and driving the distance…I hope that you (puffy heart) them lots…
fun.fresh. family of six…. (orlando family photographer)
September 1, 2009 | Posted in families
About a week or so ago..I shot this family..and the mama of this family just happens to be a very good peep of mine..we met long ago.. when our little misses where in pre-school together..hmm, I guess about 6 years ago. She is a great friend..the kind of friend you can just say it..whatever you wanna say..you just put it out there…she makes me laugh..she listens to me..she helps me…and I love her. So..we decided that she NEEDED to get some shots of her family…the perfect shot. We talked about clothes…location..we had plans..big plans..that included going to this little jazzy outdoor ice cream joint for fun.fun.fun stuff…but…the weather just wasn’t going to let that happen…We had been trying to get this done for about 2 weeks..each time we had it scheduled…rain. rain…and more rain. Last Tuesday..the sky was beautiful..sun shining..big fat puffy white clouds..I thought, she thought..this is it. Its going to happen. She rushed home got her crew together..all 6 of them..and as she was doing this..the sky grew dark…
I called her, we debated…we waited.. She called me..should we…shouldn’t we..
They were ready..it was thundering, the sky was almost black..I’m thinking bag it..she’s thinking let’s do it…I know the task of getting six people ready…I told her..10 minutes..be there…
We got to the location..jumped out..and wham. bam. got it done. I had about 45 minutes to work it before the light was no longer…snap.snap.snap. we called it done..I jumped in my car…them in theirs…and it happened..a torrential downpour..a Florida storm at its best. As I drove home I passed the ice cream joint we were suppose to shoot at..and I saw her kiddos running in..they were after that ice cream they had been promised..I was a bit bummed…You know me and shooting food..love it..and they would have been oh.so.fun..it just wasn’t to be…
hope you love them my friend..and the parlor..its going to happen..next time..for sure….next time…
And to see a little more this-n-that from the session..click the big arrow below the picture… it might take a mintue to load, so get a drink and come back….
Watermelon Picnic (Orlando Child Photographer)
This past Sunday I headed out to the barn with a mama and her little miss…the previous night had been rained out..so we all had our fingers crossed that the weather would cooperate..and lucky for us…it did. I had the best time capturing them..Peyton was as sweet as she is cute. By the end of the shoot..we were all covered sticky sweet with watermelon juice…and I’m sure we all had a few mosquito/ant bites as well…but we had fun..and just as we packed up..and pulled away, the sky open up..and it poured. Whew..we made it..just in time.
oranges -n- limes…. (Orlando Family Photographer)
June 24, 2009 | Posted in families
Hmm, so…not really sure where to begin..lots to say about this shoot..and lots of images to share…just lots of lots…Anyway, I got a phone call from a friend of this client….whose family I shot last November..she had seen those images..loved them..and while she and her family were down on vacation this week..she wanted to get a shoot done..at that same location..with not only her family…but her extended family as well..20 people in all…8 adults..12 kids…ummm…Yikes..how would I ever pull this off.. We chatted about clothing..my wheels started turning…oranges…limes…soda….popsicles…I thought…prepared….and waited…
The day of the shoot..I have to tell you..it must have been record breaking heat that day..OhMyGosh…HOT does not even begin to describe it..you could barely breathe..the air was thick..and we were all sweating within minutes..people were popping in out of cars…waiting their turn to jump in front of the camera…Family shots..check…kid shots…check…the big group shot…check…now, onto the fun stuff…we popped open those sodas…pulled out the popsicles…threw oranges here and there…and just went with it..kinda a free for all…the kids had fun..the parents laughed..and I snapped…
It was the hottest…stickiest photo shoot I’ve ever done..but it was also one of the funnest…thanks you all, for being such great sports…for just going with me..and for allowing me to capture a moment for you…enjoy your peek.
Fun in the Field (Orlando Children’s Photographer)
Just popping on to share a cute little family I shot a few weeks back…I’m not sure what they thought when I drug them through the weeds and into the woods, but they were great sports…and in the end, they had a little fun bug hunting with some magnifying glasses…thanks for playing guys…it was fun!
The “C” Family..at the barn | Orlando Family Photographer
November 25, 2008 | Posted in families
Last Friday I took a little trip out to the barn for a quick session with this fabulous family. It was a bit chilly, and the little miss was shivering the entire time, but she was such a GREAT sport and was so cooperative considering the conditions. Christian, was all smiles and up for anything..enjoy the sneak peek Christie…hope you love them…more to come soon…
