Aug
11
2014They’re all asleep in the back seat. I wonder what they’re dreaming.
My Aeralind: quiet and determined to try.
My Bronwyn: growing into a strong leader.
My Sedryn: an engineering problem solver.
What will the Lord call these three little ones to pursue with Him?
More importantly, how can I prepare these little ones to pursue Him and the dreams He has for them? While in pursuit of my own dreams, am I taking the time to encourage theirs?
I’m not the best at this, I know, and I imagine I’m not the only dreamer who struggles to lead her own children. So I’m going to compile a list of habits we can practice to encourage our children to pursue His dreams for their lives.
Click here to finish reading this post over at God Sized Dreams
Aug
06
2014Gideon and his sister Jude where the other stars of my Simple Organic Newborn Photography Greenville SC video that you can view by clicking here. Sweet Nicole of Colie Photos filmed me posing Gideon and Anna Beth.
I never once saw Gideon’s eyes. He arrived asleep and he stayed asleep through two hours of filming as Nicole and I both did some set ups with him. And right at the end when he started getting hungry he still never did much more than become a little unsettled.
At just over 6 pounds he was a tiny peanut that was doted on by both mom and big sister Jade.
I had the pleasure of photographing Jade with Gideon while Nicole did family sessions. Jade had prayed every night for a sibling for years. From all points of view it seemed like it was a near impossibility, but God answered those prayers.
I have never seen a sweeter sister. She loved holding him and whispering to him and followed directions so well that these images sing. I wish all newborns came with 9 year old sisters. Sibling images would most certainly be easier. Not that I don’t enjoy the challenge of a a two year old with a newborn 😉 But the results are a little easier to guarantee with a nine year old.
Sweet Gideon, you make your women so content with your snuggles and a little crazy when you’re fussy. But you, little boy, are the man of this house for this season. You are their joy, their protector, and most of all the song of their hearts. You have brought them hope in a season of uncertainty: and that is a great and glorious gift.
Anne and Jude, thank you for sharing your precious Gideon with me.
Expecting a little one? Interested in newborn photographer? Quick! Contact me today to see about my limited availability for maternity, birth, and newborn photography.
Jul
30
2014
As always, this image is a composite of multiple images. Baby was always supported by a parent’s hands.
Meet Mara. At just over two weeks old this tiny baby girl was a little over 6 pounds. Mara was a tiny little peanut.
Mara insisted on being awake for about half of her session. But it was my favorite kind of awake: content and curious. So we did a bunch of set ups to capture her pretty dark eyes.
My favorite images are the ones of Mara awake in her pretty mama’s arms. You can tell she looks so much like her pretty mama.
I love the juxtaposition of tiny babies in their parents hands. So this image of sweet Mara is definitely one of my favorites for the session. It’s so perfect that I love it in both color and black & white. Which is your favorite?
After about an hour of just staring at my camera contently, I swaddled Mara tightly and rocked her until she feel asleep. I love how parents trust me to snuggle their new ones to sleep. It’s such a sweet time each session for me.
My favorite set up with Mara is in this little wooden salad bowl.
With a diameter of 13.5 inches, this bowl is only a cozy home for baby’s under 8 pounds. So it’s always a special treat for me to be able to use this bowl! Mara just snuggled right in and dozed sweetly while I took as many angles as possible.
Mara was still so curly in that crucial 7-14 day period where they sleep soundly and retain the flexibility of womb memory.
Would you like beautiful images to help you remember your tiny little newborn girl? Contact me today to set up an appointment: my calendar books up quickly so don’t hesitate!
Jul
24
2014Meet Colin just over a week new and a little over 8 pounds. I loved his beautiful coloring. The smiles he kept sharing with me completely melted my heart!
He arrived to the studio awake and content so we were able to capture some awake images on my chocolate Flokati rug before we topped him off with a bottle of pumped milk. After that he drifted off to sleep.
His two year old sister Brooklyn kissed his sweet cheeks and loved cuddling her new baby. Like most two year olds, she wasn’t very sure of me. However, she followed directions so well I could hardly believe it!
His mommy Johana and daddy Ron take fitness very seriously, believing that a strong body helps keep a strong spirit. So we took a few images featuring Colin against his father’s strong chest. I love the contrast of manhood with the softness of this sweet baby.
If I could just photograph one thing for the rest of my life it would be parents with their babies. The emotions that overwhelm you during the first few weeks of your baby’s life are just incredible. Giving clients an image of the pure magic of these poetic first moments is really my passion. To show each baby how much they were loved and wanted from this very first moment…. oh, it’s such a gift to be able to share these images.
Brooklyn and Colin are my niece and nephew and I look forward to seeing them grow up. Thank you for letting me capture your family again, Ron and Johana.
Interested in booking a session for your newborn? Start here see a video of me posing sweet babies and read a bit about my philosophy.
Jul
21
2014I know the mess. 
Whether you’re potty training the strong willed two year old. Or helping the 3 year old measure cookie ingredients. Or letting the 4 year old sweep the kitchen. Or showing that 5 year old how to run a tube of jersey under the sewing machine to make a skirt for a doll. Or teaching that elementary school child how to read. Or that reckless teenager how to drive and respect authority.
It’s a mess. You could do it yourself so much quicker.
You could sound out that word for them and save half an hour. You could get it all into the dustpan all at once rather than sweeping up after a half finished job. You drive to the store on autopilot while listening to an audio book rather than stomping imaginary brakes in the passenger seat.
Don’t give up.
You may have never set out to be a teacher, but motherhood made you one. And the more of these skills you spend time teaching, the more prepared your child will be for the next skill he/she will have to learn. The more reasonable expectations your place on the child to continuously complete and improve the skill you’re teaching, the more prepared they will be for their own journeys.
After all, that’s apologizing skill learned best through constant modeling.
Life is full of work. Your child needs to learn this and find joy in a well completed job.
You might be learning this joy yourself as you chuck the dirty underwear in the trash can and empty your purse of every wet wipe you have with you. Or as you watch half of the dirt make it into the dust pan for the first time. Or as you see your child sound out the word “read” instead of guessing “rat” for the hundredth time. Or as that teenager manages to break smoothly for the first time.
And at night when you slump exhausted into your pillow, thinking about the pill of fabric scrap from the doll cloths sewing adventure waiting to be cleaned up in the morning. Smile. That very exhaustion is the joy of motherhood. The sign of a job well done.
Smile remembering those proud smiles and their triumphant voices: “I did it, mama!”
Well done, mama. Joy is yours.
(Images in the post taken by Aeralind and Bronwyn while mama tried to slow her racing heart from both little fingers too close to the needle and my livelihood in a 4 year old’s hands.)
