i hope i can make you felt what i felt being there. the light wasn't perfect. the house
wasn't perfect. the kids weren't perfect. the photographer wasn't perfect.
but their connection was.
the kwong family in las vegas
some days i sit and shed a tear for all of the unblogged, amazing family sessions i have. i want to show them all to everyone, but can't figure out how to make the time.
since this was my second time photographing the kwong family, i wasn't about to let another opportunity to blog their gorgeous love slip by again....
WENDY LAUREL FAMILY SESSION
wendy, wendy, wendy. you may know her from her incredible film photography http://www.wendylaurel.com/
or as the creator of my favorite family photography blog http://letthekids.com/
but to me, wendy, welllll....
you know how they ask you in school---who do you admire? you do you look up to? who do you want to be like? and its really hard to think of an answer outside of your mom, or a teacher you had, or someone oprah famous (or should i say ellen, oprah was so 15 years ago)---for me that answer is wendy. a. she knows who she is. b. she's learned how to love that person. c. she loves her family way more than she loves herself and d. she doesn't let all the other b.s. and hullabaloo, keeping up with the joneses, mumbo jumbo, whatever you want to call it distract from what actually matters.
wendy has been trying to get me out to maui for quite some time to photograph her family in the gorgeous hawaii sun, and her beautiful white bedroom---and of course the day we scheduled to do it is the one stormy, rainy, dark (ish, i mean, come on, its still hawaii) day. i don't think it held us back one bit. wendy and her crew brought all the sunshine and rainbows we needed.
xxxxxx
the gerhard family at home in washington d.c.
i photographed this incredible family of four on what would have been my 9 year wedding anniversary had i not gotten divorced this year. spending a magical evening in the glow of their love reminded me of what has changed in my own life, but moreso inspired me of the life i want to build. they were nailing this thing we call living--priorities right where they should be. an existence built around nurturing one another, a garden growing beautifully in the back yard. a home constructed around the things that matter most; family, connection, health, one another. they made it seem so effortless.
but there was this moment -- an exchanged look between kelsey and myself, when i teared up while shooting her in her husband's embrace--and the look of empathy and caring in her eyes shocked me to my core. she seemed to understand my hurting heart, and in those few seconds i felt like i knew how hard she must have worked to build every little bit of beauty around me that seemed so natural and easy. how much of herself she must have given. the time dedicated, the things sacrificed i'll likely never know about. she didn't just have it. she earned it. and i wanted to earn it too.
BOISE MINI SESSIONS ANNOUNCED
so my beloved hometown of boise, here's the deal-- i decided it was only fair to give you all mini sessions too! buuuut it comes at a tad higher price than my utah minis since i have to travel to you and all. the good news is, you have two ways to get rad discounts! book today and save $25! ANNND announce this on your facebook page with all of the passion of your heart and a glowing endorsement and get ANOTHER $25 off.
you can book simply buy clicking the paypal buy now button in this post! i might be quick about it though, the utah sessions sold out within the day! yeahhhhh, it toootallly made me feel cool...
