I was able to follow Mia and Tucker around while Laura fed baby Odin during his newborn shoot.  Mia showed me her doll house she got for Christmas, it was actually her mom’s when she was little.  She also showed me that she knows how to make her own bed.  Tucker is all boy and spent his time playing with his monster truck and wrestling with his dad and sister.  You can see more pictures of Tucker HERE, and Mia HERE and HERE.  If you missed Odin’s newborn pictures you can see them HERE.  I just love photographing them!

I took these pictures of my younger brother Royce this past winter, a month or so after I had Owen.  It was a surprisingly warm winter day and we didn’t have to venture far.  This field is right near my parent’s house.  We were out just long enough to enjoy the sunshine and use up one roll of film.  I tried out a local lab this time around because it was cheap and quick.  I guess you get what you paid for because I ended up with some wonky colors, but I’m always glad to make mistakes so I can learn from them, and I still love these pictures!  I might even re-scan them someday, only time will tell…

I love photographing children and families in their own environment, and this shoot was no exception.  Laura is a dear friend of mine and sweet enough to ask me to follow her family around.  I love all the pastel colors and how their love for each other shows.  There was some downtime when baby Odin was eating where I was able to follow the older kids and how they spend time with their Dad.  Then I had the chance photograph the connection between a mommy and her baby, so they can always remember those precious few weeks.  I had so much fun capturing this family just the way they are.

I just got home from a two-week long trip to Utah.  We drove all night and had just a few hours to spare before heading to my sister and brother-in-law’s graduation.  It just happened that Craig was graduating the same day, and we were able to meet up for pictures in between ceremonies.  It’s obvious to me how much these two love each other and I feel so lucky that I was able to stand back, observe, and capture these moments for them.  They’ll be getting married on the east coast later this summer, and I know it’s going to be a wonderful celebration of their love.

What we have once enjoyed deeply we can never lose.  All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. – Helen Keller

I’ve had the pictures in this post here ready to be published for almost two months now, but have never been able to find the right words to say… I still can’t.  The mother of a dear friend of ours passed away on March 10th after a battle with cancer.  The same day my neighbor lost her mother to cancer, we found out another friend lost their little girl in a tragic accident, and my husband’s grandmother fell and broke several bones.  I was reminded, like a slap in the face, about how precious life is.  How we must treasure every moment we have with our loved ones, because one day we will have those memories to remember, and keep us going.

I feel so lucky to have been able to capture these moments of their family together back in the fall of 2010, before Jan was diagnosed with cancer.  Her smile and love for her family during this one little moment in time will never be forgotten.  I have challenged myself, and challenge you to get out and take pictures of your loved ones.  But even more take photos of yourself.  Not for you, but for them.  Even if you think you’re having a bad hair day, have ten pounds to lose, or like me, you’re still in your pajamas at noon.  It doesn’t matter if you’ve set up a family photo session or your just taking photos with your phone and posting them to instagram, embrace the camera.  My friend Holly (Jan’s daughter-in-law) has started doing this on her personal blog, and it’s something I’ve consciously been doing myself, for my own kids, so someday when I am gone they will have those happy memories to look back on.