The gym.  Yep.  That is definitely on my resolution list.  And I am pretty sure that the gym will be deserted, dusty, and as void of life as a graveyard is.  I am SURE that I am the only person in San Diego who has that on the list of “Things I want to do more of this year”.  And denial is a powerful thing.

I am actually not much for resolutions.  My personal theory is if you have something in your life you want to better or change, why wait till the New Year?  Do it today.  I know, the new year offers a fresh start.  It IS inspiring to feel like you have a blank slate and can start anew.  I get that.   For me though the new year is really a time of reflection and thankfulness.  And the year 2009 gave me SO MUCH to be thankful for.

The top of my list is, with any doubt, Sundin Photography.  Yes, I love my husband and I love my two year old daughter with all my heart and my life wouldn’t be complete without them. Noting that,  I think the reason that Sundin Photography is at the top of my list and is such a blessing is because from the start of this business just over a year ago, it was an act in trusting God.  It is NOT AT ALL my personality to “go on a limb”, and I am pretty sure that starting your own business falls into that category.  I am a play it safe and routine kind of girl.  So when I think of the fact that Daniel and I started this business, that alone feels like a feat.  Then add in the fact that there are people who WANT to hire me to hang out with them and do something I LOVE LOVE doing, well, that is nothing short of a miracle if you ask me.

This business fulfills SO many of my dreams.  Dreams I never thought would be come to fruition.  So today, as the year is coming to a close, I just want to say THANK YOU.  Thank you to all my blog readers who encourage me daily and make me feel like someone might actually want to hire me.  Thank you to all of you who have believed in me and support me and told all your friends about me.  Most of all, thank you to all my clients who inspire me as an artist behind the camera and as a person in life in front of the camera.  So many of you are just truly beautiful people, with big hearts and a real joy that touches me in ways I cannot express.  It is because of you that I love my job and because of you that I can have a job!  :)

Many thanks!  I wish you all a Happy New Year and a blessed 2010!

"Thank you!"

It is infectious.  It can break a silence and a tense moment.  It can cross over language barriers and can make two people who don’t understand each other feel connected, even if just for a moment.  It is magnificent and pure in a way that nothing else is.  To me laughter is one of the most beautiful human expressions.  In the moment of a laugh there is no insecurity or fear, it is just a pure moment when the soul shines fourth.

I have seen others start to reflect and recap their year of 2009, and as I thought about my year I was inspired to recap my year in laughter.  I love everything about my job, but one of the things I love the most is capturing a laugh in an image.   Don’t let me fool you, I am NOT funny in any way.  Goofy and crazy and a LOT strange, YES, but not funny.  Even so, by some sort of a miracle, I have been able to capture some laughs. 

To everyone who laughed at  with me, thank you for making my year amazing.  Because I love them so much, and I hope for you they are a little infectious, here is my recap of 2009 in laughs:

Ending with my own little ball of laughter…she keeps me cracking up all the time!  Happy New Year to you and wishes for another year of much laughter!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ”  Isa 9:6

From our home to your home, we shout : “MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

(Our first family picture of the 3 of us in a about 2 years.  Yep, it was her crazy faces that were making us laugh! We love our crazy spirited daughter!)

I work in a large office building. It’s got your standard gray cubes. A few people get in the spirit (not me) and decorate. Here is a picture I snapped of a co-workers decorated cube wall. For all you camera nerds out there, what lens was I using? The blurry Christmas lights in the background are the giveaway.

I have tried to sit down and write this post about 6 times already.  I am not stumped for words, quite the opposite.  There is so much I want to tell you about this family and why they touch my heart.  Something about it gets me all emotional.  And I know you don’t want to hear me sobbing or anything, so I have decided that I am going to just share just two of the things that I loved the most about this family & this shoot and try to leave the computer screen dry.

Sonya.  She has the thickest southern accent you have ever heard and the warmest personality and kindest demeanor’s of anyone you will ever meet.  Seriously.  I am pretty sure the saying “sweet as pie” was written about her.  She even brought my daughter a Christmas gift to give to me at the end of the shoot.   Enough said, right?  She is the best.

I had the pleasure of doing a photo shoot about a year ago with this family and was  SO touched when Sonya called me again to capture images her and Chance (as a present for her husband Jason who is serving overseas).  The first time we did a shoot I remember hearing the concern in her voice as Sonya told me that they had done photo sessions in studios, but hadn’t been successful at catching Chance’s sweet smile on camera.   (And he DOES have the sweetest smile.)  I am so happy to share that we got it again this time with the help of a park, a balloon, and the love of his tender mama.  We captured Chance’s smile, and his laugh, and all of the adorable little man that he is.

And now….drum roll please….

I am so excited to share this next series of images with you! Everything about it makes me smile.  I actually got a little choked up while I was putting it together cause I kept thinking about how this is my dream for photo shoots.  Catching the “real” moments.  Don’t get me wrong, I pose my daughter and take her picture all the time, and I LOVE those ones.  But I think there is something incredibly magical about just letting your kids be a kid and LAUGHING with them.  Letting the milk come out of your nose with them.  For me, it is in those moments with my daughter that nothing else in the world matters and I feel overwhelming joy.  THAT is what I dream about capturing for families.  The real, love and laughter filled moments.  And I was especially elated to capture this with Sonya and Chance.   A sweet moment, captured in a way that you could feel the laughter and fun coming through the image, so that although he is miles away Jason could feel like he is there.   I am in LOVE with these.

Sonya, thank you for going along with my idea and letting me get your little guy all sugared up!  Merry Christmas to you all!