Some things take guts. For some people it is bungee jumping or cliff diving or eating some sort of disgusting bug….but for me…for me it is getting in FRONT of the camera.  Yep.  Being in front of the camera is my bungee jumping.  What can I say?  But I know I am not alone in this.  Holler if you are out there.

A few months ago I read this blog post on why moms should get in front of the camera, and it made me cry. It just hit so close to home. But I still have yet to take the challenge to get in front of the camera with my kiddo; I still have yet to get the guts.

When Suzanne and I talked on the phone I felt like I was talking to myself.  We laughed over the fact that we both love to take pictures but hate being in front of the camera, and I couldn’t help but think of the blog…that blog post…the one that had been tapping on my heart for months.  And then I walked into Suzanne’s house and I could tell once again that we were kindred spirits; her house covered floor to ceiling in beauitful photos that she had taken of her daughter, but only one of her.

Emily said it so well, better than I ever could:

“whatever you need to do, capture yourself with the little people.

if you are thinking “no thanks…i don’t want my crusty self in the photograph, thankyouverymuch” then you are going to get a swift kick in the shins for that.  {and trust my bruised shins…that hurts}

do you honestly look at a picture of your mom from back in the day and think “man, she was {insert your horrible adjective that you use to describe yourself}”

no.

we don’t think that about our moms.

and neither do your kids think that about you.”

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to my current hero: Suzanne. Suzanne is beautiful.  Suzanne is a mom.  Suzanne loves to take beautiful pictures and hates to be in them.  Suzanne knew in her heart what Emily (above) was talking about and called me up because of it.  Suzanne is just like you and I…. but I am the first to stand up and say that Suzanne also has something MORE. Some thing I admire so much: Suzanne has got the guts.  Suzanne, I am so thankful for your foresight to know that one day Lilly will be so thankful that you weren’t afraid to step in FRONT of the camera.  And thank you for the inspiration you are to so many of us moms out there…especially me!

I don’t always tell my favorites, but this next one is my favorite. Doesn’t it look like they are modeling for child friendly hotel or something? I can’t tell you how much I love having beautiful clients with beautiful homes!

More soft sweet moments.

Thank you so much Suzanne for inviting me into your home and your life…and for being such an inspiration to me! *Hugs*

I remember how they danced on the dance floor…spontaneous…carefree….locked on each other’s eyes the entire time….and so much in love. When I met Cami and George three years ago at our Jody and Dave’s wedding, I knew that I would never forget them, or how they danced that night.

When I asked Cami about how her and George met, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the night I saw them dance.  I simply adored her response as it reminded me so much of what I already knew about them, ”We ended up having dinner together, walking on the beach and rest is history. It was a very spontaneous and carefree night.”

From the night they met, to the night they danced, to the morning I met their sweet little Sydney, I could tell one thing hasn’t changed about Cami and George.  Although they affectionately call their Sydney “little boss”, as she already seems to take on life vivaciously and with tenacity at only 18 months old, I am so happy to see that their little boss has not overrun or changed them in any way.  She just fits right into the fold, another little spark in the fire….carefree and spontaneous…. full of life and love.

It was so fun to spend the morning around their house capturing all that is them.  And if I had to guess, I would be willing to bet that Cami and George are still dancing….

We started outside in their beautiful backyard, but didn’t waste any time getting into to the bedroom where we could play and laugh and have a ton of fun. It seems no two families that I have photographed on the bed have ever treated it the same; to Cami and George and Sydney, it was their playground. (and I simply love the energy they have….)

This next shot is my favorite of the day by far. I just love Sydney’s expression as her mom tells her a secret. Isn’t she the most adorable little spark you have ever seen?

I know I have said it before, but I could say it a million times: I love when a family invites me into their life to capture all that they are…. without any pretenses. I have yet to see a Ward and June Clever, but to me each family is still so perfect because of who they are as a family. To me this photo shoot was everything that Cami and George and little Sydney are; fast…fun…carefree…full laughter, swinging, silliness, and of love and life. Thank you so much “E” family for inviting me into your home and life…and for being everything that you are.

Dayla had her first day of preschool yesterday… and the tomato vines are withering; life at the Sundin’s is officially showing all the signs of the end of summer.

This year our biggest feat of the summer was trying our first vegetable garden.  We has a lot of successes and a lot of failures.  We learned that for every pepper you grow, one gets eaten by caterpillars.  We learned that when the chickens get out, they go right for the lettuce and chow it until it is gone.  We learned that corn was not worth it, but tomatoes were.  We learned it was a lot of work and a lot of water to maintain, but we also were reminded time and time again how blessed we are even to be able to have the opportunity to have a vegetable garden.

Today’s Feature:  (In Honor of Summer) Some of Our Garden Vegetables

May the end of your summer have one more splash in the pool, one more summer kiss in the warmth of the night, and one more home-grown vegetable delighting your tastebuds.

(For the inquiring minds. We grew: red onions, carrots, radishes, garlic, asparagus, bell peppers, corn, watermelon, butternut squash, 3 different types of pumpkin, 4 different types of tomato, cucumbers, lettuce, strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries.  The big successes: garlic, carrots, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes, lettuce.  The others either didn’t taste all that great or were way too much effort for the amount of yield.  The berries all take a year to get going, so we hope to have a bountiful crop of those next year.)

I remember sitting in my apartment 8 years ago; we were just out of college and tearing through wedding magazine after wedding magazine. I was just 24 years old and over the moon for a boy named Daniel….and Jody was one of the girls there by my side, just as giddy as me, and helping me plan every last detail of the biggest day of my life. We talked of our dreams, of dream weddings, of our future and what we thought it would hold. (Isn’t it funny how you can never seem to really guess what the future has for you?) Never in the world did I imagine that 8 years later we would be pregnant together and I would have the honor of taking her maternity pictures. Never would I have imagined it….. but it is in moments like this that I feel so thankful and truly blessed.

Those many years ago when we talked of dreams, Jody always knew that she wanted to get married and be a mom. And here we are, 8 years later, and not only is she a very successful business woman, she is married to a man who makes her smile and laugh and glow like none other did….and she is expecting her first baby, with radiance!

We spent a lot of time huffing and puffing as we climbed up hills and through the nature to get these shots, but we also laughed a lot and reminisced. A perfect evening if you ask me. And I know I am probably biased, but I don’t think I have ever seen a cuter pregnant girl in my life!

Come meet Dave and Jody and baby to be…

The original location we chose for this shoot was by the beach and SUPER foggy when I got there. Since Jody and I had talked a lot about sun in her pictures, we decided on a last minute change, hopped in the car and headed to Iron Mountain. (I love flexible clients!) I am so glad we did….I am loving the sun in all these photos!

The best laugh…

Right before sunset, Dave joined up with us….

Dave and Jody, I love to laugh with you and I couldn’t have asked for a better evening.  I am so thrilled to welcome you to the world of parenting and can’t wait to meet your precious little one!!

“We just stare at Mckay all day”

I always do a consultation conversation with my clients over the phone so we can get a lot of the “getting to know you” done before the photo shoot. This helps us not only jump in quicker on the day of the photo shoot, but it also (hopefully) helps me capture pictures that represent what is YOU and YOUR family….what makes it both unique and beautiful…and well, YOU. When I called up Alexia and P.J. they joked that all I needed to know about them was: “that we just stare at Mckay all day”.

I loved this sentence;  although it may be a simple statement to some, to me it spoke volumes. I remember that love and sense of awe, that borderline obsession when my own little girl was young. Nothing is more powerful and more unexplainable then the feeling the first months a first time parent has. Sure, there are the “sleepless nights” that everyone talks about, but the love…oh the love…the awe…the amazement…the sweet moments of watching your child discover the world…nothing is more precious. It was so clear to me from the moment I talked to Alexia and P.J. that they loved this little guy with all their hearts and I could see that nothing was more important to them then just soaking him in. And when I met Mckay…I could see why.

This little family stole my heart in every way: something about them made me feel like we had been friends forever and we just hadn’t met until now. They made me laugh, they made me remember and reflect how much it is a precious gift to be a parent, and they patiently let me talk their ears off (Sincerely guys, thanks for that! I don’t think I have ever talked so much about myself…I am so embarrassed…but you were so gracious about my jabbering!)…and they have one of the funniest and cutest little boys ever.

Come meet them and you too will have your heart stolen….

I have always thought it would be fun to do a photo shoot in Old Town San Diego but never had anyone request it….until now.   I was in heaven. I am LOVING all the color and architecture that we got to capture there….(and  just look at this little guy’s smile…..)

This is definitely one of my favorites from the day:

McKay was cracking me up the entire morning. It was almost like he had been coached on how to model for me, as he would give me this incredible, heart-melting smile….

…but then he would give me a look like this. It completely tickled my funny bone.

I love this next set. A spot I hadn’t even planned on stopping at…but it is a favorite spot now!

Right as we were about to end the session, a wonderfully kind women offered to let us in the “Bazaar Del Mundo” courtyard even though it wasn’t open for the public yet. I knew that Mckay was probably done with smiling for me, but my heart skipped a beat at the opportunity to photograph in the beautiful gardens, brightly colored buildings, and courtyard …

I love that Alexia and P.J. were up for a bit of an extension on our photo shoot time…and that I also got to capture  these sweet photos. I love to capture smiles, but a little guy only sleeps in his mama’s arms for so long…

Alexia, P.J. and Mckay…thank you! And thank you for driving all the way from the Bay to let me capture your love and your family. I can’t tell you how much fun I had….you were the best!!