May
02
2011
Ryan Elizabeth was my oldest newborn yet at 2+ weeks! However, she was super sleepy and allowed me to finally nail some of the more difficult poses. Her sweet mom Carrie worked extra hard to make sure she was tired and it paid off!
I can’t believe how relaxed Carrie and Micheal are as new parents. They took my arrival as an opportunity to rest and snuggle while I took photos of Ryan. They would check on me if they heard Ryan fussing, but otherwise they allowed me to do my job in peace and quiet. I really appreciated the freedom to just photograph and pose to my heart’s content.
Carrie and Micheal had the most beautifully decorated bedroom complete with a white bed. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to catch a few photographs in such a beautiful backdrop.
Micheal came to hold Ryan at one point while I was changing backdrops. I’ve never seen a father so natural and so dearly in love with his little girl. He kissed and cuddled and just enjoyed little Ryan to the fullest. I think the following image just completely captures his wonder with his new daughter.
One of Carrie’s requests for this session was a storyboard capturing all the little details of sweet Ryan’s form. I’m really pleased with the result since I love taking and displaying detail images. Thank you, Carrie, for making this request; I’m sure it will continue to spark my creativity in future sessions.
Micheal and Carrie, I pray that you would continue to cherish these early days with Ryan. I love how relaxed and centered your parenting is and I hope to see you again as Ryan grows.
Dec
18
2010The C Family invited me over to do some Christmas portraits of their beautiful family. This was a rare day in early December when it was actually warm enough to enjoy being outside.
These teenage boys are going to be (or might already be) heart-breakers. They are such a handsome trio of brothers. They nearly had me in stitches as they moaned about how their eyes were watering in this position and they had the full luxury of shade!
However, I pity any young man who even approaches their baby sister. No suitor who doesn’t meet their approval will ever get past them. They love that tiny girl fiercely.
Sep
02
2010Three Thanksgiving’s ago we were invited to “the farm”. A sweet lady named Carol and her husband Larry at our church host Thanksgiving and Easter meals for anyone who doesn’t have family in town. The numbers range from 50-100 each holiday.
There’s such beauty at the farm.
Children cuddling ever present kittens (and me too)
Music and songs.
Tasty Food.
I had to capture all that beauty and all those relationships and all that laughter and joy.
So I brought my camera. After Easter I decided those captures needed to be shared. How could I keep all that joy to myself? So I made Carol and Larry a little photo book of Resurrection Day 2010.
The captured joy was treasured so much that when Larry and Carol’s 31 children and grandchildren held a week long family reunion they asked me to photograph their families. It was a whirl wind evening of taking photos of 8 different family groups and a giant group photo. I can’t begin to express how much personality those families had 🙂
A couple weeks later I was talking to my friend Tamara about how much fun I had taking pictures at the farm. Over the course of the conversation I asked if I could take photos of the little bundle of joy she was expecting in a couple weeks time. Delighted, Tamara agreed.
I posted a few of these images on Facebook for Tamara and within mere hours an acquaintance asked how much I charged for my services. Suddenly, Quiet Graces Photography was born.
So what have I learned? Well, a good God requires obedience. He wants me to do what he asks because He knows what’s best for me. He sent me to North Greenville to major in Outdoor Leadership (a field I didn’t know existed!) in order to grow me into someone more like His Son. I could have gone to a different school and become a better photographer, but that didn’t have eternal significance.
Yet in obedience, joy is found. Our wild and good God loves giving wonderful unexpected gifts to His children. In following Him and learning more about Him, I learn to appreciate these gifts more and to see His hand in everything.
I’m excited to see where this wild path in photography takes me.
