Our Family

I fear that my kids will wonder where I was when they look at family photographs. I'll have to say, apologetically, "Well, I was there, I was just behind the camera." However, as time continues to cut away the years I am finding that Kim and I are increasingly absent from the family photo album. As a photographer this is frustrating. We consistently give clients photographic art for their families and the walls of their homes, but never have that for ourselves. No matter what people say, it's just impossible to get several artistic family photos relying on a timed shutter release and a tripod. When taking a photo of a kid, I'm lucky to get a laugh or smile with an assistant jumping and making faces behind me. I'll let you just guess how successful it is to say to a four year old, "look that way at the tripod and smile." So, you see the dilemma. For years we have just shrugged our shoulders and said, "Ohh well, I guess we'll worry about it someday." "Someday" came to us a few weeks ago when my wife said to me, "I want family photos for Mothers day." Now, my wife is a great photographer, but she is an incredible mother and wife and if her heart longed for family photos, I was going to get her some family photographs. Please keep in mind, we could hire a photographer and go that route. We value photography and value the skill of a great photographer. However, photographers inevitably want their ideas to be implemented in the photographs. I know this because I'm a photographer. We frame it the way we want, we take suggestions and ideas, but ultimately it's the photographer's creativity and artistic eye that people pay for when they hire a photographer. Otherwise, it's like hiring a great chef and then telling him how to cook your meal. It defeats the point of hiring a chef.

We wanted a certain image and a certain look. So, we asked our good friends, Melanie and Jeff Mansfield who we think are incredibly talented photographers but also humble enough to let us direct what we wanted. We offered them a meal with us, in exchange for their time and skill. I know what you're thinking, that is an incredible offer: several hours with us, including the meal for the stress of trying to create another photographers vision of a family photograph and making certain that it's technically perfect. No, it was not a fair deal. Yes, Jeff and Melanie totally served us. They deserve far better. That's the kind of people they are. They sacrificed a night off with their kids, money for gas, and exchanged it for the stress of taking our pictures. They both are so generous that they give until it is detrimental to their business, literally. It is rare to meet people like that.

So, we scouted all the locations, got dressed to the nines, and came up with a few poses we wanted to replicate from client sessions we had photographed like the Lowry's and the Hollowell's. We just needed someone to click the shutter and give us the memory cards. Melanie and Jeff worked hard to give us images we wanted and then we just let them tell us what to do. We experienced what our clients experience when we are getting to tell them how to stand and pose. It was fun!

In the end we got some great family photos and then we laughed with our friends until we cried sitting around our kitchen table until 3 a.m. We feel fortunate to have friends like the them. If you want to see the Mansfield's take on the session and the images they edited, you can see their blog post about it here. We want you to look, they're good . . . and so are the pictures.

We want to hear from you. We love all of the pictures below that Melanie and Jeff took for us. We are having a hard time deciding which one to have printed on canvas and hung in our living room. Post a comment letting us know your favorite and why. It would help us out!

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We also wanted some more recent pictures of our children. This was a task we can easily accomplish on our own, but rarely do. So, we dressed them in the same outfits and went to the same locations a day earlier and took our time photographing our children. It was fun, and challenging. Below are some of our favorites. We'd love for you to let us know which one you like the best for us to put in our home by posting your vote and why in a comment below! Enjoy!

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Genesis Workshop

Kim and I had the distinct privilege to attend a photography workshop that was put on by our good friends Melanie and Jeff Mansfield. They have been such an encouragement to us over the years as we have tried to build a photography business carefully and slowly. They have often shared with us how they are inspired by looking at the work of Sam Hassas, Tony Hoffer and Evan Baines. When Melanie told us that she was going to be inviting all of those photographers to join her and Jeff in putting on a three day workshop, we knew it would be well worth attending. It was! It was called the Genesis Workshop and it took place in Durham, NC and we were able to use the beautiful Carolina Theater and the urban setting of downtown Durham as a backdrop for our images. That was so much fun.

We were reinvigorated with photography by learning from these excellent masters of the craft. I've attended workshops before. But this one was different. It was incredibly hands on. Learning from the teachers directly. Often, I have had a vision for an image, but honestly I just couldn't pull it off. That is so frustrating as a photographer. It was great to have time with any one of these great photographers and say, 'this is my vision, show me how to pull this off'? I can't tell you how much I learned by having someone take the time to help me think through the vision and then create it. The workshop gave me new ideas and a new passion for the art of it all. That alone is worth it to me. We made some great new friends and I was honestly sad to leave. So, below are a few of our pictures. Let us know if you like 'em!

Here are the group photos taken by Sam Hassas.

Lydia Turns Two

Craig and I enjoyed celebrating Lydia's second birthday with friends. I LOVE planning parties for my children . . . I think its the teacher in me. We had a Teddy Bear brunch complete with teddy bear pancakes & fruit, teddy bear play stations, a teddy bear cave, teddy bear hide and seek and best of all: a quick visit from Grandma bear. Enjoy the pictures!

You guessed it, Lydia took a bite out of her candle.

Here are the kids waiting for a special visit from Grandma Bear. You can see the suspense in each face - they are not sure what to expect.

Caleb knew it was grandma in that suit . . . and he was the first to greet her with a huge hug!

Each child brought their favorite bear and we played hide and go seek with them. It was so fun to see the kids running around the house looking for "their" special bear. We had quite the collection as you can see.

Here is Caleb with two of his buddies, Terry and Kaleb. He loves his friends . . . just like his mama does:)

I love this picture of Caleb and Lydia. He looks so proud to be her big brother - complete with her new pink sunglasses on.

Eight Years

This week Craig and I celebrated eight years of marriage. My husband is so sweet. He sent me the most beautiful flowers I've ever received. He made reservations at the restaurant we went to on our very first date in January of 1998. He even arranged the babysitter (thanks Matt and Michelle). We enjoyed a nice and "quiet" meal together as we reflected on all we have seen and done since we first met. We've seen quite a bit of the world together and we've learned a lot about each other and ourselves. I'm so thankful for the husband God has given to me. He complements me in many ways. Here are just a few pictures I took in attempt to capture the beauty of the flowers before they withered and died. Thanks to so many of you who have walked alongside of us on this journey together.

Here is the precious diamond ring Craig gave to me in October of 2000. I LOVED it then and I LOVE it now.

Our sweet son, Caleb is curious about everything. I guess he had to "touch" the dragonfly in order to believe it wasn't real. He thought the flowers were "butaful".

To the Love of My Life: You are the most loving, thoughtful and gentle yet strong man I know. I love you.

The Progression of Happiness

Caleb is my bud. As the men of the house we stick together. He awoke from his nap, came to find me and gave me a hug. He laid his head onto my shoulder and wrapped his arms around my neck. Without looking at me, he said, "I love you daddy." I told him I loved him too. Then he pulled back looked me right into the eyes and asked "Can I have a cupcake?" {Kim had made some earlier and he noticed.} Now, I realize he was totally buttering me up. But honestly, there aren't a lot of things in the world much better than getting a hug from your son and hearing the words, "I love you," even if it is for a cupcake. Of course I gave him the cupcake. But you have to watch his facial expression change from getting up on a rainy day to the display of pure joy over a sweet a delectable cupcake. Can you even remember when the thought of a cupcake made you this happy? Ohh, the beauty of children. Enjoy the evidential progression of happiness.

Waking from a nap. Waiting for the cupcake.

"This is Awesome!"

"I'm going to pack it all in. Chew later."

"chewing . . . with a slight overbite"

"yeah!"

The Progression of Moodiness

Having a little girl is rocking my world. She's turning two this month. I seriously thought she'd be laughing at my funny faces, playing dress-up, and thinking I'm the best thing that has ever existed until she turned 12. The other day she crawled into my lap, looked me dead in the eyes, grabbed my face with her two hands and said 'Holla, Holla". Folks, It doesn't get much sweeter than that. However, she has also discovered that she likes the thought of being in-control. I have documented the progression of a recent mood swing. Enjoy, and witness 'the progression of moodiness'.

Waking from a nap. "Lydia, would you like a cupcake?"

"Wow, Daddy, this is delicious."

"Daddy, that seriously made my week . . . you're the BEST!"

"Let's have another!"

"What do you mean 'no'? I thought we were friends."