The Feely's 2011

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was sweet and shared with old friends. I was ever so thankful that the viral vertigo I had for a full week decided to go almost completely away by the end of the day on Thursday. Feeling woozy and dizzy is not my cup of tea!

Before the holiday I posted an image from my photo shoot with my friends and neighbors, the Feely's. We took a drive out to the Marin Headlands up to Hawk Hill. I have to say that having a husband as a location scout has major perks. He knows all the places to go!

Hawk Hill, for those of you who have never been, is at the top of the road that is at the last exit before merging onto the Golden Gate Bridge. You take the road up to the left and up and up some more and park at the mouth of a great tunnel that you can walk through, only to find yourself in a small, almost enchanted forest. It's just beautiful. And, as I've been blessed for the last few shoots, the light was perfect.

We were there at the late afternoon / end of the day, and because we're neighbors it felt a bit more like hanging out rather than work. Everyone for the most part was cooperative and from what I could tell, had a great time. Photographing friends allows for a whole other element to come into play. There's the interaction each family member has with each other and then there's my interaction that I get to have with each of them. F.U.N.

This trip Matt came with me. I asked him to take some video footage of the shoot for a project I'm working on that will hopefully come together by early next year. (I'm going to try to be realistic about that goal considering we're butting up against Christmas and New Years. Can you believe it's seriously almost 2012?)

Before I post my favorite images, I have to shout a big loud Happy Birthday to Monica. It's her birthday today and in celebration I wanted to be sure to post images of her beautiful family. Living across the street from each other over the past two and a half years has been such a treat. We've been able to rely on each other for so many things. Picking up the kids from school when one of us is running late, walking to school together in the mornings, grabbing things at the grocery store when needed, being there as support to help however and whenever needed. It's taken a huge weight off of my shoulders to feel like I don't have to do everything on my own. That if I need someone to help me with my kids, Monica and Sean are there. For those of you who have neighbors like the Feely's, you understand what a blessing this is. For those of you who don't, I definitely pray that at some point in your life, you'll have neighbors and friends like these.

Monica, you have no idea how much your friendship has meant and how blessed I feel that your family moved in across the street. Your Irish accents, your laughter, your easy way and 'it's not a bother' attitude are the best.

I'm so happy to have been able to capture your family in these photographs. Your zest for life is contagious.

 

 

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is tomorrow and we're hosting this year. It's a pot luck of families bringing different dishes. Matt and I are making the turkey and stuffing (gluten free this year!) brussels sprouts with bacon and some snacks. In preparation I went to the grocery store yesterday, early enough in the am that I thankfully missed the rush and as I knelt down on the floor putting things away, I burst into tears. It took me a minute to figure out why I was crying. Why all of a sudden I found myself face in hands in tears on the floor. It was from the thought of missing my parents. Missing them being a part of our dinner this year. If they were both alive and still living in Saratoga, they would probably be making the drive up here to have Thanksgiving with us. With my family.

They would be enjoying the boys. My dad would hang out and talk with Matt and build some Snap Circuit board with Mason, maybe even kick the ball around in the backyard with Miles. My mom would help cook. She would be loud and complain about who knows what. I would probably even be sighing with frustration from them being here, as people typically do about family on Thanksgiving. Because no one knows how to drive us crazy better than our own family. Have you seen the movie "Home For The Holidays"?

But they would be here.

I would get to enjoy them. Watch them with the boys. Smile and feel whole inside. Maybe this is partly why I've avoided hosting Thanksgiving for so long. Not wanting to fully acknowledge the hole that's there. But it's not too deep because the empty space is filled with so much love. Rebecca will be here and long time friends who are like family. There will be laughter and a kitchen filled with people bumping into each other. Kids running around and food, lots of food to be eaten.

My tears have stopped for now and I am thankful for all of the years that I did have with my parents. It's funny how short the time feels that I had them both here. The last times we were all together as a family feels like such a long and faded memory. That makes me sad, but again, only for a moment. There are still groceries that need to be put away, wonderful boys to be entertained, dinner to be made and laundry to be done. Life goes on.

So, today, as I shed my tears of sadness and longing and joy from the memories of my parents, I give thanks for their contribution to my life. They helped mold me into who I am today. They loved me deeply. I felt it. All the time.

I hope you take a few moments to sit and think about what you're truly grateful for this year and appreciate the people that are sharing your table, sharing your meal. Even if you're rolling your eyes waiting for them to go home. Appreciate the time you're spending together in any way you can.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Sneak Peek - The Feely's 2011

Because Thanksgiving is only two days away I have a ton to do I'm going to keep this short and sweet. After having our house filled with guests and the dust has settled, I'll write a longer post. But for today I'm going to do a sneak peek from my last photo shoot.

Last Sunday I photographed the Feely's. You might remember them from last year around this same time. Little did I know that it would be an early spark to what has now become September-Days.

Here is just one of my favorites from our session. I promise more and I'm actually not sure what I'm going to do because there are so many that I love!

The Thomsen's

I met Alicia through Mason's school a couple of years ago. Her daughter was in the same class as Mason for kindergarten. She is tall and beautiful and has a wonderfully calm energy about her. It wasn't much of a surprise when I learned that she's a yoga instructor. Her energy, posture and all around gentle nature are completely in line with yoga. She's also a chiropractor and has just recently launched her practice, Whole Body Wellness.

I had been talking with her about yoga and my desire to learn a bit more about it and she agreed to come to my home and give me some yoga instructions in exchange for family portraits. During our yoga session she gently corrected my body posture when needed, explained what I should be feeling in certain positions and guided me through a wonderful experience. She instructs at the new yoga studio in Terra Linda, Embrace Yoga and if you have a chance you should take her class.

Last Friday it was my turn to share in the trade and take pictures of her family. It was a little drizzly outside so our plans to go to the open space near her house had to change but between her home and a walk down the street, we were all set.

I took each person aside for a little private portrait session and everyone was such a great sport about getting a little wet. It wasn't raining, just drizzling and the light was amazing. I loved watching each persons personality come through. The girls were super cute and enjoyed being in front of the camera. Phillip, Alicia's husband told me that the experience was a little uncomfortable. Being the focus of attention can definitely be uncomfortable but through our conversations everyone opened up and relaxed.

Alicia and Phillip, I am thrilled to have had the pleasure of photographing your family. You are a sweet bunch and I love that we captured who you are, now, as a family. Happy and in love.

 

Go Rockets!

Miles has a passion. He's 4 almost 5. I didn't know it was possible to have a passion so young but it's true. Miles. Loves. Soccer!

From before he could walk he's been trying to kick a ball. We used to walk around the house, his little hands holding our fingers and he would use his feet with what little coordination he had to kick the ball. Any ball. They've been one of, if not the toy of choice, his whole life.

This year was the first year he played on an actual team. He was beyond excited to get a uniform and to be a part of a designated group of "soccer players". His practice was at 8:30 AM on Saturday mornings. Yes, 8:30 AM on SATURDAYS!! The games were right after at 9 and even though I really didn't like having to get up and out so early, it was a great way to start the day.

At the last game I brought my camera and took some stills and video. This is the U6 league so the teams were composed of boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 5, preschool and kindergarten. I don't know how the teams are divided or grouped but Miles wound up on a super small team of only 6 boys. I think most other teams had at least 8-10 kids if not more. The benefit of that was they all pretty much had to play their entire game with a quick rotation out here and there. That makes for tired boys, which anyone who has boys knows is a good thing!

I thought I would post a few of the images and a link to the video. I don't expect most people will want to watch. Four and a half minutes of seeing other peoples children run around on a soccer field probably isn't the most entertaining. I do know a few people who will tune in though. Nana, Papa and the rest of the family will probably take a look. I did put the movie to a great song called "Surfing On A Rocket" by Air. So maybe that will entice you...

Hope everyone is having a great week. We're half way to the weekend!

And here is a link to the video if you feel like watching.....Go Rockets U6 2011

The Jennings-Hoffmans

Sometimes people come into your life and you have no idea of the impact they will have. Such is the case with Eric and Ericka.

I met them both when I was in a, shall we say, a transitional period of my life. I was ending one chapter and beginning another. My father had died a few years before, I had just ended a marriage that formed out of the loss of my father and was rediscovering who I was, as an individual in the world.

I had pink and purple hair. I was Starfire. The three of us all came together in what to me felt like a vortex. It was an intense time of freedom for all of us. I met Matt right at the crux of it all and when Eric, Ericka and I were driving one Sunday afternoon, the day after my first date with Matt, we were in a car accident that would change our lives...for the better.

I guess that's a deeper post that I can get into some other time because I don't want to lose focus on what I have to offer today. Photographs of Eric, Ericka and their two beautiful girls. They are truly some of my closest friends and I was honored when they hired me to photograph them. Eric's parents were in town so it was a great opportunity to capture a moment it time. Time for all of them to be together. Time to document who they are today.

I have to say there's pressure when photographing strangers or people that you casually know but there is definitely pressure when photographing friends. I think for me it stems from not wanting to let anyone down. When I can step out of the way, and let myself relax and be guided to follow what I consider "The Holy Spirit" I'm o.k. Then, I can trust and know that everything is going to be alright.

The girls are fun, beautiful and spunky like their parents. Eric and Ericka are in love and wonderful and real. His parents were true sports throughout our adventure together and I'm excited to share my favorites.

And just to show how black and white can change the whole look of a photograph....

The Jennings-Hoffman's : Sneak Peek

I've been having so much fun taking pictures these last few weeks. It's amazing how doing something that I love just lights me up from the inside out.

I photographed some close friends at Cavallo Point and almost never left the giant field that is the central point of the property. I kept saying we were going to go for a walk and then we just kept shooting in the field.

I thought I would share one of my favorites in the field as the "sneak peek". A family portrait doesn't always have to be everyone front and center looking at the camera. This shot is a great reminder to me of just that.

More to come in a day or so......

Friday Inspiration - I Believe I Can Fly

Today is Veteran's Day. I am grateful and want to share my appreciation for  all of the men and women who have fought for my freedom and the freedom of the world. In honor of this freedom I wanted to share some inspiration in a way that expresses freedom like I've never known or ever will.

I've often heard the phase, "living on the edge". I don't think I've understood it's true meaning until now. If you watch the video below and please, if you do, hit it to full screen because it can handle it and it's the only way to see it, you might have a little more insight into the phrase as well.

I felt myself catch my breath. I felt myself swell with fear and excitement and anxiousness. I felt myself a little more alive.

I can only imagine that is what these people feel when they're pushing the limit. And man are they pushing the limit.

and if you're left wanting more, you can watch the 40 minute documentary which was released today on the adventure blog....sebmontaz.com.

Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride....

During The Down Time

When I'm photographing a family, on location and out and about, down time isn't something that happens. I usually have to create some by going to my camera bag and fiddling around a bit so that I can allow the family to just be with each other for a bit. I like the moments that are created during that time and I get some of my favorite photographs because of it.

After doing some research about photographing a newborn I learned that there would be down time. Time for the baby to eat, to change the diaper etc. Knowing this made the process easier and allowed me to spend a little time focusing on the rest of the family.

Because I set the "studio" up in our great room the kids had access to all of our toys. Both children gravitated to the musical instruments and picked up both the ukulele and the guitar. I thought I would share a few of those images to show what our "down time" was like.

10 Days Old

There's nothing quite like looking at a newborn baby. They're so squishy and they make little squirmy moves and sounds. They don't do anything and yet they do something because when I'm around a newborn baby all I can do is stare at them. Their little toes and fingers, the swirl on the top of their head. The little snorting sounds they make as they adjust themselves. They're mesmerizing.

Not enough to make me want to have another one though. Let's not get too caught up in the wonder!

But really, I find myself thinking about the miracle of life when I look at a newborn, isn't that just what you're supposed to do? And a couple of days ago I had the joy of photographing one of these fresh, squishy newborn babies. His name is Joseph and in the photo's he's 10 days old.

I've photographed newborns before but I wanted to capture him in a classic way, so I did a bit of research before the shoot. I reached out to my cousin Jenna for some advice because she photographs newborns and does an amazing job. She pointed me toward another photographer which led me to another and it was inspiring and overwhelming and made my head spin just a bit.

But, what I learned was that patience is the biggest key to the experience of photographing a newborn. Without that, you're lost in a sea of frustration. Being prepared for the accidental mess due to being without a diaper, having the room nice and warm and maybe even going as far as to play womb sounds throughout the session. I did all of these things in preparation but nothing can really prepare you for the actual experience.

I had the beautiful cream colored blanket draped over the bean bag, the backdrop all set. Julie brought Joseph over, took off his clothes and placed him on the blanket, ready to go, and....he pooped. 30 seconds into the shoot. What can you do but rinse and blow dry the blanket while they take a feeding break and get set back up. I think that just made everything easier for me. We had the worst out of the way in the beginning. I felt like we couldn't go anywhere but up from there!

I definitely have a new found respect for newborn photographers. For the people who specialize in only photographing newborns. The ones that have been doing it for a long time, who have the babies safety in mind above all else, they have a gift, a true talent.

I do love the images from this shoot. Knowing that I captured this amazing moment in time. It goes so quickly, that "just out of the womb" look. It only lasts for a few days. They start growing and changing and before you can even blink because you're so exhausted and in a daze from all that just occurred it's over, gone.

Joseph, you have a beautiful family who are in love with you and will help guide your way. Welcome to this crazy world.