{summertime bucket list} strawberry picking

For the past two summers the kids and I have made our own little "bucket list" of things we'd like to do before September rolls around. Strawberry picking was at the top of our (ok, my) list this year. We picked lots of juicy, red berries and have the sticky fingers and strawberry-stained clothes to prove it. Jack was a strawberry-eating machine - some of the photos I caught of him just make me laugh. He was two-fisting his berries and as soon as someone would offer him another or he would spot a strawberry nearby, he would chuck the ones in his hands and leave them for dead....on to the next! Needless to say, I think we'll probably make another trip to the strawberry patch next week before the berries are done for the year.

The girls and I will be making strawberry shortcake this afternoon - hooray for sunshine and summertime!

*As a side note to the my photo friends, what is your best advice for shooting in direct sunlight? I obviously couldn't avoid it in this situation and did the best I could but I'm not thrilled with the shadows and harsh light. Any tips or tricks for shooting in direct sun would be very much appreciated. Over and out...

picture perfect

I had the amazing opportunity to photograph a beautiful family last week. They were picture perfect - sun-kissed skin, gorgeous smiles and sweet and loving personalities. I had so much fun!

I'm learning so much about photography during these sessions with friends and families and learning that so much of beautiful photography is really about connection. Connecting with people in an honest and genuine way really makes the best images.

anticipation

Do you ever get the feeling that something pretty great is just around the corner? That you're about to have some really good times and you should drink them in, hold on to them tightly and really be in the moments that lie ahead?

That's how I'm feeling tonight. All sappy and dreamy about our summer. My littles are 6, 4 and 15 months. Life is busy. Not gonna lie - there's plenty of whining, complaining, fighting, crying and bad attitude goin' around over here some days. But, honestly, I'm really looking forward to having all my little chicks close to the nest for the next three months. The four of us snuggled in Izzie's bed this morning and I heard the soft whisper that is becoming more and more familiar...."Don't let it be a blur. Soak it in. These are the days you will carry with you for all of your life." And it was then that I knew we are going to have a special summer. Lots of big things on the horizon - wedding, vacations, art camp, etc. But I'm also really looking forward to all the little things. Morning snuggles, park playdates, picnics at the beach, bike rides, mud-pie making. My prayer tonight - Lord, please don't let it be a blur.

summer break

Summer break officially begins today. There were tears and smiles yesterday. Today there are only smiles and lots of talk of letter writing, picture drawing and pool lounging. Lots of talk about all the things we want to do this summer and lots of daydreaming on my part about the time we can spend at home and just be.

happy summer to you, my friends.

I promise that my son is not always shoveling food into his mouth and generally looking like a mess. Although I realize it may appear this way... ;)


Popsicle eating is a very thoughtful activity around here. Oh, Miss Caroline...


And my Isaboo...couldn't resist a shot of the ruffle-buttom swimsuit. Love.

SOOC summer

I'm going to do the thing I'm super afraid to do...post photos that were taken straight-out-of-camera (SOOC). No editing, no tweaking, no fussing or adjusting. It's kinda like when you go to the doctor, gown up, and the doctor walks in and says, "Okay, please drop your gown." Yikes!! There is no hiding or running from what's really there. The good, the bad and the ugly. So you take a couple deep breathes and try to think of unicorns or the beach or...anything.

When I started this photography blog in January it was intended to be a learning tool for me and a way for me to see where my photography had been and how much I had improved over the course of one year (fingers crossed, anyway). So I'm throwing these photos out there and hoping to look back and see what I could have done differently to make them better.

Deep breathe........and unicorns........

the view from here

Today was Izzie's last day of preschool for the year. All the end-of-the-year festivities are kicking off for the kids and the summer is stretching out before us. I'm lovin' it. What does the view look like where you are?