Home: (n) any place of residence or refuge.

A number of weeks ago, I received an email from Caroline, introducing herself as a sister to one of my high school classmates. She mentioned that she and her siblings were all coming home for a Connecticut Christmas. (Doesn't that sentence sound so lovely? ;) Caroline was hoping I would be able to fit in a photo session as a surprise to her parents. Well, I was happy to oblige, and we settled on the morning after Christmas. The children now live in Illinois, Maryland, or Wisconsin, so it was the perfect time to get some photos before everyone went back home.

I am so glad we were able to make it work, Caroline. It was such a privilege meeting your entire family, and documenting a little place in the timeline of your life. Here are just a few of my favorites:



The only grandchild, sweet little Tessa, with a very happy set of grandparents:


Before I really start snapping away, I usually ask the family to just relax, interact, and ignore me while I test the light and get my exposure all set. I will admit that I often use that time to grab quite a few frames of them in their element. This photo is from that point in the shoot-- and I love it-- that so much is going on all at once, and how each little interaction tells a tiny story:

And then, when everyone's relaxed, they look beautiful and composed, like this:

The three 'original children':


I'm not usually an indoor photographer, but this next image makes me smile-- because behind them on the wall are the photos from their wedding.


As much as I like the above photo, this one is definitely my favorite of your little family, Melissa and Chris. Look at your little sweetheart:


Emily, who I graduated with back in the day (almost 12 years ago! WHAT?!). She and Nicholas are expecting a little one this Spring. Emily, you look as beautiful as ever... so happy for you! (And don't forget to let me know when your little one arrives :)




Caroline and Jason, thanks for your kind words and for organizing the session. 'So nice to meet you in person!




The girls, loving on the little miss:




And just one more, because I love how the baby has her hand on her grandmother's shoulder, like she knows she should pose for the photo:


Thanks for a great morning, Harvey family. I hope you experience a wonderful New Year filled with happy memories and many blessings!

"There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again."

-Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

Sneak Peek.

I'm so looking forward to sharing more from this wonderful family session!

To the Harveys-- thanks for trusting me with your family memories; it was a privilege spending time with you!

"To see their sons and daughters so flushed and healthy and happy, gave them also a reflected glow..."

-Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, from Beyond the City

Remember.

~

Today, I just have one little thing to say. I believe it with a fair amount of certainty:



I don't think we'll ever look back and say we took too many pictures.








"One day at a time-- this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

-Ida Scott Taylor, author

~

Cans for Comments - Update.

Just a quick thank you note to my readers from Erica May, for her Cans for Comments drive. Check out her post here, and see how many cans she and her husband Jeff were able to donate with your help. Thanks for coming through, blog readers!


(And because a post is not a post without one, here's a photo of what my kids were up to lately. All while arguing like a bunch of siblings. Grr. How do I cure them of that...? Mom? Any tips? Hello?)

"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else."

-Charles Dickens

Christmas card

Here's our 2009 Christmas card. From our home to yours. (And if you didn't get one in the mail, it's only because I ran out-- of cards, and time. :)

Merry Christmas, readers. You make me smile.



front:



inside top:


inside bottom:


back:

"I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses."

-Taylor Caldwell, American novelist. (1900-1985)

Singular: (adj.) separate; individual.

Sometimes, you just get that moment. Sometimes, it's not even planned. You ask a little nephew to stand in a certain spot, because you need to check the light. And you grab the photo, not even intending to keep it. It's just a test shot before you put his siblings in the picture. And then, sometimes you get home and sit in happy quietness looking at a little instant in time that was insignificant-- but ends up becoming a story. A story of a little boy with freckles. Who has the sweetest gleam in his green eyes.

Sometimes, a photo should just stand alone.





Ethan Michael, you are adorable. That's my story.

The End.

~

OpLove Session, continued.

A few more from the Operation: Love Reunited shoot:




































All the best as you plan your wedding, Nicki-- And safe return to you, Justin! Thanks again for letting me photograph your sibling relationship!

The photos and other content of this publication do not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.

OpLove Session. Brother.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Nicki, asking me if I was available over Christmas break to do a session for her and her brother, Justin. See, Nicki is getting married next June, and her brother can't be home for her wedding, because Justin is being deployed overseas right after Christmas. She wanted to put on her wedding dress, and have Justin in his uniform, to get some portraits of the two of them before he leaves. I felt so privileged and honored to have the opportunity, and even happier that the session could be donated, because I'm a photographer for Operation: Love Reunited. OpLove is an organization that provides free photography sessions to active duty servicemen and their families, giving our soldiers and their families something to cherish on their long absences. We sometimes hear in the news that more soldiers are needed, or that many more thousands are going to be deployed. It's sometimes easy to forget that for each soldier, there are siblings, mothers, fathers, wives, and children that are affected. This shoot was a good reminder for me to pray for our soldiers-- and their families who wait for them.

Nicki just had two requests for the session: that it not look like a 'winter wonderland', since she's getting married in June, and she wanted a shot of her snazzy shoes. So we went for an 'urban style' session. You'd never know it was absolutely frigid out, or that snow was headed our way within a few hours after the shoot. Mission accomplished, Nicki! :)

It was wonderful to meet you both, Nicki and Justin (and your mom; thanks for your help carting around the blanket!) Here are just a few of my favorites to hold you over until your full session can be posted:






I used to bug my parents for a brother. I thought it would be the coolest relationship. And moments like this are why I still think it's pretty special:



Here you go, Nicki:


'Can't wait to show you the rest!


*The photos and other content of this publication do not imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.