Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Heidi & Jarod





Here's just a few shots from Heidi and Jarod's engagements last week.
What a great time of year to be outside. Everything is fresh and new and brimming with possibility. And those pesky bugs haven't figured that out yet, so even better.

We had geese singing to us while we were down by the water, flying up and down the river. There was a shot that didn't make the final proofs because of the blur, but one bird even flew between us as I was shooting. Life was buzzing all around us.

As it imitates art, life is also getting busy for these two. With long distance, cross-country trekking their careers are also full of possibility. But for this morning, Heidi just let go and wrapped up in Jarod's arms. She naturally found her favorite place of rest, and he was content just to hold her. It's a pleasure, seeing a love between two people that has just as much electricity as this Spring morning. It gives me the inclination that in the idea of tomorrow there lies hope for anyone to discover a new start. Love like this, gushing with potential, just waits to be explored. We have to reach for it and let it take hold of us. Then we need only to let go and rest there in that embrace.

Monday, May 26, 2008

Congratulations Graduate






At schools everywhere yesterday, black-robed students stood up to receive recognition for the passage of a chapter in their lives. Hopes and dreams were realized, and anticipation for what the future may hold could fill an auditorium with a charge of electricity.

One student in particular, a friend of mine, graduated with her masters in Business, and I just wanted to give her a good pat on the back. Congratulations Amanda.
You're as bright as they come, and it's great to see you so supported and surrounded with family. You studied hard to walk across that stage. No matter where you go, your work ethic and business savvy will always serve you well, and any business large or small would be blessed to have you.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Introducing Melissa






We'd like to introduce to you our new assistant Melissa.
We've been praying for someone to come along that we could really invest with in our studio, and at the same time Melissa was working in a bank manager position, praying to God for something to come along that might help her follow her passion in photography.

Snap! (Isn't that cool how He does that?) We met during a photo shoot and the rest is history.

This week we've accomplished a great deal with her in training.
Melissa is smart as a whip and right on track with making our clients priority #1. She's taking notes and asking tons of questions. As a result she's already began to streamline my very cluttered world, so I think this is going to be a very good move, for us and for our clients.
Jill, the official dog-greeter at our studio, has given her paw-of-approval, and my daughter says her pictures are "Beaut'ful!"

We're looking forward to diving in with her into every aspect of the business, so from working with clients to snapping pictures, from taking orders to customer service, plan to see a lot more of her.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Ballerina









This is my little girl's first year in ballet, and she came home Saturday in her new outfit with her hair up in a bun. She even had on lip gloss and eye shadow, so pictures were a must.
I've seen her dance a hundred times. She has a style and a grace that is completely her own, and I've seen moves from this little girl that are 100% original. It may not be perfect ballet form but it is certainly inspiring to me.
My favorite is when she hears a song playing in the studio, and her feet just begin to move as if they had a mind of their own. Finally she just can't contain herself, and then there she is, spinning and twirling all around the shooting room.
She lives up to her namesake, my keeper of the dance.
I wouldn't have it any other way.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Wet Dog






It was warm and sunny this weekend, so of course we had a water fight. The old family dog was the most excited, moving around more than I’ve seen her move all year.
She loved attacking the hose and the stream of water, but I think she liked the top notch towel-drying even more. It's written all over her face, in her eyes. It's all over my boy's face too, in the form of wet dog kisses.


Saturday, May 17, 2008

Sarah & Jeremy's Wedding






Here's a few shots from Sarah & Jeremy's wedding. At the rehearsal it was snowing, but by the next afternoon, it was nice enough to get outdoors for some of the pictures.
These two are so laid back and fun-loving, and when we were focused on them, the rest of the hub-bub was lost.
The bell-ringers played one of my favorite parts in this wedding. They were in perfect harmony as they rang out the music, note by note, and it was a pleasure to listen to that sound echoing in the chambers of the sanctuary.

Her grandfather is a pastor, and watching him stand up for them to read from the good book will be a treasured moment.

Here's one of my favorite shots of Sarah, sitting in the pew as the sunlight came through the window. She looked like she belonged there in that moment, and this is how I'll always remember her day.

Friday, May 16, 2008

Boys, Bats & Baseballs









This is my boy's first year in baseball. We've only had a couple of games because of the lovely South Dakota weather we've had this Spring.

Watching these little guys give it their all is awesome. They walk up to the plate swinging the bat, not like ball players, but like jedi warriors with light-sabers, carving giant arcs and S'es out of thin air. The animation is astounding.
There are hip swings that are straight out of Elvis, and the bat is not just a bat. It's a powerful weapon, a tool in which they will pack in all of their 8-year old skills. It's also the only time mom is going to let them swing a big stick as hard as they can without getting yelled at. It's their chance to really sock something and they know it.

To them, baseball is only about smacking that ball and getting the other team out. That's it. Nothing more simple or complicated than that. When there's already been 3 outs and the inning is over, outfielders race for the dugout while the batter slumps his shoulders, dragging the bad in the dust and leaving a snake-like trail in the dirt. He's devastated that his chance to knock the ball to the moon has been lost.

The coach yells, " #5! Your Left-field!"
and the boy says, "Ummmmm, I don't know where that is?"

They make a great catch and suddenly, in their minds, they've won the game and must have beaten the socks off the other team. Only after the hitter crosses the plate do they realize that they were supposed to actually do something with that ball in their glove.
Dads jump up and down from the other side of the fence, shouting out plays in code to the short-stops who have no idea what the code really means. One boy is busy picking up cool rocks on 2nd base, and another is leaving his position to race across the diamond for the ball. He's certain he'll get to it faster and throw it like a marksman to wherever the coach is yelling that it should go.

They have a genuine love for the game, with no idea of the politics or the mechanics. It's just fun, being a kid without the hassle of worrying about how to grow up, and that's what is so great about cheering them on.


Monday, May 12, 2008

Mark & Maria






Mark got back from Israel so Maria made sure to get him in for their engagements before he had to fly out again.
They might have their wedding here, or they might do something on the beach in sunny California, the plans are still up in the air. (I wish it was here so we could be part of their day, but I can't compete with California, especially after the lovely rain and gale-force winds we had this weekend, with a whopping 50 degrees.)
Either way, it was a pleasure to meet them both and to capture that spark that is between them.
I couldn't put my finger on who Maria reminded me of, and I'm terrible with names, so I just said to Kari,
"She looks like someone famous, you know, she was a supermodel...whats-her-name...." and Kari finished my thought.
"Christie Brinkley!"
Yes!

But Maria said she's never heard that.



Thanks to both of you for letting me play around with the light and try some new things. It was a lot of fun.