welcome to the world

"welcome to the world." does it not sound like a super sweet name of a tuff calssic rock album? (wait, is it????) it also happens to be the theme of a pretty cute (who am i kidding, it was mega cute!) baby shower put on for melanie blodgett, that ever charming blogger from you are my fav --  

and you're not going to believe this next part--but you know who planned this cuter than ever psuedo classic rock gold album potential baby shower? this awesome lady--right here--who i was able to photograph--who is named mykol, which happens to be the name---okay, just read about it here, i'm getting way too carried away. ;)

valerie's heart in new york city

this session is dear to me for so many reasons. the best way to sum it up though is to repeat what i said on my facebook page about this beautiful woman: i secretly believe every "pro" photographer has them. the people who believed in you before you actually knew what you were doing. i'm not talking about your spouse or your family, or someone who loves you and knows you in real life. i'm talking about those strangers out there who somehow noticed your work when you were still mostly messing around. they believed in you before you even believed in you. then the thing that makes them more amazing---is that they continue to do so. they actually stick around--and they get behind every thing you do -always encouraging, always supportive. and even though you know you don't always deserve it, you are so so grateful, because without the kind words, you may not have kept going.

valerie was/is all that and more for me. then she had to go and become a way more amazing photographer than i am

(http://www.colibriphoto.com/project/)

awhile back i had the huge honor of photographing her family in NYC. it was so hard for me to choose an image from our session to fb preveiw because there were so many lovely ones---but i think this simple capture does a great job of showing the inner and outer beauty of my good friend valerie. xoxoxo canon eos 3, tri-x.

A + G get married in Colorado

i'm going to keep it short and sweet tonight, because this post is heavy on the pictures. i have never laughed so much shooting any other couple. these two are made for eachother. special thanks to my second shooter James Anderson, and assistant for the day Cassidy Brooke. they made me feel like part of a dream team. p.s. this bride is a rad colorado photog, and seeing as how i just moved from the joint, well, you should maybe check her out http://www.apriloharephotography.com

p.p.s. A + G have the best engagement story ever. hint, it involves roller derby, a championship, and someone named winona fighter. yeah, check it out.

france family sesh plus a video!

so you maybe remember me chatting it on up with the lovely kelli france of the pretty fancy chic critique forum  back in this post:  (click here, but ignore the freeze frame capture, there was nothing that could be done) during the interview she mentioned she had hired me to do her family photos and how she was so excited, and i responded a smiley, "yeaaaaahhhhhh.....awesome." usually i do okay with articulating, and you know, forming thoughts and words, but in that moment all i could think of was queen/ david bowie's under pressure song. the nerves started then.

fast forward a week or two, and there i found myself in colorado springs, in perfect golden light--doing my best to ignore the crying of my own kids because yes, they came along with marty to hang out in the park where we shot. i closed my eyes for a moment, took a deep breath, went over to hold wren who was sobbing, walked back to the france's ready to go.to.work.

and we did. and the super talented jessica detiege, came along for the crazy ride and made this amazing video that will just put a tear in your eye. i think a video combined with a tooon of photos will kind of get the point of the beautiful france's across, which means i should probably stop talking

right

about

now

gahhh, but i can't! i just have to say that this family? they have a lot on their plate. they are busy. they work hard. they feel that constant tug and pull of being a young family, with busy schedules, and a task list longer than the hours in the day. but they prioritize their love first. and i think it shines through. thanks so much for giving me this opportunity kelli. xoxo

the thurston's at home

i knew of rachel before i knew her. in my photography world its like the six degrees of jonathan canlas as opposed to kevin bacon. i knew some people who knew him, who knew her through him, and it made me feel a little like i knew her too. but it wasn't until she gave birth to her little baby nova, and chronicled her birth story here (read it! so touching!)

that i fell completely and utterly in love with rachel and her perspective. from that point on, i kept my eye on her. you know the ways of internet stranger platonic romance don't you? you start to follow them on twitter, you're charmed by the clever things they say, you learn the names of their immediate family, laugh along at the retelling of their trip to europe, and secretly believe that if only they knew you in real life, you would be true blue friends. that was me and my rachel thurston fantasy.

when i wrote the infamous sick of it blog posts, i was overwhelmed with supportive emails. really. the internet taught me a lesson on the good parts of humanity in that crazy aftermath.  rachel's was among the first wave. what?! her?! the one i always hoped would notice me??  she said she would love to have me out to photograph her family in long beach (which can i just stop and say how that touches my heart?!!). i wrote back something along the lines of, well, i don't know if you were serious or not, and you may not know this, but i'm supposed to be your new best friend, so i hope you were a little serious because i would love to come out....

her response still rings in my ears a little bit.

"serious as sin."

ha. so i did. and after i took photos of rachel, grant and nova, and got so wrapped up in their web of love that i almost couldn't stand it..... i spent the night. that's right. be careful when you hire ole'  yan. you might get a bonus sleepover with your package.