Month: September, 2011

Maui | Part III {…and fusion video}

September 21, 2011 · 4:43 pm

This post is long overdue, since clearly, we have been back from our vacation for over a month. And, what a CRAZY busy month it has been… I counted TWELVE sessions I had since early August until now, which is BUSY for me! I am all caught up on everyone’s sneak peeks and now am getting through finishing up galleries before the next wave of sessions begin again for me in October. My goal is to have everyone’s galleries completed by Oct. 1st. We will see if I can actually do that.=))

As busy as it has been, I have so enjoyed getting to be a part of capturing memories for everyone this past month and a half. What a precious thing that is and each time I go out to meet up with my clients for their session, I am sparked more and more by what I do! Truly… what a blessing to do something creative that I love!

Onto my last post of our time on Maui… If you missed my first two posts, you can check them out HERE and HERE.

This last post is really just a compilation of images from our time on the beach… where we hung out A LOT! I think truly, we lived in our swimsuits for most of this trip. Little excursions around the island and small hikes were a part of some of our days, but EVERYDAY, we hit the sand and surf. I will have fond memories of building sandcastles with my kids, watching Ben run into the surf, and letting the gentle waves roll over us. Ben still asks me if I can go build him a “race-track sandcastle” in his sand box outside in our backyard.

 

 

Such fun moments with my family…

I was able to sneak out one morning to catch the sunrise.  Barefoot and camera in tow, I took in God’s first glimpses of the day before me sitting on the beach solo.

We took our adventures to a few different beaches on the island…

Kahekili Beach

 

Honokowai Beach Park…  This one, we didn’t play in the surf {although, they had the coolest little tide pools that would have been perfect for the kids to play in}.

 

Kapalua Bay Beach

Yes, those are my toes in the sand.  And, yes, that is a Hello Kitty bandaid on one of my toes.

The only bandaid I could find in our backpack after my foot had a collision with some coral.

 

G-mama rockin the glasses.

And, my hat…

 

Waiting for the sunset on Kaanapali Beach.

On the northern side of Kaanapali beach is the sacred spot known as Black Rock. Ancient Hawaiians believed this cliff was a jumping off place for the soul to enter the spirit world. We enjoyed the daily sunset cliff diving ceremony they have there one evening. Loved how as the light was going down, they would blow their conch shells and run to the beach, lighting all of the tiki torches along the way, climbing up to black rock, and then diving into the ocean below. The kids loved watching this!

**Sidenote… Black rock had A-MAZING snorkeling! I snorkeled with a couple of sea turtles here!

I put together a little fusion video of some of our beach time on Maui. I had been wanting to try out the video on my camera for awhile, so I gave it a go. Forgive the shakiness of the video part… First attempt at filming.

For some reason, wordpress is being dumb, and won’t let me embed the video into this post. Click HERE to view.

Miss. Hayley {Snohomish and King County Senior Photographer}

September 16, 2011 · 8:30 pm

I met up with sweet Hayley and her mom last weekend for her Senior Session. We hit up the local park and then headed into town to grab some shots on the train tracks… just as the beautiful summer light was going down.

Hayley definitely had a vision for her session and I LOVE that! Hayley and her mom brought some balloons and had ideas about using different backdrops and posing throughout her shoot. She has such a creative eye, when it comes to photography, as taking pictures is something she enjoys doing!

I am so excited for Hayley’s future as we chatted about some of her dreams and passions.

All the best to you, Hayley! Enjoy your sneak peek…

Newlyweds {Snohomish and King County couples photographer}

September 14, 2011 · 10:42 pm

SUCH a sweet couple I met up with a couple of weeks back. Cody was my student teacher during my last year of teaching {when I was pregnant with Ben} and she ended up taking over my classroom, as I began my “stay at home mamma” career. She has such a passion for her students and now, for her new husband. I got to meet Kyle for the first time during our session and I was thoroughly impressed. They make such a dynamic pair.

I couldn’t be more happy for them and the start of their new life together.

Cody and Kyle, I hope you enjoy your images of your love and I am so excited for this new adventure you are embarking upon together!

Sweet Smiles {Snohomish and King County child and family photographer}

September 13, 2011 · 8:33 pm

I met up with this beautiful family on Labor Day last week. Hot and sunny, it was a perfect day for a session down at the river. They were full of sweet smiles, and I could tell when we arrived that this family was extra sweet, when the oldest boy offered to carry some of my gear. We did several different family shots and had fun photographing all of the kids with their lovely fair skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes.

M family, enjoy your sneak peek! There are many more to come…

**This family will receive a FREE 5×7 with their print order if their blog post receives 10 comments below.

Family love {Belfair, WA child and family photographer}

September 12, 2011 · 3:07 pm

I ventured South Labor Day weekend for this special extended family session. It was special because it had been many, many years since this entire family had been together in one place. And, the spot was great… Belfair State Park, sunshine, and camping. What more could they ask for?

I know there is much pride in Janice’s heart for her whole family. As a mother loves, she does it so openly, and I love that about her. I could see she began to tear up when I captured herself with her brother and sister.

Family love.

Stedman family, you truly do have a beautiful family and I hope you enjoyed your weekend together. There are many more images to come for you!

**This family will receive a FREE 5×7 if they receive 10 comments below this blog post.

Fierce {King and Snohomish County child and family photographer}

September 8, 2011 · 3:51 pm

Fierce.

Is what this woman is. I first met Rhonda about a year ago at Thrive Community Fitness, here in Monroe, where she “pumped the iron”. She has fascinated me, ever since then. So strong and so capable, she is a single parent to her three children, along with the help of her boyfriend {soon to be husband}, Frank. She has been on quite a journey in her life. She has lost over 75 pounds and every time I see her at the gym, she just looks better and better.

Strong and fierce, I tell you.

Both Rhonda and Frank climbed Mt. Rainer this past weekend and their training to get there has been nothing short of intense. Weighted down packs on the stair master. Practice hikes at camp Muir. And, various other physical activities. So so proud of both of them and their accomplishments!

Rhonda has also gone after a new career, which was grown from her membership and heritage in the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe. She is now the tribe’s community corrections officer, after recently completing tribal probation academy training.

All of this, while raising three children.

Meet Rhonda… A woman with a zest for life.

 

And, meet the rest of her beautiful family.  Strong and fierce, just like her.

We ended our session with this family dressing in their beautiful Native American costumes. Appropriate with Mt. Si in the background, as they are strong pillars in the valley’s Snoqualmie Indian Tribe.

Hope you enjoy your images, N family!

If you would like to read more about Rhonda and her passions, the Herald just wrote an article about her. Click HERE to view.

And, as always, this family will receive a FREE 5×7 with their print order, if they receive 10 comments under this blog post.

My heart sings ~ Simple Things Sunday

September 4, 2011 · 9:32 pm

Big brother and little sister. Ever since we switched our little half pint to a front facing car seat {we switched her about a month ago and she is almost 2… if that helps give some perspective about how tiny she is}, they do this in the car now. We don’t prompt it. They just hop in, and as if on key… EVERY time, Grace looks over to her big brother and says, “Hand.” And, on cue, he offers out his hand and they connect. And, they stay like this, most of the time, till we reach our destination.

So sweet.

So simple.

It’s the little things that make my heart sing.

 

 

It was a good day.  Restful.  Connecting with my family and some good friends.  Just what my soul needed.  Took some pics of our fun we had today and I will try and post later!

 

It’s been awhile…  been a busy August, but tonight, I’m back to linking up to Simple Things…