9 am on Sunday :: Georgetown, TX Family Photographer

When I arrived, a few minutes early, I was met at the door with a warm smile and a quick apology for the family not being quite ready. It was 9 am on a Sunday...why should you be ready?! (And then I later learned they had already ushered out a house full of kids who had spent the night. Impressive? I would say so!) But while Mom and Dad finished getting everyone ready, I hung out with the kids. I learned one will be Darth Vader for Halloween; the other, a crab. I learned the little girl is a lover of princesses, play kitchens and lotion. I also learned the young man had a successful first outing in flag football on Saturday. I loved getting to know everyone before assaulting them with my camera. In fact, I am glad we were running behind for it allowed me a little extra time to spend with this beautiful family, to watch the easy way they related with one another and the love they obviously have for each other. May you see how completely wonderful your family is in these pictures!

The Eyes Have It :: Harker Heights, TX Baby Photographer

My baby sleeps in a cave. Okay, not really a cave, but a room darkened by thickly lined curtains over both windows. I never know when she might want to nap and who needs to fiddle with closing blinds when you are trying to set the mood for a good, long, Mama's-going-to-get-some-stuff-done nap? So it is perpetually dusk in her room. And rarely does she play in there, except to yank the nightlight out of the wall socket (prompting a daily ritual of taking the nightlight out every morning and replacing it every evening). But today her room caught her fancy and in she went, me trailing behind with camera in hand. I pulled one of the curtains aside and she fell in love with the sunny patch of carpet created by the stream of light. From there, I let her do all the work. I just sat back to capture the many faces and expressions of my tiniest love.

(All images shot with an 85mm lens at f/2.0)

Balance

My plate is full. Not with food. With life. My life, the lives of my children, the life of my business. And I fear the full plate is about to topple and splatter on the floor. Even Bounty won't be able to rectify that mess with only one towel. You don't wipe up the crushed spirit of a child or your own shattered dreams. But if I don't figure out how to deftly balance this full plate, I feel that is where I am headed.

Even as I author these thoughts, I get up to rinse a few dishes left from breakfast, pour my second cup of coffee without taking enough time to stir in the cream and sugar, check on the children playing in the living room and attempt to quell jealousy towards my still sleeping stepson. A call from the other room for attention, put off with the "Just one second!" mantra of my new life. She runs to me, instead, knowing that is the only way to have her conversation about the color of a baby doll's eyes.

I have the urge within me to create. To write words that resonate with others. To create images that will be passed down to future generations. To leave my voice in this world, somewhere, with someone. Truthfully, though, that voice I have should be given first to my children. Am I doing that to the best of my ability? Are they competing with the other side of Mama, the side that shares this voice with my clients who are seeking to have their own memories preserved through my lens?

Oh, and I am doing this single handedly at the moment. Being Mom and Dad, trying to show compassion and firmness, discipline and love, strength and tenderness. Without my husband and all his strengths to balance me out. My situation is not unique, but it is my situation and I have to find a unique solution to make it work for me. I type as one child tries to scramble into my lap, yearning for time with me. I edit images as feet pitter patter up the hallway to the computer with an announcement of the latest great idea. I wear guilt like my scarlet letter. Guilt for failing my family. Guilt for failing my clients. Guilt for not having the wherewithal to be all things to all people.

I have lived long enough to know that hindsight is an amazing optic through which to view my life. I know I will look back on this period of my life and wonder why I didn't do some things and why I did others. The frustrating part is I don't know specifically what those items are. For I am in it. I am in the forest and all I see are the trees. I do not have the perspective from 5 years in the future yet. So I look at my beautiful family, try to quiet the torrent of thoughts and be in the moment with them. I try. I am not very successful, for my mind has many storms and is rarely quiet. But I know the answer to this question of balance. I see it before me every day, growing and changing and learning from me.

My plate is full. But so is my heart.

Fairies and Motherhood :: Harker Heights, TX Children's Photographer

Days dawn early in a house with children. Even weekend days. And these aren't mornings where I ease into the day. No, mornings with children start with the first bit of pressure to the soles of my feet as they hit the carpet next to my bed.

"Mama, I'm hungry."

"Really? Mommy needs to brush her teeth."

"Mama, I'm REALLY hungry."

"Just a minute, please. Can you wait outside and give me a moment of privacy?"

"What are my breakfast options?"

"Outside the bathroom! Now!"

Breakfast provided, ten minutes later she is completely adorned as a fairy. Excuse me, a Princess Fairy. And my dignity, what little I had while still attired in my pajamas, is quickly stripped as I am dragged into the make believe land of Princess Fairies. With a tutu on my head. My only way to overcome the ludicrousness of my place in the world is to take pictures of us. Pictures that I swear will resurface when her date arrives to take her to Prom...

Twilight :: Harker Heights, TX Photographer

As a mother with young children, there is a time of day I rarely notice. It is the time of day normally filled with clearing dinner dishes (or tossing away fast food wrappers), drawing baths, brushing teeth and reading bedtime stories. It is the time of day when the witching hour makes the kids go batty. It also happens to coincide with the time of day when I want to plop myself on the sofa and move not a muscle. It is twilight.

And I was reminded a few days ago of the wonders that exist OUTSIDE my windows at this time of day. I had accomplished all that end of the day stuff, the girls were in bed, and I was settled onto the couch to watch some of the US Open. My eyes wandered around the room, noting the strewn toys that needed to be corralled by someone. Then I saw the orange light slipping through the slats of my closed blinds. I confess, I had a momentary internal discussion about the energy needed to get off the sofa and whether it was worth it. My laziness was defeated and outdoors I went.

Hello, Good Night Time. Hello amazing hues and sounds reminiscent of my childhood summers in the South. Hello, Twilight.

iheartfaces week 37, Vroom, Vroom :: Austin, TX Photographer

I wasn't sure what I would be able to find for this week's I Heart Faces theme of incorporating a vehicle into a picture. Then all of a sudden it hit me: I took an awesome shot of my gracious model couple at the Austin Photo Walk back in June. We happened upon a classic, yellow car and I just knew we had to get our couple draped all over that beauty. Some people shy away from big public kissing scenes, but thankfully, these newlyweds were more than happy to oblige.

I love that I managed to catch the moment right BEFORE their lips actually meet, so you feel all the anticipation.

Share your shot of a face with a vehicle, be it life-size or toy-size. You have until 9 pm Tuesday to enter!

Amor :: Killeen, TX Maternity Photographer

They speak Spanish to their young son, who was the cutest little fellow I could hope to photograph. I enjoyed listening and trying to translate the words myself. (I mean, I did take 5 years of Spanish and I am married to a native speaker. You think that would have helped. You would be wrong.) But it wasn't what was said that I could understand so clearly. The love they share is so sweet, so easy, so natural. Kisses given freely. Quiet laughter between shots. A gentleness towards their son that spoke of love. And soon they will open their hearts further to welcome a baby girl into their family. She is already blessed and loved. Her family is just waiting to show her.

Party of Five :: Central TX Family Photographer

When they pulled up next to my car at the appointed meeting place this morning, the dad climbed out of the car, introduced himself, then asked what he was supposed to do. Enjoy an hour with your family. Interact with your children. Look at me if you feel like. Laugh. Have fun.

Yes, the objective of a photo session is to get some treasured images, something to remind you when the children were only "this" big, a tangible memory of your family's history. But it is also an hour you spend together, no phone ringing, no television in the background, lots of snuggling and exploring.

So what should you do at a photo session? Just be yourself and the pictures will create themselves. And show you how beautiful your family's love truly is.

Ten Months :: Harker Heights, TX Baby Photographer

My littlest lady is growing up. And reaching up. And standing up. Everything is "dat, dat." She is a great pointer. She is not into baby signs. She loves to flip switches. Over and over and over. She giggles regularly. She LOVES her sister and lights up when she hears her voice. She shares toys and demands them back. She plays peek-a-boo, putting the blanket over her own head and pulling it down. She sleeps through the night, except when teething, which I think is happening right now. But I am not about to put my finger in that bear trap with four teeth. She watches everything and loves to be chased around the house. She thinks the cat's water bowl the best place for splashing, until she is allowed to take real baths with her big sister. She is happiness embodied and she is a joy.