Dreams :: Shenandoah Valley, VA Children's Photographer

"I don't know if Prince Harry is still available."

"But could he resist these eyes either way?"

"No, sweet girl, he probably couldn't. If only we lived in England..."

I Like to Move It, Move It :: Lexington, VA Family Photographer

As I squatted in the middle of an alley, one eye squeezed shut, camera in position, ready to snap the shutter the nano-second everyone was kind of looking at me, I told this mother of four that these pictures would have a lot of movement in them. She laughed and kind of shrugged and said, "We are used to movement."

So we went with it and moved all over the place, catching smiles, sharing laughter and letting the kids be kids and the family do what this family does best: love one another freely.

iheartfaces, Week of Apr 24 :: Pets

Time to give our furry/scaly/feathered friends their due! I Heart Faces is looking at animal faces this week...or in my case, animal backsides.

My baby is quite the lover of our cat. Right now, I think they are matched pound for pound, but she is working hard to take the edge. He tolerates her advances...especially when he is busy spying on neighborhood wildlife through an open window!

You have today and tomorrow to share your animal image! Jump into the fun!

Green Eggs, No Ham :: Lexington, VA Children's Photographer

When I smell vinegar, I immediately think of Paas Easter egg dyes. And the egg dyeing competitions my family would have this time of year. Invariably, my dad would win each year because he would focus his efforts on ONE.SINGLE.EGG. Granted, it was magnificent. But when we have three dozen eggs to get through, we needed more output, less creativity.

Now that it is time for me to pass this tradition on to my own family, I picture it much as I experienced it: meticulously created eggs, multi-hued in precise overlapping lines. Two years ago, my vision was not realized and there was much frustration. Last year, my vision was again unrealized and I was again frustrated. This year, I decided it did not matter what the eggs looked like. It didn't matter if there were four green eggs and no yellow ones. It didn't matter if they soaked for five minutes to get maximum depth of color or if they were dipped in and pulled out immediately.

What mattered was the memory my daughter made painting eggs before Easter. I am proud that we completely the activity with smiles from start to finish. I am excited for the pride she has for the beautiful eggs she created. Yes, vinegar is a sweet smell!

Take Two :: Shenandoah Valley Family Photographer

These children are beautiful. Okay, I'll use handsome for the little man. (Though I still think beautiful is quite accurate.) But even beautiful children have off days. And just because I am armed with fruit snacks and horrid renditions of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star that is no guarantee of success.

So I ask for a Do-Over.

And I thank my lucky stars (the twinkling ones I sang about!) that they are able to meet the next day. The new morning finds their sweet baby girl full of smiles and wonder at the world at large. The morning also finds their energetic boy eager to hunt for more animals...from horses to snails. But I am pretty sure every morning finds this family full of love for one another, whether near or far.

iheartfaces, Week of Apr 17 :: Wind

My Facebook status yesterday was, "I know Central Texas is windy. But this is absurd." This wind has been out of control. Changing the color of the sky type of wind. Tree breaking wind. But with a smile on its face...no hint of rain or other benefits to go with the wind. Just wind for the sake of wind. But glory be, I Heart Faces is asking me to celebrate that wind! I guess this is the silver lining to pollen irritating the nose and grit in my eyes. Blow, wind, blow!

If you have some wind blowing around you, share your image for this week's I Heart Faces challenge. The contest is open until tomorrow.

The Army Way :: Shenandoah Valley Children's Photographer

Our families will not even live near one another for a full year. Such is the Army way. After this school year ends, where two of our girls sat in the same classroom, we will each pack up and move on to the next duty station. But being Army families, we know how quickly friends can leave us and we have learned to make the most of the time we do share.

I knew the bluebonnets were past their prime but I wanted to get my beautiful friend and her darling girls out for a session anyway. I didn't care about capturing the flowers as much as I cared about capturing them, the girls' sweet innocence and the mother's effusive love for her children. She possesses an ease that encourages me to slow down, breathe in and relax when I am with her. Enjoy every moment. See the world as our children do. Look around and marvel.

Our time together passed too quickly, but I have the hope that our paths may cross in the future. Such is the Army way.

Ladybugs...and pictures... :: Lexington, VA Children's Photographer

He was still for the tiniest moment. Sitting where I asked. Looking at me. Almost about to flash his heart melting smile. Then a ladybug flew by. And the moment passed. Not the moment with him chasing the ladybug. No, the moment where I captured the picture I created in my head. Then I remembered he is five. And he and his sister both want to throw their arms wide, explore the field and be kids. (Fortunately, they were also willing to throw their arms around each other for a click or two of the shutter.)

So, after giving me the requisite smiles, we had a race across the field and they simply couldn't contain the thrill of being young, being free and being with their best buddies. (It's okay for adults to have these moments, too...)

An Older Brother :: Lexington, VA Children's Photographer

I don't have an older brother. (Or a younger one for that matter.) But in my musings of what an older brother might be like, I see a protector and a defender of safety, honor and reputation. I see someone like this young man: confident, arm slung casually yet solidly around his sister's waist. As I watched these two, I saw the silliness of siblings, the love for their mother, and the affection for each other, thinly veiled through pushes and gentle pokes. I saw a pair that will be there for each other along life's path, celebrating the good and comforting through the bad. I saw a sister who adores her brother. And a brother who thinks his sister is pretty neat, too.

After the Rains :: Lexington, VA Children's Photographer

We needed rain. By "we," I mean Central Texas. Not me. I specifically did not need rain at 3 am this morning, knowing full well it would make the field of bluebonnets a field of bluebonnets and mud and wetness. But the rains freshened the air, washed away the pollen and made everything look so green. Add two vibrant, energetic children to the mix and I had a Monday morning that started much better than Monday mornings typically do!

Picture Perfect :: Lexington, VA Family Photographer

We walked out into the field of bluebonnets, Dad carrying his new son, Mom toting the diaper bag, and they announce that they are not good at getting their picture taken. And it might be true that a static style picture wouldn't capture who they are as a couple, as parents, as a family. But as soon as they forgot about me and started cooing at their sweet son and trying to coax smiles from him, they became perfect at getting their picture taken.