Wishful Thinking Photography by Heidi Lawson ~ Lake Stevens, WA

My Little Cutie

2012-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

She doesn't always love it when I take her picture taken ... but this day she was a little angel model. Letting me put her through 4 different clothing changes so I could photograph these headbands for Casual Cutie's Etsy site. I can genuinely say we BOTH had fun doing photos that day! I just love this little girl of mine.

Finley {Newborn}

2012-01-24T08:45:00.000-08:00

This little girl was so anxiously anticipated and eagerly welcomed. She is the sweetest little thing and I just loved taking her newborn pictures. Welcome to the world, Finley!

By the Book: Megan

2012-01-23T20:55:00.000-08:00

It has been ages since I have entered a challenge at I Heart Faces, but when I read that this week's theme is "By The Book", I just had to pull this picture out, as it is one of my favorites. This is one of my cute seniors that is graduating this year. We had a blast at her photoshoot (see all the pics here). She has big plans to go on to medical school after she graduates, so we wanted to do something FUN that also represented how smart she is and what she aspires to. A big book, some nerdy glasses, and that priceless expression captured what we were going for perfectly!

January Snow

2012-01-18T08:21:00.001-08:00

The story since Saturday here has been snow, snow, and MORE snow! I measured 9" in our front yard last night and more is supposed to still come down today and maybe even tomorrow. We have had SO much fun sledding, building snowmen, and drinking hot chocolate. And of course the kids are enjoying the days off of school!

For Christmas I got an iPhone and immediately fell in love with the ease of "iphoneography". I still take plenty of pics of my kids with my real camera, but I will say there is something so liberating about just grabbing the phone and snapping quick pics in the moment. Here are a few iPhone photos of our fun during the past couple of days!

Once I motivate myself to dedicate a little time to this bloggie, I also have EIGHT sessions that I need to post from the past few weeks. Plus I may or may not get brave enough to show off some of the maternity photos I've taken lately of myself. I'm 35 weeks along and can't believe how quickly time is flying until baby #5 joins our household. Crazy! Stay tuned, this blog may see some action yet :).

Bigelow Family

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

So excited to share these pictures of some of my favorite people in the world! The stars aligned for sure, to make sure this photoshoot worked out. Love these girls like they are my own. In fact, I frequently volunteer to adopt them, but so far I've been rejected :). Thanks for spending the afternoon with me taking pictures, Bigelow family! I always love being around you!

Ada at 6 months

2011-12-22T09:00:00.000-08:00

I can't believe this little cutie is already 6 months old! She has definitely grown up quickly ~ crawling all over the place now, cutting teeth, and trying to keep up with her big brother!

Here's a little flashback to what she looked like as a newborn:

And just for fun we had to try this prop out again:

Here are a few more of my favorites!

We actually tied her dress to the chair in this one, to keep her nice and secure :). And of course mom was just out of camera keeping a close eye on Ada to make sure she didn't try to climb out anyway:

Danny + Andrea + 2 = lots of love!

2011-12-21T17:00:00.000-08:00

Well you have definitely seen this bunch on the blog before! November brought plenty of family photoshoots as people were getting updated family photos for their Christmas cards. I loved shooting at a new location for these pics. It is always fun to discover new hidden spots in my hometown of Lake Stevens!

More of that little sweet girl to come ~ from her 6-month shoot inside the studio! Stay tuned!

Bishop Family {2011}

2011-12-20T17:06:00.000-08:00

It certainly isn't my intention to have such l-o-n-g stretches between blog posts ... just the nature of my life and schedule lately, I guess! But I definitely want to share these pictures I took of one of my other sisters on our trip to St. George over Thanksgiving break. We had fun doing a few "secret" pics to help her announce to friends and family that her 2 cute boys are going to be big brothers this coming June! Of course I'm so excited for all of them ~ and am trying to scheme how I can get back to St. George to take newborn pictures!

Anderson Family

2011-12-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

I was so excited when cheap tickets popped up and we were able to go to St. George, UT for Thanksgiving. We were able to enjoy beautiful warm weather, time with my sister, and beautiful scenery! And I even managed to slip in 2 photoshoots for a couple of my siblings while I was there.

Today's blog post features my sister Mary and her family. Isn't that red rock stunning?

Kira and Amelia {2011}

2011-12-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

This is the third time I've photographed these cute girls. It has been so much fun for me to watch them grow! I just love their sweet (and sometimes silly!) personalities. Thanks for the fun time we had together in the studio!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

2011-12-12T08:57:00.000-08:00

I love decorating my house for Christmas. It just helps bring in such a festive spirit. It's always hard to take all the decorations down in January because everything looks so bare. Here's a collage I put together of some of my favorite spots inside my house right now:

Alderson Family

2011-11-30T08:00:00.000-08:00

This is one of those photoshoots that will go down in history. Stories will be told. Of the unbelievable RAIN that was pouring down. And yet we carried on. Found the teensiest sliver of cover for this family to huddle in together and made it work. Thankfully we were just doing a mini session, with the sole purpose of getting some fabulous images for a Christmas card. So they weren't huddling for long. But memories were still made!

And because it is almost that time of year ... here's one to end on!

Proof.

2011-11-29T18:38:00.000-08:00

For all those coworkers of my husband that don't believe he really has 4 kids ... with one more on the way ... here's the proof. Just some random photos taken one Sunday morning a few weeks ago:

I love these sweet kiddos of mine!

And yes, I'm sure he's flattered that you all think he is only 25 ... :).

Conklin Family

2011-11-15T08:54:00.000-08:00

I adore this family. And of course was so excited when they came to me with the idea to do a grandparents photoshoot as a gift. These 3 kids are definitely adored by the grandma and grandpa, and it was so much fun to see the sweet interactions between them.

Even though the focus was definitely on grandma and grandpa,
I did have to sneak in a few with mom and dad,
and some individuals of the kiddos ...

This one is being printed up on canvas. Can't wait for it to get here! I'm sure it will look amazing.

And I left my very favorite for last ...

Thanks for the fun time together, Conklin family! Love you guys!

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T07:30:00.000-07:00

... from my little vampire, werewolf, skeleton, and bee ...

Please ignore the fact that we forgot to bring his plastic fangs along when we went out to take photos ... he still vants to drink your blood ...

a little howling at the ~~moon~~ um, make that sun, was in order:

Hope everyone has a very Happy Halloween!

Walkin' About

2011-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

The results of a simple afternoon "walkin' about", exploring the many fun locations my area has to offer. My little girl could not have been a more perfect, agreeable little model. Love her!

Those last two totally crack me up. That's the face she gives me now when I tell her to "smile".

Kenna = Senior

2011-10-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous Kenna is getting set to graduate from Monroe High School this school year. Yippee! I know she has some big plans ~ one of them being a career in nursing. I loved my time with Kenna ~ she is beautiful, smart, funny ... definitely made for a fun afternoon of photo-takin'

Megan = Senior

2011-10-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time taking Megan's senior pictures. I love how much thought she put into picking each of her outfits so she would have plenty of diversity. And of course I LOVED how she brought along a gigantic book so we could do some fun shots that fit her personality. She has big plans to be a doctor when she grows up, so we needed to do something super scholarly and yet fun at the same time. I supplied the nerdy glasses and we were SET. Of course her great expressions, gorgeous smile, and perfect serious looks absolutely made the pictures. She is one beautiful girl. I know she has an amazing future after she graduates this year from Lake Stevens High School!

Sarah = Senior

2011-10-05T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have photographed her brother and sister, so I was glad it was finally Sarah's turn for senior portraits! We've been slowly building a collection of pictures to go on the "senior picture wall" in their house and now it is finally complete. It was so much fun getting to know this gorgeous girl better. She is truly an amazing person with so many talents and such a great future. Good luck in your last year at Lake Stevens High School, Sarah!

That last little smirky sideways glance pic? Just for you, Sarah :).

Austin = Senior

2011-10-04T08:30:00.000-07:00

Captured.

2011-10-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

My little girl. Captured in a super silly, super happy moment. Lovin' this age and stage!

Kaitlyn = Senior

2011-09-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

I have known Kaitlyn since she was about 8, although I hadn't seen her in quite a long time. It was so fun to get together for her senior shoot. Hard to believe that time has flown by so fast that she is set to graduate! Isn't she absolutely gorgeous?! We met up on a beautiful evening at the beach and had a great time together. I went home with wet knees and sandy feet, but thoroughly happy. Enjoy your last year at Snohomish High School, Kaitlyn!

Katie = Senior

2011-09-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

This cute girl is turning 18 today, so what better day to show off her senior pictures?! We had a great time together, even with the few raindrops that showed up at the end of our shoot. I love that Katie had some great ideas on places we should go for her pictures, and even showed me a few new locations in downtown Snohomish. Thanks for the fun, and Happy Birthday, Katie! Hope you enjoy your senior year at Glacier Peak High School!

Back to School

2011-09-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well the older two boys have been back to school for 3 weeks now, and my little guy started up last Monday, so it is high time I get these pictures posted! I love back-to-school time: the new clothes, the new school supplies, homemade cookies on the first day, the excitement over new teachers and a new schedule. I *think* my kids share that enthusiasm, too ~ at least for a couple of days before reality sets in. We are enjoying being back to our regular routine. As much fun as summer was, it really is nice to welcome back some structure!

And that lovely scar down my 4-year-old's forehead? The result of an unfortunate run-in with a sharp edge on a trampoline and the subsequent 6 stitches. What a memory to begin the year with! It is already looking much better and hopefully won't leave too much of a mark after long.

Robbins Family

2011-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

They got a gift certificate for this photo shoot as a gift for their 2nd anniversary. What a fun way to celebrate! I loved seeing this family interact with each other. They giggled and wrestled and hugged and kissed ... definitely a family that loves being together. Of course it made my job easy ~ all I had to do was sit back and have fun right along with them.

Thanks for the great afternoon!

Jeff and Rebecca + 4.

2011-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

They live in Washington D.C. ... we live in Washington State ... we met up in Utah. I'm just glad I had a chance to see them, as it has been a while since I have been able to get together with my little brother and his family of 4 boys!

Reilly = Senior

2011-08-23T09:00:00.000-07:00

I LOVE taking senior pictures. It is just too. much. fun. Reilly's photos were no exception. I loved that she was up for anything. We found some fun new locations that I had never shot at before and had a great time. Now she is off in Disneyland enjoying some fun family time before school starts up in a couple of weeks. Crazy how quick this summer has come and gone!

California Partyin'

2011-08-11T09:00:00.000-07:00

LAST post of these two. But I just had to show off the rockin' party thrown in California in their honor. They definitely knew how to celebrate that wedding, didn't they?

Wishing you lots of love and happiness!

Lake Tahoe Wedding Portraits

2011-08-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

I loved boarding that plane, saying goodbye to my family (just for a few short days!) and heading off to Lake Tahoe with a big bag of camera equipment. It's not often I get to travel for my photography ~ I could definitely get used to it, though. It was such a fun weekend. We stayed in an amazing bed and breakfast with truly the best scones I have ever had in my life. AND I got to explore a new part of the country I have never been in before. I can now attest to the absolute beauty of Lake Tahoe. The combination of mountains and beach is truly stunning.

We planned to take Lisa and Brandon's formal photos after their wedding and honeymoon, so we could really relax and enjoy the experience ~ without all the hustle and bustle of the big day. I'm so glad we did, as I am in love with these photos, the gorgeous location, and the fun of shooting late into the evening!

Lisa and Brandon's Big Day.

2011-08-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Um ... hi again. Did July really just pass us by? Without a single post from me? All I can say is that obviously weddings throw me flat on my back and I'm reminded again why I'm much happier focusing on family and newborn and high school senior-type of photography. Of course, this was my sister's wedding, so I couldn't exactly say no. And I'm beyond grateful for my good friend Shar who acted as my second ... and my sanity ...! I think between the two of us we were able to capture the magic and fun and {of course} love that was apparent all day long.

And stay tuned ... I actually have TWO more posts full of pictures of these two, as a week after their wedding we jetted off to Lake Tahoe to take formal wedding portraits and then enjoyed a whole 'nother party in California. Lots of fun details to still be shared!

Lisa's Bridals.

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

Today! Today! She's getting married today! Which means I can FINALLY show off these oh-so-stunning bridals I took for my baby sister last month. Here's hoping today is beautiful and fabulous and most of all FUN! And yes, she has more personality than anyone I have ever known ...

Girls Night In

2011-06-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last month. Just me, the baby, a self-timer, and some books. The boys were all of camping. Such a sweet, peaceful evening!

{Ponder This}: YOU.

2011-06-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just a little somethin' I made up for myself to remind me to be ME!

Flores Family

2011-06-23T08:30:00.000-07:00

Our kids get in waterfights and ride go-carts and play steal the flag together. The mom has seen me in my pajamas at the bus stop more times than I can count and yet still talks to me :). The dad loves his kid and wife and family with a passion. I feel lucky to be their neighbor and even luckier that they asked me to be their photographer! This is truly a fun family.

Johanna

2011-06-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I have far too many favorites from this session. Johanna is gorgeous. The weather was amazing. The light was perfect. Truly a fabulous evening.

Daddy Time.

2011-06-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

My sister-in-law asked me to take some photos of her husband and kids for father's day. How fun to see the sweet bond this daddy has with his 2 kiddos!

Such a cute little family!

Raising an Assistant.

2011-06-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

At least ... I'm brainwashing her by trying to get her to love the camera as much as I do ...

Shirt is from Crewcuts. I snatched this one up at my local J Crew outlet, so sadly you can't find it online, but just about everything else they sell is to-die-for-cute.

Just Like You. Happy Father's Day.

2011-06-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

We were laughing our heads off. Raiding the closet. Peeking our heads out the window to make sure daddy wasn't coming home early. I had an initial idea, "let's dress you guys up in Daddy's clothes and take a picture!" ... and then my kids turned on the creativity. They started calling out specific things they wanted to wear in order to really BE daddy. In all his many personas.

My oldest insisted that he needed to wear my husband's basketball shorts. Another one wanted to put on his badge that he wears to work every day. My little guy kept jumping up and down shouting, "I want to wear his PAJAMAS!" Of course that meant he got to wear the 15-year-old glasses that my husband puts on after taking out his contacts every evening. Which put us all in a fit of giggles as he looked so silly.

To finish off the look, the baby wore "church clothes" (although her brother's insisted she couldn't wear any flowers in her hair, or she wouldn't look like daddy ...). I think they did a perfect job picking out what they needed to wear for all of the roles my husband plays so well: Work Daddy, Basketball Daddy, Bedtime Daddy, and Church Daddy.

My kids couldn't ask for a better role model for who they should be when they grow up.

Happy Father's Day.

My Grandma

2011-06-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

When I was little she used to invite me and my sisters over for sleepovers. And make us chocolate milkshakes. We would curl up under her big fuzzy blankets in the basement and watch old movies together. She had truly the coolest phone ~ brown and vinyl-like that I thought looked just like a chocolate donut. AND she had the largest collection of Barbie dolls I had ever seen, kept in a playroom underneath the stairs.

Grandma's home was the perfect stop on the way home from the elementary school. We would pop in for cinnamon toast before continuing the walk around the corner. Our homes were separated by a fence that ran along our backyard. Whenever we needed something we could just call up and she would pass whatever we asked for over the fence. For years we said we were just going to build a gate for easier access, but it never did quite happen.

Right after I graduated from high school I moved to Jackson Hole, Wyoming for a summer to work. Grandma and Grandpa made a 3 1/2 hour drive just to deliver a bag of homemade chocolate-chip cookies. They were only there for about 15 minutes before driving back home again. And just a couple of weekends ago she agreed to let me take her picture. Before going inside and thoroughly trouncing me in a game of Rook.

Love you.

Lisa + Brandon

2011-06-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

The countdown is own. Less than two weeks until my baby sister is getting married. I flew down to Utah a few weeks ago to take her engagement pictures (and some truly stunning bridals, but I have made a solemn vow to not show them off until after her wedding ...). But I DO get to show these off. I must say that Lisa and Brandon (or "Itsa and Branney" as my baby girl calls them) are quite suited for each other. They definitely have a lot of fun when they are together!

And yes, I took a gazillion pictures. And we shot until the sun went waaaayyyy down and my ISO went waaaayyyyy up. 'Cause it's fun to live a little on the wild side ...

{Mine on Monday}: Baseball.

2011-06-13T09:12:00.000-07:00

Another season has come and {almost} gone. We had just one player this year, which was nice ~ as it meant we only had a 2-day commitment. He played coach pitch, which is one of my favorite years. The games go quickly and the kids are able to really improve their skills. I just wish the weather could have cooperated better. There were plenty of rained-out practices and games. Actually, I don't mind that too much ... it's the games that don't get rained out but probably should that are the killers. We definitely froze on the sidelines from some misty weather a few times! Still, my son played well and was thrilled to be on the same team as one of his best buddies from his kindergarten class last year. By the end of the season he was hitting the ball consistently and doing a great job in the field as well. We were very proud of him. He also seemed to really enjoy himself, which is always a huge plus!

I captured a few more pics after this game, in an empty field right next to the parking lot. His ears sticking out of his hat just crack me up. Obviously his hat doesn't quite fit his head ...:

Now we get to enjoy a few months off of sports. I'm looking forward to some free Saturdays!

Graduated

2011-06-08T10:59:00.000-07:00

Just a little photo review I put together of all of the AMAZING seniors I had the privilege to photograph this year: Crystal, Kristen, Jack, Nick, Garett, Devan, Chelsea, Paige, Ansje, Elvira, and Kraig. Congratulations on graduation, I know you all have fabulous things coming up in the future!

Smith Family {Mukilteo}

2011-06-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

This family first contacted me about pictures back in JANUARY. And then it snowed. And rained. And they went out of town. And I went out of town. And then it rained some more. Generally the weather has been so yucky this past ~~spring~~ ~ make that winter. It's been quite the challenge.

Our schedules ... and the weather ... finally seemed to align, and we met up at Mukilteo beach to finally take some photos. And of course, just a few minutes into our session, the wind picked up and the clouds rolled in. So we grabbed jackets, a blanket from the car, and just kept on going. Now why do I feel like this is a situation I have shared before? Oh that's right ... because it seems to happen far too often! Ha ha ha. SO looking forward to reliable weather. You would think after living in the Seattle area for the past 11 years I would know better though ...

Even with the chill in the air, I love the photos we captured. It was so easy to feel just how much this family loves one another!

Little Mommy

2011-06-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I actually thought she wasn't old enough to care for a doll yet. My sisters all insisted that she was. And of course I have been proved wrong. She takes such good care of her baby. Feeds her. Takes her shoes on and off. And changes her diaper every day. {Thankfully she doesn't seem to notice that we are rotating through the same two diapers ... or that could get a little expensive :) ...}

My "little mommy" is simply much too cute.

{Ponder This}: Dance.

2011-06-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Ada {Newborn}

2011-06-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

5 days new.
The sweetest little baby girl.
I feel truly blessed that I get to spend time photographing so many little souls.
Love you Ada!

Chelsea {Granite Falls Senior}

2011-06-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Isn't she stunning?! Just one more week and Chelsea will graduate from Granite Falls High School. I had a blast taking her photos. We had so much fun in my studio together. I made a complete mess throwing props and backdrops around. Ran around barefoot. And enjoyed every minute of it.

Good luck at Washington State University in the fall, Chelsea. I know you will do great!

Memorial Day 2011

2011-05-30T08:56:00.001-07:00

{Ponder This}: Pink.

2011-05-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just a little ...

2011-05-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

... before 'n after fun ...

Here's the before of gorgeous Miss Julianna:

And here's the after:

A little crop, a little cloning, a little soft light and multiply blending modes (masked off her face), some color poppin', and then several textures piled on. Um yeah. I was having fun. Always nice to take a break from the editing grind and just PLAY.

Paige. {Lake Stevens Senior}

2011-05-25T06:45:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when Paige came to the studio for some end-of-the-year senior pics. We snapped a couple back in the fall for her yearbook photo but I'm certainly happy she came back for more ... so this time we could show off that gorgeous smile sans braces! In fact, I asked Paige to write on my chalkboard her signature "phrase". Something that she felt defined her:

She couldn't have picked a more perfect motto.

Those last two? Some of my favorites. Because I know for a fact that Paige loves to have her nose in a book. As do I.

My Space.

2011-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Feeling a bit apprehensive about sharing this "behind the scenes" peek. And shy. And then frustrated at myself for caring so much. Finally I just had to give myself a big kick in the pants and remind myself that I am proud of my space. There are some truly gorgeous studios out there. And mine is ... in my garage :). Nothin' fancy. But it is still MY space and I'm thrilled to bits to call it my own. It's not quite finished ... we got a little burned out on painting and sewing and cleaning. Trim boards have been leaning against the wall for weeks now. We keep looking at the concrete floor, saying "hmmm ... what should we do with this?" ... and then just move on. Honestly? This is probably as good as it's gonna get. And I've decided ... that's okay with me. I don't need to pretend to be any more fancy schmancy than I am. Because I LIKE shooting in my garage. With my shoes off. And being silly.

Here's a little "before" of what we were workin' with:

And here's the after:

The walls and ceiling were finished and painted. Our personal belongings are now hidden behind some lovely gray fabric. One backdrop is hung from the wooden beam and most of my props are stored behind it. We also hung a long black curtain from the ceiling to separate the space from the rest of the garage. And do you LOVE my gorgeous new sofa and pillows (one of which has already snuck its way inside the house ...) as much as I do?

One of my favorite things about this space is that I can have several shooting areas set up at one time. I took these pics right after a senior shoot that I had last week. My kids have since adopted the "school" set for their own and have been having way too much fun with the desk and the chalkboard. I haven't had the heart to take it down and put it away yet!

As far as equipment goes, I have a huge 4'x6' Larson softbox, with a Photogenic 1250dr inside, powered by a radiopopper transmitter. I also have a smaller softbox to use with my flashes and a super silver reflector to help me bounce light around. And of course if I want even more light ... or to shoot natural light ... all I have to do is open up that garage door.

I've already put the space ... and the new lights ... to good use. While I definitely love shooting outdoors and on location ... there is certainly something to be said for being able to walk right out into my own garage on a cold rainy day and still be able to shoot to my heart's content!

{Ponder This}: Talents.

2011-05-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

Still.

2011-05-16T07:59:00.000-07:00

Be still.
My heart.
My sweet little girl.
Time.
Just be still.

{Ponder This}: Happy.

2011-05-13T08:00:00.000-07:00

Slater Family

2011-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

This family had literally one day in which they were all together and could do a photo session ... and it will be years before they are all together again. And *of course* that one day it poured. A rainy day squashed in between 3 glorious sunny ones. Aaaah, the irony. Luckily I knew of this great gazebo where we could stay nice and sheltered, and still go for the "nature" look I knew the family wanted. Phew. Very glad it all worked out, as this is one family that literally couldn't reschedule!

Brand New: Isaac

2011-05-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

SUCH a sweet thing! This little guy had to travel 3 1/2 hours (each way!) ... at only 12 days old ... for his photoshoot. So of course I was thrilled to pieces when he was sooo cooperative. I know his mom was very grateful. I've heard that he has already changed so much. (I couldn't have timed this blog post any better ... I just realized he is one month old today!) These moments are definitely fleeting ~ and being able to capture all that newness before babies start growin' up ... and never stop ... is definitely one of the reasons I LOVE taking newborn pictures.

The little blue afghan he's wrapped up in? Made by his grandma. I love that we were able to use it in so many shots. Thanks again for spending such a fun afternoon with me, Isaac!

Sick Day.

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Called in sick last week. Literally lay on the couch all. day. long. Headache. Throwing up. All sorts of yuckiness. I was so sick I couldn't even read ... which for someone that loves to read as much as I do, that's pretty awful. There were two bright spots in the rather dismal day. One came from my 4-year-old, who was so patient with my sickly state, as he had to entertain himself and his sister all day long. At one point he went outside in the backyard to play while I feebly made an attempt to prop myself up enough to look outside the window ... and saw my sweet son picking me all the dandelions he could find in the yard. "Here Mommy," he said, bringing them inside. "These are to feel you better."

The other bright spot? A front porch delivery of pepto bismol and other sorts of medicinal goods ... and a treat for later ... from my friend. She wouldn't let me open the door to collect them until she was a safe distance from the house ~ definitely didn't want these germs spreading (!), but she did a good job of cheering me up via phone. I'm so grateful to have people in my life that watch out for me.

{Ponder This}: Life.

2011-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

Not-Your-Everyday-Preschool Pics

2011-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

When I was asked to take school pictures for my son's preschool, I knew I wanted to do something different ... and after thinking about that vintage desk just sitting in my garage waiting to be used, I came up with a plan. Next up? A trip to Lowes for chalkboard paint and a big sheet of project board. And then I just gathered up a few props hanging around the house and I had the look I was going for. The most challenging part was then loading all of this stuff up and carting it to the preschool. Let's say it was quite the spectacle. BUT, so worth it. Here is just a sampling of the cute kiddos I photographed that day!

Little Munchkin

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is just a teaser of what is still to come ... isn't he a sweetheart?!

Impromptu

2011-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:00

Just a little impromptu photo shoot. Fell in love with this great location. Little girl was with me, camera was with me ... so of course I snapped a few.

{Ponder This}: Bloom.

2011-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

I love it when others say the words that my heart wants to speak but can't always find ... I found this quote yesterday while antique/prop/girly time shopping. I came home and immediately whipped up my own version in photoshop because I absolutely *must* have this hanging where I can see it every. single. day.

Waiting.

2011-04-28T07:45:00.000-07:00

3 weeks to go. Doesn't she look fabulous?! I'm quite positive I never looked that good at the end of one of my pregnancies. I can't wait to get that little baby girl in my studio when she arrives ~ I've been planning the photos in my head for quite some time. We'll see if big brother Brixton gives me a chance to get near her. I have a feeling he's going to be a protective one :).

Nine.

2011-04-27T07:30:00.000-07:00

NINE! 9 seconds, right? Because how can it possibly be YEARS? You have grown up so quickly ... love this oldest kiddo of mine. What a blessing he has been to me.

Happy Birthday!

Buckets of Bunnies.

2011-04-25T07:30:00.000-07:00

So I have been sneaking the pictures from this shoot out the past couple of weeks (see here, and here, and here, and here ...) but it is finally time to show off all of my favorites in one post! And what better time to show off oodles of bunny pictures than the day after Easter? I think if I could always provide my kids with such fun distractions during photo sessions they might cooperate a lot more ... they really had a lot of fun that day!

Love.

2011-04-24T20:30:00.000-07:00

Because ... I love this photo.
She loves that bunny.
And I love that we get to visit the bunny at my friend's house ... without having to take care of the bunny.
THAT is the best way to have a pet :).

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

Three Generations

2011-04-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Grandfather. Father. Son. Three generations of great men. Hank (aka "Grandpa") emailed me a month ago with some big plans. His son and grandson were coming into town and he had QUITE the weekend planned: whale watching, a visit to the space needle, a helicopter tour ... WOW, I kind of wanted to be adopted for the weekend! He also wanted to schedule a photo shoot. He said it had been far too long since he had pictures taken with his family and it was time. The shoot started out *quite* formal:

But we slowly got more and more relaxed ...

... had a quick clothing change ...

... and started to get pretty real.

Most of the photos were shot in my studio that is still s l o w l y taking shape. I promise I will share pictures when it is all complete! Hank, Jesse, and Jacob were very patient with the haphazardness of the space. Thank you! I'm so grateful for the indoor shooting area, however, because it was pouring BUCKETS outside the entire time. We finally got brave and ventured down to Lake Stevens for some "iconic Northwest photos". Well you can't get more iconic than RAIN! Actually we found some shelter and mostly just focused on shots with our beautiful lake in the background ...

... and that gorgeous sky? Well that is what I wanted it to look like, so I um ... helped it out. I AM in the business of creating ART ~ who says it always has to be reality? Ha ha ha.

Carter

2011-04-13T07:00:00.000-07:00

LOVE his little face on the left. What an expression!

I think if he could talk he would be saying ... "get me outta here!"

So I'm trying out a new little watermark thing-y with a little more zing. Yea? Nay?

And must note ... those adorable pennant photoshop brushes? From my all-time favorite designer, Rhonna Farrer. You can get them {here} for a steal of a deal.

Jeremiah + Lisa

2011-04-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Even though I swore that this first wedding I helped shoot was going to be my last, I had that funny sensation come over me ~ the one you get right after you have a baby when you forget just how tough that pregnancy and labor was the instant you look in your baby's eyes. Yep. As soon as I looked at these pictures I forgot just how much work it was and what a long day it was and just kind of went "aaahhh ..." So just *maybe* I'll take back what I said and I'll shoot one again someday. Here are my favorite shots!

Thanks again to Irene Jones Photography for giving me the chance to second shoot with you! You can see some of Irene's pictures at {this} link.

Brothers.

2011-04-11T07:28:00.000-07:00

I love that they are friends.
I love their little heads leaning in close to each other, so intent.
I love that this is a glimpse of our simply, ordinary, everyday life.
I love that I used to lie on the stairs just like this.

linking this post up here:

Standing in the Shadow

2011-04-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

This week's I Heart Faces challenge is all about embracing the shadow. While I don't enter as many of these challenges as I used to, I still love thinking about the different themes and seeing all of the ways people capture them. When I started thinking about shadows I immediately thought of this photo I snapped while at After Dark last September (hands down the BEST learning experience I have ever had!). This was such a fun photo for me to take because it took me so completely out of my comfort zone. Bright sunny day. Middle of the day. Model in the middle of that bright sun. Definitely not the typical combination for a photo shoot!

One of the mentors is just out of camera on my right holding up an sb-900 speedlight. And I am crouched down on the pavement ... right in this guy's shadow which you can see spreading in front of him ... to capture the look without any lens flare. Oooo it was fun. Seeing it again reminds me how much I enjoy experimenting and trying new things. Definitely makes me want to step out of my comfort zone again!

Before and After: Bridal Edition

2011-04-08T07:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the fabulous opportunity to second-shoot a wedding with my friend Irene. What an eye-opener. Seriously, I have so much respect for wedding photographers. That is a lot of work and one very long day. Still it was fun to get my feet wet a bit and see just what it would be like to venture out of my nice comfort zone of portraits. I plan to share several of my favorites from this wedding soon, but this one screamed a "before and after" share. This photo had great potential, but there were definitely a few things that needed a little photoshop help ... starting with that unsightly telephone pole. Just a little lasso with my magic wand, a touch of content aware fill, and *poof* it was gone. Truly, it was that easy. Photoshop has come a long way since my first version (Photoshop 6 I think? About 9 versions ago?).

Then it was a simple matter of warming it up, brightening a bit, and adding in a few more clouds. I used some Florabella actions (Blush, Halo, and TeaTime from Luxe II) at a very low opacity and at the last minute threw in a little "lovely and ethereal" (a free action from The Pioneer Woman) to finish off the look I was going for. Whatcha think? Feedback welcome!

Sadie, Tyler, Ethan, & Malia ... and some bunnies.

2011-04-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

When my friend called up to let me know she had baby bunnies we immediately made a plan for a photoshoot. It definitely proved to be quite exciting ... especially when we had 4 bunnies, 8 kids (her 4 and my 4), and some chilly weather to work with. (And still, for some reason the kids chose to snack on frozen gogurts between shots!) ... With all the chaos surrounding us, I'm quite happy with the photos I was able to capture for her. Those bunnies have been a big part of their family --in fact, they have just had their 4th set of babies born! How fun to have this moment of their family history forever documented.

Spring.

2011-04-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

... is SO not here yet. In fact ... it is snowing in my hometown of Lake Stevens, WA today. Yikes! But I still want to offer another sneak peak from my soon-to-be-blogged session with bunnies ~ I did plenty of pics with my own kids too. This is one of my favorites. Maybe just staring at it and wishing good thoughts will bring warmer weather to these parts ...

linking this picture up with other spring-themed pics {here}.

Spunky.

2011-04-05T07:57:00.000-07:00

... is the very best word to describe this little girl. So full of energy and life and tons of personality.

Coming up soon? Some seriously cute pictures involving her, her sister and brothers, and 4 baby bunnies. Don't let the anticipation get to ya ...

Unbelievable.

2011-04-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

How fast time flies. Seriously. How can this little lady already be 2?! We invited her best little girl friend and her cousin over to enjoy dinner with us last week to celebrate.

I pulled out all of my favorite pictures of the little lady from the past two years and put them on display in the dining room as decoration ~ along with a festive banner and a party hat that I actually MADE. I do not consider myself the crafty type, so I was quite proud of myself. Of course she would have nothing to do with the hat ... so I ended up wearing it myself :).

I decided on a "flower" theme, mostly so I could just use fresh flowers for display ... but then I decided to also make some flower pens to give to our girl guests and little bags of gummy worms to give away to my boys ... and then my sister gave me the brilliant idea to also make flower and gumdrop cookies ~ truly the easiest things ever and I thought they turned out so cute. I absolutely LOVED the cake, made by my friend Tamara from The Cakewalk Shop. And I seriously thought it was amazing that the cake almost perfectly matched the invitation, which Tamara had never even seen. I just told her "flower theme" and she went with it! (And speaking of the invitation, I made it using {this} kit from House of 3).

It was the perfect celebration for our little girl ~ albeit a bit wild with my boys running crazy through the house ~ sure love this little one, though!

Napa Valley

2011-03-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

On my recent trip to San Francisco we also ventured outside the city and up to Napa Valley. We went antique shopping, ate an incredible meal, and took in all the sights of the gorgeous vineyards. No wine tasting ... just admiring the view ... but it was truly splendid.

San Francisco. In b&w.

2011-03-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Just a few of my favorite shots from San Francisco in black and white. I think it makes everything look so classy and timeless ...

San Francisco.

2011-03-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

I just spent an absolutely fabulous weekend in San Francisco with one of my friends that I hadn't seen in over 10 years. It was a perfect getaway. We had a great time seeing all the sights ...

... exploring the pier ...

... eating clam chowder in sourdough bread bowls at Boudin ...

... wandering through Chinatown and tasting my first cocktail bun. Yum yum yum ...

... enjoying the beauty of the Palace of Fine Arts ...

... wandering past City Hall ...

... and {of course!} seeing the Golden Gate Bridge.

That is truly one beautiful city. In fact, more pictures to come tomorrow ...

Proof.

2011-03-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

I'm convinced that we have truly turned into moles with all the cloudy days we get around here. Because when the sun does manage to peek out, it is simply

much.

too.

bright.

for my kids. As this photo proves.

In fact, I have even heard my kids say such appalling statements as, "turn the sun off!"

No, please don't ... bring more so we can get used to it!

How to Catch a Leprechaun

2011-03-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

Actually ... how to try and not succeed.

Every year we gather the kids together and make a trap ~ with the hope that we will be able to catch a tricky leprechaun and force him give us all his gold. We leave it out the night before St. Patrick's Day and dream about what we will do with all our riches. But unfortunately, those leprechauns are always too sneaky for us and manage to get away, leaving gold candy all over the house to mock us. I loved this year's trap. My kids put a lot of thought into it:

The hope was that the leprechaun would see the giant shamrock, get curious, spot the gold, get all greedy, try to get his little hands on it, climb up the ladder, and *oops* fall through the trap door and get stuck.

Unfortunately, he must have figured a way out! Oh well, we still have so much fun trying year after year!

Daddy Time

2011-03-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE this picture of my little lady and her daddy. He is her absolute favorite person in the world. And I love watching the two of them together.

They had lots of fun daddy-daughter time this weekend as I snuck out for 3 days to San Francisco. I had such a good time and of course took a bazillion pictures, including the Golden Gate Bridge from at least 10 different angles. Hopefully at least one will be worth sharing :).

Happy Monday everyone!

The Girls

2011-03-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Sisters of those oh-so-cute kiddos featured yesterday. I could take pictures of the oldest all. day. long. It's just so fun to take photos of someone who loves having their photo taken! Of course the little ones were fun in a whole different way ... there were some crazy shenanigans going on to get the real giggles out of the youngest.

Loved being with you girls!

The Boys

2011-03-09T07:00:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago these handsome boys ... (and their cute sisters who will be featured tomorrow!) came for a quickie visit and some pictures. They braved some COLD temps to get these photos done. But they were all champs and stuck with it even with the wind making their eyes water ...

They were rewarded for their cooperation under less-than-pleasant conditions with plenty of lego-building and light-saber fighting the rest of the afternoon!

Daily Ritual

2011-03-07T06:49:00.000-08:00

But wait ... the ones I really wanted are ...

Um ... actually ... I'm feeling kind of polka-dottish ...

All in the course of 6 minutes. I don't even want to imagine what it's going to be like when she's a teenager ... or what will happen when she outgrows size 5.

I challenge you.

2011-03-02T07:00:00.001-08:00

Your challenge

should you choose to accept it
{take a deep breath}

is to go to your computer

find all those digital photos
and {are you ready for this?}

And then ... take those piles of photos ...

... and DO something with them. Put them in an album. Scrapbook. Make a collage and hang it up. Even organize them in a nice photo box. Anything! The options are limitless.

I spent all Sunday afternoon putting pictures in photo albums (you can find the kind I use here) and had so much fun walking down memory lane. The photos aren't perfect. But they aren't supposed to be. They are snapshots. Little snippets of our lives. And I am so happy that I have them. Not just stuck in a folder on the computer, but in an album that I can flip through to my heart's content. I still have quite a few more pictures that I need to go through (I had to run to the store first thing Monday morning to buy two more albums!) ... and probably at least 1000 more to print ... but I'm determined to get caught up.

Do you accept the challenge? Feel free to leave a comment as a sign of your commitment! Who knows, maybe I'll follow up on you to make sure you really do it :).

Snow Day(s)

2011-03-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

We have been in the middle of snow, snow, no snow, more snow, done with snow. School schedule was crazy sporadic last week ~ late starts, two snow days, and then by Friday everything had melted. The kids were quite disappointed to discover it was a regular day. Saturday and Sunday all that snow came back and then some. And by Monday? The rain had washed it all away. Still a chance for some snowflakes to drift down today. We're just trying to roll with it and enjoy each day as it comes. Here are a few captures from our snow-filled days!

Ten tiny stripey toes

2011-02-27T12:32:00.000-08:00

I love
these socks.
those toes.
that baby girl.

Brixton

2011-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

My kids have over 50 FIRST cousins. Yes, you read that right. In fact, 58 with 2 more on the way. So that should help explain why I take pictures of so many nieces and nephews ... in fact just this last weekend I took pictures of 7 of them that I hope to share on the blog before too long. But first I better share these pictures I took way back in December to document the 2nd birthday of this nephew of mine. So they are a few months old ... but better late than never, right?

This little guy is absolutely obsessed with trains, so we had to pull some out for him to play with ...

... and then of course he wouldn't let them go ...

We finally got him excited about doing a little "happy dance". Here he is showing off some moves!

You sure are a handsome kiddo! I am so lucky to be your aunt.

Feeling Sorry ...

2011-02-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

... for my poor little flowers.

I don't think they were expecting this ...

It reminds me of a poem I learned when I was young:

Devan

2011-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:00

There are the pictures that I take and then there are the images not captured by my camera, but that replay in my head. Memories of laughing during a session, interesting facts learned about my clients as we walk and talk together, seeing locations through another's eyes, the inevitable goofy things that I do ... I love how people let me be part of their lives for just an hour and how quickly that hour can translate into a new friendship.

There are many memories playing through my head of the experience I had with Devan as we got together for his senior pictures. We talked about his upcoming birthday several times. About his uncanny ability with numbers. I saw his joy as we revisited one of his favorite childhood spots. In many ways Devan is a typical teenager ~ checking his cell phone during our session, headphones in his ears, passionate about video games ... but he is also very different as well, as he has a high-functioning form of autism. It made my job challenging in ways, especially as I tried to help Devan pose and yet look casual at the same time ... but so rewarding as well, as I got to get a glimpse of what a remarkable person he is. I feel so grateful that his parents gave me the opportunity to take his senior pictures and spend an afternoon with them.

I came home from Devan's session and immediately called one of my sisters, who also has a son on the autism spectrum, and made her promise to get senior pictures of my nephew someday. And of course I hope that I will be the one to take them.

My favorite "uncaptured image" of Devan? The memory of him in my home, when he came with his parents for his image presentation appointment. He sat down at the piano and wowed me with his ability ... and entertained my boys with a fabulous rendition of the Star Wars theme song. He played several songs while at my home and I could have listened to several more. He definitely has an amazing gift and I am so grateful he shared it with me!

"T" on Tuesday

2011-02-22T06:55:00.000-08:00

I failed to do a "mine on Monday" post ~ blame it on the no-school day ... or the fact that we had visitors all weekend ... or the book I am engrossed in right now (The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova. SO good!). So I'll post one of mine on Tuesday. Perfect, really, as he goes by "T" in our household. So hence, "T" on Tuesday. This is my little guy. He provides so much *JOY* in our house. Truly a happy, energetic kid.

This picture wasn't planned or posed ~ he was simply playing in his sister's room, beautiful natural light was streaming through the window, and he looked up ... the closet door behind him turned out to be a high-key background. Love when I can capture what is "real": quickly, spontaneously, and without any of that "prep" work ...

And the words describing my little guy? Inspired by one of the best Christmas gifts ever received, a poem by my oldest, put together in a similar fashion by his 2nd-grade teacher.

Love you, little guy!

Cakes

2011-02-17T07:00:00.000-08:00

Last May I had the opportunity to photograph some wedding cakes for The Cakewalk Shop. (See the pictures at {this} link). Well I just had the chance to do it again. I just love the new designs the owner Tamara has come up with. Some truly stunning cakes! Of course the hardest part of this session was smelling all that yummy frosting and not being able to lean over and take a lick ...

Gorgeous, right?

Mystery.

2011-02-16T08:22:00.001-08:00

Can anyone explain this? How does chocolate disappear so fast?

Featured!

2011-02-15T07:21:00.001-08:00

Remember my home office makeover?

It's been featured twice ...

Today over at the Savvy Photographer. Go and check it out {here}!

A few weeks over at the Office Stylist, seen {here}. How exciting!

LOVE ... these valentines of mine ...

2011-02-13T22:30:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I Heart Faces: RED

2011-02-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

I have far too many favorite pictures from my recent v-day shoot I did with my kiddos ... all of them featuring lots of RED, which is the theme for this week's I Heart Faces challenge ... but I kept coming back to this one of my little girl. There's something about it that just makes me want to scoop her right up and shower her with kisses. See so many more pictures from this shoot {at this link}!

Brilliant.

2011-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Driving home from a photo shoot. Unbelievable sky. Grabbed my camera while waiting for the light to turn green and rolled down the window. Who knew colors could be that brilliant?

Just for fun, I was curious what one of these pictures would look like in black and white. So fascinating how completely different elements come out when stripped of all that brilliant color. Maybe I do have a little hidden Ansel Adams in me just wanting to sneak out every now and then ...