The Lil Pics

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Squeal!? Such a fantastic pleasure to work with good friend Johana, her sister Monica, and their two little princesses. Although it was a very hot afternoon, we were able to find some shade and make a couple hours out of it. The girls were definitely little princesses. They lasted pretty much the whole two hours...pretty much. But to watch these little ones dance and twirl on the beach and to see their story come to life is why I do what I do.

Capturing stories created only by and for the families.

Growing memories are so easily forgotten in our adventure of life. Until recently, I had forgotten the quality play time I was privy to have with my thousands of cousins ...ok maybe not thousands but there are a lot of us. Recently? Well, my two little ones are becoming old enough that the memories they are now making can last a lifetime. And I was lucky enough, not only to watch them make these memories, but capture it. Gliding high on the tire swing by the house, or climbing on the old truck that has weeds growing into it from sitting in the barn, to running in acres and acres of Kansas rolling farm fields.

Without photos only those that were there can have the memory, even if tucked away. But with the photos, the day can help be told and imagined by anyone.

Here is a tease to the story that creative writer, Sara Jarvis wrote special for Johana, Monica, and the two little princesses.

"Perfect moments are etched by the sands of time,

Slowly building into the next, forever fruitful with our love,

Gentle waves of happiness welcomed on these shores,

With laughter floating on the wind swirling all around,

Our hearts rejoicing as one in life’s remarkable dance,

This rhythm found together remains even we have parted,

Such profound memories echo endlessly back to this one,

In this perfect moment with each other together forever."

~ Sara Jarvis | Creative Writer

Click to see their favorites

Thank you Johana and Monica for sharing your evening!

Friday, June 10, 2016

Origin Story

What is your origin story? We all have the one we lived as a child. Is it this origin that decides our future and how we choose to live as adults. Are the values that are taught by those that we are surrounded carry forward? Or are they forgotten? What one thing, as a child, was present in your life that you said you WOULD not do when you are an adult? My husband and I both agree, we were going to make sure that when we had children we wanted them both to grow up with a mother and father that loved each other as much as the love for them. Our parents love us unconditionally, but seriously, the back and forth to see one or the other , taking turns on holidays to visit, just feels like being passed around, and quite like it is in the adult life: which parent do we go visit for our vacation this time? It isn't healthy. In a lot of ways, it felt we were alone, instead of a family. Torn.

Today, I am happily married and have two children that are our entire world. We haven't smiled and laughed so much since we were kids doing the things we loved.

Photo credit: Custom Minds Photography

So when I see other families that have this same connection or even yearn for this same connection I want to capture it for them. I want to capture the things that mean so much to them right now. The things that make them happy.

This is why I am a photographer. This is why I put, what is left of my energy, into perfecting an art. So that these moments that are created and captured for the families closely represent who they are. They can look back and see their own story. For the photo below, during the family consultation, I learned that these two boys are part of the homeschooling community. Meaning, they are always around each other and in their mother's own words: "They have beef." I asked, "What do they do well together?" and she said..play games. So I combined them 'having beef' with each other and playing games together in one photo, encapsulating, for the boys, a little portion of their childhood.