Ah - Young Love

It is hard to believe that this time last year I was back in England, without my husband or children (for the first time ever), for my brother's wedding. They were married on July 4th, 2009 so JUST got to celebrate one year of marriage! Woo Hoo!

They were out here for a visit a few weeks back and I got to take a few shots of them. So sweet.

Happy Anniversary to you both. Thank you so much for spending your precious vacation time with us...come back soon :)

Happy Father's Day

It has been a long week in the Cannan household. Every year James takes a trip down to Mexico, with a team from our church, and they build a home for a needy family, it really is a worthwhile cause, but it means sacrifice too; our life is so different when he is gone. We love him and need him in so many different ways. He got last night, just in time for Father's Day.

He is such a wonderful daddy who adores his children and his wife. He is so giving and warm and genuine and fun. He knows how to be silly and make his children laugh and how to be sensitive and compassionate when they are hurting or struggling. He is such a wonderful example to us all.

Last year I started, what I have decided will now be a tradition, for as long as the kids will allow it to be anyway, and took a photograph of the three of them lying on a black background. (You can click here to see last year's photograph and how much they have changed). I think it will be fun to look back in years to come and see these, side by side. Of course it will probably make me cry too, but I hope they will be sweet tears of remembrance of the good times, of a house full of tiny feet and shrieks and giggles.

We make pretty darn cute kids together, even if I do say so myself! Happy Father's Day my love, you are the best Daddy in the whole world.

Wedding - Steve and Allie's Sneak Peek

I love weddings, I always have and cannot possibly imagine that ever changing. They are such joyous occasions. Everybody makes extra effort to look nice, it is a happy time.

Just over a week ago was Steve and Allie Nelken's wedding, which I had the opportunity to second-shoot at, once again with David Nelson. It is a lot of work, but being part of a team to capture the day makes it a lot less stressful and more fun.

After a week of rain it was the most gorgeous day and I do believe fun was had by all.

Enjoy the little sneak peek.

New Life

These three adorable munchkins greeted me this morning, excited and happy, aware that their mommy was about to have a little brother for them. Life was about to change. As they took off with grandma, a full day ahead of them, I headed indoors for photographs.

It was a beautiful home birth, that happened at the perfect time, without rushing. Mom and Dad were the greatest team and the result is about as precious as they come.

Just a very quick sneak peek. Alice you were an inspiration and did an amazing job. You were calm and strong and full of grace and I look forward to many baby snuggles in the days ahead.

Congratulations to you all, you are a truly beautiful family!

Pretty Britty

My beautiful little girl, she takes my breath away. There are times that she is a complete challenge and I wonder how we will make it through the teenage years, but she also has a quiet sweetness about her.

I had taken photos with Asia the other day and I did not want Bryttain to feel left out, so this evening it was her turn. Of course, she was far more interested in picking grass than looking at me, but all it takes is one or two good ones to keep this Mama happy.

Wedding - Dan and Karen's Sneak Peek

My sweet friend Karen was married on March 27th. It was a beautiful, fun, relaxed occasion. Her family are just wonderful and the day was filled with joy and laughter. I am beyond thrilled that Karen has found a man to share her life with.

It is so hard to choose just a few photographs for the sneak peek, but she has been waiting (maybe) patiently, so choose I must.

I love the 'getting ready' time; hanging out with the bride was my main reason for shooting this wedding.

This cool old truck belonged to Karen's great grandfather and is almost 100 years old. Her dad was so cute and came up with the whole story behind this; he is driving off with his daughter, mom is mad, groom is chasing after them. How fun is that? Certainly not your typical 'formal'!

Then as the sun was about to set, we headed out for a few last shots in the wild flowers.

May you have a blessed marriage, full of laughter and love, rich with friendships (both near and far). I am SO glad I was able to truly share your whole day with you. Love you my friend :)

Two and in control

Some days are harder than others. Today my sweet two year old decided, in all her wisdom, that she was not going to take a nap. Her older siblings both took naps, but she is two and is testing all the boundaries! The fact of the matter is, you cannot force a person to sleep.

I was tired and full of cold, with a house that needs to be tidied and photos that need to be edited. I had not picked up my camera in days and the field behind us full of grass looked inviting. I know that one day I will miss my baby being two and mischievous and oh so controlling so we headed out to take some shots.

I love this little monkey, more than she will ever know.

Cousins

I am busy editing wedding photographs, but last week we were visiting family in Texas and the fields were beautiful. We just do not have anything like it here. Here are my three munchkins with their sweet cousin Flynn, they truly adored her and now we are home miss her...and now back to work. Sneak peek will hopefully be up soon.

Freesia

The sun is shining and it is a beautiful day. Spring is here, officially here!

Freesias were my mom's favorite flowers and I had taken some photographs back in February but not really played or posted anything.

So in celebration of spring:

Joy Young and Charlie Mead got Married :)

I had the pleasure of photographing the radiant Joy Young as she and her bridesmaids prepared for her big day. She has now left California to start her new life in England with her new husband. I wonder how it is all going?

Thanks for letting me share and document your morning for you Joy, it was such a lovely, beautiful wedding and blessings for you and Charlie in your new life together.

(Disc will be in the mail before the weekend).

Self-Portrait part II

So the second part of this assignment was to photograph yourself, as an object.

I chose a rosebud.

To me they are quintessentially British. They remind me of home, of my roots. I chose yellow, the color of the sun; life-giving, it brings joy and happiness. A yellow rose says "I care", it speaks of friendship and joy and gladness.

This is not a brand new bud, nor is it yet in full bloom, but it is full of potential, the journey has begun.

Self-Portrait

I read a number of blogs, for various reasons. In some instances it is a way of keeping up with a friend's life, in others I look for inspiration. One of my recent sources for inspiration and now challenge is that of Me Rah Koh, and more specifically her SOAR scholarship blog. She has selected three women this year, to mentor in their photography journey and via her and their blogging of the experience, we can follow along too. I decided to challenge myself to join in with some of their exercises and as a result, there has been much soul searching for me this week.

The first exercise was in two parts, the first being to take a self-portrait with you in it. The second was to take a self-portrait with an object representing where you are right now.

I have had quite an emotional time as this exercise forced me to take a deeper look at my life; at my hopes and dreams. I was surprised by how near to the surface these emotions remained throughout the week. This has been such a busy month for our family and I think the lack of time to actually sit and be still and think and examine and pray through it all, meant that I had thoughts and ideas swirling through my mind which I could not gain control of or settle enough to understand.

Today I finally took some much needed time away, alone, to sit and write and try to solidify the swirling mess.

I love to take photos, I love the fact that there is an artistic process that is coupled with technical requirements. One moment can be captured in so many different ways. I love to share my art and yet I still live with fears of disappointment, judgment, rejection. Will I ever be good enough to take this further? Will others believe in my abilities? Will they enjoy my offerings? Will my desire to create, rob my children of time with their mother? Is this the right time?

Yes I am a complex creature, with many issues. I am a wife. a mother, a sister, a daughter a friend, taking care of others, taking care of all the 'stuff' that needs taking care of; the meals, the laundry, the mess, the emotions, the teaching and training. Somewhere in the midst of it all there is an artist, someone who was on the verge of drowning and has finally come up for air and is frantically gulping for breath, for her very life. It is not so much a battle, as a realization that choices have to be made.

So (at the risk of further rejection) I share with you my self-portrait. I would love to hear your thoughts or comments. What do you see, what do you think, how does it make you feel?



Check back soon for my self-portrait part two!