I recently purchased an amazing zoom lens that has been on my wish list.  It took me a while to take the plunge, since the lens will in no way benefit my portraiture, but truth be told, portraiture is not the only thing I love about photography.  I love it and it is my business, but I LOVE photography!  I love being creative and remembering that I have personal projects that will not remain on the backburner.  I have dreams, goals, and desires of my own when it comes to photography.  And one of those is to do a project I plan to title "Catching Wind and Waves."  

The pictures you are seeing are practice shots.  When I get my project going, I will be sure to share and I will also get the stories of anyone participating.  You see, I love the storytelling aspect of photography.  I also love creating the images and actually writing the story of the subjects.  This means more than just rolling by, seeing the kite surfers, and capturing some images.  I want their stories.  I want to know how they got started and why they do it - what they enjoy about the sport.  

For now, enjoy my practice images.  And if you know someone who may want to participate in my future project, be sure to send me a message or have that person contact me.  

Photography, for me, isn't just a business.  It has been a passion of mine for such a long time and I never want to lose that passion.  

There is a special feeling I get when a client I adore allows me to share in the joy of their newest blessing. Yes, I do a lot of newborn photography.  And I schedule it at the optimal time for newborn pictures - when the baby is 5-10 days old.  The swelling has subsided, any skin issues are starting to clear up, the baby is still plenty sleepy, and everyone is settling in to a certain peacefulness.  I am blessed every time I get to snuggle one of these tiny bundles as I work to create priceless images.

But there is nothing like that brand new baby with the hospital bracelets still intact and exhausted parents almost delirious with excitement of the newness just arriving to forever change their lives.

To be allowed in the hospital room, holding that teeny, tiny little baby... it is just the greatest honor.  The intimacy that surrounds those moments, the pride you see in the parents, that pureness of joy; there is simply nothing like it.  

I was not invited to take pictures (in fact, I got my baby cuddle fix before mom and dad even knew I brought my camera).  I was invited to share in a joy that is unfathomable.  This is a blessing and an honor and I cannot say it enough - I LOVE my clients!!!

There is a lot to photography, other than just taking pictures.  Yes, I have an amazing camera and it does exactly what I tell it to do.  Yes, I have a lot of experience photographing people and that really helps during a session.  But behind the scenes, there is a whole other thing taking place:  post processing.  This refers to the way a photographer processes the image after it has been captured in camera.

I LOVE editing – I really do!  I know a lot of photographers who outsource that part of the process and I totally understand.  It is time consuming and another skilled professional will do it for you for just under ten dollars an image, freeing you up to get to the business of the capture.  But me?  I enjoy creating the entire image, from start to finish.  

I’ve heard so much negative publicity for Photoshop on social media and I’ll admit, photoshopping can get carried away.  But it also allows the possibility of creating images that don’t have distractions… 
Those blemishes that showed up the day before your photoshoot?  Gone!  That bruise your toddler got tripping over her own feet?  Gone.  The crust around your baby’s eyes?  Gone!  Those things aren’t representative of you or yours… they are simply distractions.  

But I’m by no means a purist.  If someone wants to look slimmer, I can do that without having any battles of conscience.  Forgot to touch up those roots?  Yeah, I can take care of that if you like.  Stretch marks?  So what if they’re permanent?  If you want them out of your picture, I’m happy to oblige.  All my clients have to do is be honest with me about what they want to see.

I LOVE newborn sessions!  LOVE them!!!  That new baby smell… I get to cuddle someone’s tiny little bundle of heaven for a few hours while I capture memories that will last a lifetime.  But those sweet babies come with blotches, crusty eyes, flaky skin, jaundice, baby pimples… And those are distractions.

And I love doing newborn shoots in-home.  I set up my portable studio while Mom and Dad relax, then I take care of the baby for a few hours.  Everyone is comfortable and relaxed and this makes for a relaxed baby.  But if your walls have a red cast, then the images have a cast.  If you have yellow walls, your images will be very yellow.  But do I stress about that?  No.  Because I know how to process my images to make them look exactly the way they should.  

Now, tell me what you want to see.  Because, yes,  I can do that for you!

Vincent and Tamara were together for five years before saying their vows and promising forever.  They met in Texas, moving to New York together and knowing it was a step toward their future.  As the years passed by, they found stability, comfort, and security in each other’s love.  They bought the home that Tamara grew up in and slowly found a rhythm that would become the heartbeat of their daily lives.  

Sometimes people find their soul’s companion in their youth.  But others become who they are first, like blooming vines that eventually find their way to each other and intertwine to become something strong and beautiful: individual, yet inseparable.  

A huge congratulations to this beautiful couple!