Daniel and Marilyn: Three Oaks Park | Baby Reveal and Surprise Proposal

It's not every day you get to find out that you're becoming an aunt to a nephew and that your little brother is getting married all within the same minute. 

I showed up to Three Oaks Park with my camera in hand expecting to take a few photos of the smoke bomb announcing whether they were having a boy or a girl. What my brother had not told me, however, was that he also intended to propose in the middle of the announcement. 

I started to understand what was happening as I listened to him speaking. I saw, and captured, him reaching into his pocket just after the blue smoke began rising. I kept shooting as I realized I was right about what was happening. It was so, so beautiful to be part of this moment. I was the only one standing close enough to hear the "yes" and the other words spoken.  

My grandmother dying, leading me to reconnect with my brothers, and being followed by the birth of my first nephew has a very heavy circular impact. It's almost a little movie like cliche. Just a little bit magic.

Hello Abel. See you soon.

Beth, Jake, Stella, and Cece | South Florida Summer Family Session

There's a special dose of heart in summer sessions for me. When I think of the memories I have from my childhood that are fond a lot of them were spent in the water. Tricks in the pool, where the gymnastics were easier than they were in actual gymnastics class, by far. Neighborhood water balloon fights between the kids, boys vs. girls, leaving notes of fake plans in the street to confuse the enemy, and ending in all out war. Running through the sprinklers with wet grass between my toes, sun on my skin, and hair slowly becoming more and more knotted.

Reckless summer. Jumping in heart first.

Motherhood Photos: Kate & Henry | RAICES Donation Photo Sessions

It's hard to write uplifting blog posts about family right now. Terrible things are happening within our country to children. The sweet, funny, curious, inquisitive little hell raisers I photograph every session. I think of them. I think of every tiny micro movement of love shown by parents that I've used my camera to capture. I think of how each family I photograph is its own world, insulated and safe and unique. I think about how only mom knows what particular things her toddler likes or doesn't like this month and the language that they speak. How some families break, and that's ok, because with strength hopefully one parent is now both. Facing fear and daily tantrums down with as much humanity and strength as they can offer. Then I think about the families we're breaking that still long to be together.

I think about what we're doing at the border. I think of how we're letting children go to bed in fear, most unable to communicate their needs, if they would be heard at all. I think about a mother's hand, terrified herself, reaching for a child we won't let her hold. 

I think of the past and how we've been this monstrous before, and how monstrous we became next. 

I hope for a better tomorrow.

Please consider donating to RAICES. If you can't afford to donate (and even if you can) please be a voice in our country for people who aren't permitted to have one. For children and families we won't let speak.

Below are some photos taken near Nashville, TN of a beautiful family. Of Kate & Henry. 

Park Location: Montgomery Bell State Park

Mandy & Nora + The Traveling Dress | Downtown Fort Myers Motherhood Session

I recently gathered together with some other female photographers to participate in a traveling dress project. The dress finds its way from one photographer to another and each photographer puts their own spin on what sort of session they shoot with the dress. I took this task on even knowing that I am terrible about getting to the post office to send mail. Brave, aren't I? Some might say... a HERO. (No one. No one would say that.).

For my turn with the dress I wanted to shoot as I normally do: documentary and candid, emotional and affectionate, with a heart for laughter. Knowing that I wanted to start doing other types of Motherhood sessions outside of my intimate bathtub shoots I decided this would be a perfect opportunity. I recruited another awesome local photographer and her daughter to model for me. We met in Downtown Fort Myers at the local library and worked our way down the streets to a local beloved roof. It was a ton of fun and I would love to participate in another one of these in the future. Plus I got a great new friend out of it. Two new friends. Nora started the session growling at me but then she begged for me to come with them to get ice cream. We're cool now.

Once we finally made it to The Roof just in time for the sunset we ended up having a dance party. Because, ya know, what else does one do on a roof? 

Want to see what the photographer before me did during her turn with the dress? Check it out here.

Dress: Fahrenheit Tanning