Jungle Shoot

Recently during a workshop I was given some advice: to do a shoot just for me. Not for anyone else. Full creative freedom to capture whatever I want, wherever I want; to take risks and go with any crazy ideas I had. Immediately I complied a list of shoots I wanted to do by the end of the year. Some were normal and some were totally crazy. I decided to start with one that was just a tad bit crazy and this is what came out.

 

We got cut by Noni leaves, chased by hornets and even got my car stuck out in the jungle for a bit, but it was so, so worth it. My love for photography has just been reignited and I couldn't be more excited about it.

Aboard the Jade Lady III.

Tim is the hardest to get gifts for. (Aren't all men?) He always gets me the most thoughtful things and I'm left with this guilt of feeling like I never get him anything cool. (Anyone see that Parks & Rec?) This Fathers Day I kept it a secret and whisked him on a sunset dinner cruise aboard the Jade Lady III. We had talked about going for years now and just never got around to it. It was a little different than we expected but we had a great time.

Highlights:

-Live Music

-Bottomless Sprite

-Amazing Sunset

-Steak AND brownies

-Dancing

-Laughing until our sides hurt when a little boy requested, "Gangham Style," and he totally played it! Even funnier, the little boy and his sister danced to it the entire time.

-Watching a couple who had gotten married on the boat that day dance to a Japanese Wedding song. 

-Slow dancing with Tim.

-Getting the best picture of the two of us in YEARS.

-Watching all the tourists and their crazy dance moves after their 4 or 5 beers.

-Stealing kisses in front of some very conservative Koreans.

-Pretending I was Kate Winslet on the Titanic.

-The YMCA dance ending. Definitely went out with a bang.

Golden Hour.

Tim's main request for Father's Day was to go to the beach. The kids ended up taking a late nap so we didn't have time to swim but we stayed long enough to play and take in the scenery. The children happily played in the sand and water while Tim and I talked about how lucky we are to live here. How lucky we are to have each other, this family we're building and so much love in our lives.

 I knew I loved my husband the day I married him but seeing him as a Father has opened my heart to an even bigger capacity of love. He's very quiet about it usually but I hear it. Like the other night when we were trying to figure out how to keep June from wandering into the fridge at night and eventually onto the couch where we'd have to carry her to bed at 10pm I suggested we maybe close her door. His answer so simple but so sweet. He quietly said he didn't want to do that because he didn't want her to feel trapped or afraid. He didn't want her alone in her room and scared. Heart melted. 

Or a few days ago when I was in full nesting mode and started painting the walls. He helped me do two walls and then said, "Is it okay if we save the rest for later? I think the kids feel ignored." Then he took us out for pizza as a family. 

I hope he knows how special a Father he is. I hope he knows how much the kids adore him. I hope he knows how my heart has grown watching him with our children. I make sure to tell him often but I hope he really knows it.

Happy Father's Day Tim. We love you oh, so much.

Senior Photos: Kaitlyn

This girl rocked my socks off. 

She found out 7 months ago that she had cancer and managed to still graduate high school while simultaneously kicking cancers butt. 

Senior Photos: Lakell

This girl is a mega babe. 

She was doing skate tricks in a dress!