all in the family

"You are kidding me you are having another boy!" i exclaimed.. like it was any of my business at all.
"yes, yes.. i knoooowwww" she concedes in her raspy slow moving voice.. it's like molasses (her voice), so smooth and thick, the southern accent, you can almost reach out and touch the words as they come out of her mouth.
"we don't care.. as long as we have a healthy baby.. it will just be us and all those boys. i really don't know anything different".

but all i could think about was how precious they were. all of them. long ponytails, big eyes, nice smiles and polite ta' boot. each one of them has their own personality.. but don't they all, kids i mean. there was something about these boys that shouted "photo shoot" so when she called i was thrilled.

here are a few of my favorites from the day!

Look a little bit trying to hang with the big brothers!!



Throwing leaves= irresistible!

Inseparable- family session

sonya contacted me after a co-worker (Sandy) showed her a slideshow. i could not get her in before the holidays but she was clear she wanted it sooner vs. later. spring was too far.. she wanted to show/assure her family and friends back home that her son (the oldest) was doing well and that he had recuperated nicely from heart surgery earlier this year (2009). the urgency was noted and i was so honored to be able to make it happen for her as mom, for them as a family and for him as a pretty awesome person.

being 20 years old means that there are no smiles.. none...nada... even the youngest son tried not to smile during the entire shoot but i joked like a silly person until both of them shot me a fast one. i had to catch it quick or it would have been gone forever but catching those looks unexpectedly is what i do.. seeing or revealing the true personality of a person comes when they feel comfortable.. it takes a while but i try to always get what i want..

the family as a whole is awesome.. that is always nice to see and feel.. but as per my usual getting mom and dad to give me a little umph is always nice..

thanks for letting me into your world for a little while and to tell your story through my lens if not but for a brief moment in time..

take a look at their slideshow and you will see it all..

Sean- Senior 2010

sean was apprehensive at first.. his mother had set this up. all he knew was that he was supposed to take his senior pictures.. he had not seen my website, my pictures and did not know me from adam.. but after the family shoot it was his turn..

he asked if he could change clothes and I told him of course. his mother protested and wanted to know what he was going to wear and he reluctantly told her but all i could hear was..
"no Sean.. not the t-shirt and the flannel.." i asked if he was going to wear the sweater first and he said yes so i was good.. a little something for mom and a little something for him. i could tell he was happy!!
he ran upstairs and came back with two outfits and we left.. what i did not understand was just how the bow and arrow thing-ee was going to translate but when he slipped the bow behind his neck and started walking towards the woods with the t-shirt and the flannel, i understood and was happy for him.. i was determined to help him express himself through my lens.. he wanted something something different.

needless to say Sean did an awesome job and quickly got the hang of looking the part.. you know.. grown but not grown, handsome but not sweet, and he wanted to translate what was important to him.. his truck, his dog, his hunting and the farm (memories of growing up there).. he chose this song and i could not have been more pleased as to how it all translated in his slideshow







ready to go hunting!!