Lullaby Memories

I remember being very small. Small enough that my mother could still hold me in her arms. And not being able to sleep. Or I had a bad dream. But my mom took me out side, rocked me in her arms and sang to me.

A thousand stars in the sky

Like the stars in your eyes

They say to me

That there'll never be

No other love

Like you for me

It's part of another song possibly popular when I was small. Or maybe when my mom was small. I've looked it up online several times, but I've never had the heart to actually listen to a recording of it. I'm afraid I won't like it. That it will ruin the magic for me. My mom's singing voice isn't the strongest, but she sang it with such love that her's is the only version I want to know.

And now I sing it for my kids. Every night. Because there'll never be no other love like them for me.

Beautifully Said

Oh. My. God.

I've been searching the interwebs looking for more information on how to create experiences of love for my clients. I hit the motherload. Canadian photographer Jesh De Rox...

"Every moment of my life is precious. Therefore, every moment of my life

is worth spending doing something that feels really damn good.

That makes the heart grow."

Image by Jesh De Rox

How perfect is that? And he calls this genre of work "Beloved." I just love that. All the tenderness and caring that word conveys.

When I think about how meaningful it was for me to make portraits of Tessa, how meaningful it was for her to have the experience, I just want to do that. All. The. Time. And I can think of no greater gift I can bring to someone.

A mother that works so hard she barely has time to tuck her kids into bed at night, let alone really sit and be with them. A couple that's been married for awhile now and forgets what it's like to truly see one another.

To be able to provide a space out of time when people who love one another can stop time and see each other again. That's what I want to do. And I also think that's what the world needs right now. More connections. More space. More time. And most importantly, More Love.

And what's most wonderful to me is that these moments occur all the time. Every day. There is such simple yet shocking beauty in our lives.

Two of my forever friends. One snuggles her son to sleep...

The other kisses her daughter goodmorning...

I can't wait to put this into action on a broad scale. To call forth and remind people of the beauty that is already right before them.

If you're interested in listening to the talk, Jesh lays it all out here in his talk at the WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) conference. Click on the play button on the bottom right. It's two hours long, but it is so so so worth it. And then when you finish, call me so we can start creating this experience for you.

Beautiful Eyes, Beautiful Children (Natural Photography)

Kids are so magical. They change so quickly. Even from moment to moment. So much magic happens all around us. It just takes you to notice it.

Legacy Of Love I Anthem Photographer

That's my mom. Holding me. She's the same age as I was when I had my first child. And I'm probably no more than a month old. I found this picture when I went brought my kids to visit my grandmother last summer. When I saw it, my heart skipped a beat. The look on my mother's face makes me cry. It is so amazing to be able to see what she looked like as she looked at me with such love. And I know, because now I have my own children, just what that love feels like. And to know that someone feels that love for me, that fierce, all-encompassing, no-matter-what kind of love, is a gift that is so meaningful. It makes me feel stronger, better, more worthwhile. And I am so thankful that this moment was captured so that when I look at it, and I look at my mother today, I can see the legacy of love she feels for me, and how it has always been there and will never change.