At Home with the Trenery's

When people ask me what a story session is, I sometimes feel like I jumble a bunch of words together & it doesn't always come out so clear. After the sessions, I feel like a little kid, giddy with excitement, as I scroll through images. They're full of so many different emotions, dynamics & adventures. The images make me smile, they make me laugh, they make me so content, all because these people shared a glimpse of their real life with me. Allowing me to preserve this moment in time is pretty dang special. The Trenery's are our very awesome neighbors (& possibly the inspiration for our chicken & duck flock). This year their oldest went into middle school & their youngest started kindergarten. Big milestones. Before these new adventures began, we spent a few hours together one Saturday evening.

At Home with Lisa & Morgan...

It's been almost two weeks since my Soul Shooting workshop. If you haven't checked out that post, you should. Part of the day included hanging with this family- so full of life, laughter, beauty & fun. During this time, we heard words of advice & encouragement from two amazing storytellers (Molly & Sarah); we had the chance to ask these storytellers questions & we had the opportunity to photograph things as we saw them. It was special; it was exciting; it felt like the perfect fit- documenting real life with the camera just feels so complete.

A Walk to the Store, with the Fords

'Where we love is home,home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts.'

Some good friends came home for a visit recently, bringing with them some Hawaiian sun, lots of smiles & a renewed appreciation for this island we call home. I was fortunate to spend an evening with them, walking to the 'Little Store,' & enjoying the adventures along the way. It was refreshing to be outside, breathing in the beautiful summer air, & watching the interactions between Monica & her sweet kids. There was lots of talking, lots of laughing, a few tears shed, but best of all, it was them.

Little Bird Naturals

Last month, the kids & I hung out with the sweet family behind Little Bird Naturals. Sue sells amber necklaces for children & adults, a variety of handcrafted wooden toys, play silks & nursing necklaces. Her stuff is awesome- top quality, handcrafted & beautiful. Her chickens are also pretty cool! Covey surprised me with his interest in them, chasing them, petting them & even feeding them out of his hands. He's terrified of most animals, so I wasn't expecting this chicken affection from him. It was also impressive to see how much the chickens were a part of their family. We'll be getting some more amber necklace photos in the future, but head over to Little Bird Naturals on facebook now, to stay up-to-date on her beautiful products!

An Afternoon at the Auditorium

"My sisters remind me, by their very steadfastness,that truth, beauty & goodness exist in the world, & that, no matter what, there are & always will be people loving people through thick & thin.' - Kim Kardashian

When Bianca messaged me about a sister's shoot, I, perhaps a little too excitedly, responded with the idea of the auditorium. I wanted to tell their story at a location that was significant to them, so we brainstormed a little, but this just seemed like the perfect fit. They are an incredibly talented trio- the singer, the dancer & the actress; & the green room, the stage, the foyer, all these bits & pieces of the auditorium, have been ginormous bits & pieces of their lives. Their lives as individuals & their lives as sisters. Sisters are a special thing, & it was a special, entertaining afternoon, hanging with these three.

What's Your Story?

So what is it? What’s your story? Who are you? Who is your family? Who are these children, the ones running around, full of life? The ones who don’t want to sit still for too long, what makes them smile? laugh? What makes all of this, yours? Maybe it’s a favorite tutu or jumping in mud puddles; maybe it’s a big bowl of chocolate ice cream or throwing rocks in the ocean; maybe it’s snuggling with the raggedy old stuffed puppy or curled up together, under the quilt your Grandma made. Maybe it’s none of this. Maybe it’s all of this.

We each have our own distinct stories- the littlest details, the tiny moments, that makes things our very own. These are what define us, these are what contribute to our foundation. Nobody’s story will ever be the same. We might create a photographic memory of it, but why not take it a step further, & actually document it.

Storytelling sessions are, quite frankly, sessions that tell your story. Maybe they’ll include one place, or maybe a bunch of places- your home, a favorite beach, a special park, the grocery store, your coffee shop. The places are ones of significance. They are probably part of your routine, perhaps the routine you don’t even realize you have. Maybe every Saturday, you take your kids for hot chocolates, & maybe you know how special this is, when their eyes light up & grin from ear-to-ear because they know it’s Saturday- it’s hot chocolate day. Or maybe you randomly head to the park, but the kids have a favorite park, with the swing that swings the highest & the merry-go-round that twirls the fastest. These are the places I visit with you, telling your story through images.

Your kids might remember me trailing along with my camera, or they might not because they're so caught up in their simple joys. Twenty years from now, they’ll look at the family photos & remember that day, so full of their real-life. It's about just being you. So tell your story. What are you waiting for?

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