Edlund Family Gathering 2009

Today I had the opportunity to photography the Edlund Family Gathering. It happens every year and though everyone can't make it every year, every year is a BLAST! The kids rarely get to play together since everyone comes from all over the metro (and beyond) so it's really a treasured opportunity to get them all together. Though I can't upload every person who attended this year, I did manage to get all the highlights uploaded!


There were hot dogs and brats on the grill...

There were kids who were so excited to jump in the lake they wore their goggles on innertubes!


There were games of 'Keep-A-Way'




There was plenty of lake fun with jumping off the dock, wading in the water since it was muggy, and good spirits all around :)







There was sandcastle building competitions during the safety breaks.




Plenty of smiles to go around!


Sneaking donuts!



Wearing Frosting, isn't this the cutest picture ever? It brings such a smile to my face!



Brotherly love...


Have you ever asked a child a question and all of a sudden they are shy as can be? I love seeing them squirm!



I love this picture, you can really see the bond ;)

LIVESTRONG

Has anyone read Lance's books? I am now a fan. If there is anyone out there who is fighting cancer or know's someone who is and would like thier pictures taken? Please let me know, I'd love to capture those memories!




Also, if you're a music lover, check out WIDEAWAKE, they wrote the lyrics for the LAF :)

Hidden Valley Park in Savage-A great location for Portraits!

Any photographer will tell you how difficult your own children can be to photograph. They see mom with a camera in her hands almost all the time and think, "another one mom????" And I just delightfully smile yes in hopes that they will smile back at me. Sometimes they will smile nicely...




Sometimes I am lucky enough to catch them dancing (all of our kids LOVE music, I wonder where they got it from?) which I LOVE!



Sometimes you get a fake smile and sigh on the inside...



Or you catch them when they are just being their adventeurous selves!



And sometimes you get them striking a pose without even trying which just makes you beam at the marvelous glimpse of who they are and who they are going to be and you catch it on camera to keep that memory fresh FO-EVA!



Any way you slice it and dice it, just about anything that has to do with photography makes me GRIN :)


If you're interested in Hidden Valley Park as a location for a shoot, just email me. It really is a great park for fun times!

The Language of LOVE

The thought of shooting the S family was something I knew I wanted to do with all my heart, but I will be honest, being a newer photographer I knew I needed to pay great attention to what was best for them and take their lead. See, M is non-verbal and has certain conditions that prevent her from speaking or moving around her house on her own. Mom and Dad spend hours every month driving to appointments, unexpected hospital stays, and are now on record with rare conditions for not only our state, but the whole world. Though I faced this challenge with my own children (to some degree) who were delayed they have mostly outgrown it. H, M's mom, gave me the wonderful opportunity to come into their home and take pictures of them to capture their lives, now. Just as they are. It's a concept that can't be told, but expressed.
Saying or hearing "I love you" is something that some of us take for granted. For most of us, we can say it, we can hear it. For some of us, we may never hear out kids say it. Though the thought of that tugs at my heart, I learned a lesson that warm June afternoon. The language of love has no words. It's the few and far between experiences and examples that we come across that remind us that a touch, a sigh of contentment, and response to such, can say "I love you" in a far more meaningful way than just words. There was a ton of love in the room that day!
I feel so grateful that the S family welcomed me into their home and I hope these photos can enrich your lives as you have enriched mine. Thanks for giving me the opportunity, I am forever grateful!


I just love how her and Dad have the same expression.


Here I feel like she's telling mom. "but I don't want you to fix my hair" and it makes me grin.


She has the prettiest hands with beautiful nails.


We did manage to get some grouped shots...



Here is M's new chair that's much better for her!



M is a big sister and she loves little G!



I am told I wouldn't get a smile out of V, but lookie lookie!

And I will let H explain why he was smiling;)