slice of life tuesday :: friendship

one of my favorite photos from my wedding. my closest friend giving me a knowing glance. photo by tyler kope....a good friend is a connection to life - a tie to the past, a road to the future,
the key to sanity in a totally insane world...
~ Lois Wyse

On my run around Green Lake yesterday, I passed two young women who looked like good friends. They were deep in conversation and sharing a laugh - the kind of laugh that only good friends can share. A few feet behind them were two older women, who appeared to be in an identical conversation. They were moving a little slower than the women in front of them and had a few more gray hairs, but it was obvious that they, too, were best of friends.

After my run, I knew what I had to do. I immediately went home and called the woman in the photo above. We had a conversation that only people who have known each other a long time can have. She listened. I listened. We laughed (and we may have cried.) This is the definition of true friendship. And I treasure it.

As we get closer to Valentine's Day, I thought maybe I would make this week's Slice of Life challenge about love or hearts or cupcakes. But today, it came to me. This week's challenge had to be about friendship. Take some time this week to show appreciation for your friends. Maybe even tell them you love them! And please share your stories of friendship here. If you would like to share photos of friendship, you can learn more about the Slice of Life Tuesday Flickr group and post your photos here.

{Note: In yesterday's post, I wrote that my favorite photos show Story, Emotion, Beauty, and Connection. This photo from my wedding gives me goose bumps. It makes me wonder what we were talking about - I unfortunately don't remember. But maybe it's better that way. The photo allows me to make up a story and use my imagination. And luckily, that fleeting moment between good friends was frozen in time.}

Listen :: You've Got a Friend by James Taylor

slice of life :: family {january}

I've been thinking a lot lately about why I love photography. What is it about certain photos that draw me in? Why am I passionate about photographing real life or what I call "slice of life" moments? And the answer is this:

1. Story. I love photos that tell a story. A photograph can capture a moment, but the best ones have me guessing what happened the moment before and the moment after.
2. Emotion. You know those photos that catch someone mid-laugh or right as a tear drops or when a couple gives each other a knowing glance? Those photos take my breath away.
3. Beauty. There is beauty to be found in our every-day lives. That messy bed or the dishes in the sink can be beautiful if looked at from the right angle or under the proper light.
4. Connection. We all want to feel like someone "gets" us. Slice of Life photography has a way of connecting each of us. Photography calls attention to what makes each of us unique while celebrating what we have in common. When I see something in a photo that I relate to, I feel more connected to the world around me.

There's no better place to find Story, Emotion, Beauty, and Connection than in a family. For that reason, I went searching for a family who would allow me to photograph them in their "natural surroundings" not just once, but once a month for an entire year. This project would allow me to explore the ideas I listed above while documenting a family as they navigate through the joys and growing pains of every-day life.

Lucky for me, I found the most amazing family who have graciously invited me into their home and lives. As soon as we met, I could tell that they were the real deal. They are such a sweet, warm family. I'm secretly hoping they'll adopt me. And they have chickens! CHICKENS!

Below, you will find photos from my January visit. Watch as everyone gets ready to celebrate the daughter, Ellery's, 10th birthday. This is an ongoing project, so check back every month during 2010 to see what the family is up to.

And with that, I introduce you to Debbie (mom), Tom (dad), Benjamin (son), Ellery (daughter), and Pushkin (super-adorable dog.) The chickens, Bella, Chickita, and Emma, did not make an appearance this time, so you're just going to have to check back next month!

Thank you to the sweet Seattle family for allowing me to document this special occasion! I'm looking forward to the next 11 months!

saturday

My day was fantastic. How was your Saturday?

portrait of a man and his saxophone

I am so excited to share these photos with you. I've been talking for a while about starting a photography business and now I have actual proof that it's happening! I'm lining up some fun projects and working on the new photography website. It's happening, people! It's really happening!

I spent last Sunday with saxophonist, Jacob Stickney. And I must say, he and his saxophone are quite photogenic! We spent the afternoon chatting about life, love, and music. And, oh yeah, we shot some pretty cool photos, too. I have known Jacob for a while and have had the privilege of hearing him play. It doesn't take long to know that this guy is the real deal - passionate about music and dedicated to being the best saxophonist he can be. You can check out his music here. Have I mentioned this guy is talented?

On that note (heh-heh), here's a peek at some of the photos from our fun photo shoot!

If you live in the Seattle area and are interested in a portrait session for you or your family, please contact me for details.

what will they think of next?

My world just changed. Yesterday, I added the Hipstamatic app to my iPhone camera app collection (thanks to the recommendation of my Twitter pal, @littlepurplecow.) This is the first photo I took with my new app - a view of my dining room from the comfort of my couch. Pretty cool, huh? And today, I learned that Squarespace finally has an app which means I can post photos and thoughts when I'm on the go (like I am right now)! Dangerous, I tell you! I warn you, my blog posts might be getting more frequent and sometimes more brief, but promise to be full of iphoneography goodness. Stay tuned!