I have always been obsessed with documenting life through a lens. When my first son was born (14 yrs. ago) I took things a step further and started to really learn how to creatively capture moments. I studied everything I could get my hands on and that was when I started to understand the science of light.
My children's first years were so magical to me, all I ever wanted to be in life was a Mom. I had a hard time believing and trusting that all my dreams had come true. The idea that this time was going by so fast made me want to hang on to every second even tighter. Somehow I felt that if I had a photo of each moment, I could actually freeze time. Well my boy's are 14 and 11 now so obviously I couldn't really freeze time, but when I look back at those photos... I am taken back to those moments again. I can actually hear their giggles, screams and babbles of nonsense. I can smell Johnson's baby shampoo, desitin, and strained carrots. So for me it is the next best thing to actually freezing time (and it really is my only choice). Because of this, I strive to catch those "real moments" that do evoke such memories in all of our senses.
My eyes and heart are trained on the little things others may overlook. Do I take way too many pictures of my own children, you bet I do. Do I take way too many pictures at every family session? You bet I do. Do I have to wade through hundreds of shots to get the ones that will move you to tears? You bet I do. Would I change a thing? Not for anything in the world.
Moments Caught Photography is proud to have been voted #1 Children's photographer in Philadelphia 2010
Well if you are a regular follower of the blog you wouldn’t be able to forget the adorable red hair, blue eyed Claire from a few years ago. Here are two of my favorite pictures from our first session.
Claire then....
Well time sure does go by quickly and I was thrilled to hear from “Mom” to find out that Claire is now a big sister to a beautiful little girl. Meet baby Paige….
As you can see the gene for beauty is quite strong in this family. Claire and baby Paige are on their way to a beautiful, lifelong friendship as you can see…. and I look forward to documenting more of this wonderful family as it grows through the years.
short on words because as this new Mom and Dad know I’m heading out of town bright and early tomorrow. I just couldn’t not post these before leaving so this post will be short on words, but more importantly long on images. Give this little guy a kiss from me please… and hope “J” was extra good for you guys at dinner that evening. Oh, and look at those lashes in the first picture… not fair
I can’t help myself, I admit I’m easily moved. Even more easily moved when my children are the ones who bring something that they care about to my attention as is the case with KONY 2012. We watched the video below as a family, and all felt the same thing… what can we do? You know that frustrating feeling when you care about something so much and for a few minutes think you can be the answer only to a few moments later realize that you have a list a mile long of things that need doing and your just one little person after all. This was different, the call to action was something we all (and especially children) do as easily as breathing these days. Go on facebook, go on twitter, post on your blog, on your tumbler or what ever the next big place to relate to other with happens to be. I can do that… I’m a photographer with 3,000 plus photographer “friends” across the world. I belong to groups, forums, I have clients, family and friends who follow me. No brainer, right? The call to action is simple make this horrific excuse for a man with no respect for human rights let along human beings who chooses to target children; and make him famous. Not famous like Brad Pitt, but famous for his ugliness for his crimes so that we can stop him for good. How… simple, spread the word, spread the video, post away, link to this blog post, link to the next person’s tumbler etc. etc. etc… KONY 2012
You know… my entire being is wrapped up in loving, appreciating, observing and documenting children. More specifically documenting that rare adoration and connection in families. We all don’t have perfect families, or perfect children, but the universal theme in my work and life is appreciating the small things, knowing what really matters, trying to hold on to these precious fleeting years with our children young and carefree, as well as the hope we invest in our children for their future. This man chooses instead to rob these children and families of even the basic joy of a child going to sleep knowing they are loved. I couldn’t agree with my own children more, we must do something and this time we know what to do… Please watch the video (yes, it’s 30 minutes but well worth it) and spread the word any way you can. That’s all, it’s that easy. “Awareness turns into action”
Not exactly sure what was going on 9-11 months ago around these parts, but I have never seen more newborns come through my studio or about to anyway. This little sweetie was a few weeks past my usual 2 week suggestion for newborn sessions which is why you will see plenty of open eyes. I always say it’s a trade off, we don’t get quite as many of the sleepy shots and of course have to be extra careful in certain poses since they are already more mobile then in the first two weeks. What we do get is personality, expressions and a little bit more adjusted new Mommy and Daddy.
I often find myself… going through my own old albums and longing for my children to be little again, usually the next thing I know hrs. have gone by and I have had yet another unproductive day…
Often times I get the pleasure of… photographing someone else’s family through the years; and as I sift through the current images from our latest session I find myself having those same nostalgic feelings.
Once in a while… I am motivated enough to dig through the old hard drives and look back at my clients moments then and now and if I’m really feeling motivated I post them in a section I will now call… “the passage of time” (because I’m trying to be artsy like that).
– a side note: (I sure hope this child never loses her gorgeous eyelashes).
What I love most in these pictures is that the big sister was in love from the moment she set eyes on her baby sis and that love and nurturing is still present and evident in the current images. Now this time I did bear witness to some other emotions between the 2 girls (you know the typical sibling desire’s like the desire to cause bodily pain, the desire to have all of the attention for oneself, & the desire to put that little one right back where she came from etc… ) all normal by the way. What was much more evident was something I suspected would be there from the start. These two will always have a best friend in each other. Take a look at the girls then and now… and if your so inspired take some time to look back through the years at your own children (but try not to lose a whole day in the process).
Moments Caught Photography is thrilled to now offer something so unique, so gorgeous you have to see it for yourself (preferably hanging in your own home). This new offering is actually a favorite portrait from our session which then has several layers of artistically applied organic beeswax as well as oil paint applied to give the image a painterly quality. The entire portrait is created on a piece of wood to enhance the natural look. This enhances the image and creates a real work of art. The texture is incredible, dimension is added and it has a completely natural and rustic yet distinctively high end look that will enhance your decor. Here are some sample images I took of this gorgeous new item.
Where does the time go? There are many milestones in the moments that make up the raising of a child.
Clearly the first time you hold your newborn baby in your arms is the most life changing, and it’s all too quickly followed by many memorable firsts along the way. Before you know it, you wake up one day and stare into the beautiful, eyes of this child you have loved more than you ever thought possible and you realize that they have become an adult. If your very lucky; your looking into the eyes of someone who you would be proud to call your best friend, but someone to whom you will always be their parent first and friend second. Your looking into the eyes of someone who is kind, spirited, independent, strong and as beautiful on the inside as the outside. You are looking into the eyes of someone about to embark on the next chapter of their life and you are overwhelmed with pride and all that you want for them. You are also very aware that everything you have done (mistakes and all) have prepared them to take on this stage in their very own way at their very own pace and that you must take a step back and allow them to go.
I’m watching this right now with one of my best friends, and with a child I have watched grow over the years into someone I would be proud to call my friend as well. A child who truly hasn’t changed a bit on the inside, someone who’s character and characteristics have only intensified and become more obvious to the world. I’m watching as always with the eyes and heart of a mushy overly analytical dear friend and one who is all too aware that I’m right behind her… as always. I can only imagine the love and pride my friend is feeling and truly can’t begin to fathom what it must feel like for the other beautiful woman in this post, this child’s grandmother. To watch a 3rd generation of strong, spirited woman move towards her goals must be every grandmothers wish. This was a beautiful gift, 3 generations of women immortalized forever in a portrait as well as some senior pictures for Lexi and some mother/daughter images before she goes off to college. As always… from my perspective, behind my lens… the gift was mine.
And because I couldn’t resist, here is a little peak at the past…
A young Lexi in a reflective moment on the beach... or she might have just been annoyed with her Mom?
Lexi looking after my Jason on vacation
Lexi holding my 9 day old Jared... what was I thinking?
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