LOVE is ALL you Need
Yesterday was one of those days. One of those beautiful afternoons, sunny, with a touch of cool breeze. One of those afternoons, that inspires me to create art. One of those days, that no matter what I do, I cannot stop thinking about being outside, enjoying the sweet sweet light, my children, and capturing memories. I kept looking at my desk, with the piles and piles of work to be done, bills to be payed, emails to be returned, galleries to be launched, and of course MANY many pictures to be edited. My husband was working late, so it was just me and the kids, and this gorgeous South Florida weather. So what does my very spontaneous self do?? (It's a good thing I have children to keep me grounded, or else I may have gotten on a plane to the other side of the country on a spontaneous photography journey ;) ). I grab my children, my camera, and drive to the beach, which is only about a mile or less from me. It was about 5:00 PM, so we throughly got to enjoy my absolute favorite hour of the day, the golden hour. For one hour, I faded the stresses of my everyday life from my head, sat down in the sand, and enjoyed watching my children happy and free, and as innocent as can be. Maren and Zane's laughter filling the air. It was beautiful.
Yes, Maren has a black eye in some of these images. She bumped her head against her cousins, jumping on the air mattress bed, while we were camping in Naples this past weekend. I didn't really want to edit it out, as this is how she looked that day. It is a memory, I guess. A reflection of childhood. I did take it out a little, in some. To me, it just looks dramatic, like eye shadow. ;) I think she's still beautiful as ever, even with her shiner.
While we were out of town this weekend, I started to teach Maren how to take a picture with my camera. I cannot believe how fast she picked it up, and how strongly and sturdy she holds my huge camera! It weighs her down. I told her to look through the hole, until she sees what she wants to capture, and then to push the button. She's so darn cute when she's holding that camera, next time Ill have to bring my backup for her, so I can actually take a picture of her shooting ;) Her artistic talent blows me away, especially her drawings. I can tell there is a big future for her in the arts, and not because that's what I want for her. Because she LOVES drawing and painting and being creative, she is such a little drama queen, and full of SO many expressions. She speaks with her eyes, when she doesn't speak ;) It's those eyes, that speak from her soul, and get my husband and I every time. I mean LOOK at her. She's my girl.
LOVE this pic of "us." Zane hanging on my hip, me taking the picture, and Maren looking at her shadow.
I may have mommy goggles on, but her beauty takes my breath away.
Zane is such a goof. He is just your typical wild and crazy boy. This was the new trick he realized he could do, and not just standing still, he actually walked and pushed himself around , with his head down in the sand! It's like he enjoyed the feeling of the sand rubbing against his head or something! It was HILARIOUS, Maren and I were cracking up. Some of you may have seen the video I posted to my personal facebook page. He did it for about 20 minutes and had Maren and I rolling on the sand literally, cracking up! :)
Sometimes, I feel like the luckiest girl in the world. And to think, NOT only do I have the most amazing children, I have the most amazing husband! I LOVE this family we have created and I try to never take a minute for granted. Look at these faces. I can't believe they are mine!!!! <3
THIS image is my new favorite images of all time. It not only means the world to me that this was such a very special moment captured with my son and I, but my 3 YEAR OLD daughter TOOK this image!!! She got it in one shot! AND in focus!! And in Manual (of course I set the exposure). I edited it, and tagged it with her name. I did not crop this image, it is exactly how she framed her shot! Soon enough, Ill teach her how to edit her work! Did you know that, Maren Isabella Photography, was actually the name of my business when I started out, and then I changed it to my name, because I didn't want to be unfair to my other future children ;) Now look, she can use her name for her art work!! ♥ it. The best part about it, is ALL she wants to do is use my camera and take pictures. We made a deal-If she lets me take hers, I'll let her take mine ♥