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Personal Project: It’s the small things

The final official post had to be something great so here you go…

(like I said before I still will post under my Personal Project: It’s the small things throughout the month it just won’t be everyday anymore)

This idea started when I realized I often ask my clients to look at each other not the camera. While looking at each other I would ask them to tell a story. A story they would both laugh at or have a reaction to in some way. I would then be able to catch a “real” smile or just something surprising. I love looking through photos and finding this rare gem that I didn’t expect to be there. A photo that wasn’t meant to be perfect but ends up being amazing. I have a few (alright maybe more than a few) of those photos in my life and they are just some of them shown in the pile below. These are photos I adore and look at all the time. I especially love the photos of our son when he was only a few weeks old.

These are the elements of photography that I just love and it just keeps me coming back time and time again. I love knowing that I have preserved a piece of history for a sweet family or being able to recreate a wedding day for a happy couple. I enjoy candid photos of people interacting as if the camera was nowhere to be found. However, since I am a photographer we know the camera is always in my hand especially at a photo session. I do believe posed photos are necessary with that being said I get the shots I need and we move on to action photos.

Throughout this month long personal project I have learned a lot of different things. Obviously the basics, I have learned more about editing, composition, lighting and of course subject matter. I loved being creative and having the freedom to explore it. Initially I was going to make this a yearlong project but with baby Dean and traveling for photography & whatnot I thought I should be more realistic and post on a less scheduled basis. So please still check back because there will be more personal project photos to come.

For the last few months I have been trying to define my photography into words. I know you can see my photos and that gives you a certain feeling. But I want to be very clear with my intentions and so that people know and love what they receive from me. This is what I have come up with so far and it’s a work in progress:

3 words: Tell your story.

Life is unexpectedly beautiful and the surprises that come along are the greatest blessings. The connections to the love & life we make are so important and often times found by chance. These relationships are what make the world go round and everyone/everywhere has a unique story with details all their own. They have quirks, anecdotes, and relationships that only belong to them. I love preserving these one of a kind expressions of love, laughter and all that comes in between.  I want to create photos that are true to the personality of the couple/family and even the fur children. I want my photographs to move you in one way or another because there are honest & heartfelt images. I want to define the simple & authentic details of your life through my photography allowing your family to tell your story for years to come.

Well  like I said above this is still a work in progress but I feel like I’m getting closer. Sorry for all the writing, enjoy pieces of my story below. Thanks for checking in with me for the month of January. Think Spring!

Happy Monday!

As always enjoy the day, Samantha

Personal Project: It’s the small things

We had our friends over for a BBQ yesterday afternoon since it was a gorgeous 60 degree day here in North Carolina. We had a good time hanging out with our children (& dog children), drinking some beers, eating some burgers and of course some baby food. I just loved this action shot and how Dean is looking right at me while everyone else is engaged in conversation. I love everyone’s different faces in this photo. Further proving why I love candid photos and how much more they provide than posed photos.

Baby food and beers=the new normal. I just love our new life with Dean.

Enjoy your Sunday & your life,

Samantha

Only one more day of the daily personal project and then I will post weekly/monthly kind of thing. The final post is going to be the grand finale so stay tuned for tomorrow…

Personal Project: It’s the small things

Good morning to you!

I found my old paint plate after having this sudden urge to paint something. Not sure what quite yet. I am working on that. For me, the creativity comes and goes with painting. I wanted to show you the painting we made for our son, Dean, this Spring before he was born. We have it up in his bedroom and I just love/appreciate the time we put into making it. Mike (my husband) did the drawing of the countries and I painted it all in. We will have this painting for years to come and can’t wait to make another painting for the next child. Maybe it will be a little girl…oh how many fun things you could paint… I love having my boy, Dean, but a little gal would be awesome too!

Enjoy your Saturday, Samantha

Personal Project: It’s the small things

Not too much to say about this photo but I just love the hand dimples on babies. HAPPY FRIDAY!

Personal Project: It’s the small things

This is Sylvia, the apple lover, she will wait patiently for my breakfast to be over. I have been eating craisins and green apple with oatmeal lately. Sylvia doesn’t care if they are sour she LOVES them anyway. So you just have to give her a handful! Have a nice Tuesday!

Enjoy,

Samantha & Sylvia

Personal Project: It’s the small things

Good morning to you!

Dean is helping Mom make the bed just by being there. Everything is turned into a fun game and more enjoyable for all involved. I just love some of the faces he makes when having a good time.

Enjoy your Monday morning/afternoon, Samantha

You get three photos today! The first one is his sweet smile that I love, the last two are all tongue.

Good Sunday morning to you!

On a visit home to Minneapolis last October this baby journal was purchased by my Aunt Sandy while at B&N (thanks again). I wanted to document my pregnancy and then Dean’s first year in this book. I have made sure to write important details in here and try TRY to write as often as possible. I already read back through the day we found out we were having a boy and tear up a little every time I do. This book is invaluable to our family and I wanted to show you a little glimpse of these love letters as I call them. Even when I was pregnant and hadn’t met Dean yet I was signing my entries “love you, Mom”. This book served as a transitional piece from who I was before to the Mother I was about to become.

Enjoy your Sunday blessings, Samantha

Good morning!

I am still admiring our very thoughtful Christmas gift from my sister. She gave us this photo canvas for Christmas and she is going to give us this for every kid we have (in the distant future).

Just thoughtful and I love her.

Enjoy your day and be thankful, Samantha

Personal Project: It’s the small things

Oh to be a baby… eat. sleep. laugh. eat. play. sleep. eat. laugh. play. and so it goes (some other things involved in there obviously). Such a simple and enjoyable life.

Enjoy your laughs today, Samantha

Personal Project: It’s the small things

Our friend, Carrie, dropped some homemade dog treats off at our house for the girls. I just couldn’t resist photographing them because they were just so beautifully packaged. She has her own dog bakery and if you are interested in purchasing some delicious treats for your four-legged friends please visit I Woof You Dog Bakery’s website.

Enjoy your day (almost the weekend!), Samantha

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