maggie

When I went to Carmel to visit my father, I knew I would be taking some dog portraits. But I didn't know they would be of Maggie.

My fathers birthday gift, was a portrait session for his two giant furry babies {borzois} + a gift certificate for a session to pass along. Fate stepped in as she so often does, and brought me Maggie.

Maggie is a dream of a girl... a faded butter yellow with two chocolate eyes that melt your heart. From the day her Papa brought Maggie home, they spent each moment together. She went everyday to the job sites with him, watching the homes be built and keeping everyone loved up. She kept her Papa's soul warm through the most difficult of times.

Even though today, her breathing was labored and rough, she wiggled to greet me and played a little with her new sister Miss Lilly.

Maggie has taught Lilly everything she will need to know to carry on the watchful role she had for all these years. But it is time for her to step down. She is loosing her battle with lung cancer and everyday is struggling just a bit more.

I look back at these images and weep for the loss I know her Papa feels. The love they shared was gorgeous and palpable.

Stand down Miss Maggie, you have done your job...cross over to the fields where the fireflies shine and the the sticks are plentiful.

Your family loves you.

labels

As I sit and look at the little faces I get to photograph, I realize just how many of these children I am actually getting to watch grow up. Two things... 1.) holy mac n' cheese doodles...I feel kinda age-ed! 2.) I'm SO in awe of the process.

A morning spent at a local Starbucks with two children I adore + coffee + 1 giant cookie reminded me that each day with a child is a day to explore your world in a whole new way.

Sabrina and Logan are delights. I watched as they turned a simple Starbuck's cup into a megaphone, a chin warmer, building blocks, a battle weapon....and much more.

Childhood removes labels from our everyday life and allows the possibilities. Thank you jesh de rox and Kathy for reminding me that we can do this not only with objects but with the people we meet.

lex + nick

hi nick



rocking the air guitar






"you will NOT stop taking my picture"



I've know Alexa since....well..since she was a peanut in her mama's belly. She has always had her own voice and style. She gets it from her genius mama :) Her brother Nick is a charmer and loves to make you laugh..put the two together and you get high voltage coolness!!

They actually begged me to keep taking their photos. Look at those faces? How could I say no?! But I wanted time to visit with their mom, so we called it a day and continued our visit without the camera.

{p.s. can you name the actress that lex looks like?}