Red Thread Session

I am a volunteer photographer for Red Thread Sessions, and I have really been enjoying sessions of new families who have joined together through adoption. This family is really special to me because we have ventured together on this journey and brought our sons home a week apart. We shared in the trials of adopting from a virtually closed nation but never giving up because our sons are fully worth every bit and more. 

Though I briefly met this brave, sharp young man just hours before he flew to the US from his birth country, I had the privilege of sharing part of the morning with him recently.  Welcome to St. Louis, E! We are very glad to have you. 

Red Thread Session with a BAM!

It's been quiet here for a while, as I have been on maternity leave.  We adopted our youngest son and brought him home from Ghana after quite a lengthy battle to bring our family under one roof.  It was fitting for me to ease my way back in to a short fall season with a Red Thread Session.  I volunteer with Red Thread Sessions to provide photography for families who have recently adopted, and it's such a an honor to introduce a new family through photographs.

Not only did we photograph these two lovely ladies in a way you might expect from a PLP family session, but we also did something special.  Part of their personal adoption story included a special connection to DC comic book characters.  A few years ago now, a friend donated a very large poster collection to Brian and I to aid in our fundraising efforts- a large portion of which was DC comic book characters.  We got bogged down in paperwork and never sold them.  As soon as I read their story, I knew that the person who donated the posters would be honored by them being used as a background for their portraits- a story-telling element and something really unique.  This person has a huge heart for adoption and is an adult-adoptee.  They gave the OK for us to use them in this way and I set to trying to find a way to create something.

My favorite part of the session was when this lovely young lady asked me, "Can I hold my mom's hand and look at her? She just makes me so happy!"

This photograph also really touched me.  You can see this new mother's heart through her facial expressions of tenderness, protection, and satisfaction.  This daughter is so dear to her. Likewise, her daughter's face is so joyful.  She simply could not stop smiling when she was close to her mother. It was so beautiful.

Bridge to Triumph III

This week, The Bridge, had their third annual Bridge to Triumph fundraiser at the unique venue of the Moto Museum/Triumph Grille.  The Bridge works to combat chronic homelessness here in St. Louis. As their volunteer staff photographer (sounds fancier than what I feel I do), I got to photograph this event for the third time.

The whole venue is a grand display of motorcycles of all kinds...

 Mayor Slay always pays a visit...

 Great music, but it was fairly loud so I never caught their name.  Great job, guys!

I love my church

Last summer, I wrote a blog post following the summer conference I went to with my church and how it had changed my views as a photographer.  You should read it.  The short version is that regardless of how we see ourselves, full of our insecurities and doubts, God loves us and created us wonderfully.  It is part of my job to help people see themselves as God sees them- beautifully.

Anyhow, that conference is coming up again, and I was asked to create some photographs that represent our church.  Just looking back at yesterday makes me realize why I love my particular local church (City Lights Church) so much.

Friends...

 Families

 Diversity. A true glimpse of Heaven.

Joy.

 

Prayer for each other. Full of compassion and expectation.

 Worship. (with excellent music, I might add)

 

let's not forget the very first bite of a donut!

The Bridge at Ozzie's Restaurant

I am the staff photographer for The Bridge, located in downtown St. Louis.  Last night they had a fundraiser at Ozzie's Restaurant on Washington Ave, and I had the privilege of documenting the event and running the "photos with Ozzie Smith" part of the night.  It was a lively fundraiser, even with the rain- a wii homerun tournament, auction, autographs, and dinner. 

I got a photo with Ozzie, too. (look at his charming smile!).

The Bridge at the Moto Museum

As a the staff photographer for The Bridge, I was able to photograph their 2nd Annual FunRaiser at the MotoMuseum earlier this week.  What a great location!  If you've never been to see this collection of motorcycles, you've got to check it out.  I think it's free. Can't beat that!

High profile folks were there... like senators, the mayor, and other local dignitaries like Fredbird! Isn't he so dignified?

What is a Ruana?

Though photographically simple, I did a very exciting shoot a week or two ago.  Partners for Just Trade had me photograph a few products for them again, but this time, it's going big time!  They are expanding their sales to overstock.com's fair trade section called Worldstock. So that means by the end of this week, I'll have pictures on a major website--even if just a few small products.  It makes me a little bit giddy!

I have a big thanks to give to a client and new friend who was willing to model for me. She did a great job! Thanks, A!

Getting back to my title... This, you see, is a ruana.  It's a shaped shawl, great for the upcoming winter and fall seasons.  Just imagine yourself walking through Forest Park with your kids (maybe having a family portrait session), wrapped up to keep out the crisp fall chill in the air.  Or you are out picking apples wearing your ruana.  Or perhaps you are curled up by the fireplace, wrapped up in this super-soft ruana. 

I'm pretty terrible at sales, but looks like I could sell a ruana any day- even in the heat of summer!

Community Update

This summer my family and I have been working to better understand how to make wiser purchases by educating ourselves about fair/just trade, well-made, sustainable, eco-friendly products and producers.  We are aiming to steer clear of purchasing items from companies that aren't benefiting anyone but themselves, and to, in turn, support those who are doing a great job.  It sometimes means more expensive products (but not always, as I've discovered).  It sometimes means less convenient (also, not always).  This is a really hard thing to do- especially if you know me.  I'm super-frugal. I am frugal to the point that sometimes I question my vocation as a photographer, because the essence of my job is to create something that someone merely enjoys, rather than needs.  I am a "needs" person.  Which, I guess makes our attempts a finding great companies a little easier, as I don't really buy anything very often, other than food. A nice mix of super-healthy and super-sweet. ... and about here my thoughts get muddled and incomplete, so I start over.

Through all those muddled thoughts, if you made it, I was basically trying to say that:
A) we want to be a financially responsible family that supports aiding in the elimination of unfair working conditions that lead to endless poverty and bring awareness to wasteful processes in product creation and elimination.

B) we are also a company.  we desire to be a transparent company that can share what we are doing to aid blessings God's people and the earth he made in a biblical way- balancing transparency with humbleness, sharing what we're doing without allowing pride or arrogance to get in the way.

C) and we're trying our best.

Here's what's gone on this summer that is of note to how we're helping out and being recognized for excellence in photography and our community.

1. I was recognized for my efforts in photographing products for Partners for Just Trade, based here in St. Louis.  They are a great company, that spurred some of our efforts on.  Check them out! (I even got a certificate!)

2. I became a member of Professional Photographers of America, and have agreed to follow their code of ethics in the way I conduct my business affairs. I am excited to join this network of photographers!



3. As I mentioned before, I am a needs person. When we moved in March, I broke my kitchen timer. A bride and groom I photographed in April knew nothing of the sort, but their thank you to me was perfect. It was a "purple" lemon kitchen timer! Now I can think of them, and have an extra lemon in my kitchen. I was blessed by their thoughtfulness.

4. Last year, I photographed an event for the Bridge, where I am volunteer staff photographer. I am pleased to help them spread the word for their 2nd annual FunRaiser at the Triumph Grille Check it out!

 5. We know that the earthquake in Haiti has been devastating and the effects are far reaching.  We are committed to using profits from our business to support international and local mission work, spreading the love and gospel of Jesus.  For this reason, we have used some of the profits of the summer to help support Convoy of Hope with Relevant magazine to rebuild 3 schools in Haiti.  Maybe you could do it, too.

6.  My brother and his family are on a break from their mission work in London, and I got to see them! TWICE!  Thank you for your patience if you tried to contact us in the last few weeks, as I was out of the office a lot spending time loving on and supporting their family.  I am so thankful to have spent time hearing their stories and encouraging them as they begin the next school year in England.  Thank you for being a Purple Lemon Photography client, as you are critical to helping financially support their work with YoungLife International!

7.  We'll close with this one, as this post is getting long.  Today is my anniversary!  I've been married four years.  My day is full of getting home from the above-mentioned trip, doing dishes, potty training the little one, catching up on work, mowing the lawn and trying not pass out from heat stroke, finding food in this empty-pantry house, and eventually getting cleaned up (again) to bless my dear husband and go out on the town for a celebratory cupcake.  That's a need, right?

All that said is to say that our lives are busy. But they  aren't too busy to make a difference.  We made vows on our wedding day that align with the "Honorable Order of the Mustard Seed" from way back in the 16th century.  We promised to "Be true to Christ, kind to people, and to spread the gospel to the nations."  So this weekend, as we celebrate our passionate, one-of-a-kind, delighting, gushy, married love story, we'll also work to serve our community, blessing those in St. Louis who need to have kindness shared to them.  We're still debating exactly where that will be, but wherever it is, it'll be well worth it!