My Little Rebel Copycat

One of my assistant-friends photographed earlier this year near our homes (we're also neighbors), which happens to be near the airport. There is an area that used to be a neighborhood, but with the airport right there it was shut-down, our own little ghost-town, minus any cool buildings. Just roads.  I'd been up there a time or two since checking it out and showing my hubby.

One afternoon, to celebrate a good day at school, I took Eli up there for a photo session, for which he wanted to take a camera, too. We discovered that afternoon the entrances all but blocked off and in a very obscure location (which I easily could have missed entirely, and almost did) a no trespassing sign.

We were rebels. He was learning how to pose. It was grand.

 

Then I decided he looked too grown up.
What do you think?

Laura & Dustin (and a bike with a banana seat)

Laura & Dustin did an amazing job at their engagement session, let me just set the record straight. Though they may have joked about quitting their day jobs to be models for me, they really could (if I needed models often enough, that is).

I loved getting to know them, seeing the way they respond to one another, and getting take them to their favorite spots.  I have often photographed weddings in the area where we were, but often felt at a loss for locations off the beaten path, which is something I just crave as a photographer (and I suppose in other areas of my life, too, now that I think of it). 

At our consultation, bringing a vintage bike into the mix seemed a great direction to go.  With the fall leaves, the great bike we were lent by the awesome staff at the Bike Surgeon in Shiloh, IL, made for nothing but visual excitement.

I am thrilled with their entire set of images, so rather than it being "hard" to choose for the blog today, I made it easy and didn't think too hard, just grabbing a handful, because I love almost all of them. Enjoy!

 This one, with their dog Bailey, really makes me chuckle.

I keep imagining this one with their names on it for a save-the-date or title page in an engagement book.

 To me, this seems like it is coming straight out of a movie.

 Apparently, if I have to come back and check this place out in the summer, so should you...The Malt Shop.

 The spot where they met... Looks like they are hitting it off, right?

Fair Trade Chocolate: Making the Switch

This isn't a photography post.

But it is about chocolate.

A couple of years ago, I began to photograph for Partners for Just Trade and was exposed to the world of fair trade products, and more specifically, the large world of unfair products.  As our family learned about the high cost of our culture's lifestyle and how our desire for ever cheaper products has, in many cases, created a life of suffering for those who create much of the products we use in our lives, it became a no brainer to buy fair trade whenever we can and to limit our purchasing all together to get the things we really need.  It broke my heart to know that my selfishness to want to save a few more cents made someone else have to live on only a few cents or to work in harsh conditions.  I supported it.

I am still frugal. I still spend little. But I am cautious not to buy things that, even if indirectly, do not show love, do not edify God's people and his creation. I buy fair trade not as a buzz word, but out of an effort to shop with integrity.

On our trip to the UK to visit family a few weeks ago, we were in the grocery store and I was so excited that almost every product I was seeing was labeled as fair trade. And it wasn't just, oh, look, there is one brand of spices that has some fair trade cinnamon, but there were several.  Many companies were making wise choices.  I was also saddened that at home I have to search high and low to find companies with transparency and fair trade labels.

So this week, we made the switch to Fair Trade Chocolate. 

The cocoa industry is full of non-fair trade practices and slavery.  I prefer to eat my sweets that aren't tainted by slavery or harsh labor conditions or poverty.  In fact, I want to only eat sweets that aren't tainted by slavery.  I do not know how much of a challenge that will be, but that is what I want to do.

As baking season comes upon us, will you make the switch?  As your holiday shopping commences, will you shop at Partners for Just Trade? Will you stop shopping at stores and buying brands that aren't making the grade?

Handcrafted Baby Ada

While God was busy knitting Ada together in her momma's tummy, her momma was busy knitting her baby cozy nursery goodies.  It was so special to photograph this little one in her nursery with a handmade blanket, diaper cover, hat, sheets, mobile, painted mural, and atop a dresser that has been in their family for a long time. I love when all those pieces come together to create images that really mean something. 

A few favorites to share. We decided that purple is Ada's color.

 Love that cuttle little button nose and cute little button.

 Momma-love.

 Love this quirky little shot showing her owl themed nursery.

 Sister-love.

This was actually a test-shot, that I just love, which shows the interaction of big sister Sunee getting gentle direction from momma on how to hold little Ada.  So sweet.

Where in the world am I?

Well, we've been in London...

and in Leiden, in the Netherlands (Holland)
 
Photographed a newborn today, but don't have time to edit those (but I cheated and have one of big sister to share)

And I am on my way back out of town for a retreat at the lake in about 2 hours. But this time I have one bag. Not this much.

Needless today, we've been busy, and there will many more photos and stories to come soon, especially since once I get back I enter yet another round of weddings and engagement sessions.  Stay tuned...

Taking Great Pictures of Kids

This weekend ends the local celebration of World Breastfeeding Week with a seminar on Breastfeeding and Parenting.  Somehow, the Purple Lemon name has started making the rounds here in St. Louis (which I have to say is pretty exciting), and on one of those rounds I ended up being asked to be a speaker to a couple hundred folks (or so I hear) on how to take great pictures of kids.  So on Saturday morning, bright and early (if the sun even rises that early), I'll be setting up shop at the Zoo for my presentation and a booth with Purple Lemon stuff.

I've never been nervous before a crowd, though after singing a solo or acting as a pre-teen, I'd get a few jitters. Would they clap? Did I do an OK job?  It's been a long time since those days, and other than at my dad's church two years ago, I've not done much public speaking in my adult life. I don't think I'd be nervous, except that I'm sick. Will my voice hold out? Will I sneeze uncontrollably all over the stage, leaving phlegm hanging perilously from my nose? I suppose only time will tell.

So what's my best tip for taking great photos of kids?

Well, if I were shooting a wedding, I'd say, my best tip is to grab my assistant Casey, and say, "Can you get some photos of the kids real quick, while I go photograph the shoes?" Then you'd get a cute set of expressive sibling pictures like this:

But if she isn't around, I'd say:

Shhhh! I can't give it away yet, I haven't given my presentation! Maybe next week...