A 5K, Two Girls, and a Beautiful Location

I recently had the pleasure of photographing two incredibly well-behaved little girls. The baby was so calm and patient and we got a second wind out of her big sister, too! We had the pleasure of singing Little Mermaid songs (although passersby did not have the pleasure of listening) and I was treated to an impromptu dance recital with this little one.

It was well worth the hour drive to Ringwood State Park, and the fact that my clients got caught in a 5K race that was being held there that day. I decided that I love this location. I had shot there before, but the NJ Botanical Gardens and Skylands Manor and the surrounding grounds are irresistable. There are always photographers there (this time, the Goshen Camera Club was there) - and I really can see why. Anyway, here is a little sampler from the session.

A little bit about Firefly................

Jean, of Bebe A'La Mode has featured me this week in an interview on her blog, so check it out, by clicking here!  I had a lot of fun talking to Jean and even getting a little introspective about my work! I am looking forward to reading more photogs' interviews with Jean - it's always nice to hear what other people's experiences are............and get inspired! Jean makes unique vintage-inspired photgraphy props and gorgeous wearable goodies for children.....so check out Bebe A'La Mode!

{Tomorrow, I will be celebrating my 2nd official Mother's Day with the love of my life - I hope you all have a great day as well!}

Spring is in the Air..

Spring is my favorite season, mostly because of all the new life in the natural world......but also because of the flowers, a soft breeze carrying the smell of the rain and the sounds of children and laughter sneaking through my screen windows....I shot off a few pictures at Kittatinny Valley State Park in Andover, NJ the other day.

There is so much life in the forest......

And in the trees.....

From Robert Louis Stevenson's "A Child's Garden of Verses"

Come up here, O dusty feet!

Here is fairy bread to eat.

Here in my retiring room,

Children, you may dine

On the golden smell of broom

And the shade of pine;

And when you have eaten well,

Fairy stories hear and tell.

 

Sunshine: A Sneak Peek

Ever have one of those days?? Well this morning did not start out as one of those days. In fact, it was quite the opposite. I spent time with a happy one-year-old and her parents on this morning's photo session at Kittatinny Valley State Park, here in NJ. The cloud and sun combination was perfect (for late morning photography) and this little one was full of sunshine. Here is her sneak peek!

Have a Happy Little Easter!

This is the first oil painting that I did when I was twelve. I'd like to tell you a little story behind this painting, which hung proudly in my grandparents' house for many years.

Remember Bob Ross? You know, the happy little trees guy? His mentor was William Alexander and he was also a happy little trees kinda guy. Many years ago he had a TV show and came out with a full product line of canvases, paints, brushes & easels.  These are some of my old William Alexander oil brushes.....I have since switched to synthetic brushes for humane reasons. I even use a toothbrush in my watercolors!

My grandmother was a big William Alexander and Bob Ross fan and she bought the whole William Alexander enchilada for herself - only to give it all me. She was not the normal grandmother by any account. My mom says growing up, grandma was like a kid, only she had money and a driver's license. This is also my recollection of her. When she (and my grandpa) would watch us for the weekend, the first thing we did was go to the IGA foodstore and fill the cart with anything we wanted! I'd eat a creamsicle bar for dinner with no repercussions!

We'd watch rated R movies (strictly forbidden in our house) on HBO (which nobody had at the time) and then we'd stay up until midnight playing Monopoly (and she always let us win). At bedtime she would sing and tell fantastical stories (sometimes they were scary) and remind us that she'd make anything we wanted for breakfast in the morning. When I was a teenager, she would watch MTV with us and I swear it was like watching with a girlfriend. Despite living in a little town 8 miles west of Manhattan for 40 years, she held on to her Western Virginian drawl and we would howl with laughter when she pronounced "hot dog", "hot dowwwwwwg". 

She was also a compulsive shopper (and also happened to be my biggest fan). I was the "artistic" one in the family.  We would watch William Alexander and Bob Ross together on TV all the time. One day, I remember her elaborately setting up all the oils, the turpentine (to clean the brushes), smocks, rags, the easel .... the whole thing in the guest bedroom in their little suburban house. The above painting is what I created that day - and that was also the day she decided to give me all of her William Alexander art materials (although I have since switched to acrylic and watercolor as my preferred mediums) She always encouraged my imagination, which is such an amazing gift to a child.

Did I mention her piano ... that she gave me?? Years of piano lessons followed that "gift", but that's another story. Happy Easter everyone - love your family while you have 'em!