Light - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

It's that time of the year, my girls birthday's.  They did protest about doing pictures this year.  Funny cause you can't tell from their poses.  I love how the light shines on them in these images.  The light that shines on them, shines through them... they are the light.   

 I always try to get a nicely posed image of the three of them together, it rarely works out that way.  They were trying to knock each other down.  I got annoyed and told them to forget it.  When I looked back at the images I realized that this was better than a posed image.  This is my kiddos together.   

Allow It To Be As It Is - Grayslake Writer

The summer is over.  It was a great one.  I was able to enjoy every day for what it brought.  There were some days that were better than others but over all it was probably one of the best summers.  We didn't go any where spectacular unless you think camping is.  We just did summer type things: bike riding, going to the pool and a lot of hanging out.  Now it's over. School started for the girls today and tomorrow my little guy goes to Kindergarten.  Tomorrow will be a milestone in my household.  There is no sense in wishing the summer wouldn't end and crying that my kids are growing up. Unless, I like the drama that comes with all of the crying- I'll pass on that (for now).  It's still going to happen. Tomorrow will come.
I will allow it to be as it is and find peace.

Good bye lazy summer.

Cheers to the fall and all it's wonderful changes.  

Rules - Grayslake Family Photographer

According to a perfect picture photography rule, that I read when I first got started, you never show a picture of the baby with his pacifier.  Well rules are meant to be broken.  This first image is probably my favorite of the whole session.  This one was in the last set I took.  It is real.  A tired baby in the comforting arms of his loving parents along with the paci that he needs right now, a real moment.  What a perfect family portrait!

Within the year this beautiful family has had many wonderful life changing events come their way and they will be celebrating another one at the end of the month on their wedding day!  Congratulations!

Trying - Grayslake Photographer and Writer

I'm still working on that handstand.

I can get one foot up but the other one doesn't want to leave the wall. I'm sure it's partly the fear of falling and maybe I'm just not physically ready yet.  I've still got work to do.
I'm running 2 miles a day, I've completed 66 miles so far this summer.
I've been working on my inner strength for a while now, the outer strength has some catching up to do.

I'm definitely not giving up. I'm going to keep on trying.  

A dream, a wish, a plan once planted sprouts when it is ready.  I've learned this time and time again.
I didn't give up on photography, I kept trying even when it wasn't coming together.  So many times I would get something wrong;  the lighting was off, wrong aperture, and ISO. I doubted that I would get it together. The failures were many but it made me appreciate the successes so much more.  There was no way I was going to give up then.

There is no way I am going to give up now either.

"Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure that often leads to greater success." J.K. Rowling