Family Session - Grayslake Area Family Photographer

The weather almost cancelled this session.  It was meant to be.  Good thing I had the phone close by and I was up early on the weekend.  I've been hoping that I would get the opportunity to photograph this beautiful family.  Mom is my friend and the wonderful talent behind the pillows and shirts you've seen on my blog. I love collaborating with her. Check her stuff out.
It is an honor to share my talent with her as she has countless times shared her talent with me.

G family, enjoy your sneak peek!

angelclarkphotography@gmail.com

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

Author - Grayslake Photographer

One of my friends Stacey, which you've met here, asked me if I would be willing to help her neighbor Emily out.  Emily's book FRAGMENTS has just been picked up by a publisher.  She needs an author head shot to go with her book.  The assignment was presented to me with a few restrictions one of them was time.  Took me about half a second to think about it... I'm IN!

Above is my favorite outtake of this session.

It was great working with Emily.  I got to know her a little as she shared some of her personal story with me. Emily is a cancer survivor, wife/mother of four, and now a published fiction author...  what a blessing it is for me to be a small part of her journey in this marvelous thing called life.

Thank you Stacey for thinking of me and sending Emily my way.
Emily, wishing you the best in this new exciting chapter of your life.  

A Gift - Grayslake Family Photographer

I love when an idea evolves into something else.  What was suppose to be a birthday session turned into a family session.  Mom (my friend) and dad didn't expect to be in any of the images but I asked them to take at least one family picture. When the result is like the image below I am filled with excitement.  A beautiful family in this moment in time captured forever.  As far as giving a gift goes, for me, it's the best gift I am able to give to a beautiful friend.

 

S Family thank you for allowing me the opportunity to capture your wonderful family.  J, I appreciate your friendship and I will miss seeing you in the fall at pick up and drop off.