It's starting to become one of my favorite parts of fall. I get a call from Kate to photograph her beautiful and growing family of girls. (Last year's shoot was especially fun.) This year they were just as sweet as ever, especially the newest addition :-).
My cousin, Andrea, and I have traveled similar paths this year. Both of our pregnancies led us to the hospital way earlier than expected, yet both have given us beautiful, healthy babies. Miracles!
I want to say a couple things about these photos:
Welcome back to the blog, Rachel. This is officially the first post that has been published since the birth of my little #2 and here we are, over two months later. I'm happy to see things are somewhat where I left them, but hopefully not for long! (I'm working with some amazing creative people to give this space a face-lift.. more to come.)
I'm also hoping to post a little summation of our journey of bringing our new little one in the world, as bumpy-then-smooth as it was. Fingers crossed. My to-do list vanishes into the newborn cuddle sometimes.
I'm simply smitten with the families I was able to photograph during my Fall Family Mini Sessions. After a too-long hiatus from being behind the lens, I felt like I jumped in with both feet, hauled hay-bales and pumpkins and was all filled up with joy afterwords thanks to these wonderful families.
These little ones were altogether too cooperative, and they made everything easy with their bright and smiling faces.
Enjoy!
Rachel
I found out that I love taking photos...again. After editing these, I realized that I'm simply filled up by it. Here's why:
1. I was able to connect with two people who I haven't really interacted with since high school beyond an occasional chat after church, and then meet their two kids who are such a beautiful reflection of both of them.
2. After a day of commotion and stress and in-and-out errands, I found myself so peaceful while I was taking the photos (high five on a peaceful home, Anna and Matt!).
3. When I left, I thought I might have a little bit of a fistfight (...not really, but you know) with my daughter. When I got home, I couldn't wait to lap her up.
So thank you, Anna and Matt and your two cute-beyond-cute little ones, for gracing me with a wonderful reminder of how grateful I am for these photos and the ability to take them.
Enjoy,
Rachel
I am the fifth of seven children.
Don't worry, I'm seeing someone about it. No no no, just kidding. My siblings are, without a doubt, one of the greatest gifts that have been given to me. While there were aspects of childhood that involved using your elbows to stake out some real estate at the countertop during breakfast (cereal, bought in bulk at Big Bear), and answering to any one of your siblings' names at any given time ("Ben! No. Elizabeth! No. Anna! No. Rebekah! Wait, who are you?!"), there were also aspects that very gracefully helped to form me into who I am.
There were things like sharing a room with sisters that provided late night hours of talk [giggle] time. There were older brothers who guided me through adventures in horseback riding. There were younger siblings who forced you to understand that you simply can't have the limelight all the time. I got to go to five weddings, where I was so joyful they almost felt like my own.
Everyone who shares in these sorts of memories knows that we all have different experiences of large families, but what I loved about photographing the family in these photos was that some of this same joy and soul-filling nourishment that I've experienced in my big family, came out as I was photographing their big family.
I have known the Madrid's for a long time, thanks to weaving in and out of the same pews and church halls on donut Sundays for many, many years. Between the siblings and the parents, the little cousins, and the grandparents, there was a unique and irreplaceable sincerity that was beautiful to witness.
Fun side note: Judith, a friend of mine and a member of this beautiful bunch, also has a photography business! Check her out here: Judith Madrid Photography
Enjoy!
Rachel
