This post serves as the third in a series I've just now entitled, "The Boyden's: A Global Family". This isn't the title because it's a progressive idea of how to approach familial issues with a global mindset. It's the title because I've come to be convinced that, in some way, we're really all Boyden's (and we should be proud)...
One of my favorite things about taking photos and having lots of siblings is that I can employ a healthy dose of guilt and passive aggression when they ask anyone but me to take their photos. It's one of those awkward joys.
Just kidding. I would be a terrible person if I had thoughts like that!
What I really meant to say is that one of my favorite things about taking photos is that sometimes, I have the pleasure of being asked to photograph one of my siblings and their family. And here's what's so good about this. I'm also blessed that I call my siblings my best of friends, and as a result, I know them better than I know anyone else.
But here's the good part: This means that when I'm looking at one of my siblings through the camera, I can tell, without any shadow of doubt, that I've caught them at their best. I know this because I've seen them in their best and in their worst and much of what's in between. For a few of them, I've even seen many their different flickers of expressions of satisfaction and happiness, and in that photo above, this is my sister, Anna's, most peaceful, satisfied expression of happiness.
Buy you know, you could probably see that now, too.
Enjoy,
Rachel
Yesterday Tim and I had a conversation about modern feminism. I'll spare you the details, but I will say that I am so very grateful to be surrounded by women who are marked by these characteristics: humility despite experience and education, self-denial despite strong desire, submission out of trust, boldness despite fear, persistence even in exhaustion, gentility mysteriously paired with zeal, and last [but not although truly] least, pure style.
But that's not all. What's also so very relevant is that in most cases for each women, there is a man nearby who bears beautifully complimentary characteristics, blending together in a symphonic and miraculous movement we call family.
This surrounded-ness in my life is a good portion of the reason why I love, despite the stresses it brings, to take photos of marriages and families. It's a feast day for each victory of human virtue through the lens, and I'm re-convicted every single time I snap the shutter (and I'll shoot anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 photos in one wedding day...that's a lot of conviction.)
The couple in these photos is the brother and sister in law of two of my brothers-in-law (confused? Try to not figure it out. Read about this phenomenon of familial ties here.) They, along with their kids, could be one of the boldest examples of this wonder. The first time I met them, they shared with me their beautifully intimate conversion story as a family and I was in tears. The first time I met them!
It's appropriate that today is Tuesday of Holy Week, because it is a holy reality, the self-sacrifice that whirs back and forth in families like these. This week, for those moments that I mainly just want to scream at my husband or daughter, I'll think of the people like those in these photos and hope I can act on the inspiration.
Enjoy, and I wish you a most joyful Easter!
Rachel
Today I was flooded with this memory. My old basement in our house on Hearthstone Ave where I grew up. Giant square of maroon carpet. Green sectional couch. Toy baskets neatly shoved to the edge of every inch of perimeter of the room.
My two sisters, our neighbor and I are there pretending, for the seven-thousandth time, to act out every scene from Beauty and the Beast. Our parts were most definitely chosen based on seniority: Our neighbor got to play Belle (maybe because she was the guest?), my older sister was the Beast (a very begrudging yet elegant Beast), I played Lumiere and my younger sister got stuck with Cogsworth. Occasionally our roles would require us to swing back and forth from Mrs. Potts and Chip, but we definitely saw it as an honor to play all of the household items.
There you have it. A pretty much cookie-cutter memory from every child who lived through the nineties.
Now, these two little boys would make excellent Chips, but only because he's the cutest, roundest, happiest, bounciest member of the cast. They most certainly bear all of these characteristics and more. I am always grateful to this family allowing me to photograph them! I've followed them with a camera on their wedding day and through several photo shoots as a family.
Enjoy!
Rachel
