I hereby fully confess to yet another reason why some consider me kooky with a side of crazy sauce…. I have relationship statuses with television shows. When a show captivates me from the very beginning and leads me to lust and crave the next episode, I am “Fully Hooked”. If a show in the aforementioned category fizzles and takes advantage of my dedication by producing yawn-provoking episodes that leave me wishing I had those 42 minutes of my life back, I “Break Up” with it, and I will forever be resentful of the hours it wasted after it begun to take its tailspin (hello, can I please have all of the hours I invested in “Heroes” back please?!?!).

All that to say, I have recently become an emblazoned convert of the show “Raising Hope”. It is currently in my #1 “Fully Hooked” slot as it often leaves me giggling alone in the dark while watching. Any show that has a crazy great-grandmother who thinks her grandson is her dead husband and attempts to nurse a baby has my blessing. Over Thanksgiving break (during my passionate and torrid 10+ episode watching stints), I watched one episode that I found particularly relevant to family photo shoots, “Say Cheese”.

In the episode, the family realizes the value of authentic family photos versus the contrived, “Olan Mills” type sessions. Like the Chance family comes to realize, I personally abhor “Olan Mills” type sessions. Every year when it was time to take our Church Directory family photo, my sister and I would collaborate on how to make the photo turn out catastrophically much to my mom’s passionate and vocal dismay (let’s just say wigs and matching jumpsuits were involved). I’ll have to share those stories on another day or I fear this post may turn into a novel.

All that to say, I am a firm believer that family photos should be authentic and truly representative of the personality and life of the family. I mean, how often in “real life” did your entire family wear denim and white tops on the same day while smiling on command on a blanket in the middle of your front lawn? Mine sure as heck didn’t! When families are game to allow me to photograph them for who they really are, I am giddy. The moments you are able to capture when you just your let kids be kids in are far more priceless memories to have and treasure.

One of my absolute besties, Lauren, should enter the Olympics for her ability to create beautiful babies. I’m pretty sure that her photo is next to “Mother of the Year” in the dictionary. She makes being an amazing wife and mother of two rambunctious boys 2 and under look like a breeze. The love, joy, and laughter she continuously bestows upon all of her boys (young and old), is something that I am certain every mother should aspire to have. And somehow with all that she does, she finds the time to be a thoughtful and steadfast friend (and make her own laundry detergent!).

Blanche- I hope that these photos enable you to cherish the real moments of your life…. crazy as it may seem at times!

xoxo,
Bev

P.S. Mad props to Blaine, the manny (male nanny) for creating verses to the wheels on the bus on command to help entertain the little urchins. And roaring like a lion.

P.S.S. I have a few last minute family photo slots available in time for Christmas for any fabulous little broods out there… not that I think family photos should only be taken around the holidays!

You may recognize these two vixens as some of my favorites. Matt and Cristin are as cute as they come…. every time they are in front of my lens, I giddily glee with excitement. Their love is infectious and zealous, and just a hair shy of their anniversary they still exude the newlywed enthusiasm that so many couples crave.

On their engagement session, which you may remember from {HERE}… it poured.
On their wedding day, which you may remember from {HERE}…. it poured.

We prayed for the weather to be kind to us for their anniversary/ Christmas card session, and much to nobody’s surprise… it poured. As always, they were troopers and we rocked it out despite ending the afternoon sopping wet (partially in fault to that wave we didn’t see coming up on us!). I promise kids, one of these times we will get sunshine!!!

I do still have a few sessions left in time for the holiday card scramble- so feel free to contact me if you want to snag one of the last spots!

xoxo,
SAW

Beautiful, kind, intelligent, genuine people should make babies.

It’s science.

Jamie and Marcela, thank you so much for entrusting me to capture the first little bit of Owen’s life. He seriously is the cutest, and I know…. because I’ve seen lots of babies.

xoxo,
SAW

I have always had an uncanny ability to derive a rule set from even the most free-spirited of activities.

“Let’s frolic in that field!”
Shanni: “Are we trespassing?”

“Share your hopes and dreams!”
Shanni: “Chronologically or in order of importance?”

“Let’s eat all of the Red Skittles!”
Shanni: “I’ve heard that interferes with some statistical theories and can lead to heart murmurs.”

Entering adulthood comes with it the pride in being able to set (some) of your own rules. Mom, I’m sorry- I don’t eat vegetables. All those years of me swallowing peas like pills clearly didn’t serve as a prelude for me to metamorphoses into a vegetable-loving adult.

So, I am hereby breaking another rule in adulthood, mainly just because I can. Without fear of imprisonment. A “Best Of” slideshow in August (when I wrote this post)!!! This is utterly crazy and each Type A nerve in my body is telling me not to do it. “Wait until December like all the normal people do!” they cry. But let’s face it, I’ve had an insanely crazy year thus far, and I think it is worth celebrating now… and maybe again in December.

I mean, it’s only August and I have these little tid-bits to add to “Life’s Resume” (and some excuse as to why I’ve been a bad blogger lately)…

-Chasing a burglar from my home, ID’ing him, and being told he’s a murderer
-Starring in a Reality TV Show (no joke…. I never said I live a normal life!)
-Being Published in “Real Simple Weddings” and “Destination I Do”
-Losing 20 pounds (not really sure how that happened other than dancing my fanny off in uJam….)
-Landscaping our entire yard

The list could go on, but I have too much to do in the time it would take me to write it.

So, to all my fellow rule followers out there, embrace the rule breaking with me for a moment….

xoxo,
SAW

Dirk and Danielle are two extremely exceptional individuals. They are filled with life, promise, kindness, and have recently discovered their ability to make really ridiculously cute babies. It is truly overwhelming to think of the promise and potential this little man will have to behold living his life with such amazing parents.

Bringing a little one into this world brings with it the most unbelievable ability to shape new life. With it the challenge to raise a loving, genuine, intelligent individual.

One that will care deeply and love fully.

One that will think and learn.

One that will contribute and give.

I am confident that Dirk and Danielle will rise to the challenge and bring little Jaxson James to become a person that will make them humble and proud. I was honored just to be able to document some of the beginning of that journey.

D&D- Congrats! I can’t wait to watch your little one grow!

xoxo,
SAW