My background is in Interior Design. It is what I studied in college and one of the things that I very much enjoy doing.
So when I started my journey in photography, I think that it was only natural that I would gravitate to photographing architecture. Although I admired the talent with which my classmates photographed landscapes, my heart was not in that. I loved the lines and the shapes and the figures that I was able to capture on film while photographing structures.
When we moved to Idaho, it was cost prohibitive to install a darkroom in the home that we purchased, so my husband encouraged me to try digital. I fought it with every fiber of my being, but after seeing the magic that was possible in the “digital darkroom” I was hooked.
New friends found out about my hobby and asked if I would photograph their children and families. I was terrified of photographing people (buildings don’t care if they look fat…) and quickly told everyone that I DID NOT photograph live subjects. And it seemed to work. For a while. Till I got to know Amy.
Amy does not take “no” for an answer. Not when she wants something. Nope. She gets what she wants. She is a loving, gentle, and kind person…and also a bit determined. (I cherish her friendship)
And Amy was pregnant. Amy wanted me to photograph her newborn and she kept at me until I finally said yes.
The photographs were terrible. Babies are demanding. Babies want to be fed. Babies MOVE (Buildings don’t move – unless you are in California, but that is a different post.) And these photographs were TER.RI.BLE. Photographs that only a mother could love (thank heaven).
After getting the photos on the computer, I decided that I needed to learn more. It took another 3 years before I was in a position to take the classes and get the mentoring that I needed, but it eventually came.
So….interesting story, right….what does that have to do with anything?
Well – I’ll tell you.
Today, January 20, 2011, I photographed Amy’s baby. IN MY NEW STUDIO. It has been a dream of mine to open a studio for quite some time. The pieces fell together a few weeks ago and it has been a wild roller coaster ride since.
As I contemplated who I would photograph first in this new space, on this fabulous day, it was only natural that it should be Amy’s baby boy. Only, he isn’t quite a baby anymore. He will always be HER baby, but to me he is a fabulous young gentleman whom I’ve had the privilege of photographing for the last 5 years.
Today, he was a champ. He posed and went along with every suggestion that I had like he had been doing it all of his life. What a wonderful man this boy will be. Just like his older brother and his daddy! How can he not? He has AMY as his mom!!!
Kamden THEN (being held by his older sister):
Kamden NOW:
