my own eutopia

still in love.

Just wanted to share a few more of what we got on Sunday.

I am still loving the essence captured in all of these...

just magic!

Brody Bug and Cory Belle

I have been wanting to snap these two for quite a while now, and this morning we finally made it happen. I am in LOVE with what we got. In love. I couldn't wait to look through them and share. Lucky for me, it was a quick process. I messed around with a few settings on my camera before the session and the images came out exactly as I had hoped. I'm still getting tripped up when I look through these because they are so sharp and vivid...and the colors are so very much alive.

This was a great spot for Brody because of the duckies and water and everything fun to look at. This here is one of his first glances at the ducks swimming toward him on the lake:

There was plenty of room to run and play...lots of beautiful colors and enough breeze to keep the heat tolerable!

I think that this is one of my favorites...

But then I look at this one:

And I have to reconsider!:) There was a little potty accident, which led to a necessary wardrobe change. In the middle of it, Brodes ran off to frolic. I think that I would have done the exact same thing.

We were feeling so rebellious after that freedom fest, we decided to do a little trespassing into a meadow we saw.

There were so many great shots here, I didn't know which ones to share. But these speak for themselves, don't they?

My intention with this session was to try and capture the special relationship that these two share. I know that in so many ways, they have formed an unbreakable bond over the past two years. My hope was to catch a glimpse of that with these images.

I know I might be biased, with Cory being my sister and all...but I just think there is so much beauty in what we see here:

And here:

That look is one of pure concern and love! When Brody and Cory first got to the location, I took Brody in my arms and started walking up the grassy hill. He told me to "wait for my mama!"...always looking out for her.

He is getting to be such a big boy. These next two pictures really portray that growth to me.

Isn't he amazing?

I really did have a terrible time deciding which ones to post. I might share some more...just because!

It was a perfect morning, with two of my most favorite people.

Thank you so much sister for letting me hang out with you guys. You gave me such a story to try and tell through images.

I love you both so very much and I hope you smile when you look at these!

Hayden (and her wonderful family).

On Saturday, I got the chance to meet little Hayden. She is such a doll, and a serious pleasure to work with.

I loved this session! It was so much fun and everything about it was so smooth and natural.

Plus, Hayden's mom and dad have such a beautiful home with some really great spots for making fun photos. They were more than willing to let me move things around a little and try out some ideas. I had a lot of fun with that. Guiding this session was a breeze in that all three of these lovelies were so easy to work with. I really enjoyed my time with them.

At one point, Hayden wore a dress that was her grandma's as a child. I loved that...and I loved this shot of the dress and her little feet.

And her beautiful lips. Don't you love those lips?

This one I liked because of her sweet expression and also because we captured her doggy in the shot with her as well. I think they were looking at daddy!

Some more feet, because I love feet shots.

Especially of tippy-toed angels.

She reminds me of a fairy in this one...

Needless to say, it was a wonderful way for me to spend my Saturday morning! Thank you so much Hayden, Brandi and George. I truly loved my time in your home and I am so excited to give you the images! I hope you love them.

Out of Africa

Wouldn't it be amazing to go on an African Safari? I know if I ever had the chance, I would jump at it. Totally thrilling, I would think.

On Thursday, the kids and I probably experienced the next best thing. We headed up north to the Out of Africa wildlife park with my dear friend Sara and her babes.

It was a great experience. Most all of the animals here are rescue situations, although I don't know the percentage. They have very large containment areas for each animal and have wildlife interactions taking place throughout the park...sharing knowledge and educating the public. Although I never really feel great about visiting places that hold wild animals captive...this place felt less restrictive and more on the "intervening for the sake of the animal" spectrum. I don't have enough knowledge of wildlife and/or reasons to contain them but I did hear one story about the white rhino at this park being rescued from a trade where he was going to some millionaire who was just going to let him lose on several hundred acres of his own land so that he could hunt him down and shoot him. Now, the white rhino sits safely in this park.

None of the animals here are "trained" for anything. The tigers that were raised as infants interact with several of the employees who have been certified and who have been with them since they were babes. It is quite a sight, really. To see these magnificent animals playing around with human beings. Interesting. Unnatural, but interesting.

They had this older giraffe who came up to the sides of the safari bus. We were given carrots to feed him and since he has no top teeth, there was no worry over him biting anyone. He was the only animal we could feed.

The genius of a giraffe:

Aren't those animals amazing?

There were sables there as well...which we were told are rarely found in any captive situation because of how aggressive they are. I'm not sure why these ones were here, but I think they are beautiful.


A mama zebra with her babe.

And Humphrey the camel. Isn't that a fabulous name?

It was still very hot even though we were traveling north but it really was worth it. Asher, my lover of all things wild, was enthralled. His favorite might have been the Anaconda that he got to touch. A huge Anaconda mind you.

It was a day to be remembered for sure. I'm just glad I got a few shots in. My hands were full with both chilis and I kept wondering why I even brought my camera in the first place!

Wyatt Bear

I got to play around with my nephew bug the other night and thought I would share some of what I got.

I'm pretty sure I could snap that little one all day long if I had the chance.

And, lucky for me, this time around I got to capture the whole family together.

That is one special family, let me tell ya.

Thanks guys for being so great (and lovely I might add!). I appreciate the fact that you give me opportunities for practice!!!!

LOVE YOU!