I have been through a hurricane, and lived to tell the tale.

sisters in hope, originally uploaded by Tipping Point Photo//Liz.

What happened:

Kids. Cat. More kids. Hairbrush, flowers, shoes, socks, stripes. Cat again. More kids! Shoes Dorothy would love. Bikes, bikes, bikes. Heavy footfalls. Curls. Tears and more tears. Out the door and away we go! Down the street. Greenhouse, pumpkins, flowers, celery picker. "Don't pick the pansies, don't hide from the camera, sit with your sister, it's raining, over here, no, here, no, here." Tears again, but chocolate! Yum!!!! Back home for snacks. Delicious homemade applesauce--thank you! Mac and cheese for little mouths--gobblegobblegobblegobbleallgone. New shirts, new socks, tutus, that darn cat, to grandpa's house we go. Climbing, climbing, vroom vroom, zoom zoom. TEARS! Climbing, climbing, climbing. Into the car, down to the farm we go. Corn. Mud. Cowgirl. Dramatic skies. Jumping, sillies, falling down. Apples and fun for all. New friends.

What I saw:

Independence.
Patience.
Boundless courage in little bodies.
Family.
Raw emotion.
Hope upon hope upon hope.
Real life.

(You can see it, too.)

Eye of the storm

Truck offering, originally uploaded by Tipping Point Photo.

Recently someone asked if I'd ever worked with a bridezilla. Thankfully, the answer is no. I've also never worked with portrait session clients I didn't like. Even when working with subjects as unpredictable as children, I come away from our time together with amazing images that truly represent the family as a unit and as individuals.
This August session was no different. Even as "boys will be boys" chaos reigned supreme, there were several moments of calm and truce-making that opened a door of opportunity for some amazing captures.
See the entire set of this beautiful family.

Sometimes timing is everything

Kabula, originally uploaded by Tipping Point Photo.

I pride myself on my timing. As a photographer who started in sports and has moved on to much more slow-moving endeavors (with the exception of the occasional rambunctious 3-year old), timing was my specialty. Sometimes, though, good timing has nothing to do with my quick trigger finger and everything to do with karma.

Last week we said goodbye to a dear friend whose time with us was wonderful and filled with walks, belly rubs, pigs' ears, squirrels, and lots of fun adventures. She was our surrogate dog-child when we didn't have one of our own, and was still one of our favorites even after we adopted ours. We did a shoot with half of her extended family in mid-August, and just three short weeks later, a tumor was discovered. It grew aggressively, and treatment options were limited.

So we said goodbye, tearful for the friend we were losing, but comforted in knowing that she would no longer be in pain, and that doggy heaven is the most wonderful place you could imagine. And we were especially thankful to have captured some wonderful images of her--looking majestic, as usual--that will keep her memories close to our hearts from frames hanging in hallowed spots on our walls.