Whoever said the “twenties” are the most fun time in life?? I guess it depends on your definition of fun, but so far, my 30′s are the most fun time of my life. Why, you ask? For starters, almost all of my friends (and now my family) are moving into the “baby/family” stages of life. Two of my best girlfriends are currently pregnant with their first, my sister just had a baby 5 weeks ago, my past wedding clients are having babies left and right, and since the launch of my new website 6 months ago marketing maternity and baby photography, to say I have babies on the brain would be an understatement! When I started my business full time in Denver in 2005, I thought that I was going to specialize in wedding photography, period. I didn’t want to be a portrait photographer, or work in a studio. I wanted to capture the fleeting moments on a day filled with excitement, anticipation, love, joy, laughter, tears, and all the fabulous emotions that come with a wedding day. I had no interest, really, in photographing “people.” Not in a traditional sense of the word anyway. But as my business grew, something else came into focus for me that I hadn’t necessarily anticipated. My clients become my friends…literally. I didn’t realize at the outset of my career how close I would become with the people I was photographing on any given wedding day, but what I found, and what kept happening again and again, was that my brides and grooms were so cool, not only as a couple, and also as individuals that connected with me and with my art enough to have me be the one to capture their big day. That, in and of itself, speaks to their good taste! (just kidding!) But in all seriousness, I more often than not, develop a friendship with my couples that goes far beyond the wedding day. As these friends have started their families, they have requested maternity photos, baby photos, family photos, and all the things I didn’t “think” I was going to photograph. And now, I LOVE photographing portraits! And it’s because I can take the skill set I developed shooting weddings, and photograph my portraits in a similar fashion with people I already care about. I can pretty much go anywhere with any light and make it work wonderfully. That is not a result of my training at photography school, but rather my experience as a wedding photographer working on location (oftentimes unfamiliar) under any/all lighting conditions, with every possible personality under the sun. Photographing people is not so unlike photographing a wedding, mainly in that you never are really sure what you are going to be working with. It keeps me on my toes and I love pushing myself to be creative, no matter what.
Izabella Kirk is the first beautiful baby girl of my friend, Danielle, now 6 months old! Izzy is doing my “babies first year collection” so this was our 3rd official shoot together (4th if you count the maternity photos!). I actually grew up in the same town as Danielle. We went to school together only a year apart and for years we were also in dance together. We reconnected when she got married in 2008 and hired me as her wedding photographer. As soon as this precious little baby was on the way, we were both so excited to take maternity and baby photos. It’s been so wonderful seeing so much of her and getting to know Jim and baby Izabella! I just love her sweet little face and those big eyes! What a charmer. Danielle and Jim, see you all in a few months for her 9 month session at the park! I hope you love these precious photos of your sweet girl.
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