Mathenia Family is expecting

I should say the Mathenia Family was expecting. Their sweet little baby girl came joined our fair city a few weeks ago. ...more on that in a future post.

Sarah contacted me for a family shoot (maternity/newborn). She mentioned that she has followed the blog for a while -- to which I turned to look behind me to see who she was actually talking writing to. Who, me?! Please don't mind my beet red face. 

This family holds a special place in my heart. When Sarah contacted me, she mentioned that she wanted to do a "Day in the Life" shoot. You may have gathered from my recent 10 on 10 post, that this is where I draw my inspiration. Really. I LOVE being the person to capture those, real life, in-between moments. The moments where you forget for a split second that the camera is there and I am able to capture the real you. When you think about it, not only is it an honor for someone to trust me, to let their guard down, and let me in to their life, but what an amazing thing to have. Not a posed, "look at me and smile" photo, but a real, honest moment captured on film for your family to share forever.

These photos are far and away those that mean the most to me. I have a photo of my grandpa smoking a cigarette in his military uniform. It's not the best quality photo; the composition isn't anything to brag about and it's a tad overexposed, but it speaks to me and I will treasure the photo forever because it is the real Norman.

Okay, enough of me rambling. Let's get back to the Mathenia family. We used our time to do one of their daughter's favorite things, to read. She was so excited to show me all of her books. And she is ssoooo excited to be a big sister.

 

The idea that Sarah is just as inspired by the real moment and asked me to capture this time in their life is really an honor. I still can't believe that people invite me into their homes and let down their walls enough to give me a little glimpse of their real selves. Best. Job. Ever.

This little lady is so beautiful inside and out. Thanks again Mathenia family! I love your family and your sweet new baby girl. More photos soon.

Until next time...

10 on 10 - May

This week I decided to travel back and re-visit where my photography journey originally began. Last week, I went to see the Finding Vivian Maier documentary (it's great btw). It inspired me in a number of ways, one of which was to bring my camera with me when I'm out and about and brush off my street photography skeeelz.

When I first started diving into photography, I was using black and white film photography and developing in the college darkroom. I was immediately drawn to street photography and some of the greats. Henri Cartier-Bresson spoke about the "decisive moment"; knowing the exact split second when to click the shutter. This is a skill that is an integral part in every job that I do. As a lifestyle photographer, this is something that I consistently try to perfect, because once that moment is gone, it is lost forever unless you were ready to push that button.

Robert Frank, Dorothea Lange, Alfred Einsenntaedt, Lee Friedlander, Helen Levitt, Eric Kim, Anthony Kurtz, and Elliott Erwitt have all been an inspiration to me at one point or another. It seems I continually draw from people who have mastered the art of capturing beauty in tedious, daily life.

So for this month's 10 on 10 I wanted to step back from my usual and share a little bit about our city using all of that as inspiration. I stuck with my digital format (because if I'm going to do film, I'm going to use a dark room and I have no time for that these days) and hit the streets of Portland.

Thanks again for stopping by this month. Come back next month for another 10 on 10!

Make sure to check out the other 10 on 10ers. As always, they are sure to have some great stuff.

CLB Creative

Twinty Photography

Anya Elise Photography

Button Media

Until next time...