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Amos + Dulce | Tucson Maternity Photographer | Agua Caliente Morning Mini Session | teaser

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 {Amos + Dulce + Baby | Agua Caliente, Tucson, AZ | March 2012} Amos is a trainer at the gym I go to down the streets. When I heard he was going to be a new daddy I gave him a huge high five and then insisted he and his wife do a maternity session! (Motivated by my own regret in not being more intentional with maternity pictures for myself. I just simply did not FEEL pretty)... I am more recently sobered by how fleeting and special pregnancy can be and gently prod expecting couples to not forget about the belly memories!

Tomorrow I get to shoot their little boy's newborn pictures! He arrived safe and sound about a week ago. It's been a special treat to be invited into this special time for both Amos + Dulce. | lkm

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Texture Tuesday | Palm Blades

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 {Palm Leaves | Tucson, AZ | November 2011} There is a lot of brown in Tucson. Of course if you were to ask one of my best friends Alyssa, one of the most die-hard Tucsonans I know, she'd say brown is her favorite color. I'm so not there yet. Meanwhile, here is an almost-green texture of a bushel of lethal palm branches I nearly impaled myself on whilst playing tag with the kids. I know. I'm hard core. | lkm

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Texture Tuesday | Blurry night-practice pool lights

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 {Texture | Blurry-ized image of pool lights while shooting the Knights Swim Team in Ocala, Florida | October 2011} I'm a huge fan of Trever Hoehne's work. I love the tones and consistent rich brand that characterizes his work. I went to school with the guy. Didn't know him very well. He did help me navigate my first DSLR 4 days before my first wedding shoot. That was cool. Nerve wrecking. But his 5 minute hands-on impromptu explanation of ISO and Aperture and Shutter Speed saved my rear for that wedding. (I know. Bizarre. The backwards way I've learned photography is not something I brag about.) He did a really cool series of art called Blurry Things that made me see the color and fun and art in photography. His stuff was stuff I'd put on my walls. And it made me want to shoot some of my own stuff that I'd be excited about and say, 'hey look! I shot this at a random swim team practice, messed with a few things, broke a few rules, played with it later...and it came out cool!" Thank you Trever for continuing to crank out sweet beauty and raising the bar. Often.| lkm

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Peter + Vanessa | Southern California Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park | Pt.2

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{Peter + Vanessa | being cute in the middle of Dufferin St. in Riverside, Ca | January 2012} ...there love story continues. :) If you didn't catch P + V's part one, go Here. And take note that after you trudge through all the gooey tenderness, at the bottom of the post you'll get to read the first-hand account of their proposal back in December. Beware though. He sets the bar UBER high. It's kinda ridiculous actually. | lkm I really would like a huge glowing canvas of that bee in the branches (image below left)Such a pretty little thing :) and oh my gosh, can they get their goof on!I don't get it either. African flossing? My heart just swells at the idea of God blessing Peter with Vanessa as his bride...a woman whom he loves, tends to, cares for, who loves Jesus and others. The innocence and sheer delight and new experiences and amazing sense of 'team-mate' ahead of them--yup, there's the grapefruit in my throat again.  My joy in my brother is unabashed. The blessing in having him include me in these plans and attempts to woo his lady is beyond me. The phone calls and questions and opinions on 'how should i do this?' made my heart swim with glee :)

So....here's the proposal story I've been gushing about. (as told by Peter)...note: at the end of Vanessa's semester abroad in Africa, Peter joined her parents to spend Christmas on safari and traveling about the country. I know. Sick huh?

Sent via facebook to all their close friends shortly after they got engaged...

She said yes! Here's how it happened: 

On December 25th, I gave Vanessa her first clue: a small silver treasure chest. The next day I gave her a silver key with the verse 1 Peter 1:22-23. The third clue was the movie Muppet Treasure Island (in which Gonzo says the line, “to Zanzibar, to see the Zanzi-barbarians!”). Fourth clue was a hand towel and fifth clue, conveniently placed on her bedside table by her dad this morning, was a photo album showing the timeline of our relationship so far. 

Last night, we arrived on Zanzibar island off the coast of Tanzania (in eastern Africa). I immediately began to scope the area for the big question, since I was planning on burying the ring in a cherry wood treasure chest I had a guy make for her. I approached “Gharib”, a local African at the receptionist desk and in a conspiratorial tone said, “I am planning on asking my girlfriend to marry me tomorrow but I need your help.” His eyes lit up. He was in. He found me a shovel and a place on the beach that was on the edge of the Breezes Beach Club property. Mr. Johnson talked to Sarah, another helpful worker to get a glass bottle for the treasure map. The closest she could find was a wine carafe—it would have to do. I then had Vanessa’s brother Aaron set up a camera behind a tree as I buried the treasure chest next to a palm tree. I made the appropriate pirate markings on the piece of synthetic leather I had burned and dirtied (for authenticity of course), and then went to pick up Vanessa. 

She had all the clues ready with the additional zebra striped bowl we picked up in South Africa. I then gave her the wine carafe with the treasure map which she untied and gazed with artistic appreciation for a few moments before looking to me for direction. “Well, follow the map, I said.” So we did. I purposely made the dotted pirate route wind through the club grounds before looping back along the beach to the chosen palm tree. She noticed the camera first and laughed. Then she noticed Aaron sulking in the shadows of the tree and laughed some more. Aaron turned on the camera and discreetly took off down the path. “Oh look, a shovel!” she said. “Well, what do you think you should do?” I asked. “Maybe I should dig in this soft dirt over here…” she jested (so maybe I’m a pirate in training and didn’t cover my burial site so well). She dug up the treasure chest, unlocked it with the key I had given her as a clue, and opened up the chest to find a journal and a small box. The journal had some words about love and stuff and then after reading John 13 I had her sit on the treasure chest while I washed her feet in the zebra bowl. I dried them with the red hand towel (4th clue) and had her open the small box. Inside was a smaller box containing a black ring box and inside the ring box was…the ring. I told her some more stuff about love and running the race alongside each other and more mushy stuff and then said, “Vanessa Nicole Johnson, will you marry me?” She said yes. We hugged for a few moments then realized how humid it was so we headed in to breakfast with Vanessa’s family. 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Hope to see you soon. 

Peter (& Vanessa)

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Peter + Vanessa | Southern California Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park | Pt.1

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 {Peter + Vanessa | Engagement Session | Citrus State Historical Park, Riverside, CA | January 2012 } Last February  I  got an amazing series of phone calls from my brother, Peter.  It started off like this: "Hey sis. So...i have my eyes on someone." Oh my word. Was I thrilled. My brother is pretty amazing. He loves Jesus more than anything and when I heard that Vanessa was the one that had captured his attention, I choked on my asparagus.  He spoke of her heart for others, the way he loved serving with her--and then he told me about her issue with SOCKS and I was sold.  They spent nearly a year dating, getting to know each other better and then when she spent a semester in Africa with her nursing program from APU this past fall, he spoke of his incredible longing for her. My brother...a man...longing for this woman whom he wanted for his bride. He proposed in Africa by the way.... but i'm saving that story, written by my brother, for tomorrow. :) | lkm

the 'how to dip' coaching session was full of belly-laughs your guess is as good as mineThis is Peter talking to my other brother Nathan who was SUPPOSED to have come hang out for the afternoon. Peter arrived at the session, spent an hour cuddling with his fiance and then suddenly gasped and shot a look at Vanessa, "we forgot Nathan." It's kinda funny now -noitisnot- especially remembering Vanessa's look of horror and Peter's genuine look of remorse. I haven't seen Nathan in 9 months....yes, yes I am still bitter.two of my favorites from the day...I vote no glasses for the wedding. What do you think? I get another sister!!! Part Two coming tomorrow :) Along with one of the best proposal stories I've ever heard of... :)

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Raising Kids | personal

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{Judah & Daddy | The plethora of faces we have trained our kids to crank out on the spot | Downtown Tucson, AZ | November 2011} We've had an interesting schedule the past couple months. While Lawson waits to have more hours added to his plate at Starbucks, he's provided me with a generous amount of 'work days' to continue working on photography and developing relationships with fellow photographers and vendors in Arizona. While I love being able to get my productive 'working girl' fix throughout the week, I count the enormous blessing of having this man be my kid's father. He is goofy. He is bizarre. He is passionately in love with his family and dedicated to spending time and providing as darn best he can....And he's raising his kids to love each other. It really is a pretty beautiful thing. | lkm

my gosh. these kids are awesome :)

 

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