Birthday Suit

This week I attempted something a little new, but I feel as though I’ve been training for it for the past six years.  This wasn’t done in any classroom or graded by any teacher, and there were no final exams, but trust me, I’ve been tested.  Photographing your own children is an incredible journey, one that I set out on the day my oldest son was born in 2007, but there have been many tears and tantrums along the way…most of them mine.  My goal back then was to capture every special moment possible in pictures so I could relive them later on down the road when the babies were all grown up and the memories harder to recall.  Every milestone, every smile, every tear, everything… was that too much to ask?  Probably, but I didn’t care.  Yet after six years of shoving the camera lens in my kids’ faces I decided it was time to start making the memories a bit more entertaining and fun for all.

 

So as my youngest turns one years old this week,  I celebrated the special milestone with some serious prep, but also with a new outlook and a far better attitude.  My biggest take away from this photo shoot – don’t be afraid to use props, but don’t be afraid to use nothing at all.  I happen to think I have very cute kids who can turn a drywall background into art with their smiling faces… but even their cute chubby cheeks can get boring after, well, six years. Time to shake it up.  Besides, what is a first birthday without some cake, a tutu, and a good old fashioned birthday suit.