Camping 2012. Needles, CA.

I’m not going to lie, I’m pretty much obsessed with taking pictures. It’s not just because I’m a photographer, but because I love to capture those priceless unposed moments when friends, children, lovers, and even strangers are just being themselves. I also want to be able to look back at an image and relive that moment. It’s like when I’m at the mall passing by the cosmetics stations and I get a whiff of a familiar scent. The pungent perfume reminds me of a time that seems oh-so-long ago. Does this ever happen to you? I don’t remember the exact date or even know who was with me, at that instant, but I can feel an overwhelming rush of emotion engulf my entire body. My eyes close and my mind opens up and the nostalgia rushes through my veins. To think that a simple scent can have such a profound affect on my senses baffles me every time it happens. Yes, Vanilla Fields, from Rite Aid (yup I said a drug store) reminds me of elementary school. I guess this was all my parents could afford. Sunflowers (the perfume) reminds me of the painful high school years. Come on now, you know you owned at least the travel size bottle. And then there is Ralph Lauren’s Romance that totally brings a smirk to my face because it sends me back to college and I remember, well kind of, how I had way too much fun! This is exactly what I want to feel like when I look at a picture. I want my photos to act like these familiar scents. I want them to make me or you get all warm and fuzzy inside or chuckle a bit over the tiny things in life. I want to remember every step of the way from a head lean on a friend’s shoulder to an a sister’s embrace. These are the moments I never want to forget.

Thank you to our wonderful friends, the Villagran’s and their family for allowing us to make these new memories with them. I know in years to come we will look back and laugh, sigh, and maybe even shed a tear for the moments that we created. This chunk in time will now never be forgotten, but held close to our hearts because we shared it with people that we love and know love us, for real!

Oh, by the way, I am an instagram fiend. If you follow me you know, but if you don’t check out this ALL instagram slideshow from our sunny trip at the river.

If he could he would make everyone play “baal” with him all day long.
He was just a tad bit afraid of the water. Thank goodness I’m taking him for lessons this summer!Thank you husband for listening to my direction on how to photograph us:)
I was not that brave. Sad, but true.Love these girls!Some little sister is about to be a big sister very soon.This is exactly what I’m talking about. I will remember how my son, at 15 months, loved to give the most amazing hugs…to anyone that would accept them.
Kid’s Camping CrewMy ‘lil Huck Fin!He thought he was a big boy all weekend.He is discovering belly buttons.