In The Painting of Chaos

so so far behind...

2010-11-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

i am so far behind on blogging. i hate that.
but i suspect i am not alone. it's a busy time of year for all--especially photographers.

this family booked their session at the peak of beautiful colors. the leaves were robust with color, texture and shimmer. the night we met the light slipped away slowly behind a huge cloud that came just at the right time. it offered me the perfect natural softbox.

so often clients are surprised to learn that full sun is NOT good for photographs. full sun is our true enemy. so when that sun was eclipsed by that fateful cloud, it set the stage for one wonderful session.

we had fun. can you tell?
and how beautiful is this family? this is one of my favorite sessions this fall. (see--i come from the land of blue (with two boys 4 and 6) and these girls brought me to the land of pink if even for an afternoon.)

i so enjoyed my stay with these precious ones! thanks for the smiles and a skinny dip in pinkdom!

make every day a GIFT as it was meant to be...

2010-11-21T16:23:00.000-08:00

this video moved me. its content is the crux of my passion and my purpose as a photographer.

i watched it early this morning and it's message hasn't left me all day. it's a message that is so powerful and so poignant. please share it with everyone you know.

and in the interest of today's theme...i listened to the giggles today, i jumped in and really played with my boys and i lived in the moment. then, of course, i couldn't resist grabbing the camera to document the power of our afternoon together--an ordinary day. a day i never want to forget.

hire a photographer and make an investment in the memories of your lives. today!

i am booking for january 2011 right now. drop me a line.

a hike, a picnic and a photo shoot

2010-11-18T01:58:00.000-08:00

it was a perfect morning.

crisp, chilly and the light was delicious.

we hiked.

we laughed.

they enjoyed a picnic.

i captured the memories.

what more can i say--other than this lovely family was so fun to be around. look at all of the smiles!

photography never seems like work to me.

ever.

leaves are falling--leaves are falling......

2010-11-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

i love referrals.

i did my dear friend tamara's family photos a few weeks ago (and i am totally behind on blogging those yet) and they inspired a friend of hers to book a session with me.

we met in lovely morrison, colorado. i love the vibe of the town, the quirky details and the lovely relaxed atmosphere. every time i walk the town looking for new fun photo shoot locations i stumble onto something even more interesting than the last time i shot there. that's my kind of town.

i take referrals serious as that is a chance to develop new relationships and to foster old ones. i like to deliver the images quickly and i LIVE for their reaction to them.

this morning, i checked my email to find two emails from the client--both with super pleased reactions. the first one:
Wow Mary Beth!!!

"We really, really love the pictures. Thank you so much for spending your time with us. I am very impressed! "

and the second one (in response to me asking if i may post them in a blog:

"Ahh, just went through them again. So happy : )

Yes, please use them all you want!"

in addition to being quite pleased with the images--i also love that the families and i have FUN together! we ran, we played in the leaves and we laughed. a perfect fall evening spend in morrison with this lovely family. we all parted with smiles on our faces. taking photos never ever seems like a job to me!

i even sang my favorite fall song for the kids:
it goes like this:
leaves are falling
leaves are falling
one fell on my nose
leaves are falling
leaves are falling
one fell on my too-es!
leaves are falling
leaves are falling
one fell on my head
leaves are falling
leaves are falling
yellow
green
and
red!

and in this pic i even had the family singing along!

The Melting Pot's Halloween Hustle 2010

2010-11-01T06:10:00.000-07:00

what a great concept--a 5k (or a 1 mile family friendly walk) on halloween to prep for the inevitable candy consumption to follow later in the evening!

hundreds of fun-loving folks turned out for this super fun event decked out in their costumes ready to run and ready for fun! the event is held on halloween each year as a way to celebrate the holiday and to celebrate the closing day of elitch gardens amusement park as well. so--after the run everyone can enjoy one last day at the park.

as a photographer i LOVE people who love life. people who grab the moment and live it to the fullest. this event was saturated life lovers. people ran in masks, wigs, full makeup and some even ran while pushing the kiddos in the stroller!

i walked around snapping shots in the colorado sun and smiled all morning. i love my job. i love halloween. i love elitch gardens and i love the melting pot!

see you all next year. (i put it on my life list to run the 5k next year with my kiddos!)

LIFE is what's happening when you are busy making other plans...

2010-10-15T20:43:00.000-07:00

so today was just a regular day. kids off from school. plans to meet friends. snacks packed. sunscreen applied. camera bag in tow.

a regular day of kids playing and moms chatting.
a regular early fall day.

nobody is dressed up. nobody hired me to take their portraits. nobody is feeling pressure. we are just being in the moment.

those are the most powerful moments because those are the moments when we are just living our lives. those are the moments we'll remember most when we look back.

a friend who attended our fun play date asked me if i get tired of taking the camera...tired of always 'working'. my answer was quite simple...the moments like today are where my passion for photography shines. i believe in the power of NOW.

i love the friends in our lives and i love documenting our time together.

'the secret of life is enjoying the passage of time'...james taylor

sunshine, the color pink and an old rustic chair.

2010-10-14T22:14:00.000-07:00

i am so behind on blogging...probably 6 sessions behind (which is a lot for me). but no matter how busy i am i HAD to find time to post these images.

i see this little gal every day (and sometimes several times a day) while dropping off my kids to school. over the past year the family and i have developed a friendship and so have our kids. when the summer came and everyone's schedules got busy i was so sad to not see and get to hold lily every day. i missed her smile. i missed her sweet smell. i missed those dimples.

secretly i have been hoping for the chance to photograph her and when her mom asked i was so excited.

this morning we headed out to enjoy this early fall day in colorado. we had two hours to play and capture some moments together with mother and daughter.

but lilly was onto our scheme. she KNEW she was going to be put on the spot. she protested for a bit...but we chatted and played and soon she was smiling away as she always does.

this family has a sweet love and light about them. each of the children are beautiful(three total) and adorable-- as are the mom and dad. i love being around them.

and today i got my fill of lilly's sweet smell and her sweet sweet smile.

i joke about creating a facebook page for her...she has so many fans at school that all want to hold her and hang out with her. so i am far from alone in my admiration of this sweetie pie.

happy belated birthday lilly grace.

holiday cards...DONE!

2010-10-12T22:47:00.000-07:00

there is something about sending and receiving cards for the holidays. something about listening to holiday music while addressing them and adding personal notes inside. there is something about the feel of the paper, the look of your photo and your names on the cards--looking so official and festive. something about the wonder and joy you feel when you open your mailbox and see a personal, hand-written note with a picture of loved ones on it. i LOVE sending and receiving cards every year. i wish we did it more often.

so so many thanks to my dear friend sally for this amazing family photo she provided to us for our holiday card this year.

her work is THE BEST.
http://www.sallyclarkphotography.com/

i use shutterfly every year for our holiday cards--they are professional, affordable and just very cool. i highly recommend them!

whew--i feel such a relief having this done already! thanks sally. thanks shutterfly.

Holiday Berries Christmas 5x7 folded card

Get custom photo Christmas cards online at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

DETAILS workshop: Mile High Photographers

2010-10-06T18:53:00.000-07:00

...not many words needed for this one. ok well just a few. i'll start with how much fun i had and how wonderful it was to have these amazing models, flowers and tables set so beautifully for us. and finish with my deepest thanks to all of the instructors, volunteers and vendors for such a spectacular day of learning and hanging out.

(and for me--thanks tiff for taking such good care of the boys so that i could enjoy a day away! you are the best!)

here are some of my favorite images from the day.

Vendor List:

Vintage Farm Table:
Perfect Petal
Sapphire Celebrations
Event Rents
Chair Covers & Linens
Bella Bridesmaids

Rock and Roll Bride Table:
Swank Stems
Gabby with Save the Date Events
Event Rents
Chair Covers & Linens

Visions of Sugar Plums Table:
AKHaydon Designs (flowers)
Emily Lenich, Particulars
Chair Covers & Linens

Models:
Wilhelmina Denver

Wedding Dresses:
Priscilla of Boston

Tux's:
Al's Formal Wear

Cake:
Intricate Icings

Styling:
Worthwhile style, Tina Gill
Makeup: Makeup by Janine
Hair and Makeup Girls and Curls
Hair: Jewels Grey

i love you to the moon and back...

2010-10-02T20:08:00.000-07:00

and she does.

pam that is--loves her kids to the moon and back.

especially makenzie.

pam does a much better job of sharing their story than i could. please take a moment to read about them and consider helping this family.

http://www.makenziesmiracle.org/2009/03/my-journey-to-healing.html

and after you see these images and witness THAT smile...you can see why.

i had so many smiles after photographing this family. they were fun. they were open. they were excited. and none of them ever complained about the heat or the sun or how long we were together. especially makenzie. she loved being out of her chair and in the arms of her family basking in the early morning sun in colorado.

and i can't get enough of pam's love for her family.

she inspires me.

thanks for trusting me to capture your precious family memories.

more importantly, thanks for loving life like you do and for choosing the positive life has to offer even when it's tough to see it.

lifestyle photography: a wise investment in you and your child's memories...

2010-09-24T08:27:00.000-07:00

this special lady is a client and a friend of mine. she is the proud mama of three beautiful boys. the most recent little guy, jacob, pictured here, was the star of this week's session. i was lucky enough to photograph his live birth back in june. what a powerful experience that was for me.

ONE of the many reasons i admire jenn is because she does what i wish i had done...what many moms wish they had done-- she continually invests in portraits with EACH of her children as well as her family. so often we have family shots and regular group images of the kids which is wonderful. taking it to the next level by capturing moments together with each child is so so powerful. as we all know...the years fly by. how amazing will it be for this mom to look back and relive these special days of one-on-one and family togetherness.

i applaud this family for investing in the preservation of their family memories.

do YOU have special pics with your kiddos?
i do but not nearly enough. when i wanted to capture these moments with my boys i usually set up a tripod and took the pictures myself. it was a pain and most always took the spontaneity out of the moment. i wish i had hired a photographer and i wish i had dozens more images of me with my boys when they were younger.

don't make the same mistake! call me--i will preserve your magic moments forever.

thanks jenn and greg for trusting me to be your photographer and your friend all these years!

one of the first images of jacob ever taken:

here is an image of these two that i took just moments after the birth. (notice the tear running down her cheek--precious!)

and look at him now--3 months! what a cutie pie!

an image taken last december while pregnant with jacob

halloween mini shoots. please join me!

2010-09-14T20:30:00.000-07:00

..or pass the word on to friends and family who might be interested!

WAY too many cell phone cameras are used to capture this precious event! and we all know how much time and money we spend on costumes! invest in your kid's memories!

limited number of session available!

details: sunday, october 17th

where: south platte park (behind aspen grove shopping center on santa fe and mineral)

cost: $100 (which includes 10 full resolution downloads to share with family and friends.)

time: 15 minute sessions

how do i book:

email me: mbgpicsphotos@gmail.com

call me: 303-875-5144

why don't people hire photographers to capture the simple moments in their lives?

2010-09-10T06:36:00.000-07:00

there is power in everyday moments. staying power. historical power. timelessness.

we were at the park this week for a quick bike ride around the lake. history in the making.

i struggled with keeping up with the boys (as i was lugging my camera bag and lenses) but i knew it would be worth it. just a few simple shots to capture our history and an hour in the life of my family. so powerful.

i would welcome a family to contact me about 'a day in the life' photography where you just BE and i follow you around and capture it.

i'd love my business to move in this direction and i think clients will thank me. so often we are prepping for a family shoot where everyone is dressed up, the kids are bribed with candy or toys to behave and look at the camera and are not really capturing a real moment. or you and your family are enjoying a picnic together and you keep interrupting the moment to get out the point and shoot to capture the beauty of the day. imagine the possibility of everyone being in the photos without any interruption in this priceless magic?

my passion is capturing the simple moments and preserving them. and i'd love to do it for you!

www.mbgpics.com

youth, passion and deep colors

2010-09-09T20:33:00.000-07:00

i was ELATED when this young man was into my suggestion to travel downtown and do his senior portraits by some cool art. i am drawn to the colors, the passion and the intensity of graffiti art and so was he.

i had a place in mind that i had discovered a few months back but we stumbled onto some amazing stuff and never made it to the place i was thinking of. so spontaneity won over and, as a result, we captured some strong and honest images of him.

these vibrant colors are allegorical of youth and passion and possibility of it. true. raw. real.

but we also wanted to capture another side of him so we headed to a wonderful simple field with the mountains as a distant backdrop. he felt comfortable here. relaxed. peaceful. reflective. and i think that shows in the images.

i SO enjoyed spending time with you jeff. your future is as bold as the colors on those graffiti walls. don't change. you are wise beyond your years my friend.

early morning in the rose garden.

2010-08-30T18:04:00.000-07:00

this lovely, lovely family were married in this rose garden a few years ago so logically they asked to do their family session there.
i convinced them to meet quite early in order to catch the golden yummy early morning light. as it turns out-that was the best decision as that light was pure magic.

the family had such strong chemistry and a delicate sweetness to them that so fitted the rose garden. i got to walk around that beautiful garden and capture them interacting and enjoying the quiet morning of togetherness.

i love my job so much it hurts. and actually it almost never feels like a job at all.

isn't it time you invested in your precious family moments?

call me.

www.mbgpics.com

303-875-5144

a strong history that produced a strong future.

2010-08-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

these two are frozen in my mind circa 1988 from our senior AP english class where we were all responsible for staging our version of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Gadot". no matter how i try i can't get those images out of my mind. it's as if it happened recently--not 22 years ago.

they were a cute couple walking the halls together of our private high school, holding hands and making googly eyes at one another. thinking back--they were one of the only couples i remember that i had a feeling just might last. they seemed so sure of themselves and so happy together. i remember being impressed that they seemed to 'know' that they were good together and were facing the possibility of a strong future .

flash ahead 22 years and i finally meet up with them again. (well, we connected about a year ago via facebook but hadn't actually met face to face since 1988.)

they are still so sweet together, so fun and so sure of themselves and...just look at this beautiful family they have created out of their love. i did manage to capture a few of those googly eyed expressions too...and they were just as i remembered them.

what a lovely family you guys have! thanks for welcoming me into your home after all of these years and for trusting me to capture your precious family memories together.

i am so so glad that we reconnected! and yeah to good old VHS for being the match maker in this lovely story.

nothing grander than a trip to the ocean...

2010-08-26T11:11:00.000-07:00

...especially considering this was the first trip to see the ocean for the boys. it was just magical. the expressions on their faces upon seeing, hearing, smelling and feeling the ocean were so wonderful to witness. (the heat and oppressive humidity, on the other hand were not so wonderful to witness... this year the heat index was well over 110 degrees. i missed our ideal colorado climate terribly!)

i grew up enjoying the ocean each summer for our two week vacation to the outer banks of north carolina. so, in a sense, it was a part of me that i wanted to share that with the boys. it was an adventure being away from dad for two weeks (as he had to head back to colorado for work). we traveled over 5 states just the three of us! i am so glad we did it and...we have the memories to prove it.

i probably should not have risked taking my professional camera and lenses to the beach but i just didn't want to miss out on capturing every second i could. so some of my lenses got a bit of sand in them but it was well worth it for me. the photo of my boys and their cousins holding hands is most precious to me. we miss spending time with them but it was so nice to just be together and relax.

despite the heat, the beach and the atlantic in north carolina had a power over us and we ventured out every day to get our fill . i could get quite used to that early evening magical soft light as well as the sweetness of the ocean as the sun is setting. there is just something about the purity one feels at the beach, the simple relaxation and the warm salty air. we are planning to go back again next year for a couple of weeks. but for now i have these images to bring me back whenever i want to reminisce.

a subtle sadness has overcome me....

2010-08-24T04:55:00.000-07:00

my babies are in school. they are growing up. and...
i
miss
them.

i did it.

2010-08-19T22:57:00.000-07:00

so far, 15 days into it, 40 has been challenging.

gray hair.
slow metabolism.
a new age bracket.
and
that number..
4
0.

well i kicked it all in the rear end on my birthday weekend when i journeyed up my second colorado 14er (14,265 feet to be exact). quandary peak was my poison. it was on my life list to climb a 14er three years ago and i did it. this time it was a personal quest and challenge to push my out of shape self into this new goal.

it was an emotional and physical journey to summit. i was tired, out of breath and my heart was pounding so so hard. each step as i got closer to the summit was as painful as childbirth. i wanted to give up many times as the trail was almost all rock for miles and miles. it made it extremely challenging to battle along with the altitude.

but just like in life--my friends pushed me and made all the difference.

as challenging as it was-that HIGH from doing it and getting down, over 14 miles in all, was worth every second of agony.

i felt alive, young and connected to myself in a way i haven't felt in a while.
it was magical.

and then there were 4 days after where i just couldn't go up or walk down steps!

i made photo greeting cards of my last summit three years ago and put them in the boys' baby books--along with a personal note to encourage them to follow their dreams. just like their mama did.

this time i will display a photo on the wall to remind myself that i am only as old as i allow myself to be. and that 4-0 is not such a bad number after all.

(note the top of the sign: "there are NO easy 14ers". i'll drink to that!)

(our at the top of the mountain snacks.)

(the quandary peak crew.)

(the view speaks for itself.)

(the gals actually sang happy birthday to me at the top--complete with candles in the strawberries and blueberries.)

(tam has been my hiking buddy for both of my 14ers now. )

(julie and i went to penn state together over 20 years ago. she is so much fun to be around.)

(yep--i had to take video with my flip camera too.)

(those rocks were such a pain to climb up and down on--particularly when you are exhausted.)

(notice the small dots up the mountain. those =other hikers. it was terrible to look up and see the summit so far away.)

(we met a false summit but were still geared up for the next one.)

(the skies were just magical.)

(i was so thankful to have those poles--especially on the journey down.)

favorite summer portraits

2010-08-13T01:11:00.000-07:00

(nicky nockie noodle man.)

(one of my best friend's sons. love these boys and love this image of them.)

(hands down-two of my favorite people in the world. NO ONE can make me laugh like these two. i am praying they come out to colorado next summer as we had more fun during their last visit than words can even begin to describe.)

(i love this image of aaron wearing this hat...love love love it.)

(sydney a sweetie pie i hardly ever get to see.)

(hayden. love those green eyes. they speak volumes to me.)

(casey giving his only living great grandparent a hug goodbye. no need to say anymore.)

(these silly bands crack me up but they are so fun. here's luke playing his electric guitar).

(mike picking up his sister)

(carole and larry drove in from cleveland to meet me... it was such a pleasure. i've known her online for years but we'd never met before!)

(i love the way aaron's cousin is looking up to him. a powerful moment captured.)

(this kiddo has the MOST amazing blue eyes...but i loved this image in black and white. it was taken during our beach trip this summer. i will post more photos of him in another blog entry.)

(a sweet image of my mother in law and father in law. )

(i was in this couple's wedding YEARS ago...so nice to see and spend time with their family. i miss them so much!)

(i've know holly since we both were kids. it was so emotional for me to see her having these tender moments with her boys. so much time has slipped away since we moved to colorado. these boys are all grown up. sniff sniff...)

(above caption describes this one too...)

(and this one....)

(natasha and her green green eyes...)

(luke)

(charlie...i love that name by the way...)

(seth. i have a slight crush on this little guy. he reminds me so much of his mother when she was little.)

(christian. i went to high school with his mom. quite a handsome dude don't you think?)

(ginger. i changed her diapers when i was young and now she has her phD and a new son jackson.)

(my trademark baby toes with wedding rings shot. i should patent this...)

(jack's baptism. i blew into town from DC just in time for his baptism party to end but luckily i got some time for a quick photo shoot.)

(daniel. he is not an easy guy to capture but i was so proud to get this image of him smiling at his mom--one of my best friends who moved from colorado to DC.)

(such a fun shot of my friend laughing at her son's fit. classic mommy moment captured. i wish i had some shots of me and my son aaron like this...it would be A LOT of shots.)

(cousins eating ice cream. simple image to some but these three don't see one another all that often so it was so precious.)

(my niece. i call her peanut buttah.)

(mike playing basketball in his childhood backyard hoop.)

(an image of my mother in law taken while she was swinging on the playset in her backyard while watching her grandkids play.)

(peanut buttah again.)

(my son has my mother in law's exact eyes. i love this image because it reminds me of that. and i love how happy she looks watching the kids play.)

(my husband's family at an alpaca farm in western PA. a tender moment captured.)

(cousins enjoying an evening together. priceless.)

this summer's travels on the east coast with family and friends has produced some of my favorite portraits. i love the moments they represent but also the simple candid moments captured. these photos represent special moments in time between people we miss dearly and don't get to spend nearly enough time with. this is my passion...capturing the power of the simple moments of our lives.

for most of these i used my 85 1.4 prime lens that i am sorry i don't use more often. (note to self: use this lens more often...i paid a LOT for it and takes stunning portraits).

for all of those in these images...we miss you terribly and are so thankful for the time we got to spend together this summer.

one last post before my vacation!

2010-07-07T22:05:00.001-07:00

this family photo session made my heart sing. the bright colors were very metaphorical for this bright, colorful, lively and happy group! i had so much fun hanging out with them and capturing all of these images that it hardly seemed like work. (well until i had all of the images to process and edit!)

but i shot these with a tripod and my trusty cable release and the rest was a breeze. the light was--a m a z i n g. we met at 7:30 am and were done by 10:30 on the 4th of july for this family reunion. i welcomed the haze and the overcast skies. it was a photographer's dream lighting.

enjoy the smiles of this fun group just like i did!

and melissa--i am so excited that i our paths have crossed. i have a feeling you and i are going to have lots of fun together in the years to come! true serendipity meeting you my new friend!

see all of you faithful readers (are you out there??) next month!

love, streaming through the mountain air...

2010-07-07T14:07:00.000-07:00

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two words: michelle and kevin.

one equation:

michelle + kevin = love

cheesy but so true. these two reek of love for one another. their gazes at one another are sweet, tender and...well...just lovely.

i first saw these gazes this past fall when i did their engagement session. i marveled at the way kevin looked at michelle.

this past weekend, on their wedding day, i saw michelle's looks to kevin come out full force. and hopefully you can see these gazes, unscripted and pure just as i did in the photos of this post.

the mountain air was full of sweet love as kevin and michelle said their vows to god and to one another surrounded by their families and friends.

i was honored to be there and to get the chance to document this sweet day in the mountains of colorado.

enjoy hawaii you guys!

simple days can be so magical...

2010-07-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

so don't forget to bring your camera.

i'd be willing to bet many photographers get those eye rolls from friends and family members about having to stop for a picture. c'mon--you know what i am taking about right? my husband is captured several times in this post with "that look" that i am describing. he hates that i bring my camera everywhere. hates even more when i whip it out in public places like the colorado rockies game last night.

but i can't help it. i am a photographer right?

hi, my name is mary beth, and i have a problem....

everyday moments can often surprise us with powerful emotion and even more powerful memories. and the way i look at it...the power is in the simple interactions. the real interactions that aren't scripted.

so our lovely occupational therapist and friend lindsay kindly offered us 4 great seats to the rockies first fireworks game last night. it didn't even cross my mind not to bring my camera and a lens or two (despite the cloudy skies). i knew i couldn't bring a tripod so i figured i'd make the best of my hand held skills.

and although the fireworks shots are less than perfect (where my tripod and cable release would have made the world of difference), the simple moments of father and sons enjoying a baseball game together are, to me, just priceless.

yes casey's struggles were a huge factor of the night. the noise and the crowd frightened him terribly. he cried and wanted to leave several times. but a few treats later and we were happily enjoying our view (and the snacks). and he did pretty well too during the fireworks (his first ever).

so despite the eye rolls and frustration with my passion for documentation of our lives together--i've created a nice set of images for us to forever remember our lovely lovely evening together as a family.

thanks lindsay and brandon for your generous gift.

somewhere under the rainbow

2010-06-30T19:44:00.000-07:00

a magical wedding.

a couple so in love their eyes danced.

yummy pre-storm light for the ceremony and portraits after.

fun fun fun doing what i love love love.

and...

a

kiss under the rainbow.

making the most of a special day....

2010-06-29T12:48:00.000-07:00

birthdays always seem to be centered around cake and ice cream, balloons and presents.

for this, casey's 4th birthday, i decided it was time to be more 'present' in his life and spend some quality time being creative. so in honor of that i uploaded these images straight out of the camera. no editing, no extra time spent at the computer. and i love them even though they were shot in our dimly lit basement.

we got messy. we laughed. we got messier. and we have these lovely pictures to remind us of our fun.

the best gift i can give my kiddos, no doubt, is to give less "presents" and to just be more 'present".

happy birthday my sweet sweet baby boy! affectionately termed " the cheese man".

my favorite family

2010-06-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

in contemplating a fun name for this post--i quickly abandoned my mission and went with a title that was easy and truly summed up my feelings about them.

my favorite.

why?

easy...

they LOVE photos.

they treasure the passage of time and the importance of documenting it.

they adore their kids. (so do i)

AND i finally got their twin penny to smile at me! i've been photographing them for almost two years now and she ALWAYS gives me the stink eye! these smiles are real and i've earned them. (thanks penny!)

although the circumstances of their lives are less than ordinary, they truly live their motto every day: "accept the gift as if it were one you had chosen."

please take a moment to check out their blog and learn their story.

http://colofisch.blogspot.com/

perhaps you'll even consider helping out!

enjoy the images from our session together.

my chance to witness a miracle...

2010-06-11T07:51:00.000-07:00

i have always wanted to photograph and to witness a live birth. this week i got my chance and it was just as amazing as i had imagined.

i don't want to cheapen the photos by writing a lot about it. i want the photos to speak for themselves. but i will mention that many personal photos of the actual birth will be omitted out of respect for the family.

welcome to the world jacob michael!

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href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rwjweBaMyAU/TBLLlzNNfRI/AAAAAAAABxg/pN7M-xE_gyc/s1600/jacob+michael+mathews+BLOG-185.jpg">

simple beauty and lovely light.

2010-06-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

the title says it all. last weekend's rehearsal dinner/bbq was just fantastic. the family was fun, the light was amazing and the images reflected all of it.

i love it when families are excited about being photographed. and ready for the camera. because, as you know, the camera can sense when you don't want to be around it. really. it picks up energy. or maybe i do and then release it to the camera? either way--when the combination of good light and good chemistry crosses my path--LOOK OUT.

i had a blast with this family. and actually there were several other families there as well but i haven't gotten permission from the rest of them yet to post their images. hopefully i will be able to do so in another post because those images were just as magical!

until then--please enjoy the images, the light and the simple beauty of this lovely family.

easy (and fun) lunchboxes...

2010-05-18T03:42:00.000-07:00

serendipity. i love that word. and it's a word that comes up often in my journey.

a friend posted about some new lunchbox system she had ordered. when i read the blog post i just had to have them.

see--we hike A LOT. we take the boys to the park A LOT, to the zoo A LOT (you get the drift here) and needed something fun and easy for lunches. BINGO! these fit the bill for us in so many ways.

i love them!

http://www.easylunchboxes.com/
i loved the idea and placed an order.

then when i got the pretty packages in the mail i had an idea to photograph them. i contacted the owner (official title: Mom and CEO) Kelly Lester and we immediately clicked.

she is passionate, creative, kind, generous and so excited about her product. (just like me!)

upon hearing about my idea to photograph them she immediately credited my pay pal account for the order in exchange for the pics i took. i had fun playing around with my camera and the lunchboxes.

(note: water bottles not included.)

here are some important details:
these single-lid, 3-compartment plastic food containers come in fun colors and contain no bpa, pvc, lead, vinyl or phthalates. (you can read safety reports on the website too.)

they are FDA approved and (best of all!) dishwasher and microwave safe. i was quite pleased with how sturdy and durable they are.

need help encouraging your child to take a healthy lunch? read the lunch tips section from the website too to make your child's lunch more fun and nutritious.

so-- we went on a picnic this weekend. i packed up our lunches and took some shots. kelly loved them and is using the images for her marketing!

no payment was necessary--kelly just sent me some lunchboxes to share with friends. perfect! and i love the idea of one passionate business owner/mom helping out another!

serendipity!

so i am going to spread the news to you too. first comment gets a set for yourself to try!

enjoy!

the bluest eyes, lollipops and laughter...

2010-05-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

every year for the past few, this family has trusted me to capture their precious family memories. that sentence feels so good to type. and even better to think about. i feel so blessed. i love to be around them. they are happy. they have the bluest eyes, the biggest smiles and, thanks to me, lollipops.

we have met at the same park over the past few years so i was thrilled when mom asked to mix it up a bit. i loved the colors she dressed the family in--colorful and lively. and the light was perfect. the rest was so easy. this family naturally connects with the camera because they connect with each other so well. the smiles, hugs and kisses were all so fulfilling.

my job is to stand back and watch the family interact and to document it. so easy right? sure i switched the shutter speed and aperture. sometimes i added a circular polarizer and switched lenses twice. easy. fun. simple. perfect.

thanks melissa for sharing your family with me over the years. for believing in me and my photography and for just being so fun to be around.

studio lighting workshop-mile high photographers

2010-04-26T22:24:00.000-07:00

i am new to studio work. natural light photography is my passion but i do yearn to learn more about the intricacies of studio work. mile high photographers offered a nice 5 hour workshop a few weeks ago.

each hour was devoted to a different type of studio setting: children, senior portraits, boudoir, and high/low key lighting. i learned some good information but i struggled in posing and getting creative in the studio setting. it was definitely a challenge for me. and, in the end, an area i need to improve on for sure.

but thanks to the amazing instructors for sharing their time and expertise. and also shouts out to the models and make up artists who made the event such a success.

i left the studio feeling energized and thankful for having spent the afternoon with other photographers having fun!

one windy colorado afternoon...i met some amazing souls

2010-04-22T23:21:00.000-07:00

--the staff

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1176620617186

i had the pleasure of meeting some extraordinary families during a charity photo shoot for the ARC of Jefferson County. the Arc in Jefferson County was founded in 1961 by a group of pioneering parents of children with developmental disabilities who chose to raise their children at home in their community. for more than 40 years, The Arc in Jefferson County has provided leadership, advocacy and support to people with developmental disabilities and their families living in Colorado. ironically i didn't know their stories before I had the chance to photograph them. (please take a moment to watch the video link above).

their stories made them all the more interesting to me but certainly didn't change the images of these amazing souls. their inner strength and character were obvious to me from the moment I shook their hands. and the camera captured the lighthearted fun of the day.

we had a beautiful and breezy afternoon for our photo session together. i loved the light--it was as magical as the families and their powerful stories.

a fundraising breakfast will be held on tuesday, may 4, 2010 from 7:30-8:30 am at the Arvada Center for the Arts & Humanities. this will be an excellent morning to wake up early and get involved in supporting this organization that has positively impacted many familes--including mine. (i attended the 9 week, award-winning "Mobilizing Families" class soon after we received my son's autism diagnosis. what i learned during that class helps me still to navigate the tricky waters of IEP's and the developmental disability world in general.)

kudos to these amazing people and the top-notch staff. thanks for welcoming me into your world and allowing me to capture your spirits in these portraits.

i will be there on tuesday, may 4th. perhaps i will see you too!

Treasure the moments and don't forget them. Time passes. Memories fade. Photography is forever.

2010-04-15T23:06:00.000-07:00

...and often time we don't take the time to look back.

i am feeling nostalgic. perhaps the motivation is the two glasses of red wine i recently enjoyed. but i am more inclined to believe i am feeling this way because of a tv show i had tivoed and watched earlier this evening.

the show, called 'parenthood' had a part that really touched me. it was during a tender moment between a dad and his daughter. they were spending some time together on a saturday morning. the dad had been feeling a bit lost in his life and feeling like work and schedules had taken over his world a bit too much. he was missing the person he was that had seemingly gotten lost in his world of responsibilities as a father, a husband, a brother, an uncle and all of the roles that consumed his little chunk of free time.

as the father and daughter sat down following a bike ride, the father had thanked his daughter for spending time with him on a busy saturday when she surely had something more fun to do. right on cue she got a text from her boyfriend. the dad looked down and said to her : "go and be 15. have fun." she hugged him and thanked him for understanding. he watched as she walked away. and i felt the power of that emotion (probably more so because of the red wine) but also because time passing by has really been on my mind lately.

my oldest son turns 6 in a few weeks. just like everyone else--i can remember his birth like it was just yesterday. the moments are forever frozen in my mind and keep playing back in slow motion. and now i look at my son--so independent. his strong and noble character already firmly formed. he is almost 4 feet tall. size 13 shoes and a mini replica of his father.

my baby hardly needs me any more. and as the years continue to grow away from me i know that will be the norm. i ache for the past. i ache for the days when he was mine. even though the days were long-i miss being so needed and so unconditionally loved.

so i did a photo shoot for these young parents, darcy and ryan, and this all seemed to come full circle. i photographed them during their 8th month of pregnancy. i photographed their son as a newborn, a 6 month old and now a one year old at his birthday party.

i treasure that they treasure photography as a chance to taste life twice. savor every morsel darcy and ryan.

it
goes
by
so
fast.

soon it will be me lost in the passage to time. lost in the pending and inevitable identity crisis. nostolgic for past simple days where my boys were all mine. it will be me asking for a special date with my sons amidst text messages and much more exciting plans. it will be me sitting reflective as i watch my sons run off to start their own lives.

thanks for trusting me to capture ryder's moments darcy and ryan. and thanks for treasuring the unique ability photography as to allow us to taste life's sweet moments over and over again. so we never forget.

Cici, Christian and Makenzie: 3 families, 3 journeys...

2010-04-07T14:48:00.000-07:00

cici and her mom jenny enjoying the early spring day at the park
http://colofisch.blogspot.com/

a group of friends sharing a common journey with grace and love

pam and makenzie
http://www.makenziesmiracle.org/2009/03/my-journey-to-healing.html

shauna and christian
http://christiansjourneyblogction.blogspot.com/2010/03/design-your-own-eco-friendly-trash-sack.html

makenzie and her amazing smile. (that smile stayed with me long after our photoshoot together)

penny, cici and jenny. penny and cici are identical twins

when i think of heroes i don't think of presidents, sports figures or musicians, heroes to me are people in the trenches fighting everyday battles with determination and grace. i think of ordinary people with extraordinary circumstances. today i think of these three families that i recently had the chance to spend time with.

cici & jenny, pam & makenzie and shauna & christian.

i think of how strong they are. i think of just how hard they fight and how hard their little ones fight. i think of the courage and love that surround the kids, the moms, and everyone in the families who pull together and fight everyday.

life is not predictable nor it is something to take for granted. but i do believe all of us will be tested within our lifetimes. some of us now and some later. for now...these kids are facing some major challenges. but the love that these mothers have for their kids is so strong that it can be felt as a power surrounding them. in fact, jenny's family adopted the simple philosophy as their theme: "accept the gift as if it were one you had chosen".

i had the honor of spending some time with these families and photographing them. i left my session with them feeling so happy to know them, so happy to see what grace it. so happy to learn how strong the bond of love it. and to see just how much we can accomplish when love surrounds and supports us through our struggles.

this is a group of fabulous mothers, fabulous kiddos and fabulous families. it is WELL worth your time to spend some time learning about their stories and contributing to their causes.

thank you for taking the time to follow their journey. please consider donating to the auctions and fundraisers for these families. it will be time and money well well well spent.

and thank you shauna, jenny and pam for showing us something we ALL need to learn sooner rather than later: grace under pressure.

lily, and family...

2010-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

this picture went to my all-time top 5 on my website withing a day of posting it!

those sweet neck kisses...

lily stole the show in this family portrait session. her smiles, and frowns, and those sunglasses! i loved watching this family interact and the obvious love that they shared. that love was quite palpable.

i didn't have to pose them at all...i captured them just being themselves. just how it is supposed to be.

it's very exciting to work with families who value that the simple moments and natural smiles are what the days of our lives are all about. and that today is a day to be treasured and documented.

mom and dad had a sweet chemistry. at times dad would just bend down and kiss his lovely wife on the neck. and that kiss would produce the fullest and most robust smile from his beautiful wife. and her dimples--they speak for themselves.

i loved meeting this family and left our session with a smile on my face. their fun energy stayed with me well into the night. and my face displayed a frozen smile the entire time i was editing the images.

i
love
my
job.

spring snow storm

2010-03-24T23:15:00.000-07:00

when we moved here to colorado from good old dreary and dull PA i was shocked to learn that march was colorado's snowiest month. and year after year i have learned to believe that--especially during the spring of 2003 while recuperating from surgery and housebound during the blizzard that dumped over 26 inches to our neighborhood. and yesterday was no exception. but i must admit that i was skeptical of the weather predictions considering it was beautiful, sunny and well into the 60's hours before the storm (evident in the photos taken just an hour before the storm made it's way to denver).

the wind howled last night and the snow dropped like confetti from the sky--whipping and twirling as it fell rapidly from above. it snowed 3 inches per hour. the street was blanketed so quickly, so helplessly. the peaceful white against the dark night sky calmed me as i stood by the window watching. i loved the idea of diving under the covers knowing that our little world would slow down just a bit as the predicted 15 inches fell through the night.

in the morning, school was closed. we hunkered down and played the day away both inside and out. snowmen, snow forts, snowballs and hot cocoa all filled our day.

the boys love playing board games--so we did. all day long. and it was perfect. peaceful, fulfilling and so so sweet.

Casey's turn...

2010-03-17T20:58:00.000-07:00

poor little guy was still not feeling well last week and i....well...i bribed him with ice cream in order to get him to do a photo shoot.

there i admitted it!

truth be told we were both tired of being in the house so i took advantage of his willingness to model for me. he took advantage of the free ice cream cone. it was a win-win situation!

i just can't resist dressing up those boys of mine. they are just so handsome...and so easily bribed.

it's always the simple days that make the most difference...

2010-03-09T20:28:00.000-08:00

..days when nothing is really happening. days when the sun isn't shining too brightly. when nothing is planned and nothing is dreamed about. days when...when you are truly living your life.

i have always been interested in and passionate about the simple days, the everyday days. sunday came around and we had nothing planned. my husband was not feeling well and decided to take a nap with our youngest son. so i bribed my older son with a ice cream cone (chocolate covered) and asked him to dress up for some photos.

i guess i pretty much have him trained by now...at the age of almost 6. his smiles are sincere and sweet. he's workin' for that cone but mostly he's happy to make mom happy. priceless.

little does he know that this simple, uneventful afternoon in his life will forever live within these photos. a day captured and categorized. forever preserved in his memory book. that is why i am so passionate about photography. there is never going to be another 'today.' what are you doing to remember it?

glory days...

2010-02-17T22:01:00.000-08:00

these guys don't know it..but they are living their 'glory days'. (do i date myself my using that term?
on second thought-- the answer lies within the question doesn't it?) these are the years that will define their lives. these are the years they will make the relationships that will stay with them for way longer than they can conceptualize. here and now is when the memories are created that they will sit down and tell their children. powerful times. powerful lives. even more powerful memories.

i so enjoyed photographing them. i loved their playfulness, joking around and relaxed styles. they poked fun at each other, posed for me and we thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon together. they willingly followed me from spot to spot while i chased the bright afternoon light away and found spots tucked away where the glare was at least a little bit better. we laughed together and, for just a moment, i felt young again. i was whisked away to my days at penn state university when my body was trimmer, my hair less gray and my eyes open with hope, anticipation and passion for what was on the horizon for me.

i didn't want our time together to end. i miss those awkward glory days of mine. and i can close my eyes like a did that afternoon--for just a moment or two--and i can feel those days like they were just yesterday. i breathe in and out. and it feels so good.

keep on the lookout for 'left lane ends'. i have a feeling their glory days just might last a lot longer then mine did.

thanks for working with me guys!

mothers and sons

2010-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

i finally 'get' the dynamic between mothers and sons. it took a while--truly--but i get it (having two precious sons of my own).

and jennifer gets it too. i love how her love for these boys pours out of her soul. her love for them and the precious time she has with them is palpable. she appreciates and invests in photography to capture those moments. as a matter of fact--she said she decided to invest in a photo session rather than throw them a party for their upcoming birthdays this month.

jennifer and her husband went through a lot with their youngest son jon. he went into liver failure after he was born and spent more time than they would like to remember in children's hospital. he, like her other son, is a gift that they never take for granted.

i loved watching her hug and squeeze the boys. watching her smile as they ran around with their sticks during our photo shoot. these are boys who understand how much they are loved and always will.

thanks jennifer and fran for trusting me to document your precious familiy memories. i love watching the boys grow up!

in the painting of chaos...

2010-02-01T11:59:00.000-08:00

i created the name of this blog as: "in the painting of chaos" because for as long as i can remember my life has been that of chaos. not always bad chaos but chaos nonetheless. i guess in some small way i crave it and i have learned that chaos is synonymous with the order of life: nothing fits into uniform categories and nothing is predictable. so i have learned to embrace the chaos and be open to it.

the same has held true with my art. photography grounds me and keeps the creative juices flowing through my veins. without those creative juices the chaos of life would take it's toll on me and i could just crumble.

the last two months of last year were the busiest and most chaotic of my entire professional career as a photographer. and, i loved every moment. i grew as a friend, a mom, a wife, and artist and a walker of life (if you will).

i have so many images that haven't been blogged about, so many experiences blessings that i don't know where to begin in writing about them.

life has ebbed and flowed through me these past few months so quickly and powerfully. i guess you can call it a growth spurt. it's a blessing really to expand, to be humbled and to learn. life lessons if you will. and thankfully they have all been good ones too.

so here are some images from my painting of chaos. i chose these images randomly from recent and old photo shoots. these shots are taken from moments in time that have been on my mind lately in one way or another-- so i wanted to share them in this blog. random yet powerful images and memories shared chaotically in my newest artistic template: the collage.

as always, thanks for reading. and if you like anything here--drop me a comment. i so enjoy feedback. drop me a note even if it's just to say hello.

thanks for visiting chaos land. littleton, colorado.

self

2010-01-22T17:00:00.000-08:00

40 is around the corner...
and i am battling major self image and aging issues.
so i created this collage to take a look at 'myself' in photos over this past year or so.

lots of reflection going on in my brain this week...

precious family memories

2010-01-19T09:17:00.000-08:00

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i am always excited when i am asked to do a family photo shoot with a new baby. it's a chance to create history. to document passion and intimacy which will forever be referred to. to work with light and laughter and love and envelope it in a series of moments in time. moments that can't be recreated. i am passionate about the job and strive to always make the time i spend with families memorable.

my session with this family was no exception. they were so open to different poses and different settings but the smiles were all original i promise. that is very important to me.

(addisen was not her smiley self so we'll be meeting again in a few months to document those. but mom and dad were so fun and at ease with the camera. thanks for making the afternoon together time well-spent! and i look forward to getting some more smiles from addisen in our next session.

love, life and photography

2010-01-03T14:16:00.000-08:00

i love people who love life.
i treasure people who appreciate just how fragile we are.

i am honored to have been invited into jacob's hospital room and into his life. i am honored to know his struggle, his parent's struggle, sarah's struggle. i am even more honored to know these people not for what they've been through--but, more importantly, for how they choose to live their life. they enjoy every day. every smile, every tear, every setback, every win. they enjoy life as it was meant to be--by savoring every moment as if it had been their last and embracing the bumpy ride along the way.

to learn more about this family--they do a much better job than i would so i refer to their website for details, history and an accurate account of their story:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/jacobhallberg

jacob and his family were appoaching day 120 in children's hospital in denver when they were able to bring him home to celebrate christmas together as a family.

i show up where i do my best--to take photos and to freeze moments in time. it was easy for me. their smiles were geniune. their love was geniune. and it all showed in the images. simple. perfect.

as with each of us--this may be jacob's last christmas with his family at home. it may not be. but for that day in december when i was there armed with my camera and every lens i owned--we took advantage of the day and the moment. i hope you enjoy the images as much as i do. and i hope you learn, just like i did that day, that we need to treasure the simple moments in life more. that we need to document the simple interactions that unfold to create our lives and to savor them over and over as frozen moments in time.

just as john lennon best said it: 'life is what happens when you are busy making other plans'.

happy new year maria, joakim, jacob and sarah. here's to today--AND to tomorrow!

backyard memories...

2009-11-29T20:24:00.000-08:00

rose's family is...well...just special. as soon as i walk in the door of their house i feel warmth, love and peace. they always greet me with a hug, lots of smiles and an eagerness to capture some fun portraits. i love that. and i love photographing them.

they've created such tradition in their lovely home. they proudly display precious family memories on the walls in black traditional frames. and they just stuff their home with the love they have for the boys and each other. that love is palpable.

this is the second year they've invited me to take photos of them in that beloved backyard. i am honored. and i was so excited to see last year's photos framed and hung on the wall in the dining room. that's a cool feeling that not many photog actually get to see.

one of the things i love about my job is the relationships that foster from the photo sessions. when i am sitting in a home like rose and mark's chatting about photos and life and how they are inextricably linked, i just know i have found my passion.

and i love that this family always wants portraits taken in their backyard. there they all feel so comfortable and it shows in the natural smiles i get and also in the images. there they look back, year after year, to see who has shorter hair, lost teeth, gained new teeth, got taller etc. but what i see with each year is tighter hugs, more smiles and time standing still for just a bit. this family cherishes their memories and their photos. and i cherish this family for all that they are.

these my favorite images from our time together.

hope to see you guys again next year.

dreams and good friends are inextricably linked.

2009-11-21T22:50:00.000-08:00

november 2009 has been, by far, the busiest month i have ever had as a photographer. weddings, photo shoots, mini sessions and editing editing editing well into the night. i am not complaining--i've loved every minute of it (aside from the lack of sleep being up so late working on photos to ensure speedy delivery to my clients). it's just so frustrating being so behind on blogging--which i have been for months now.

and even with my two degrees in writing--i still hate writing. (i have never been very good at it). it's late and i am struggling to find words that are interesting enough to create a cool post for this.

s t r u g g l i n g.

but as i sit here at the laptop i am reminded that just earlier today i got to photograph one of my best friends and her family and writing about them is easy-or at least easier. so here goes. (warning the following paragraph contains sappy sentiments. sorry.)

tam's been an amazing source of truth and strength in my life. she's taught me to dream and believe in myself, to capture the passions i have been holding onto for so long and to make my dream real. i treasure her for so many reasons but the most important is that she cheers me on continually. i love her positiveness and kindness and love of life. she reeks of passion and promise and you can't help but be coated with it after spending time with her. and her lovely family are too a joy to be around. fun. laughter. love and life.

here's to you tam and fam. thanks for being such important part of my life. and for helping to push me towards my dream of being a photographer, a better mother and a better person. now--can you just teach this chubby girl yoga???

One Saturday...9 Family Mini Sessions!

2009-10-29T21:41:00.000-07:00

A very talented friend and fellow photog Diana Lewkowicz and I tackled S. Platte Park last saturday and NINE family photo sessions. It was more fun than I could have imagined. But I must admit that we were both beyond tired when it was all done. Although I certainly can't speak for Diana--I can honestly say that my bones hurt!

But the work was well worth it--as the images were, in my view, just amazing. The light was perfect, the families were so fun to meet and get to know and Diana and I worked so well together.

Kudos to these very cool families for taking advantage of the amazing Colorado weather and for making time in their busy schedules to make some memories of their lovely families.

"Mini Sessions R US" as we're doing it again next Sunday too! And ALL session fees will be donated to the Fischer Family's medical fund for Cici. Please take a moment to read about it and come out and let us make some memories for you too. You'll be making a difference and, well isn't that what it's all about? SO..Just DO IT!! I promise you won't regret it.

http://colofisch.blogspot.com/2009/10/holiday-photo-fundraiser-for-cici.html

And if you can't make it--pass this blog around to someone you think might be interested!

Cheers!