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My passion is definitely photographing my children. I enjoy it more than photographing anything in the world. The pictures that I take of them are, of course, so meaningful, a part of me. I also love the laid back feel of photographing my children as opposed to "other people". Don't get me wrong, I enjoy photographing others - but it's more set up, it's a job. Photographing my boys is the purest way to make a photograph for me. They are themselves, I'm truly in the background, recording them as they are.
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But of course, it's not always just happening in front of me eyes. As many other mother/photographers know, there is that struggle of "oh, oh wait, wait wait, stand over here! smile! can i take one more? can you just do this-this-or that?" I know this is frustrating for kids. It is. It's certainly a lesson in patience because I love photography, I love photographing them, and ideas are going through my head and there are those moments I just want them to cooperate. Which of course, are the moments when they want nothing to do with it.
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Even though it can be frustrating, I think the fact that children don't always want to cooperate adds to what is so wonderful about photographing them. Any adult can model and pose and do exactly what you want in front of the camera. Of course there is also an added awkwardness + insecurity that adults feel when having their picture taken. But with kids, it's more pure and real. Yesterday, while we were taking some FabKids photos, Roman was goofing off a little of course but he also, knowing how much it would mean to me, looked into my camera with these wonderful little faces and I couldn't be happier how they turned out. Because, truly, even though these photos were directed in a way and didn't just happen, this is the boys he is - the absolute sweetest boy and these are the smiles he gives me after I say no and he knows that I'll give in, and it's way he looks in the last moments of night when I tuck the blanket up by his face and whisper, "You are the sweetest, sweetest boy," and he says, "thanks mom."
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These pictures were certainly worth the wait. :)
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![IMG_4246](https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8642/16575646492_20f9b32835_c.jpg)
![IMG_4248](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7322/16540518376_68e1781d47_c.jpg)
![IMG_4247](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7396/16389313790_015f1f1daf_c.jpg)
![IMG_4247-2](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7376/16550914736_b0ccfd8611_c.jpg)
such lovely portraits of your handsome roman. i love every one of them. it's amazing to me how much he has changed and matured in the time since i started reading your blog.
ReplyDeletei totally agree with all of your thoughts regarding motherhood + photography. it's a challenging balance but how lucky we are to have a trade that allows to capture these fleeting, precious memories. <3
Thanks, Dena - he has changed so much since I started blogging, it's crazy.
DeleteAwe - these are so sweet!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Faith! :)
DeleteThese are fabulous!!! I love the second one. I'm right there with you on the mother-photographer thing. I strive to keep it fun for my little one and always give her a say when it comes to photos, with the occasional full on bribe.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I try to keep it fun for my kids as well, bribes are probably something I need to incorporate more though!! ;)
Deletelove these! snow makes photos so so magical!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Anne - and I agree about snow being SO magical in photos! It's just hard to convince myself to go out in the cold!
DeleteOh how I adore these pictures! Roman looks so much like you in these.
ReplyDeleteThanks! And yes, Roman is my little twin!
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