Watch out, internet… beautiful people are coming your way.
When I was a little girl, I really wanted glasses and braces. Yeah, you read that right. Glasses and braces. I had my mom take me to the eye doctor to get my eyes checked and I seriously thought about failing the eye exam on purpose so that I could don a lovely pair of lenses with bright blue frames. But, when it came time to take the exam, my eagerness to ace the test overpowered my will to get the glasses, so I walked away with perfect vision. drats.
Then, as I got older, I tried to convince my parents that I needed braces. I don’t know what the appeal was of having metal brackets bound to my teeth for two years… I think maybe I was just obsessed with the idea of perfection and wanted to get rid of a few gaps. No gaps, perfectly straight, gleaming white teeth, and a $5,000 bill. Isn’t that what all fifth graders want? But in all honesty, I really didn’t need braces. So, I didn’t get them. But since then, I’ve seriously debated getting invisalign. I mean, my teeth aren’t horrible, but I’d love to have that pristine, perfect smile that I’ve wanted since I was a kid.
And then one day, I had coffee with Jen. We were chatting about her wedding and the details and her fiance. I was listening and taking copious notes of course, but, Lord have mercy, Jen has the most perfect teeth. ever. seriously. And she’s a dentist. Seriously, prepare yourself to blown away by this girl’s smile.
See? I told you. Most perfect teeth ever.
How cute is this little guy? And, um, how beautiful is his momma? I sure do wish I looked that good just after having a baby. Heck, I wish I looked that good now!
And of course, Jen would be marrying a guy with equally perfect teeth.
To say it was hot on Jen and Jason’s wedding is putting it lightly. It was more like sweltering. Well, actually, maybe it was more like walking through the Sahara in a parka while carrying the olympic torch in your pocket. Ok, it wasn’t THAT hot, but the guys did need a little help from the ladies so they didn’t look too shiny.
Jen and Jason, I think it’s pretty safe to predict that you will have some beautiful children, with amazing smiles. And gorgeous lashes.
This toasting cup has been passed down through generations of Jen’s family. Before the speeches, Jen tried to explain to me how to use it and I was quite interested in watching them attempt to drink simultaneously from both sides.
Mission accomplished. And not one drop on the dress.
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We had our first official outdoor family photo session last fall, and I was more than just a little nervous. I mean, I’ve always been behind the camera… just the thought of being in front of the camera made my stomach turn over (but also gave me an excuse to purchase a new outfit!). Almost immediately after the session, though, I felt at ease because I was with the people I loved most in the world and we were just enjoying a day in the park together (…and our photographer was pretty awesome too). I cherish those photographs because they capture so well the way our family was during that time in our lives. Seeing those photos of us -Kaden was little and he was only just beginning to try to walk- makes me remember those days and also make me marvel about how much has changed during just one year.
When I’m asked to photograph a family, I take that responsibility seriously. I’m given the honor of documenting a family at that point in history, and I revel in the task of capturing moments of a family together that might not look exactly perfect, but are truly and genuinely REAL.
And that’s why I’m so excited to announce my Fall Family Mini Sessions! Here’s the skinny:
2010 FALL FAMILY MINI SESSIONS
WHEN: October 10, 2010 from 12:30-5:30
WHERE: Lafayette Square Park
HOW MUCH: $200
WHAT IS INCLUDED: a 45 minute portrait session and a disk of high resolution images from your session
HOW TO BOOK A SESSION: email me at lisa (at) lisahesselphotography.com to book your session. Payment is due upon booking.
Sessions are booked on a first come, first served basis and time slots fill up fast!
and, even though the temps are still balmy and the days are still long, it’s not too early to start thinking about custom Christmas cards. I’ll admit, I’ve never been much of a Christmas card writer… mainly because I spend so much time on the computer that I’ve nearly forgotten how to wield a writing instrument… but last year, our family did our first Christmas card and I simply adore them! They’re worth the investment and I don’t think we’ll go another year without sending them out. And it’s been nice to refresh my fingers on how to grip a pen.
Here’s just a small sampling of the cards I’ll be offering this year:
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I’m a pretty lucky girl, if I do say so myself. I’ve got just the best family, a job that makes me grin ear to ear, and a church that I’m so lucky to call home. And I’ve got my addiction to coffee which makes me a better person. If you’ve talked to me before 8am, you know just how true that is. And you know, sometimes in life, all those really great things can make a girl so busy that her heads spins. That’s kinda where I am right now. Overwhelmed with blessings and trying to catch my breath.
One thing, though, that has caused me to pause a bit to relax and laugh a lot is the fact that we have new neighbors. You see, two weeks after we bought our house, some of our best friends bought a house just two streets over from us. It’s been pretty dang fun… sometimes I feel like I’m in summer camp. We’ve had dinner together, we’ve gotten ice cream together, we’ve borrowed home improvement products from each other, we pop in during walks around the neighborhood…. And it’s made me put down my phone and close my laptop, if only for an hour, and remember what a huge blessing I have in the people that fill my life.
I took some photos for our neighbors in our backyard right after an impromptu BBQ the other night. And I must say, the divine hamburgers that my Jon grilled for us have had me dreaming of having another ever since. That was a not so subtle hint, Jon, just in case you missed it.
So here’s my future daughter-in-law. Her name is Ruby and I think she’s just about the cutest little girl I’ve seen.
She’s got so much emotion written all over her face all the time. You can’t help but love this girl.
Cindy Loo-hoo? Is that you?
The temps were mild, the sun was low and golden, and the smell of gourmet burgers still lingered in the air. Pretty much the ideal setting for a photo shoot, if I do say so myself.
Bryce, who entertains us on a daily basis, is not only our friend and resident lawn care aficionado, but he also takes care of our dog Stella while we’re shooting weddings on the weekend, for which we -and our carpet- are endlessly thankful.
It’s nice to be friends with someone like Carrie because a). she is the best shopper I have ever EVER met, b). she’s a creative like me and we’ve worked together on several projects, and c). she can edge like nobody’s business, which came in exceptionally handy when we all painted my office last week.
My little boy Kaden toddled down at the end of the session to see what was going on, and he couldn’t resist getting cuddly. This was the very last frame I shot and it makes me happy.
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Finally, it was the day. Clayton and Kinsey’s wedding day. I had been waiting for this day for longer than I could remember. I was doubly excited about this wedding because Jon wasn’t shooting it with me. Oh he was there alright, but not shooting with me.
My second shooter Carrie and I started off the day at the hotel with Kinsey and the ladies.
Kinsey looking naturally gorgeous as always. While I was shooting this….
…Carrie was shooting this, and I quite like it.
Clayton and the guys got ready at the church.
Wait just a second… who does that handsome back of the head belong to? It looks like he’s giving instructions or helping coordinate or something like that…
Oh, wowzers, there’s that handsome man again [yeah, that's my husband Jon, just in case ya didn't know]. It was so great to shoot a wedding that Jon was officiating, but even greater because we have such a history with Clayton and Kinsey. As Jon was talking with the couple, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the times over the last five years that we talked with Clayton and Kinsey in our apartment. Weather it was watching LOST or hosting an RA meeting or just a casual drop by, Clayton and Kinsey had been in our place on more occasions than I can count. And I sure hope that continues.
Now THAT is the Clayton I know
This is a wedding staple for Clayton. If you’ve been to a wedding with Clayton, you know it’s true.
Wedding cake on the left. Groom’s cake on the right. The cake on the right is, um, my favorite cake of all time.
Before their exit, the new Mr. and Mrs. had one last dance to one of their favorite songs from one their favorite movies. I’ll admit it: I was singing along.
I always love a good sparkler exit. That’s Ben and Stacie, who’s wedding you’ll see on this blog later this fall.
And off they were onto their adventure of the rest of their lives. Clayton and Kinsey, you make me smile. Enjoy your adventure and don’t be a stranger.
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