12.20.2011

game day

when heather asked me to take photos of her family these were my thoughts:

1. yes! 
they are all so beautiful! 
tall, artistic, lovely heather (wouldn't i love to be tall?). 
dark handsome happy Jose (quick to laugh).
emily who is the oldest and is creative and beautiful with great taste and perfect freckles on her nose. 
sweet and cool sabrina who dresses funky and has a great laugh. 
and of course gavin (who has a soft spot in my heart because of how much he reminds me of my tiny ty) with his own mischievous ideas and a heart melting smile to go along with them.

2. i am not good enough to do this.
heather is so creative herself. 
she thinks i have better skills than i have.
i am going to get too stressed.

3. i feel a little bashful/nervous/inadequate/babyish.
but who else can i just shove that all aside with than a friend who i've known and loved since i was a girl?
who else is worth my best try?
even if i fail....and i still might not....
and if i can just do my best to see this family as they are, and try to capture them, then i am at least obeying the call that i feel on my heart.
awesome photos or a good try, it's still obedience.

so i took their family to a little spot that i love in san juan capistrano and they brought all of heathers vintage suitcases filled with old games like dominos and bingo and tiddley winks.  they drank coke out of glass bottles and i snapped away as they teased each other and tried to pretend that it was completely normal to stand in a line and hold hands and kiss while their kids watched.  then, somehow,  we realized that time was up and the sun was down. time sure flies when there's a crazy lady with a camera telling you to snuggle....






and i did it.
there are lots of things i feel tempted to say could've been better about my skills....

but instead i will say, that these photos perfectly capture what i saw that day.
the love and action and personality and silliness and beauty of this special family.
they are a real family.
they have rad outfits and compromises.
they have hand holding and rolled eyes.
they have "closed eyes" laughter and bashful kisses.
they have long legs and cute freckles.
they have perfect smiles and dirty knees.
beautiful.

these photos also represent this moment in my photography journey.
and capturing this moment is....beautiful too.


Photobucket

25 comments:

  1. don't ever doubt yourself again.
    you are amazing.
    you have it.
    you have got the eye.
    you SEE them....you see the shot....you see the light.
    it's official.
    you are a photographer.
    :)
    done.
    and you are fabulous.
    no doubt.

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  2. when it comes to pictures that we take, we are our own worst critics aren't we? :I
    I think you captured this beautiful little family perfectly! The suitcases, the sunlight (the most perfect light), the smiles.. all of it. I can see, via your pictures, that love is there.. and YOU captured it. congratulations :)

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  3. i love these, shauna.
    i'm sure the family does, too.
    that little boy is too adorable with the plaid pants and bow tie...lovelovelove.

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  4. Those are great! Really, really great!

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  5. yay!!!! this is heather's bestie, the other heather, and you did awesome! she was so excited and happy about her shoot with you and i of course was muy jealous. ;) the kids look great, just like themselves, and jos is a crack up, doing his part. i love your blog about their family too, they are special and fun and wonderful and i'm glad you told the world.

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  6. yay!!!! this is heather's bestie, the other heather, and you did awesome! she was so excited and happy about her shoot with you and i of course was muy jealous. ;) the kids look great, just like themselves, and jos is a crack up, doing his part. i love your blog about their family too, they are special and fun and wonderful and i'm glad you told the world.

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  7. I salute you! A job well done indeed. A little over a year ago, I felt the same call. And I'm attacking it. I know you will too. You already have the eye that sees. If you can see your children for who they really are AND be able to capture that then you can do it for others. Bravo!

    Cassie
    lifethroughthislens.blogspot.com
    facebook.com/cassieallenphotography

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  8. Love it! You did an amazing job...beautiful family and beautiful photos.

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  9. you captured this family so perfectly!!
    the way only you could.
    and can i say that i'm so proud of you for using the gift He gave you.
    you are going to bless so many!!!

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  10. OH MY GOSH! Shauna!!!!!!!!! I LOVE them! YOU are amazing. I knew they would be so great when I asked you, but this is so beyond cool! I LOVE YOU!! Thank you :P

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  11. You ROCKED it~ just like I knew you would!
    LOVE them! what a beautiful family too!
    tara

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  12. breathtaking. talk about worship?! absolutely stunning. and I love all the back & forth, doubt & obedience, etc that went into it. thanks for sharing all of it.

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  13. Shauna, I can hear your mom laughing! she knew you had talent, she gave it to you...these are wonderful. You are amazing, love all the instagram too.

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  14. I have to tell you, Shauna, I cried after seeing these pics and reading everything you wrote about my sister and her fam. I can't stop the tears! You did an AMAZING job! Not just the pics, even though I love those! But your words are so sweet and everything I believe to be true as well. You are so talented! Ok, seriously, can't stop crying! Thanks for those!!!
    Kristen

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  15. You may have have been strugglng but you FOUND your calling, these are wonderful and capture the family so wonderfully. This is true talent, down to the core!!!

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  16. you have a great eye...these are beautiful!

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  17. how wonderful that you braved your fears, trusted in the Lord, and did it!
    and you did it REALLY, REALLY well!
    i totally love each and every one!
    xoxo

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  18. What meg said times 14 you are awesome! Seriously awesome!

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  19. I absolutely LOVE how you captured the sun's light in each pic...so beautiful and unique. Got teary eyed too (guess it's because I love that family so much). You are a great photographer and might I add, writer too (a talent you share with your mom). Everyone doubts themselves at something, but BE CONFIDENT in your GOD-given talents!
    love, lizzy

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  20. Absolutely amazing. I don't know them but am I am teary eyed. I see both them and you through the lens. Poetic.

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  21. SEE, everyone else believes in you! Believe in you!

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  22. Beautiful...precious! This pictures are the best. You did have a wonderful family to work with. Your words about them are so true. We love them! Shauna you are amazing with a camera!

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  23. So absolutely perfect!! You are INCREDIBLE!! Love that you're using what God gave you and absolutely blessing families :)

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