Mango Street Photography

one of the things i love most about my profession is that i have the honor of giving families photos that capture them. as i sort through the pictures after a session, the photos that i find myself coming back to are not necessarily the “cleanest” ones–there may be a strand of hair that has fallen across a little girl’s face or a streak of dirt on a child’s hands. many times it is the in between or imperfect moments that bring out the most feeling and expression. my goal for each and every photo session is to capture, whether through setting or emotion (or both!), the essence of you. before booking me, my clients have read about my philosophy, perused through my pictures, and are ready and willing to give me the freedom to document their family in action. and i love it! this particular session was no different. emily wanted to be sure that i captured her son in his element doing what he loved most: playing soccer. per her instructions, i only took candid photos, allowing me to step back and capture his determination and love for the game. it’s monday and the to-do list is looming, but i will leave you with two of my favorite frames:

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let me preface this post by saying that i remember hanging up the phone after talking to melissa during the planning stages of her session, looking over at andrew with a huge smile, and saying “this is going to be amazing!” the zgonc family lives on property that has been in melissa’s family for years. to put that statement into perspective for you, her 92 year old grandfather told me during the session that he has lived there for 60 years! i think it is so beautiful that the very spot where she grew up is where her 2 daughters are making their memories as well. enjoy a gimpse~

before we took family photos, melissa wanted to be sure i captured a few frames of her grandfather. i love these of him in his favorite spot in his work room.

we’ll kick off the family pics with my favorite. wouldn’t this look great as a big print??

i had a great time with your family–thanks for inviting me into your setting and giving me the privilege of capturing your story!

anyone who knows april knows that she is amazingly gifted at making others feel valued, uplifted, and excited about life. we have been friends since college days, and she is easily one of the most encouraging people i know. in fact, she was super instrumental in me starting my business and continues to be one of my biggest supporters in photography. when i found out that she and will were engaged (hurray!), i was thrilled to do their engagement photos! while i am not a wedding photographer, i do love to photograph love and this engagement session was full of just that. i had a blast watching the two of them interact and seeing how crazy will is about april was too fun. enjoy a glimpse~

april and will. thank you for a fun session and being up for whatever crazy ideas i had. you guys are great together and are so going to love married life and watching the Lord’s plans unfold for you. love from mabes and andrew!

friday afternoon is here, and i, like many of you, am busy tying up loose ends before the weekend arrives. just this morning andrew and i were talking about how we want to spend the weekend. what things we want to check off our to-do list. running errands. meeting up with people. maybe squeezing in a date (yes!). it can be so easy for the weekend to turn into another blur of activities and “to-do’s” that when monday rolls around we find ourselves in need of another weekend. this afternoon something caught my eye that i thought would be a good thing to hold onto as we approach this weekend.

a friend of mine posted on her facebook status that she “knows the best things in life are free. let’s name some.” as we are all busy getting the loose ends of our work week tied up, i thought this was a great way to to head into the weekend and to gain a bit of perspective. a reminder to be thankful. while we may still have a busy couple of days ahead, we can still pause to enjoy those moments that cannot be bought.

i’d love to hear from you. let’s name some of those things that you can’t put a price on. i’ll start:

sunsets.

i am looking forward to reading your thoughts! i’ll add more of my own as you comment~

senior year is such an exciting time for both the senior and the parent. the senior relishes in a (usually) shortened schedule, being at the top of the school, and looking ahead to the path that will take them closer to their goals and dreams for the future. their last year of high school is filled with classes, friends, memories, and laughter. parents of seniors cherish their son or daughter’s last year at home and enjoy seeing the hard work of raising their child pay off as they are shaping into young adults of character and responsibility. i so love capturing seniors during this bittersweet season of their life, and garrett’s session was no different. enjoy a glimpse~

garrett is a senior at harrison high school, so this green wall was the perfect backdrop for showcasing his school colors.

the weathered door and colors in this one remind me of a fresh school year and fall~

a few laid-back and casual shots…

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hope you have a great year, garrett!!