Momma Alyssa, Daddy Rich and kiddlet Murph are absolutely inspiring. This is the type of family that just draws you in. This was one of those shoots that I just kept wanting to scream because I couldn't contain my excitement, passion and fascination with everything that was happening in front of me. Little Murph in his Where the Wild Things Are outfit just made me melt. I was in heaven. 

It was raining on us for the entirety of this shoot and I think it only added to the honesty of it all. To me, the rain made it all a little more real. Upon meeting this family in person the things that immediately stood out to me where authenticity and imagination. So I really wanted to capture that spirit about them. The Mattingly's didn't let the rain phase them for a second. We went out into the blueberry fields of the property we were staying on in Upstate NY and I rolled around on the ground with the family as they laughed and tickled and laughed some more... it reminded me of being a child again and I loved it. These are the moments I love about what I do.... the moments where I just get lost in it... where I feel like I am part of it all... the beautiful seconds where I am laying down on the ground with Murph and he gives me the most honest look you could give someone... those magnetic seconds where I am able to see these beautiful parts of him and freeze it in time forever. It's exhilarating. 

There is something about working with families that really makes me come alive. I think it is because I see the value in how much these moments of honesty will mean to them as they look back later on in life. I'm sure Murph will LOVE these photos coming out to his high school girlfriends as his mom shows them a photo of him in his little "Max" suit ;) lol. 

This shoot means so much to me.... the people in it are just amazing..

Sigh... this series just puts a smile on my face :).  Meet little Murph, the coolest kid in town. Chris and I went on an adventure with Murph and his rad rents, Alyssa & Rich, while we were in Upstate New York last week. I'm knee deep in lots of edits but this series just grabbed my heart strings like mad so I just had to share. This is Murph chasing me down in the rain, the shutter is just slow enough that you can see the rain drops in some, but mostly I just love the pure energy and freedom in these frames. 

Is it just me or does life feel like it is just flying? I don't know where my days are going. Yesterday I sat down at my computer at 7:30am and the next time I looked at the clock it was 3pm... it's like I've been sucked into a black hole time conundrum. Last I looked it was Monday and now it's Friday?! Sometimes I wish that I could just go Zach Morris style and throw up the "Time out" sign while the rest of the world stops around me. It's times like this when I am reminded that time really is the greatest gift we can give someone. I'm learning a lot about life balance and how to allocate my time best right now. It's a challenge! I know it is one many small business owners encounter on a daily basis... especially the moms of the world. I don't know how they juggle it all. My hats off to them for raising little gems like Murph, running businesses and still keeping their cool. 

Happy Friday, may little Murph make you smile like he did me :)