You know that stage.
They roll over with confidence.
They think you are funniest human being on the planet.
And they are now starting to sit on their own…
It’s the little things that fills us with pride.
The Unexpected | Newborn Photographer Miami
Today I heard the saddest news. A dear friend is suffering. Her marriage is in trouble and both parties, with lots of love still in their hearts, have decided to take a break. This makes me sad. Really sad. Because every time I heard them speak they were loving and caring and kind to one another. My heart aches for her today as I know there is nothing I can do or say that will alleviate her pain. It’s deep and it has no words. It can’t be described, it can only be felt.
I’m scared too. I’m scared because there has been many times when I have thought of divorce and separation. When the stress of it all has overwhelmed me and I’ve pictured walking away with my little ducklings and starting over, but something stops me and I keep fighting. Sometimes I think it’s worthless. All the time and energy spent and trying over and over again. All the pride lost in looking over things I always said I wouldn’t look over. But I do, and I stay. Because I believe that he and my babies are worth fighting for. I stay because the fight needs to be fought in the arena and the day I walk away it will only be upon defeat.
Today I’m also thankful that he is in the arena with me. That knockdown after knockdown he lifts himself back up and keeps on fighting. I’m thankful that he too believes we are all worth fighting for.
Thank you for your continuous fight.
WHAT KIND OF PHOTOGRAPHER ARE YOU?
“What do you do? I’m a photographer. Oh, what kind?”
This is a common question I hear people asking photographers. Almost as if a “kind” is specific to what you photograph. They expect to hear: I’m a wedding photographer, or I’m a portrait photographer, or I’m a newborn photographer, but really my “kind”, my “style” is not based on the people I choose to photograph, but in how and why I photograph them.
When I first started photography back in 2009 I was scared and naïve. I followed the crowd and I really thought that my “niche” was who I wanted to photograph. It took some soul searching this time around to really figure out what makes me happy and who I am as a photographer. Mind you, this is an ongoing process, but I’ve learned that my photography is more than a person. I don’t and won’t limit my craft.
I take photographs to capture moments. Not something that is, but the essence of what can or will be.
I want to capture the way you look at the man of your dreams; the way you feel when he places his hand on your belly and you realize that life will soon be different and full.
My “niche” are those who are not afraid to be themselves and don’t hold back. Those that let me in – just a little – to capture an intimate moment.
My niche is not defined by age, gender, education, or interest. They are everyday people who know the value photograph.
So what “kind” of photographer am I? I’m the one that wants you to feel something when you look back at your images. The one that pushes you to let me in and goes above and beyond to capture the essence of your life, just as it is, right now. Something that – only years later – would make you realize just how important this moment truly was.
My face is marred by dust and sweat and blood
Today, like many other days, I woke up with passion. Passion to follow my heart, to live my dream, to work towards a goal, to achieve something greater. See, what I don’t lack is passion – I have plenty of that – I lack courage. In front of me now is one of my favorite quotes of all time and I want to share it with you. Because no matter where you are in your life I am sure you can relate. All of our struggles are different. A health issue, a broken relationship, a lost job, infertility, loneliness, or simply lack of sleep due to a screaming newborn, they are real. They belong to us. They become us. This goes to you…
THE MAN IN THE ARENA
Excerpt from the speech “Citizenship In A Republic”
Paris, France
April 23, 1910
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt