my daughter (she looks just like me!)

This spring I was the recipient of a huge honor; I became a Godmother to this beautiful 2-year-old girl.  She has the best belly laugh ever, and I love that she has can possess the same impish gleam  in her eyes as her mother.  It’s going to be fascinating to see who she grows into, and I’m so excited that I’ll get to be around for it.

I also remain so thankful that, through some good timing and the advice of a mutual (and very dear!) friend, I moved in with her mother several years ago and found such an amazing, creative, fun, wise friend.  Oh, and dad is all right, too.  (Hey Will!  Thanks for settling the “who has the bigger nose” argument that one night.  A good house guest should always be handy with a ruler.)

These are a few quick snapshots from Eden’s baptism, or as I kept calling it in my head, “My Godmother Ceremony”.  Is making it more me-centered a bad sign?  Nah, I didn’t think so, either.

 

Love these girls.

 

Before the ceremony we walked over to a lot adjacent to the church, awaiting our big march in.  Eden stayed close to her grandfather.

 

 

What?  “Oise” is a perfectly normal middle name.
Ok, Godmother may have gotten an L stuck to her sweater when, as part of her duties, she went in to fetch this.  Don’t worry!  The L was found!  You know, once the night was over, and I was on my way home.  Peeled that guy right off.  And realized I had skipped right over becoming my mother to becoming my grandmother, who once walked through the grocery store with her pantyhose dragging behind the legs of her sweatpants.

 

Matching shoe styles with Daddy.

 

Back at home…


Hey.  I didn’t pledge anything about not encouraging nose-picking.  That wasn’t in the handbook.

 

 

 

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barnyard birthdays

What’s more brave than putting on a party for a 2-year-old?  How about putting on a party for three 2-year-olds, featuring a whole bunch of animals.  I got to be there last year when these guys turned 1, and once again, their families put on a fantastic party.  Makes me want to move into the neighborhood, just so I can mooch off the refreshments and entertainment.

This year had a barnyard theme with a petting zoo, as well as appropriate props and attire.  For anyone who’s ever tried, you may know that a 2-year-old is usually the hardest age to photograph – at least if you want the traditional, smiling at the camera kind of photos.  But they’re one of the most fun ages, too.  Maybe they won’t listen to anything anyone says (especially when there are all sorts of unusual animals in the yard!), and you may not be able to coax them into some good light, but they’re still  young enough to be nothing but themselves in front of the camera.  (And one day those ones of them having a tantrum during the family photo will be funny!  🙂  )

Here’s a few of the shots from the big day.

 

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on things not do do – and then doing them anyway

While I’m busy taking pictures for other people, my mind is usually so preoccupied with trying to get everything as right as it should be, that I sometimes forget to try new things.  When you’re first learning about your camera and photography, there’s a lot of emphasis on finding the right light – as well as framing, composition, focus points, etc, etc.  But once you’ve gotten all those things down, it’s good to experiment outside of the norm.  After spending 3 hours at a birthday party full of 2-year-olds (pictures one day to come), I went to meet a couple of good friends at the park.  It was a perfect day – so rare for Georgia in June, and because I had just spent all morning in the squatting position, I was happy to sit back and relax on a blanket, and enjoy the company around me.    And because it was all in fun, take some pictures of what I was seeing without worrying about needing to get it right.

Breaking some rules, like, getting on eye-level (my knees were so tired!)

 

Shooting directly into bright light

 

Allowing some dappled light

 

And instead of a focus on the eyes, some of sun-drying curls, just because they remind me of summers at the pool.

 

Wish I could have more days like this – such a beautiful day with some of my favorite people!

 

 

 

 

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partying with 5

In case I haven’t mentioned it lately, I love seeing families grow.  And I’ve seen this one for as long as I’ve seen any of them – beginning 2 years ago when the youngest was a newborn.  Each time I’ve seen them they’re a little older, but they’re always so much fun and full of personality!   I had a hard time narrowing down a whole lotta pictures for a preview, but here’s the glimpse I ended up with…

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a first Memorial Day weekend

This 3-month old completely wooed me with his cuteness.  He was alert but calm, and intrigued by the sounds of the camera…  all in all, he had the makings of a great model!

 

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6 months » J. K. Riggs PhotographyAugust 23, 2012 - 6:56 pm

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