Happy and In Love | North County San Diego Family Photographer

I can tell you right now I am going to have to come back with a part two for this family.  So many photos that I just love!  What a great way to spend my Valentine’s Day!

Lately I have found myself in soul search mode trying to further find my photographic voice. The holiday season is such a mad dash it’s been nice to take a small break and recharge.  With that I often find myself pondering… what makes me different than all of the other characters that do what I do?  I don’t want to be a picture taker where everyone stares into the camera lens and basically documents what you look like.  I want to record the little things, to have fun and let the kids just be themselves.  So, in an effort to stretch my wings a bit and step out of my box  we decided to approach this session without a plan.    I had a few ideas in mind for locations but had decided from the beginning that I wanted to go for something a little different.  A little looser. A little more…imperfect. A little more…real.

I was nervous.  I love the feeling of nervous.  Not of the distress sort but rather eustress and I’ll take it any chance I get!   As soon as I started shooting it fell away and  I knew that this family was something extra special.  For starters it turns out that this whole thing was dad’s idea.  How dreamy is that?!  He is also in the Navy due to ship out for a year long tour effective March 2010.  Sigh.  While I am not one to ever advocate war (because it gives me nightmares)  and don’t believe it solves anything I support those who make the commitment to serve our country. From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for your service.

Friends & Family  – Say hi, show your support and give it up for this awesomely cute family.  30+ comments and I’ve got some goodies up my sleeve for them.

Nothing in this world beats the genuine laughter of two people in love.

Quite possibly my new all time favorite.  The kiss. The grassy knee. That smile in mamas closed eyes.

My guess is that these two lay like this often. TV perhaps?  The word candy fell out of my mouth and they both flopped down in this position with no instruction.  Too funny.