The Coudon family really reinforced that for me.  As I talked with the parents about what they loved about their family, I was struck by how their faces would soften slightly and a smile would appear in just thinking about their girls. It wasn’t just that they adored something that their kids did, my questions seem to give them permission to slow down and think about what they truly hold dear.  Seriously.  When was the last time you sat back and thought about all that you love?   If you’re anything like me,  you are usually thinking about what needs to be done next. Planning the next meal.  Driving to the next activity.  Mediating the next argument.   We seldom allow ourselves to the time to think about what you really love.

So I’m here to give you permission to slow down for just 2 or 3 minutes.  Sit back, close your eyes and think about your family and all of the little things that make you smile.  Giant bear hugs, genuine belly laughs, the sound of them sleeping, how they dress themselves backwards, sweet and sincere apologies, how the oldest looks out for the youngest, how the youngest looks out for the oldest… the list is seemingly endless.  Go ahead.  Take a few minutes.

Enjoy where you are.  When you’re done you can go back to making dinner, doing the laundry, packing the lunches, cleaning the kitchen, and letting the dog out… or in… either one.  ;)

P.S. San Francisco is one of my favorite cities.  Everything about it is so enchanting… the streets, the buildings, and the people.   The Coudon Family definitely qualifies as enchanting.  Watching them interact and slow down for a day to just play with each other was absolutely priceless!  Really.

In our home, more beads wind up on the floor than they do in the art project (which causes me to painfully step on them for days after.)  But the look that the oldest is giving her dad, would makes it all worth it!

Barbies with dad?  This kills me.  SO awesome.  I think it’s so funny that he had a caveat… if they wanted him to play barbies, they needed to get him a Ken doll.  (He now has three of them.)

Mom definitely enjoys how her family interacts… I caught several wonderful moments where she was just taking it all in.  Family Life sessions are the best excuse to let go of being a “mom” for a day and just play with your family.  Ahhhh… it sounds so wonderful dosen’t it?

Another thing dad does with the girls is a dog show.  It’s HILARIOUS!  He jumps the girls (the contestants) around the living room while narrating the “show.”  If you’ve seen the movie Best in Show, you have a pretty good idea why this is so funny. :)

 After we finished inside, we headed out to Crissy Field for football and hot cocoa.  I grabbed the picture of the girls in the back seat because that’s such a big part of a family’s life… so much time is spent in the car!

So even though WE had plans to get hot chocolate, The Warming Hut didn’t agree.  They closed their doors just as we walked up.  I don’t know about you all, but I would have let them in for cocoa… how could they say no to those cuties?!  And yes, that is indeed the Golden Gate bride in the background… they often walk or bike to it…yep.  I’m a bit jealous.  :)

We.all.need.pictures.with.our.spouse.  ALL of us.  If the most recent photo of you an your spouse if from your wedding day, pleeeeease get some taken. Treat yourself to a session of just the two of you.  You’ll treasure it forever.

In the book she reflects upon how quickly her oldest (still only in 3rd grade) was growing up and away from her.  I totally broke down.  She said “we won’t come back here.”  That simple statement sent a jolt through me.  At first I thought my tears were of remorse for not being a better mom, but then I realized I was crying because I found my voice.  I finally felt like I had words to go with the pictures I was taking…  I realized why I was shooting the way that I do.

Since reading her books, I’ve embraced who I am as a mother.  And the most important lesson I’ve learned is that no matter how badly I want to,  I can’t slow down.  We, as parents, can’t slow down.  There is always going to be something that needs to be done.  Be it the dishes, laundry, shopping, work, more dishes, cooking, carpool, etc… the to-do list is ever growing.  And let’s face it, even if we figured out a way to slow down, would we?  Our mommy guilt would kick in about the heaping mound of dirty laundry, or about how we made mac and cheese three times in a week just to save a little time.  We can’t change it, so we have to figure out a way to live with it.

For me photography is the answer.  It reduces my own personal mommy-guilt.  Figuring out how to capture all those special moments and simple family pleasures in one day was monumental for me.  I can easily give myself permission to spend one day a year to slow down enough to let my family be photographed as we are.  I want my life captured in a day.  This instantly allows me to let go of any guilt I have around motherhood because I have pictures of a time in my life that seems to move by too quickly.  Maybe I won’t take the time now to enjoy the photos, but 5 years from now, I just know those pictures will become my most treasured possessions.  And more importantly, my crazy kids will know what their childhood was like.  That they were happy, loved and indeed crazy.

Kelly’s words helped push me toward doing the in-depth Family Life photography that I hold so dear to my heart.  So thank you, Kelly Corrigan. You’ve helped me in so many ways… personally and professionally.

When I first met Kelly I was a little starstruck, but after she gave me a giant hug and welcomed me in, any anxiety I had was gone.  This woman is the real deal.  She is exactly how I had imagined she would be.  Warm, funny, and a wonderful mom.

This very first picture made me so happy!   She’s trying  to convince her youngest to get out of bed… it was a struggle, but mom won out in the end.  And why did it make me so happy?  Because this is what their life is like… it’s real and it’s perfect.

 Kelly has a sweet and special relationship with her girls.   A quiet deep connection.  There’s a lot of mutual respect.

 I love the picture near the end- after the chocolate chips had been added mom just gave the girls permission to sample the dough.  Personally I think it’s the best part of baking cookies.  I have been known to eat more dough than I bake.  ;)

Their sweet chocolate lab is very handy in the kitchen… who needs a roomba when you have a dog, right?

In case I failed to mention, which I’m sure I did, that Kelly’s writing is not only poignant, but it’s also hilarious.  I laughed out loud while reading both Lift and The Middle Place.  Her humor is clearly not only reserved for the written word… note small, furry animal on the piano.  Kelly felt her daughter’s hamster needed some camera time, too.  She found the perfect spot for him to get in on the action… that is until he pooped.

Listening to her girls play the piano was a bit of a flashback for me.  My mom and dad both played, but it’s something I regretfully never took up.  After seeing these pictures once again, I think I’ll see about lessons for my crazies… it’s okay to force culture onto your kids, right?  (please say yes, please say yes.)

A few weeks ago I announced the first beginning photography class for February 11th 2012.  It sold out super fast and I was literally bombarded with emails and comments requesting another class.  So here it is!  The next class will be Saturday March 31st  at 2pm in Walnut Creek.

But no pressure.  ;)

Beyond the Snapshot :: beginning photography class

This class is all about learning how to use any camera better. I’ll show you how you can get good pictures with something as simple as your camera phone.  This introductory class will cover three key elements to taking better photographs: Light, Location, and Composition

By the end of the class you will have greater insight on how to take better photos of your kids, and be able to quickly identify why you love a picture, or why you don’t.

At the end of the hour lecture, we’ll head outside for a bit of show and tell.  You’re welcome to bring your camera and try your hand at all of the new tricks you learned in class.

When: Saturday March 31st  2pm
Where: Walnut Creek
Cost: $75

  To register, please fill out the registration form HERE.  

She’s our sweet Beazy and will forever be loved.

Here is the very last picture I took of her… just hours before she left us.

A few of the things I already miss:

• Her click-clacking around the house as her nails scraped up our hardwood floors.
• How we were always greeted enthusiastically by Chewbacca-like howling or wild licking of the front window… if we were extra lucky, we were greeted by both.
• When we’d get one of numerous UPS deliveries, the driver would try to win her over by giving her a dog treat.  She’d take the treat but still bark like mad at him as crumbs fell out of her mouth.
• Her snoring.  I know.
• But mostly I’ll miss her presence.  Knowing she was here just made me happy.

I wish I could hug everyone who emailed, commented, messaged and even sent us letters during our dogs battle with bone cancer.  Please know each of your positive thoughts, kind words and prayers are precious to us.

My family and I thank you dearly.

It reminds me of my own childhood and the ice cold, snowy days in North Dakota.  My sister and I would get all bundled up in our over-sized snowsuits and play outside until our lips were blue.  Once back in the warm yellow house, Gram and Bop would help us peel off the ice caked layers and we’d dash to the 1950′s kitchen table for hot chocolate and cookies.  Memories of my Gram baking in the kitchen while the old radio on the kitchen counter filled the whole house with Christmas music make my heart swell.   It’s because of her that I get all giddy knowing that Christmas is coming.

Now I try to recreate that same feeling for my kids.  I can’t give them a snowy yard to play in, but I can do my best to make every thing else just as magical.  Hot chocolate for breakfast?  You bet.   Endless holiday movies and freshly popped popcorn?  Absolutely.  Cookies and Lefse everyday?  Not a problem (except for me… really… I should just live in my Lulu pants because they’re stretchy and wearing them makes me feel like I’ve worked out.)

This time of year is also the perfect time to try out new traditions.  Some make it, others don’t… like the Monkey Bread.  I loved the idea of it, but after two years I dropped it from the list.  Turns out it’s sticky, gooey, yumminess is too labor intensive for me to actually pull off yearly.  But we’ve got our elf on the shelf, although I will admit I’m not that crazy creative person who can come up with endless hi-jinx for the elf to get into.  Ours is pretty passive and has even been known to stay in the same spot for a few days (why is he’s so lazy?)  I can’t wait to pass along the elf to my kids when they have their own children (Gasp!  Did I just type that?  My kids are still babies, right??!!)

And with that I would like to share some of our holiday pictures and our card with you all.   No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you the happiest and hope 2012 brings you many blessings and much love!

Here is our Christmas card from this year and a few random pictures from our home.  XO to you all!

The amazing photography was done by my sweet friend, Michelle Ocampo.  We adore Michelle and she captured our family perfectly.  I called her crying  bawling when I saw the pictures.

 P.S. she specializes in High School senior girls.  If you are in need, it’s worth the trip down to Carmel.  Honestly.  :)

Over the years I’ve received hundreds of holiday cards and it’s helped me discover three things that I like about cards:  random little tidbits about the family or kids, ages of the children included (because I have a hard enough time remember how old my own kids are), and a picture of the parents (that’s a big one because lets face it, all kids are cute, but we’re friends with the parents, right?  ;) )

I love the idea of snow at Christmas… unless we get up to Tahoe or Bend, my little sign and favorite snow globe are as close as we’re gonna get!   The snow globe was a gift from my grandparents and it’s one of the most important decorations I have.  The little figurines are also holiday treasures… they were from my very Norwegian great grandma Jen.  They’re actually salt and pepper shakers, but I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t last a season on our dining-room table.   And then there is our elf.  His name is Bing.  He says “hi!” :)

WOW!  THE FEBRUARY 11TH CLASS IS SOLD OUT –  in under 48 hours!   Please click through HERE  to join a wait list or add your name to a general Class Interest list.

NEW CLASS FOR MARCH 31st ANNOUNCED!  Details for Jennifer Chaney’s Beginning Photography class.

It’s time to learn how to take better pictures with any camera!   If you’re signed up for my newsletter,  you got advance notice of my next beginning photography class  – nearly all the spots have been snapped up, so be sure to sign up soon.

Beyond the Snapshot :: beginning photography class

This class is all about learning how to use any camera better. I’ll show you how you can get good pictures with something as simple as your camera phone.  This introductory class will cover three key elements to taking better photographs: Light, Location, and Composition

By the end of the class you will have greater insight on how to take better photos of your kids, and be able to quickly identify why you love a picture, or why you don’t.

At the end of the hour lecture, we’ll head outside for a bit of show and tell.  You’re welcome to bring your camera and try your hand at all of the new tricks you learned in class.

When: Saturday February 11th  2pm
Where: Walnut Creek
Cost: $75

To register, please fill out the registration form (FULL)

I treasure my friendship with Julie.  And I’m so grateful they called me two and a half years ago to photograph their family of four.  But photographing the birth of their third child is an absolute honor.

Rob and Julie, thank you for having me be a part of your amazing day.  I am so thrilled for you!  I’m excited to see how your life changes and how much your love grows.  And call me when it’s time to potty train him… I promise to keep my giggling to a minimum when you ask how to keep him from peeing all over the seat and floor.

This is my favorite picture from that day.  She’s looking at Rob with such love and adoration that it just warms my heart.

So, um… why does she look so fabulous?  Seriously.  She’s in major labor and looks like she’s ready to go dancing.

What’s that about, people?  So.not.fair.

P.S.  They kept his name a secret and referred to him as “Fritz” for nine months.  I think I’ll keep calling him that. ;)

(Sorry for this slideshows lack of music. My website got an upgrade that doesn’t allow music… so maybe it’s really a downgrade???)

With much love!

With two young kids that are constantly on the go, I’m impressed with how grounded everyone is.  I had a wonderful time with you, Kennedy family!  I cannot wait to come back next year for another session – I wouldn’t be surprised if your family has grown by then.  Either another baby or a dog (thanks to my glowing recommendation!)   But no pressure from me.  ;)

Oh I could just eat these little ones up!  Right in the middle of our shoot, the daughter just plopped down on the rocks to bask in the sun.  It was amazing to watch her.  Completely spontaneous the entire shoot.  And her brother was not about to be outdone, so he decided he needed to celebrate life by throwing some rocks and shouting for joy.  Kids are awesome.

Okay, really.  Look at that family picture – Ahhhh!  It makes me so happy!  I just want to crawl into that picture and hang out with them!   Side note:  Mom is not the only entertaining one in the family.  Dad is seriously one of the most interesting people I’ve met.  He’s a self-employed, stay-at-home dad, with a 1,001 interesting stories.  He shares some of his tales about fatherhood on his blog – He’s one of those guys that will just as easily talk to you about the pitfalls of potty training as he can talk about sports and announcing for the 49ers.  ‘I’m tellin’ ya.  I could chat with this family all day!

Brother is taking a moment for himself while mama gets a wardrobe change prepped.  There is something so beautiful about a still child.  Maybe it’s because they seem to be in perpetual motion?

These last two shots above are pure art.  The picture on the left says childhood to me.  It feels so carefree.  And the picture on the right screams fatherhood.  The look on his face as he watches his little girl dance around is priceless.  I’m so thrilled I captured that moment for them.

Dad was quick to point out that his daughter was using the iPad 2 while he got stuck with the original.  HA!  That seems to happen in a lot of households.

Baby brother in the background.  Sis in a tutu with a Band-Aid on her leg.  That picture is magic to me.

I’ve saved the best for last:

There isn’t one thing I would change about either of these photos.  This is who they are and it’s sheer perfection.

Did you notice that the red cups are now out?  The holidays are upon us and to get the festivities started, I’ll be giving away a few Starbucks gift cards on my Facebook page over the next week!  Mmmm…peppermint mocha.