Playing the Photographer =)

I love to write, and I've written long enough and put enough of myself into it that when others refer to me as a "writer," I actually accept it as something that feels true. When people call me a "photographer," however, I don't receive that the same way. I always make sure to say, "Oh, I just like taking pictures; I don't do it professionally or anything!" 

There is so much I don't know about the technical side of photography, and to be honest, I don't really care to learn it at the moment. I took an online class a few years ago, and the technical stuff bored me the way that math classes used to bore me.  I want taking pictures to be fun and lighthearted and exciting! I'm thankful to have the DSLR camera that takes better quality pictures, but I don't want to wait to decide between 40 different camera settings and miss the moment I was trying to capture. And I don't want to be crazy analytical and judgmental about the aperture and shutter speed and such on my pictures - I want to see the heart of it - to see the people and places I love and cherish the memories, not throw them out because of a minor shadow in the wrong spot. I just want to set it on Auto and take tons of pictures, then weed through and edit them later. Granted, it doesn't always work out perfectly, but Mom and I have gotten several great pictures that way (great to us), and I'm sticking with it! lol

Having said all that in preface, my friend, Lindsay, asked if I would come over and be the photographer for the 1st birthday party of her son, Phoenix!  I was excited to get to be there for it, but a little nervous about being the main one in charge of documenting everything. They did a Cookie Monster theme, and she went ALL OUT with the decor and everything!!  Having been to a couple showers she's hosted, I would have expected nothing less from her! =)

This = several pics I took of the people - it was Lindsay's side of the family that night! I was glad to get several great pics of Phoenix smiling or laughing! =)  Yay, happy babies!! ❤

A closer one of the table. Lindsay is super creative and trendy and is always such a great hostess - I mean, this was for a family-only party! She's also one of the strongest and funniest people I know!!

This = my favorite picture I took that night... Lindsay's Mom and Phoenix share the exact same birthday (9/22), which is awesome!  And Lindsay's daughter, Aspyn Jane, was born on 9/25. Aspyn died exactly one month after she was born on 10/25/2015. Their faith in the midst of that heartbreaking loss was and still is inspiring. First off, I love that the banner has all three names. And I love that Aspyn's picture on the wall is above and behind them... it's perfect, in spite of any picture quality imperfections. 💛

This canvas was a little gift I got for Lindsay. (Aspyn on the left and Phoenix on the right, the day they were born and a few weeks after.) 💗

I'm thankful I got to be there for the party!  Lindsay said a couple times, "You must be bored out of your mind and so ready to go home," but that wasn't the case at all. I'm a quiet observer sometimes, but it rarely means I am bored.  I love the comfort level at family celebrations and the emotions and inside jokes and love and laughter there.  I often think of the scene in While You Were Sleeping when Lucy watches the Callaghan family opening their Christmas gifts, and she's quiet and somewhat in the background but genuinely happy to be there. I get that. =) ❤