Reading is Magic

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These past few weeks have been so wonderful. I am overwhelmed with the opportunities I’ve been given…teaching workshops, traveling to New York City, beautiful photo sessions with families and individuals…I am so grateful! I am, however, totally exhausted. Between all the amazing things happening in my career and the end of the school year for my kids, I am running a low tank! So last week, when we had an unexpected cancellation, my kids and I decided to do a fun project together. My daughter is an avid reader (that’s putting it lightly!) and so we wanted to create an image where the magic of reading was really showcased. We worked together to find a location (my neighbor’s backyard), we set up the shot, and then we edited together in Photoshop. Here is the original RAW file next to the final product…

Lucy Reading Before + After

I’m not usually a huge Photoshopper…but it was cool to make something a little bit different from my regular style. It was so fun for my daughter to see how I do my work, and she was really pleased with the final image. I think this summer we are going to create a few more magical images based on some of her own ideas. She has big dreams, and it’s pretty fun turning them into a reality! Not only was she thrilled, but my creative muscles got a little bit of a workout as well. Magic.

KC Maternity Photographer

A Magical Maternity Session

Kansas City Maternity Photographer

It was a rainy day…cloudy and windy and particularly gross. But right when we were about to give up, the sun peaked out, the birds started chirping, and this magical maternity session was the result! I’m so excited for this little baby girl to come into the world next month, but before she arrived, we were able to capture a few images of her radiant mama. With two little boys at home, she is a total rockstar! She was a trooper as we trekked through wet grass and even into a creek! And can we talk about those gorgeous dresses? I mean…wow.

Kansas City Maternity Photographer

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Kansas City Maternity Photographer

Kansas City Maternity Photographer

Thank you to everyone who made this session happen, from the babysitter on-call to the lovely friends who provided the gowns to the friend who allowed us to climb around in her creek. Sometimes the stars align, and when they do, that’s when the magic happens.

For more information on booking your own maternity session, click here.

NYC

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Last week I was fortunate to travel to New York City for a work trip with a little fun added in! I had originally planned to try and visit my best friend (and the other half of the NYC + KC project) this spring, and when I mentioned it to one of my freelance clients, they asked if I could add a couple of days to my visit and spend some time in of their NYC offices. It all worked out perfectly, and thanks to my husband who took over the homestead while I was away, I was able to head off to the big city for five days.

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This trip was so needed, and I feel so lucky to have been able to go. I have been a working mama for most of my motherhood career, and it isn’t always easy. So it was actually pretty nice to take a little break from serving as a human Kleenex and just focus on my work for a few days. I rode the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan each morning, and after a long work day, I headed back out to my friend’s house with no worries about what I was making for dinner or if we were late for soccer practice or if everyone had done their homework. The day before I left for New York, I completely lost my cool with the kids, and I knew we all needed a little break from each other. Sometimes the pressure of parenthood can be much for even the best of us, and some distance and space only makes the heart grow fonder. A few days in New York City helped me remember who I was before I was “mama” and also allowed me to actually MISS my own life. I believe every mom or dad needs a little break now and then to recharge and regroup, and for me, NYC was the perfect place to do it.

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It didn’t hurt that I got to spend some good, quality time with my best friend and her family. I hadn’t seen Theresa in person in almost three years (!!!) so it was just lovely to be close to her for a few days. We rode the subway together to work and talked late into the night. On Saturday we wandered the city for 12 hours, walking 11 miles as we talked and laughed. It was a perfect New York day. I love seeing New York with actual New Yorkers, because they introduce me to things I wouldn’t have tried without them. We ate pizza by the water in DUMBO and drove out to Coney Island to look at the roller coasters. We walked the Highline and visited the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. But mostly we just walked and talked and experienced the day together.

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I am so grateful for this time and for this trip. I came back to Kansas City tired, but recharged creatively and mentally. I am ready to get back to my real life and live it to the fullest. And when I saw my smiling family at the airport, I realized how much I really did miss them while I was away. New York was fun, but my heart is wherever my family is. And since my family is in Kansas City, that’s where my heart belongs.

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