“When you come to the edge
Of all the light you know,
And are about to step off
Into the darkness of the unknown
Faith is knowing one of two things will happen:
There will be something solid to stand on
Or you will be taught how to fly.”

–Barbara J. Winter

“It is a frightening thing to open oneself to this strange and dark side of the divine; it means letting go of our self-control, that control which gives the illusion of safety. But safety is only an illusion, and letting go is part of listening to the silence, and to the Spirit.”

–Madeline L’Engle, Walking On Water

“I shut my eyes in order to see.” –Paul Gauguin

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

-Scott Adams

Here is a little holiday portrait session with the Moore Family. Perhaps you’ve seen a few shots of this family before. In case you are new to my blog and are not acquainted with my beloved sister and her family there are a few other posts you may like to peruse. Let’s see- there are Portraits of Ellyana in a Green Chair, the morning I spent with Elly when her mommy was in labor with little Enjolie, my sister’s Maternity Portraits, Newborn Portraits of Enjolie, my mini impromptu session with the girls… to name but a few. This set is such a kick. What I really love is it shows how crazy in love they are all with each other and what wonderful parents they are. Fills me up and over the brim.

Every so often I experience doubt in the quality of my own work. OK, maybe more often than that. Jay just grins at me after 12 years when I swear off photography and wonder aloud about what else I could pursue. This little photo session with Kate and Alice was a breath of fresh air and renewed, once again, my hope in my photographic eye. Natural light, 50mm f/1.2 and beautiful little girls that I adore. Very very happy with the results. I guess I’ll shoot for a few more months.

“Every man should be born again on the first day of January.  Start with a fresh page.  Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past.” 

~Henry Ward Beecher

My sister dashed out for a bit of holiday shopping and I got my nieces. I couldn’t resist a 10 minute photo shoot but WOW was I missing another pair of hands! I set Elly up with a bit of Kipper on my computer while I photographed Enjolie. Then piled them in the chair in front of my open front door for the light but they were COLD so added an extra pink blanket. Enjoi arches her back when sitting so I was literally holding her on the chair with my foot and making all kinds of sqwaking noises to get them to look at me. Phew. I was panting and sweating by the time I finished. The photos were a super fun Christmas surprise for our family!

“Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home!” 

-Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Just a couple days before Christmas, Cynthia and Jason touched down in Denver. Early the next morning we met knee deep in snow at the base of Boulder’s Foothill mountains at Chautuaqua. We also visited Pearl Street Mall for the tree-lined lanes. It was magical morning. One of my favorites.