charley star photo: a strange, tender sensation

Sabrina

a quarter of 2011 is almost gone. i can't believe it.

i've been a bit MIA on the blog (as well as facebook and twitter), floating through the days, mostly lost in this, but also just trying to balance it all, cut down on the noise (no time), trying to be more present to the tasks at hand -- be it family, client, a shoot, or just the day to day tasks of running a business (or a home).

with all the devastation in japan, the incredible loss... it has left me feeling my own mortality in a way i never ever have. my heart has ached for their loss and celebrated each small triumph. then i watched this movie (have you seen it? great, but depressing), and it echoed the sentiment about the fragility of life and scarcity of time..

i'm left in an ethereal state, accutely aware of life's haunting tenderness... aching beauty... sorrowful preciousness.

it's a strange, tender sensation.

you never know what tomorrow will bring.

hug somebody. hold them tight.

i can't hold my girls tight enough, appreciate my husband deep enough, see my parents, my sister, often enough. time is so short. i've been feeling that so profoundly lately.

take the beauty in.

i met with a new client this week, a bride and groom, and all i could notice was the way he looked at her when he talked to her. i wish i'd had my camera to capture that glow, that love, that adoration beaming from his eye.

at a location scout a woman scoffed how she hated having her picture taken, who's the grump? she said after seeing the test shot of herself, and all i could see was her beautiful glow, her aged gracefulness looking dead ahead into my lens, her clear strong spirit shining through.

i had 2 maternity shoots in the last 2 weeks-- two beautiful mothers carrying 3 babies. two of them, twin boys, are now out in the world already, beginning their journey anew...

then i met this bright spirit, Sabrina. She'd commisioned me to shoot fun, whimsical, ethereal portraits of her for her new website. sabrina is the kind of girl, that, you can tell, makes her little path in the world a little bit brighter. i like her. i loved photographing her -- we had so much fun!

the shot above is one of my faves. it makes me feel happy, and hopeful. :)

hope life is being kind and gentle to you today...

xxo

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P.S. for anyone wanting to still donate, or donate more, for japan, consider this photography community's response, LIFE SUPPORT JAPAN, organized by the amazing Aline Smithson and Christa Dix (and pick up a fantastic print by some amazing photographers), or check out FOR JAPAN WITH LOVE, organized by the incredible girls of Utterly Engaged and Ever Ours.