Realizations...

As 2013 is nearing to an end, I thought that I would share some of the many things that I realize...

1. I am still so very far behind in posting photo shoots. As I have just finished sharing 2012's shoots 

with you.

2. I have said so many times in past postings that I would not allow myself to get behind like this again. But yet I find myself still there.

3. The reason I am so far behind in sharing shoots with you is because life happens... I know that

 there are lots of you that relate to that statement. 

4. I had an awesome year of shoots in 2013, not that any other year was not awesome too, and am finding myself in a place of some free time to play catch up. FINALLY!

Now a few things that I have realized not involving blog posts...

5. Our kids grow up too quickly... and there is nothing we can do to stop them.

 My oldest is just over a month away from turning 18, and becoming man. My youngest just turned 8 

and I don't know where the last 8 years have gone, let alone the last 18....

6. Family is very important. Keeping track of family memories is just as important.

 Because someday they will be gone and having photos and the memories in our heads keeps 

them alive inside of us.

7. As we grow we learn who and what really matters to us. There are some many things that we 

think matter or are important and when times passes and we look back and reflect we realize that

 they really were/are not that important.

8. That it is OK to let go of the control we feel that we have to have on things and let someone

 else be in control.

 This statement means so many different things. Like letting go of some of the control on our kids and letting them make their own choices, even when we don't agree with them.

 Or when there is something that you do well and have a hard time letting someone else do that thing for you.

(like letting someone else photograph my family without trying to pose us myself.)

9. People come in and out of lives and the important ones are never far away. We may not see each other everyday or even once a month or longer but when we need them they are never far away.

10.... let me think on this one.

So going back to number 6 and number 8-

We have finally had the opportunity to have a family shoot with my sisters and their families. The last time that we did this was before my youngest was born and my sister's first was born. We met up last weekend for a fun outdoor winter shoot with Julie Gendron.

Two of the photos were shared on facebook today, Thank you Julie for the great photos.

 https://www.facebook.com/JulieAnnGendron.

  and I thought that I would share them as well. As soon as I have disk in hand, ok maybe not as soon cause some will be Christmas gifts, I will share some more. 

The whole crew.

 Just the kids.

Newborn Twins- 2012!

These precious twins entered our family in September of 2012. I was so excited when we finally got to meet them and I could steal them away for a little photo shoot. I soon realized two things...

 1.- I was not cut out to have twins. (I was taking their photos without help, so of course that plays a little factor in that thought.)

 2. After spending 9 months together they did not want to be near each other. And I mean any where near each other. The few that I did get of them together were done quickly before the fussing started.

Meet Amelia and Miles...

 Another quick attempt at getting a photo of them together. This is not the original image I was 

aiming to get, I was trying to get them laying on each other and they wanted nothing

 to do with touching.

Amelia-

 

Miles-

They are the sweetest things! Now that they are one they are a little better about being so close to one another. I am hoping to have the opportunity this Holiday season to get another photo shoot of these 2. We might even include their 3 older siblings...

Carmon Family- Holiday 2012

Meet the Carmon Family! We met at Traditions at the Glen on a drizzly afternoon. We made it through the drizzling and got some great shots. We started with mom and the girls, as dad had to run back to the car and get a blanket that they brought along. 

Mom and her girls!

Sister!

 Some Christmas images.

Merry Christmas banner and candy canes.

 Dad and his girls!

 This was a pose that I have been wanting to do with a family. I thought that they would be a great family to use this pose with. Both girls are into very different things and thought it would be great to showcase that.

I am very pleased with how it came out.

Some snow blowing to end the shoot with. Just like the previous post we were not lucky enough to be able to use some real snow so we made do with fake snow. 

Have a wonderful Holiday 2013 season Carmon Family! 

Tamara & Family 2012- "My Secret" Location

Meet Tamara and her family. We talked about using several locations before we decided here. I explained that I had a location in my mind to use for sometime but just hadn't found the right subject. I explained that I would love to shoot her and her family here. So, she agreed and they headed the 30 minute drive to our location. 

If you are interested in using this location feel free to email me at kgrussellphoto@yahoo.com. 

Please keep in mind that this is a small location and  most areas may be used in each shoot. To keep each subject's shoots different, as I tried to do when using popular locations, I will make each person/groups sessions unique with different poses. 

This was a pose that I was wanting to try with a large family. It came out just how I was hoping 

and is one of my favorites from this shoot!

 To end the shoot I thought it would be fun to do a little "Girls against Boys" pose. I brought along some fake snow, since we didn't get any real snow; for the girls to blow at the boys. If there was some real snow I was hoping to do a "snowball fight". But we improvised and it came out great!

Merry Christmas Tamara & Family. May your 2013 Holiday be wonderful!

Swartz's Family Holiday 2012

I have been shooting this family since there oldest was born. I always enjoy seeing them, and this shoot was no different. We met at Ostiningo Park in Binghamton for their shoot. The weather cooperated and so did the girls and we got some great shots!

Mommy and her girls!

 This tree is one of my favorites. It got a little damaged when the park flooded during the flood of 2011, but it is still a great tree!

 Hailey and her bunbun. She has had him since she was born and he is loved very much!

I made sure to get a few of her alone as it December is her birthday month!

The sled used in these last three images was my husbands when he was a small child. His grandfather added the back to it so that he sit in it safely when he was younger. I love that it is still around and in great shape so that it can be used!

Merry Christmas Swartz family. I look forward to our future shoots!

Tina's Grandkids- Holiday 2012

Here is another holiday shoot that I had the honor to do last year. I have taken photos of these two cuties a few other times and it was great to see them again and how much they had grown.

 This is my favorite image of these two. You can just see the sibling love!

 Love when kids get to the age of giving you the "cheesy" smile!

Merry Christmas Tina and family!