We Are Family
Photographing families is a joy. Photographing families and including their extended families is an even greater gift. Half of these family members traveled from across the country and multiple time zones just to hike around in the mountains and foothills of the Colorado Rockies. Actually, they were also visiting and celebrating their adorable grandchildren, which means it made the experience 1,000 times greater.
It didn't take long into our session before something struck me. It wasn't a golden aspen leaf or a rock splashing into the chilly Coal Creek waters, it was how much this family loved being together in the moment and sharing the experience together; with their grandchildren. There was so much joy and love between the kiddos and everyone that it made the light that much brighter, set the cottonwoods and aspen trees aglow and the downslope breeze just a wee bit warmer.
We found many gems that day on one of my favorite trails, but what I still remember is how much those little boys lit up when they captured a glimpse of their parents and grandparents. Thank you to the families to bringing me along to capture such love and joy and put a little Sister Sledge in my head on repeat.
Fairy Tales & Boulder Family Photography
It is always the wind. More than the sun or snow; it is the wind. That almost ever-present force of nature. Giving me beautiful shapes and movement to capture. The wind is not a wild horse. It cannot be tamed or trained. It is unruly, beautiful, powerful and sudden. Much like humans and some may say much like children even as those children get closer to adults and far, seemingly lightning years away from that newborn stage.
I remember being a teenager, it wasn't that far, far away. It was just last century. What I remember most was how visceral everything was. Not just for me but for everyone in my world. I cannot imagine what it is like today with social media. I do know that teens in this century must navigate the storms and sunshine with much more intelligence and forethought than we did and for that they have my admiration.
As I met this family of four on that windy and crisp November afternoon, the first thing that I remember was how excited I was that they met me here. Here, up on a beautiful mesa with the Colorado Rockies not too far away. Many families make sure that those first years are documented but as kiddos and responsibilities grow, it gets harder to capture these moments in front of a camera (that isn't immediately on Instagram). I love this family and I love that they let me peek into the awesomeness that is them.
Rainbows, Camping & Bears Oh My
There is a fork in the road and a certain Robert Frost poem in my mind. Instantly I choose the road less traveled but for different reasons. There are two options for our campsite this evening, one filled with views and one with quiet (or a bit more quiet as it is a site in a campground). Usually we choose spots more dispersed but because of the active grizzly cubs and mamas around the area, camping in an actual campground is perfectly peachy to me. In an act of not-so-bold reasoning, I figure the more popular site with the views is already full so down the road we go.
To our amazement there are multiple sites still available. We are obviously not in Colorado anymore and are cheering our Wyoming good-fortune. Feeling brazen we decide to head back up to the second campground for maybe our luck will continue to grow.
I am not a gambler. Okay I'm a gambler with a $1 betting limit (as in total amount I will play) in Vegas. But feeling confident that there are still many options available even if the other campground is full we head onward and upward. I'm driving the truck and feel excited and nervous but not nauseous (I get car sick very easily as a passenger on curvy roads). Luckily our kids seem to have inherited my husband's stomach of steel in addition to his handsome good looks and exceptional logical mind. We drive up the dirt road higher and closer to beautiful towering pinnacles and hopefully the site where we will pitch our tent and rest our heads tonight.
There are 12 sites and four are still available. "Luck be a campsite tonight!" I sing in a voice more distant from Sinatra than he could have ever dreamed. The sun is shining and the magpies are squawking as we pull into our site. It is THE ONE. No one else is around or at least visible. The boys bound out of the truck happily ready to explore. I crack open the celebratory sunscreen tube for everyone. We are a jolly bunch.
Soon, however, things becomes eerily quiet when we realize that while we have enough food, blankets and clothing to appease even the finicky kiddos, we have neglected to bring one important piece of camping equipment. The tent. When we announce to the boys that unfortunately we will not be spending the evening at this spot, one of them suggests that all is well and we can just go home and get it. After applauding his problem-solving skills I remind him that home is about 10hrs away. The nearest "real" town is Jackson which is about 2hrs away.
Immediately I'm quite conscious and hear the universe exclaiming, "TEACHABLE MOMENT!" So with more cheer than Santa I announce that we are having an adventure already and how exciting it is! After some dazed and confused looks from the boys, we hop back into the truck and head west. Where will we sleep tonight? I don't know but it is going to be so exciting to figure it out! It will be somewhere new and west of here! Yee-haw I (almost) yell.
Thinking and driving, driving and thinking we head towards Grand Teton National Park in hopes of eventual cell service and a plan. Finally a bar pops up on my phone and I call the lodging reservation desk for the national park. Everything has been booked months in advance but I'm hoping they can at least tell us where other lodging areas (that don't require a tent) may be scored for the evening. After being placed on a long hold a cheerful voice announces that minutes ago a cabin in Colter Bay had a cancellation. Would we like it for the night? Yeeessssss! I have no idea where Colter Bay is but we are going there now! It turned out to be an absolutely wonderful experience in the Grand Tetons. There was a fox den with baby foxes nearby, grizzlies had walked by the cabin earlier that morning and we ended up with a cabin AND a bathroom. No need to ever test my luck in Vegas again, we struck gold. It was the beginning of a road trip with more adventures than we anticipated and memories we won't forget.
As we headed north through Yellowstone, we saw wolves. Then, there was that bear...a wee bit too close to our new tent (acquired at a K-Mart the next day), rainbows dropping into a lake and more rainbows on the ground as the magical geysers and springs sprung steam and scents skyward. We finished off in Montana and a trek back to a place my family used to call home. So thankful that forgetting an integral part of camping equipment let to adventures we couldn't have planned.
Earth, Wind, & Sky Fire (Boulder Family Photography)
Once upon a time not too long ago, the wind whipped down over the mountains, and the sun shone brightly as it danced between the clouds. The light beams jumped in on the game and changed colors, as if to say it could be a rainbow without the rain or bow. And the Earth had so much energy, movement, and life that you could feel it. You could feel it so much that it ALMOST knocked you over. And it did pop that giant balloon and it did blow a bit too much life into our hair at times, but it felt great! Through it all, a little gal walked and laughed and looked at sunflowers with the inquisitive nature that only a one year-old can have. All of these things put together with two of the most loving, and wonderful, parents I've ever known resulted in a photo session that I will remember and cherish for a long, long time.
Little Liliana had just turned one and seemed to know it. Even though the wind was too strong at times for the nearby wind turbines to run, she took control of the evening, exploring and adventuring in the wind like and old pro of perhaps age 4. Whether she was sitting in her grandma's chair among the native Colorado grasses or flying in between her parents, she was living in the moment and I was loving it. The way her mama and dad could make her giggle with delight made my heart melt even as the sun dipped lower behind the Rocky Mountains.
Liliana is a lady on a mission and knows what she wants. And this is AWESOME. Although she had only recently taken her first steps, the 30-40mph winds were simply an accessory to work with and she turned into wind to walk closer to a flower that had captured her attention. She is beyond adorable and loved so very much, not just by her incredible parents but by her incredible extended family as well. With love on her side, and passion in her heart, this little one WILL go places in life. A huge thank you to her parents, who not only braved a late evening to capture the sunset, but for also braving the elements and going along for the ride the wind took us on. When you mix a magically wonderful family with sublime light, you get one enchanted evening.
Dancing at Davidson Mesa
If I were to walk out to the middle of a mesa in Colorado and start dancing, a few things might occur. In addition to frightening any small critters due to my lack of rhythm, the flowers might strain to look away while nearby humans would surely give puzzled stares. Similarly, if I made airplane wings with my arms and began to launch myself in a spiral as I head off on a mission, I can say with great confidence that the responses from the flora and fauna would be comparable. This, my friends, is the magic that is being a young child. You can do these things and SO much more! And, not only are you probably going to get some praise for it, you will look adorable while doing so.
Young kiddos truly understand what is important (snacks, exploring, and experiencing the present) and these two were no exception. I love how excited they were about TALL GRASSES! RUNNING! (to and away from their parents) and finding adventures in the Colorado outdoors. I'm not sure what it is about Colorado families, but somehow I luck out every single time! I could not have wished for a more fun and relaxed afternoon. This family had such an easy way about them and it made everything even more enjoyable than I had even hoped for.
Earlier in the afternoon, as the clouds formed above the foothills, the possibility of storms threatened. But true to form, the dark skies dissipated and golden light beamed from just beyond the flatirons. As we walked along the trail and said hi to the puppies frolicking at the nearby dog park, I had butterflies in my stomach. No, I did not capture one accidentally while my mouth was agape because it was SO beautiful out and this family was SO incredible to work with, but because I knew I had the opportunity to capture some magic.
Unicorns, chocolate fountains, and fairies have nothing on this family. Thank you for being fabulous and allowing me to capture some moments for you on that enchanting summer afternoon by the foothills.
