Summer Frames

Summer has drawn to a close, I suppose, but the last month of it was perfectly marvelous. My new 5D Mark II and 50mm 1.4 lens arrived a few weeks ago (!!!) and I've begun to really pick it up during the moments that matter most. Real life moments, moments with friends who visit from halfway across the globe, moments with growing babies + kiddos. Moments zipping around together in our favorite car, moments with cousins + grandparents + hot air balloons, moments of learning and growing, day-off moments in the park with your friends who are more like a second family, acting more like little kids than teenagers, coloring, sketching, eating {too many} sweets, and listening to the symphony. Moments spent walking to the library with them, giggling and whispering, perhaps disturbing the peace a little. Moments spent fulfilling tradition with our barefoot walks, talking like always, but getting a little bit deeper each time. These moments are the ones to remember and the ones I'll treasure.

"Awkward Family Photos" ;) 

post script: I haven't been posting as frequently lately (obviously) and I've even thought about stopping posting on this blog altogether. But in the past month or so, I've gotten feedback from lots of you, especially people I know in "real life" that has been so encouraging! I didn't even know that some of you read my blog, and just makes me happy to know that you're enjoying my little pieces of work in some small way. So thanks for sticking with me, friends! 

Do you know what I love about summer?

I love tangled, colorful gardens full of veggies and zinnias.

I love celebrating birthdays.

I love catching up with old friends and meeting new ones.

I love journaling every other day, whether my words are eloquent or not.

I love shooting in film and being able to remember every single frame I shot.

I love long road trips and watching Kansas pass by my window, listening to Relient K and dreaming like crazy.

I love camping trips and the mountains and the way the stars look up there.

I love chasing my goals and dreams and making them happen.

I love hanging out with my favorite baby boy and watching him giggle and grin.

I love froyo dates with friends and reading junior high letters and laughing so loud that everyone stares at us.

I love adventuring to our secret tree, tromping through waist-high grass, talking about God, and eating biscuit cookies. (I’ve got about six dozen battle scars from this particular adventure… I must’ve been sitting in a tick nest or something.)

I love taking nighttime adventures to the City, telling random stories, listening to new music, and sometimes to the silence.

I love watching old shows and reading children’s books and escaping to the back porch and making memories.

What do you love about summer?

Stop the glorification of busy.

"Stop the glorification of busy."

I like slowness and rest and quiet mornings by the pool. There is so much that can come from time in the Word, a yogurt parfait, and thoughts + memories being continuously scribbled down on paper. There's so much that happens in life, and so little time to stop and reflect on it all, especially in this crazy-busy world. But I'm making it my goal to unplug, slow down, and write about the things that matter. The summer night drives with ginger ale and Mumford & Sons, the compliments from J. Crew employees, the peach stand disasters, the dog piles and crepes and adventures in The City. All of these moments are important and I'm learning just how important it is to write them down before I forget. Write about my struggles, my victories, my thoughts, feelings, memories-- so I can look back and see what God has done, how I have changed, how He has answered prayers, how funny that day was. Memory is key. (Anyone read The Giver?) 

How do memories affect you?

I. Riley's exuberant, life filled, joyous laugh fills the room and his big blue eyes sparkle. My heart warms up and wants to either melt or explode with the joy this little one gives me. His sister makes adorable and intelligent remarks as we're being chased and locked up, making play-doh cookies, or reading books on the couch, the three of us snuggled together. I read three of my favorite childhood books and think, how am I so blessed that I get to do this for my job? Sometimes I think I'm there to teach and instruct… but really they're the ones who teach me. God is so gracious to use these little ones so mightily!

II. I drive to the Church House, taking the long way because it's somehow more pleasant. Inside I meet my brother and change into my work clothes and dirty shoes. He talks. I listen. I say a few words. Hungrily I scarf down some asian noodles and stir fry he made as we discuss film and whether or not the chicken is actually cooked through, and how we'll probably be vegetarians because we're clueless when it comes to cooking meat. Then we hit the road and head north on curvy country roads. I never realized how therapeutic driving could be. It reminds me of Relient K's song, "Therapy"… I never thought I'd be driving through the country just to drive, with only music and the clothes that I woke up in. On the way we throw around topics like college and majors until I hit pot holes and shriek. Then, we talk about how I should always under react when I make a driving mistake. :) When we arrive, we get instructions and begin to work. The hot Kansas sun beats down on us and we begin to sweat as we work in the gardens pulling weeds and retrieving seeds from collared greens stalks. The dirt sticks to our sweaty limbs. I smile because it's hard work and I like it. I like being sweaty, dirty, and tired, knowing that I've accomplished something worthwhile. Our employer and good friend, Josh, teaches us how to siphon compost water to some struggling blackberry bushes… It's a job and an education, all in one. When the sun went down, our work was done, so we finished the night with half-price Sonic shakes. What a blessing, I think, to work with and for good friends. To work the earth and learn about creation. Yes, I am so blessed!

III. I get off the phone and immediately text a good photographer friend… "I JUST BOOKED MY FIRST WEDDING!! :D" In August I get my first experience as a head shooter for a day when two amazing, in-love people become one! I really am so very excited. Recently I've been blessed with lots of experience photographing people and I've got to say… I love it! I love meeting new people and watching them interact, hearing their stories, seeing them laugh… all of it. This summer has been an incredible summer so far for everything photography-related. Once again, I'm just blown away that God has blessed me with this work!

Hopefully I'll get to continue in each of these areas of work, Lord willing. Oh, and if you need someone to shoot your wedding… ;)

hugs,
Lindsey

Summer Frames I

Overwhelmed. I think that's how I'm feeling right about now. This summer is flying by and it has been wonderful so far, but time is slipping through my fingers. As some of you may know, I had the privilege of attending Jessica Shae's Summer Adventure Internship a couple of weeks ago. I learned so much from her during those four days and now I'm just itching to kick start my business. But there's so much to do. Design a website, make a Facebook page, create a new blog, order business cards, write contracts, shoot more, communicate with my current clients, etc.. It feels almost as if I have so much to do that I don't even know where to start… so I'm trying to remember that it doesn't all come at once. It's a process.

On another note, I've missed the blogging world. Saturday afternoon, I was scrolling through some of my past rambling and nonsensical posts. Although I was horrified at some of the things I said, I was amazed at how consistent I was with constantly capturing life and writing about it here. I took more pictures of "ordinary" things, and I definitely took more with my Rebel. In some ways, having an iPhone is convenient, but it means that in the end, the vast majority of my photos will be worse quality simply because I was too lazy to pull out my DSLR. Anywho, I still write; in fact, I write a lot. I've got multiple journals and notebooks where I jot down quotes, stories, experiences, things I saw in the airport, poems, and so on, but I've stopped sharing them with y'all. There are three reasons for this. 

One: I'm busy and don't make time for blogging like I should. 

Two: I find it harder to write to an audience than to write for myself. There's a fine line between what I should share with the world and what I ought to keep in my private journal… and I fear that I've come close to crossing that line before. 

Three: Sometimes I just don't feel like I have anything interesting to write about.

However, if none of you are too bored with me yet, I might as well keep sharing my life with you. You guys are pretty cool. :) Now here's a month's update in iPhone photos! :) (from top left… not necessarily in chronological order)

i. Sonic adventures with Libby! Every day has been an adventure since I got my DL in June.

ii. Libby and I rode our bikes to the peach stand… peach crisp and homemade ice cream followed.

iii. Pizza time with Rosie! Meeting for lunch or dinner at a local pizza shop has become "our tradition"

iv. Pool time with good family friends.

v. On the way to Dallas! I got the window seat which also happened to be the wing seat. 

vi. Editing pictures from a fun family session… of course not complete without a homemade shake. ;)

vii. Chipotle with my photog friends in Grapevine! :D

viii. Sunday afternoon nap time with olddd family friends from Minnesota.

ix. A sweet (and beautifully written) letter from a college friend working up north.

x. Poolside r&r after this long and fun weekend.

xi. Before a family session in the park.

xii. Photog friends! (Autumn, me, Liz, & Amy)

xiii. Jessica and me!

xiv. Early morning farm work with my brother + a Juice Stop stop. ;)

xv. photog pheet… ;) (haha, Liz…)

xvi. Camp Come On In! Three days of fun with beautiful little girls. 

Okay, I definitely like this system… you may be seeing more phone photos in the near future. 

Love and hugs,

Linds

One.

One from tonight.

Having a blast at Jessica Shae's Summer Adventure Internship… more to come soon!

xx.

Lindsey