fun with babies

I got to visit Jaden and Isaac and their mommies yesterday for some more pictures. Brand new babies are fun to photograph because they fall asleep and then you can pose them however you want and as long as they're well fed they won't complain.

Must Read: Seydou Keita

We've chosen this week's book in honor of our wedding clients Lesley and Paul who set off on their South African sojourn this week... they left their corporate jobs to become safari guides! We can't wait to hear about their adventures - hopefully we'll visit there someday soon!

Seydou Keita started his photographic career when he was given a camera in 1945. He made beautiful portraits of the people around him - many of his subjects are his own friends and family members. We like his work because of the glimpse it gives us of life in Africa in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, and because of Keita's sensitive yet objective portrayal of his subjects.

Wow Wow Wow

I just witnessed my first birth, and it was absolutely amazing. Brenda gave birth to gorgeous twins Jaden and Isaac. She showed such stamina and patience and extreme strength, it was very awe-inspiring. In addition to me, Brenda and her partner invited their doula and two close friends to be present. Over the course of the 2+ days that we spent together, we developed a synergy, a very special chemistry of support and friendship and mutual wonder and excitement for what we were witnessing and participating in. When the babies were born and it was time to go home I had a sort of withdrawal, and found that I missed the babies, their parents, and their extended "birth family" very much. At the same time, I missed my own two babies very much while I was gone, especially little Will who had never been separated from his mommy for such a long stretch of time.

As soon as I have edited the photos I will share a select few here, with Brenda and Eve's permission. Photographing the labor and birth was an amazing experience - there is no other way to put it. I was flattered and honored that they were comfortable sharing the experience with me, their willingness to share allowed me to capture some very vulnerable and emotional moments. I will be reflecting on this experience for a long time.

Here's a picture of Jaden and Isaac:



During Brenda's long labor, I also had my dear friend Cassandra in my thoughts - she was due on the day that Brenda went into labor... and last night Cassandra's little baby boy was also finally born! Here's a picture of Cassie's little boy, Kai Alexander:



Kai and his proud new parents live in Washington DC, and hopefully we'll be able to visit them in the next month or so to take pictures.

Year of the Widget

We're playing around with new ways of sharing pictures on the web... if you stay tuned, you'll get to see some of our experiments! In this corner I would like to share "Exhibit A". Just click on the corner of the book pages to flip through a few of our favorite pictures from Karen and Andrew's lovely wedding. Enjoy!

Come out come out!

Being pregnant takes a lot of patience, but being the photographer waiting to document the birth takes a lot of patience too!!! Brenda is getting induced tomorrow and I can't wait to be there for her. Stay tuned for pics of beautiful twins!

Ollie-isms

Chicken Market = birth mark
Bobby Boom = Bob the Builder
Aunt Greg = Aunt Terry & Uncle Greg
Yo Yo = yogurt
Milky = milk
Fi-Sengine = Fire Engine
Woe = little brother Will
Earthday = birthday
One-One = another
Penguin House = movie theater

edit:
we heard one more fun one....

Slurpees = slippers

Let it Snow!

Enna bragged about the hand bag I bought her for her birthday... well here are my christmas snowboard boots! I started riding in 1986! Ouch, now I feel old. I had to get certified to ride different chairlifts at ski resorts and many wouldn't even allow us on their trails. I spent a few years in Jackson Wyoming and now have become a snow snob here on the east coast. Lets hope this warm weather yields some great snow!! -Matt

Baking Trends

I was visiting my favorite neighborhood bakery Blue Frog last month, where I happened upon their latest issue of Baking Trends... a trade magazine for professional bakeries. Foodie that I am, I couldn't help flipping through it and wonder of wonders it gave me the idea for Will's birthday cake! I read that the latest fad in made-to-order birthday cakes is the pull-apart cake, aka cupcakes... the cool twist is that you line them up really close together and frost them as if they are a single sheet cake. Then to serve, you just pull the cupcakes apart!

He loved the frosting, but most of the cake ended up on the floor.