BEST OF 2011 ~ TEENS

"Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still."  ~Dorothea Lange

I've got a son who's not quite a teen yet, but you wouldn't know it by spending time with him. He gets feistier and scrappier by the day. I realize that soon I'll be entering alien territory. Like all moms of teens that came before me, I'll struggle with wanting to help him grow up and be independent, while wanting to hug him and rock him in my arms. Who can resist that natural dichotomy?

2011 was the year that I fell in love with photographing teens. They'd invariably come to the session with their sibs and try to trick the photographer by something I learned was called "photo-bombing". This is when someone jumps into the background of what was supposed to have been a great picture. Now, for someone who's always enjoyed a certain amount of control in her photo sessions, I had to seriously rethink how I work. In the end, I just had to let them do it until they tired of the trick and maybe, just maybe, something unique would come out of it. 

One reason I love shooting teens is that I'm always finding moments through my lens that I could never have imagined otherwise. They have a magical way of removing me from my world and catapulting me into theirs. It's a pretty sweet ride, to tell the truth.  Another reason is the instant gratification I get by helping to make a teen feel really good about him or herself through photography. Could anything top that?

Thanks to all you fabulous teens and your moms for helping to contribute to this week's blog.
 

 

The Best of 2011

Each week for the next five weeks, I'll be sharing with you the "Best of 2011" in five categories of photography: fairies, children, teens, vintage and pin up.  Here in this week's post are my favorite Fairies of North County, doing what they do best...playing dress-up and pretending. While I realize that I risk twinkle overload in these photographs, there's a wonderful delicacy to them, and a delightful, vintage atmosphere that makes them irresistible.  During my career as a portrait photographer, I have literally watched these children–my little elves–grow up. And I'll never forget the little girl that will always remain a four-year-old fairy princess, whose memory, in part, I hope to preserve in my photographs. Fairy Blessings to her and all the very special children who made this one of my most magical creative experiences ever.