reality

Desiree and I photograph all types of things. I have mentioned a number of times how much I enjoy photographing our connection sessions. As a couple, Desiree and I like these probably more than anything else we shoot together.
On my own, I love photographing more surreal images. I like creating something that doesn't exist, or something that could exist.
Desiree, on the other hand, enjoys photographing reality. She loves the emotion, the connection, the reality that makes life what it is. She doesn't do a whole lot of posing, doesn't really use props, she just photographs what is going on.
If you read this blog you have probably read the posts about the the New Day sessions that Desiree does. She photographs live births, in the hospital or at home. She photographs the nerves and the anticipation leading up to the birth and then the overwhelming joy that follows!

She also enjoys newborn sessions, within the first week or two of birth. Families who contact Desiree for their newborn sessions want life, captured. They want the reality of the emotion and the connection that they have with their new baby.

David and Angela, were married a few years back and we were able to be there to witness their two lives joining together. They recently had their first baby; beautiful baby Lola. Desiree had the chance to photograph the three of them recently. It's funny when you photograph reality, you need to be ready for anything; crying, sleeping, nursing, changing diapers, puking, and crying some more.

Because of the nature of 'getting pictures taken' people often see the crying baby, or the grouchy toddler and think 'Oh, no' all the pictures are going to be of a crying or grumpy baby. Sometimes even Desiree comes home from a shoot and questions weather or not she was able to capture something that that family would really love. I guess we all, to an extent, do that. We tend to focus on the situational negatives and don't see all the positives that are happening around us. At least we tend to dwell on the negatives after the fact and they seem to outweigh the positives.
So, when Desiree came home from photographing baby Lola and her parents, she was concerned that because Lola was awake for the majority of the session and got a bit fussy during part of it, that she would have nothing more than a crying, fussing baby.
Anyway, I got into sorting the images this morning and found that most of the images were those beautiful reality capturing images. Yes there were some crying images but even those were pretty cute, and showed that slice of life the David and Angela are experiencing.
Anyway, the thing about it is, reality is just that, real; in all of its varying forms. Capturing that means capturing the crying, laughing, kissing, hugging, pooping, sneezing, etc.
And all of that life is what, even though it may cause for some worries after shoots, inspires Desiree, again and again.

Congratulations David and Angela on your absolutely beautiful baby girl!!!