A New Road For The New Year

I've been having trouble sleeping lately. Not insomnia, per se. Once I'm out, I'm out, as in "zzzzzzzz" . More like just trouble going to sleep. Yes, one could say that it's all those Starbucks drinks I have (I've often said my blood type is either expresso or Merlot, but I digress ...), but that's not it. I know exactly what the problem is.

As a creative type person, I've always had this dilemma. I start thinking about all the things I want to do with my photography, and my creative muse gets going. Too often that happens late at night, and my ideas start flowing into the wee hours. My brain just goes into overload about all the things I want to accomplish, and it becomes difficult to wind down to sleep. I have tried many different things to change this, but it always comes back to the same situation. With the new year, I'm sure I will be trying to remedy this again somehow.

But, be that as it may, it's not altogether a bad thing. The creativity part, I mean. I so love what I do, and I'm so happy when I'm behind the lens of a camera. For those of you who know me and have heard me talk about my craft, you know that this is a long time love of mine and something of which I am truly passionate. This has not been an easy road for me ... starting this business with being a full time mom of twin tweens and a nine year old, and full of self doubt in my capabilities in the beginning. I've come a long way in the year and a half that I've been in business, and now, I'm pretty excited about the road ahead of me.

With the new year, I have all kinds of goals for my photography business. New photography challenges, different kinds of photo sessions and specials, and maybe testing myself out of my comfort zone a little. So, what about sleep? Yes, I'll work on that too, but right now, I have an exciting, open road ahead of me.

Happy New Year! -- S

Photos courtesy of Kimberly De Araujo


"I sleep all day
When I wake I run in circles in my brain
There are far too many hours to kiss
So I slip into the tempting stillness
I think about [it]
And I look out at the open road."

-- lyrics from Snow by Amie Miriello

Rocker Chicks Gone ... Band Nerds?

You're used to seeing them rocking out on keyboard, guitar, drums or singing tunes like Heart's Barracuda or Osborne's Crazy Train. Oh, that's still happening. Annie and Kate's bands -- Speed Limit 180, Chaotic Ei8ht and now On Target -- are still going strong. But there's one more band the girls are part of now, and they had their first performance with the Wildcat Band this week.

It's been a crazy last month or so. Holiday photo sessions have kept me very busy, and unfortunately, away from blogging as much as I'd like. But I didn't want to let these pics go by undocumented. Yes, I had to brag on my girls ... I'm such a MOM!!! Both Annie and Kate did very well in their first school band performance. You go, girls! Here are my musical beauties!

Have a wonderful weekend! -- S


Kate on clarinet, just before the performance started.


Annie was sitting right in the front, and I was sitting right in the front row with my zoom lens, so I was able to get some great shots of her.

Annie is very proud that she's been taking flute for about two and a half years, and that she is a first chair flutist in beginning band.


Annie and one of her classmates/friends next to her.


Looks like a fist bump in the flute section ...


Jon brought flowers for the girls to congratulate them.

Every once in a while, my night and day twins can look just a little bit alike. In this pic, I think they do. And they both have that same sweet smile!

Happy Birthday, Santa Baby!

I remember it being a very busy, crazy day. It was Friday, Dec 7, 2001, and I was nine months pregnant. Anxious and uncomfortable, needless to say. The Braxton Hicks labor pains had started a few weeks beforehand and I was quite frankly, a little nervous and ready for this baby to arrive.

Christopher's due date was actually not until Dec 20, but given his size, time of year, doctor's schedule, etc., we had already decided a c-section would be performed on Monday, Dec 10. My mom was visiting, ready to watch the girls when the time came. Still hadn't packed for the hospital, and was getting ready for relatives to come in that weekend. Outside of the Braxton Hicks contractions, I felt fine, so I went off to run a few errands that morning. I laugh at this now, but I remember talking to my dear friend on the phone at one point that day (who was also almost nine months pregnant and going through early labor as well), and we were trying hard just to get through a conversation without labor pains and telling each other "oh, another one? Okay, breathe!"

I had another friend who had given birth to twins that day, so we went to see her at the hospital. The same one I was scheduled to go to a few days later. The nurse saw me and said, "Careful, with a belly like that you could end up in a room here." Nice, huh? I assured her ... "oh, I'll be back soon." Only I didn't realize how quickly that would be.

After that visit, getting the girls home, fed, bathed and in for the night, I thought I'd start packing for the hospital stay. But, I just want to relax a little while .... "yeah, a little tv sounds good right now." Chris didn't think so. Labor pains started again, every five minutes this time. Uh oh! I called the doctor, but I expected this to pass. No, he said, "let's just do this now. Meet me at the hospital in an hour." And no, I still wasn't packed. Grrr!! Threw some things in a bag, kissed mom and the girls goodbye, and Jon and I headed out.

On Saturday, December 8 at 2:24 a.m., my Santa baby was born. At the moment that I first laid eyes on him, I thought, "he's beautiful", and I knew that my family was complete.

Today, Christopher turned 9 years old. My "baby" is way too big for me to call him that now, but I will anyway. I don't care how old he gets. haha. And this morning before school, when he came to find me to say good morning, I saw my boy, with his heart melting blue eyes and his sweet smile, and thought once again ... "he's beautiful."

Chris -- nine years ago today I received the best early Christmas present a mom could ever have. You are my sweet boy and I'm so incredibly proud of you. I love you, son! Happy Birthday!

Love,
Mom

Waiting for Connor

We're waiting, our family. Waiting for the newest addition to the Hernandez clan. My brother Mike and his wife Meredith are expecting their first child later this month. Last week, while I was in Houston for Thanksgiving, I got a chance to capture some photos of the two of them before Connor arrives.

There is a certain beauty in expectant mothers. That glow about them that is beautiful and unique. The anticipation of a little one on the way and seeing him/her grow inside is just so incredibly special. Since I've had two sisters-in-law with the name Meredith (Jon's sister was also so named), we've always said "your Meredith" and "my Meredith." Truly, with the baby's due date just around the corner and so full of excitement, my Meredith is absolutely RADIANT. Take a look at these pictures, and you'll see what I mean.

Mike and Meredith -- I cannot tell you how excited I am for you both, and I can't wait to meet my new nephew! Thank you for letting me capture these images during this wonderful time for you. Oh, and you might want to get ready for a little Christmas spoiling ... just saying. haha

With lots of love to you and Connor,
-- S

Holiday Photos, With A Little Surprise.

It's been a while, and she's still full of surprises. A year ago, I met and photographed this girl and her mom for the first time. Last year, a then 10 year old Randi showed up to our photo shoot not having known about our session beforehand. Her hair was still kind of wet from getting ready in a hurry, she was on crutches from a soccer injury, and at first she was quiet and withdrawn. Then, she surprised me. After talking to her for a little while and getting her to relax, the model in her emerged, and I got some great photos! Some of my favorite portfolio pics I have are of her from that first photo session.

When I photographed Randi and Christine the second time, we added a little chaos to the mix. Randi was then in a cast from the previous soccer injury (that was a little harder to hide in photos) and we added two great big dogs to our session. Needless to say, there were a few surprises here and there when the dogs came into the picture (yes, pun intended).

So, fast forward a year, and Christine and I talked about another photo session. "Randi's still playing soccer ... uh huh, okay ... oh, and she's a drummer now too. Cool. And no crutches/casts? Okay, very cool. We can get some personality kind of shots of her showing her hobbies", I said on the phone. At the photo shoot, I get there a little early to check out lighting. I'm expecting Randi in sporty gear, or maybe jeans & a t-shirt. What happens? TOTAL GIRL shows up in an awesome dress! And Christine? She looks AMAZING in a hot dress too! Check out their photos ... I love the way these turned out!

Christine and Randi -- thank you once again for another fun photo session! I really love photographing you both! I hope you have a wonderful holiday season. All the best! -- S

A Feeling of Gratitude

I used to not think so much about Thanksgiving. When I was little, the day was usually spent at my grandparents' house, eating turkey, hanging out with my brother and cousins, watching tv, and listening to my relatives talk and talk and talk the day away, mostly in a language that I did not yet understand. I remember my brother, my cousins and I often ate separately back then, at the kiddie table. While the day was enjoyable, I didn't really see what was the big deal. To me, it was a day with David and the girls, lots of food, and listening to my family carry on in Spanish -- pretty much like any other day while I was growing up.

When my grandmother passed away, the tradition changed a bit and Thanksgiving festivities moved to my aunt's house. I was 15, and hadn't been at the kiddie table for some time by then. As the years went by, we celebrated with all the traditional foods, board games, good conversation and more relatives as our family grew. Still very much enjoyed everything, but missed out on the gratitude aspect of the day.

Now that I'm older with a family of my own, Thanksgiving now has a special significance all its own. With some of the life experiences -- and losses -- my family has had, gratitude and thankfulness take on a whole new meaning. I look back on those Thanksgivings during my childhood and teenage years, and those same holidays in more recent years, and realize how thankful I am for many things. Thankful for having been part of a loving family and to have those special memories of those times with my relatives. Thankful for my husband, our three children AND our puppy, who bring much joy and laughter to my life everyday. Thankful for my family and friends, and the love, companionship and support they give me. Thankful for the art of photography and the incredible sense of satisfaction I get from making someone smile with my pictures. Most certainly, I have much for which to be thankful in my life!

In reflecting on Thanksgiving, I looked back at a post I wrote a year ago. Certain words from that time bear repeating today, so here goes ... "I used to not really think about all these things on Thanksgiving, or sometimes not much at all, for that matter. Just trying to keep up with the daily grind would have me so busy that I might take some of these things for granted or at least just not stop long enough to consider it all. But years have taught me to reflect and enjoy the good in my life, and today, this holds particularly true. And for that, I am grateful."

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving, filled with good food, family -- all the things you love and for which, you too are grateful. -- S

‎"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for... tomorrow." -- Melody Beattie.

Holiday Photos With The B Family

You know, Sylvia is not a super common name. And where I live, there aren't that many of us around. But I found one! Thanks to Marisa and Stuart, a family I recently photographed, I met Sylvia, Rolf, and their two kids, Erik and Marlena. A few weeks ago, we met at Old Settler's Park to take some holiday pics.

Before our session, I asked Sylvia what kinds of activities the kids were into, mostly because I like to capture some elements of their personalities in my photos. Erik is a football player, so I wanted to take some sports pics of him. Marlena, on the other hand, has been in dance almost her entire life. So I asked her to bring her toe shoes. Brother and sister, a jock and a ballerina ... total opposites in what they do, have different tastes in music ... yet I sensed that they are close. Love the images of them, but I also like the images of Sylvia and Rolf smiling at each other, and Marlena and her mom walking in the park together, totally in a girl moment. Capturing those kind of moments make my job so fun!

Sylvia, Rolf, Erik and Marlena -- thank you for a great photo session and for the opportunity to document your family for the holidays. I hope that I can photograph you guys some time again!

All the best! -- S