Recently, on a trip to California, I met up with a Facebook friend to catch up. Being both working women with very technical day-jobs, we usually are nerding out about something physics or Firefly related. But before heading West this time, I mentioned our my photography business and how the worst part of starting a business like this in the winter in Virginia is the lack of clients that really want to be outdoors. And while I had done some shooting in the snow (previous post if you haven't seen it), I was itching to see the golden rays of Spring. "I live in SoCal you know," she casually mentions and so me AND my camera ended up coming to LA.
Now, you have to know something about my friend, Liz. She is, bar none, one of the most amazing women I have ever met. Her super power, aside from being a mom of two amazing kids, is to take life as it comes. She rolls with a punch with humor and grace and will forever be, I think, a model of what I want to be if I ever give in to grow up. So, when she sent me the address for this park to take pictures of she and her kids on a random Thursday night, I was beyond excited. I was getting an early glimpse of spring and getting to meet the adorable little moppets that I had only seen through a social media feed.
So there we were, at a park with a great playground, basically having a play date on a Thursday night. The kids picked out their favorite outfits for the shoot so there were sparkles and Patriots shirts (Liz is an amazing parent, but we all have our flaws) and the warm bright rays of California to soak in. Liz even pulled out a killer save that will forever cement her hashtag in my book, #inlizwetrust.
The kiddos were kind enough to let me get to know them. They were every bit as funny and giving as their mom. We played on the monkey bars and rolled in the grass.
We climbed trees.
We even got Dad in on the act, and he may have also had some fun.
And before I knew it, it was over. The light was waning and the moms in both of us kicked in and grabbed dinner. So after some delicious fried chicken at the very hoppin' #honeybirdla and a shared bottle of wine, it was time to go home.
At the end of the day, I think Liz gave me two priceless gifts. Her belief in supporting this new venture and doing whatever was needed to help me get started as business owner and an artist has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and trust my gut. To roll with the punches and to celebrate the everyday. The second gift is a #portrait of her beautiful daughter with #frecklesformiles that I will treasure for all time. And I hope you enjoy seeing it as much as I enjoyed taking it. But, frankly, I don't see how that could be possible.
Honey, you can be my model anytime.