"Welcome to my Blog! Here is where I will be posting information about my love of photography , which will include some of my Client portrait sessions , my favorite gear, workshops or just some thoughts about my life as a photographer. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting, you are always a welcome guest! "
Susi
A Mother and Daughter Story
Those of you who know me, and even those of you who don't , know very well that I love my daughter more than anything ! She is now 23 and in graduate school at JMU and I can't begin to tell you how very proud I am of her.
I am also very proud of our journey together as Mommy & Darty :)
I had my daughter 'late' in life at the age of 40 and I wanted her as much as life itself. I had suffered several miscarriages and a still birth before she was born and I could not imagine a life without being her Mother. I knew , from the moment she was conceived that she was a girl. I was already making her baby clothes.
Cassidy Joy was born on Halloween morning , 10 days past her due date and weighing almost 10 lbs. It was a long painful labor ending in an emergency cesarean , but it was all worth it of course. The nurse told me ''This ones got a temper", and I laughed at her , as she turned back at me and said "Honey, I been rocking these babies for 20 years, I can tell. "
We spent her infant year and saw her take her first steps and speak her first words in an old Victorian house apartment in Downtown Hampton right smack behind the Hampton Library . I pushed her stroller there every single day and brought back wonderful picture books and first readers and we ate them up like a good meal every night! Cassi loved being read to and I was unaware how well she was paying attention and learning how to read through 'osmosis' . The librarian would tell me , when she was around two, "That child is already reading Susi , listen to her!" but i just thought she had memorized the books in the same ways she could recall all the words to a song.
We moved from Downtown to the beach and from the ages 2-6 we had a blast riding bikes, roller skating, running on the beach, flying kites and walking to the local diner and Bob's pizza parlor in the evenings. We still spent many hours at all the local libraries.
I was working as a portrait artist, antique furniture painter, House cleaner and embroidery artist and so I got to have my baby with me while I worked. One day I was making a seat cover for a customer and Cassi climbed in his lap and started reading the "Learning Tree" to him. She was only around three and so I still thought she was memorizing and he insisted she was reading , so I got down another book she was not as familiar with, and sure enough she knew all the words! All I could think, was dang this child is smart ! But , I do believe she read early because we had no TV when she was little and I talked with her all the time and all that reading had to of helped !
Because of her reading ability which, of course , helped her in all learning areas , I had her tested to start school at 4 because she was well ready. She took to school like a duck to water, with the exception of missing home and that dreaded task of homework, she has always loved the 'learning' and she still does.
We moved to Wytheville , Va, when Cassi was seven (Where I was born) and it was a tough transition for us both to leave our friends and cozy beach town where we could walk and ride a bike to get about anywhere we wanted and then be here in this rural environment where most places we wanted to go, was an hour drive!
Then the teen years hit and , for the first time, my daughter went from thinking i was the 'coolest' to thinking I was the 'clueless' :)
Any Mom knows these years are riddled with so many unpredictable emotions and heart breaking friction!
There were times It felt like I had a stranger walking around in my daughters body :) But, as hard as it was on me, I knew that her anger and dramatic emotional swings were also taking its toll on her and so I tried my best to be patient and compassionate , as I knew we would come though it all and be all the more closer and stronger !
I'm proud to say that is what happened ! These past few years we have truly become best friends who share every joy and sorrow with one another and talk or text several times a day.
This was actually supposed to be a short introduction to my latest gallery ! Ha! Yes, I can go on :)
I have been missing her so much lately and had been thinking about that time when she was about 13 and started to pull away from me into her own world.. a world called 'Adolescence'. It is a sort of dance of leaving and arriving, of pushing and pulling, of hating and loving and of both parent and child accepting the inevitable reality of 'Growing Up'. Its a tough dance, when neither person knows the steps , but in the end , there is growth, maturity and harmony for everyone ! Don't we love happy endings !
I wanted to show this emotional stage and how it feels when it first starts to reveal itself. As an artist , and photographer, it is natural to want to predict this visually. I had met a little girl about this age, at wedding I shot last Spring and she turned out to be the niece of the Brides Mother!
So Last Friday 'Kassie Hackler' , and her Mom, Lisa, agreed to come to the Reed Creek Farm (Where I shot the wedding ) and 'act out' this sentimental time between a Mother and daughter. I call this style a 'Story Board' Session. It was fun!
I hope you enjoy the gallery !
You did it Cassidy!
A Proud Day for my Daughter and I!
The years at Radford flew by and her recent graduation felt surreal to me! From that sweet little bright eyed girl so eager to learn and so wonderfully alive to this beautiful mature young woman who had accomplished so much ! I always marvel at how focused she has been all her life, no matter what the hardships or heart breaks she has encountered, she has never wavered from her goal of graduating with honors!
As proud as I am of her academic accomplishments , as she walked down the aisle to accept her diploma I kept thinking what a truly wonderful person she is! She is empathetic, kind hearted, committed, and possesses the most amazing leadership qualities ever.
Most of all, she is my sweet , funny, loving brilliant daughter that I love beyond measure!!!
As she heads to JMU (after being accepted into the Student Affairs Program) the end of this month I am so happy and excited for yet another exciting chapter in her young life. I know she will meet the challenge of her new position as "Student Hall Director" with a great spirit and will make many new friends there!
This will be the first true step into the 'Adult World' with her own apartment (Even though its on campus, it is still her own apartment with a separate bedroom and kitchen , so it counts! She has been buying super cool accessories all Summer!!)
I love you dear sweet child of mine! I will always and forever be proud of you!!
Never ever forget that wherever I am you will always have a home.
I love you more than there are grains of sand on all the beaches all over the world :)
Mommy
Gotta Love a Little Country Boy ! :)
Wendy Collins called me about coming out to her farm in Wytheville and doing some pictures of her little baby boy, Joseph . I haven't done any baby pix in a while so I was excited about coming out and doing this for her !
Her Farm has a long dirt drive that runs along side a creek and I knew as soon as I turned into the drive I was gonna beg for some pictures here! ( I have a weakness for shady wooded drive ways!)
As I arrived in the clearing there were those old beautiful barns and tractors , and to the right, across the creek was Wendy waving from her porch.
When we met on the porch, little Joseph reached out his arms for me to hold him! Wendy said that was the first time he had ever done that with someone he had never met, so I was very flattered that he trusted me at "Hello" :)
Wendy is one of those easy going friendly gals that you immediately feel a kinship with and I liked her right off the bat !
We started the session with a couple of Studio style poses to honor her Father in Law who had his baby pix taken in the same blue outfit.
Then we went outside and just walked around exploring anything that looked like a good background and would also keep little Joseph happy.
The family dogs added their own energy to the session with little "Poppy" the Terrier- Poo dashing to and fro and yapping excitingly at the 'new comer' (But he warmed to me after a while ad gave me some kisses) The old wise 'Ganny' Retriever (I may not have that name quite right) shadowed us and brushed along our legs with a big toothy grin. Wendy said her son loved cows, so we took some with his little stuffed Heifer. I had to get some shots with the doggies ! Then we went to that beautiful drive and got some sweet ones of Joseph devouring rocks and sticks! Ha! We had a good time trying to snatch those !
I added the tractor and butterflies because they just fit his expression and surroundings so well and added some 'story' to the pictures.
We ended with some of him on Daddy's tractor and just sitting in the tall grass. (while we watched out for snakes!)
I told Wendy Joseph looked like a little Budda with the look of meditation on his face! Ha! A true Zen baby at peace with the world!
We got him to smile and laugh some towards the end by mooing loudly and quacking like a duck! Us Moms will do whatever it takes and hey, it worked!
Thank you Wendy and Bubba for trusting me with your memories! I hope you are happy with the pictures ! I had a great time taking them and really enjoyed meeting you all!
Brooke & Stacey's Maternity Session
My sweet client Stephanie Patton ( I did her daughter and son's senior pix) contacted me several months ago saying she had a special family member expecting a baby in June and would I be available for a maternity session in May? I could tell that Steph and Brooke are very close by the obvious affection and joy that was in the air!
After several reschedules due to snow , I met Brooke and Stacey (Her hubby) at their home in Rural Retreat and we discussed what kind of session they wanted. They had just moved into a sweet new home with a sun patio and nice yard to welcome little Madison home. I could tell this little girl is already the light of their life!
We looked at some sample images and Brooke expressed how she did not really want just pictures of herself , but she wanted to include Stacey and do more of a couple -maternity session expressing their love and hopes for Madison. At first we discussed doing the session at Carter's Park, but I started thinking how the beach and woods setting would be so beautiful with the two of them , lots of great backgrounds and such a peaceful setting, so we agreed on Hungry Mother Park in Marion.
Then the rain started ! Once again we had to reschedule our appointment several times, but on May 21st we got lucky and the sun came out! We met at the park and although it started off a bit warm, the shady areas on the beach and the cool trails into the woods provided enough relief to keep us going. Brooke brought some adorable props from Madison's room: A sweet stuffed monkey ( We talked about how stuffed animals can become so special and seem so real ) and little baby shoes and a book "I love you Baby" , which we used in a few pix. Brooke also showed me Madison's ultrasound images and we can already see the family resemblance !
We walked from one end of the beach to the other, up the trail and then drove to a nearby bridge for some scenic portraits and stopped just as the sun was setting. There in a quiet cove , at the other end of the bridge, we all sat down and gasped at the beauty of the lake with the perfect mirror reflections, the sound of the ducks waddling around the waters edge and the love of Madison in the air. We all agreed that this place was just a perfect setting and Stacey and Brooke said they want to keep me as their photographer and will let me know when Madison arrives! Yay!!
Thank you Brooke and Stacey for trusting me with your memories! I really enjoyed our time together and I wish you a joyful birth experience with little Maddy ! I have no doubt that little girl will have all the love she will ever need! Huge Congratulations !
Elizabeth's Bridal!
It has been raining (Or snowing ) in this area for literally a month or more! I mean about every day I have had to reschedule or cancel Photo sessions! YIPES! No photographer wants to do that!
In the meantime, I worked on pictures for my book project honoring Appalachian Musicians, attended Merlefest for the first time, which was a major blast! Met a long time facebook friend from Sweden, whom I hung out with and wrote an article for Photoshop Creative.
But the most important event was seeing my daughter , Cassidy Joy, Graduate from Radford University! I am so very proud of her! Not only did she gradate RU, but is going to JMU in the Fall for her Masters in Student Affairs ! Heck Yeah, I'm a proud momma!!!
I love music and writing and Adore my daughter more than anything , but I always long to be out taking pictures ! I mean, its how I make a living, so things get a little anxious when the weather goes crazy! Ha!
So Im doing a happy dance and Singing Praise to the almighty sun!
Elizabeths Bridal Session!
Finally the clouds cleared and the rain ceased and my beautiful wedding client , Elizabeth Wassum, was available for her Bridal session last night! Yay!!
First I had a Photoshop class to teach which went well, and had packed my car with my Canon 5Dlll and my fav portrait lens, the Canon 50mm f/1.2 , which produces the dreamiest Bokah ever! (okay the 85 f/1.2 is equally dreamy!)
I arrived at the Wassum farm at 6:00. First her father Tom, made sure the newly installed commode was working fine (Yay Plumbing!) and we talked a bit about the age of the house and how he wanted to leave it as original as possible. (Good choice) I joked that I wanted to rent the place and enjoy the peace and he said he has considered spending some time there whenever he could.
Teresa, (Elizabeths' Mom) showed me around this amazing 170 year old farm house! But first ,let me explain that the drive to the farm is down a wonderful dirt road that parallels the creek which flows so cozy and romantically between majestic Maple and Oak. There is lilac and honeysuckle scent drifting through the air and seducing you to stay on the path excited about what awaits you at the end!
As you arrive at the farm you feel as though you have walked into an Andrew Wyeth painting that has come to life . So, rustic and earthy ,and a sweet blend of milky white, beiges , browns , rusty red and bottle glass greens. Heaven! To the right of the creek is a spring house, yes a real spring house with a crooked little tree providing just the right bit of sentimental whimsical mood ,and behind this rises the stately but very friendly 2 story farm house with an L shaped porch and 2 stair ways leading to the kitchen and the entry way of warm wooden floors, light beiges , pinks and floral wall paper that embodies the delightful touch of creme coffee color stain in the cracks and corners. The stairway leading to the bedrooms is the sort that angles around in a balcony affect where small children and curious adults love to lean and see who is rapping on the screen door below.
And the windows!! Oh My! A Photographers most sought after light source! Every window had those window panes with the almost patina texture producing the perfect diffusion of natural light that you could never purchase or hope to find via any manmade sources! But here, provided by God, and Elizabeths Great Grandparents spirit was this ideal setting!
After Teresa, showed me around the house with me gasping and ooohing and awing with every turn, Elizabeth arrived with that Joy filled face she has always worn since first meeting her as a preteen! But, now, this 'Soon to be Bride' is just glowing with Love and Hope and Dreams for her future!
Now I cant disclose anything about the dress because , well you know! Richard has not seen it yet! So, no pictures or description can be posted here until after the wedding, so please check back after this weekend! Lets just say he will be enraptured when she walks towards him down the aisle!
We took our first pictures in a living room area on the couch and there was an adorable little dressing table with a mirror ! Next we went upstairs and I told them they had to pull me away from those windows before the sun set , because, it was really so pretty I could not stop hitting the shutter!
Then we went out to that porch, where I swear I could see her Great grandmother sitting in the porch swing with a floral cotton dress and apron , snapping beans and singing "Amazing Grace".
After a few pictures here and down the path to the Spring house , we all stood and gasped at the "Maxfield Parrish' Sky (If you know this artist then you know this sky, if not, look it up & you will know this sky! :) The big brown barn cut a nice sturdy profile in the soft yellow-blue of the approaching night with just the most gentle wisp of watercolor clouds. Elizabeth and I stood and appreciated this moment of passing light as her Mom ran back to the house and grabbed my newly bought flashlight with Saran Wrap diffuser that I have been wanting to try out.
Right then the cake lady arrived to insure to touch base and it was good to meet her. Grandmother Erma, came down to chat and we all just had a nice warm realization that indeed the wedding was so close and so real now and how wonderful it was for the weather to clear just in time and provide a forecast of a perfect 75 degrees for her day! YES!
Now we were loosing light pretty quick and I suggested we walk down the road by the river, but as I reached the road , I suddenly noticed a newly mowed plush lawn path into a thicket of trees and bushes providing the perfect environment of subtle light and a Camelot canopy that would provide just the right backdrop for Elizabeth's Sparkling eyes and radiant smile! We had to work quick, as it was getting darker by the minute, but the LED Flash really came in handy ! Teresa was a real trooper as she crouched behind Elizabeth to light her veil and walked into the tall grass to illuminate her face from the side. ( Thank you Teresa!)
Even though it was getting chilly, Elizabeth said she was having so much fun that she hardly noticed the drop in temperature !
We all chatted about rehearsal and the wedding and how beautiful it is all going to be until the last drop of sun sunk into the rhythmic soothing sound of the creek behind us.
I drove home with a smile on my face thinking how blessed I am to be doing what I love and to be honored with capturing some of the most joyful times of good, honest, kind and humble folks. Its a good life ...
Congrats Elizabeth and Richard! May the 18th is YOUR day, bask in the beauty of each moment and enjoy it to the moon and back !! Big Hugs!!!!!