]]> http://katelynvonfeldt.com/blog/archives/2128/feed 2 http://katelynvonfeldt.com/blog/archives/1905 http://katelynvonfeldt.com/blog/archives/1905#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:30:17 +0000 Katelyn http://katelynvonfeldt.com/blog/?p=1905 These two photographs were taken 11 months and 3 weeks apart. What a difference a year can make- most importantly, healing and new life.

I wish that I could put into words the way my heart feels- but the words I come up with never seem adequate. That is especially so when I speak of Holly and my forever connection to her family. Our relationship began with the pregnancy of her second child and I’ve been photographing all of their momentous life events since. In 2009, Holly became pregnant with her third baby- a little girl. But at 17 weeks she was diagnosed as having a fatal anomaly. Holly and Josh knew there was a good chance that baby Atalina wouldn’t make it, but they chose to continue on with the pregnancy. I have this amazing respect and admiration for Holly and am in awe at the courage she showed throughout her pregnancy and delivery.

I am not currently a NILMDTS photographer, but I had the honor of acting as such for the birth of Holly’s little girl. On April 31 I arrived at the hospital with Holly and Josh so that I could be there to photograph the birth and short life of sweet Atalina. Atalina Hope was born on May 1, 2010. I spent 15 hours at the hospital with her and her family- from labor through delivery. Photographing Atalina was the most difficult and heart-wrenching, yet the most rewarding thing I have EVER done and I am so happy that I was able to give that gift to Holly.

Almost exactly a year later, here I am photographing Holly’s gorgeous pregnant belly again. Inside is Willow- a perfectly healthy little girl who will arrive in the world a little over a year after her big sister. What a gift.

Holly, you are strong, and wonderful, and full of grace. I love you.

I’ve heard so many times from mothers that time passes by at the speed of light after having a baby- that one day you look at them and they are BIG! They crawl or walk and talk and eat real food! It warms my heart to be able to help capture those very early memories when baby is the teeniest little snuggle bunny.

I’ve never met a brand-spankin-new baby that I didn’t like.

We shot Riley’s session in the loft area of their home. It had the biggest window and such perfectly even light. Ahhhh!

This shot was requested by mom and I SO love how it turned out.

This has to be one of my favorite baby expressions- fast asleep and little mouth open. (annnnnd my ovaries flip flop)

Oren, you are SUCH a trooper! Riley decided he needed to relieve himself in a stream that shot straight up and onto dad’s face.  I don’t think I’ve ever had a dad that dealt with being peed on quite like you did. Thanks for holding your pose.

Thank you Erika and Oren for inviting me into your home to cuddle, rock, whisper to and photograph your absolutely adorable son.

Frida is a foreign exchange student from Norway and her host family gifted her a senior portrait session for Christmas (yes that is how far behind I am!). Frida loves horses and rides all the time in Norway, so it was only fitting that she be placed with a family in America who loves horses as well. It was important for me to be able to incorporate this into her session. Several weeks before our shoot, Frida was thrown from her horse- breaking her ankle. Thankfully it was healed enough by the time we met that her cast had been removed and all that was left was an air cast that she could manage without for a few hours.

To get the right angle for these pictures, I had to be on a horse as well. It has been YEARS since I’d been on a horse. I assured the horse keeper(??) that I had ridden before and knew what I was doing. Only I got up on the horse and definitely did NOT remember what to do. I whispered to Frida “Hey, hey.. Frida how do I get her to stop once we start?”. “Whoa,” she says. Oh, right- how could I not know that? It isn’t easy taking photos while sitting on a horse. 1-the horse wouldn’t stand still and I had to hold myself sturdy on the horse with no hands while taking the pictures and 2-I am constantly moving all around trying to find the best angle- it isn’t so easy to get a horse to go EXACTLY where you need it to be.

We did a little clothing switcheroo and Frida put on one of my dresses. I know braving the cold wasn’t easy- but she did great. We kept my car running with the heat going full blast. It was so cold that after every few shots we had to run back to the car to defrost before continuing. I am so thankful that I have clients who are willing to do whatever necessary to get good pictures!

Snow makes for a natural reflector of light that is perfect for picture taking. I really love the pop of red in these two.

These speak for themselves. We had a lot of fun playing with the camels.

In December, I purchased the Fujifilm Instax Mini 7s. I have been using it to capture special moments in my personal life and am absolutely in love with the pictures it produces. I usually always have it in my camera bag, but have never pulled it out for a session until Sunday. The pictures couldn’t have fit with the theme of Ezra’s shoot any better. I am so pleased with them. Here are a few:

Jodi and Lilah made it home from the birthing center on Tuesday and I did her session Wednesday morning- hours before my plane left! I don’t think I have ever completed a newborn session so quickly and with such great results. Jodi and Cory are naturals in front of the camera and Lilah so easily soothed.

They seriously take my breath away!

Look at those cheeks!

It is so easy to take wonderful photographs when you have such beautiful subjects.

This is one of my favorite pictures of Jodi. The look on her face is so telling and it warms my heart.

The color image on the left is hanging large and in charge in the office of the doctor who delivered Lilah. Talk about ecstatic!

Jodi and Cory, I am so very happy to have had the opportunity to photograph all of your milestones (so far!). I feel incredibly privileged to still have you in my life even though we are thousands of miles apart. And I am incredibly appreciative of you opening your home to me just days after giving birth and the day after coming home from the hospital. I hope you cherish these pictures always.

P.S. I have film images from my vintage camera that I took in the hospital being developed right now. Fingers crossed!

That cute little black fur-ball is Samantha Jean. We call her Sam-bo or Sammy for short. I think she is half blind and half deaf by now, but I love her to pieces. She pretty much goes nuts every time I go home for a visit.

Couldn’t resist.

The second pose was his idea. So we went with it.

My favorite 2 of the bunch.

As my friend Charisse would say, “Ohhh, what a little dumpling”.

The little smile is the result of me acting like a complete goofball.

We did most of the session in the family’s spare bedroom- it had the most gorgeous light! Just look at the catchlights/reflection in her eyes. Her adorable little face also helps.

The color one on the right?? One of my favorites. Her little grin is just too cute.

As is the way she is so intently listening to her daddy.

All together now: “AWWWW”

Of course, the foot in the mouth shot.

During the session, we stopped to give little Avery a snack. Avery would tug on her daddy’s face and he would calmly tell her “gentle, Avery, gentle”.The intimacy of these two makes my heart smile.

Don’t let the sweaters fool you. We had one semi-nice day amidst the Florida humidity.

Picture perfect

From the moment I learned Jodi was pregnant I was plotting a way to be able to shoot her maternity pictures– and then I learned of Jenna’s wedding in October. Perfect. I was able to to knock out my brother’s senior pictures (coming soon), attend (and sneak in a few shots at) Jenna’s wedding AND do Jodi’s maternity session.

Jodi’s belly was just blossoming and the leaves were just turning. I couldn’t have asked for a better setting to photograph a more in love couple.

I’m pretty sure we were illegally trespassing on private property for the next 5 pictures with the yellow leaves. So worth it.

And then more trespassing at a pumpkin patch that we found while hiking to shoot with the red-leafed trees you’ll see further down. Jodi and Cory just ooze love and happiness AND they’re naturals in front of the camera. Not that I can really pick favorites- but I do really love these two.

The interaction and smiles in the next two really get me as well

A beautiful, glowing, happy mommy-to-be. Sweet or what?

I’d say “beautiful” again, but I don’t want to be repetitive.. so I’ll say “gorgeous”.

These two make me giggle. I hope they make you giggle too. Cory got plenty of practice catching- lets hope he gets to “catch” the real thing VERY soon.

Again, not that I can pick favorites..but I do love this one an awful lot as well.

Note to Lilah: Please be kind to your mommy and I-and don’t arrive too late. You already have your first photo shoot scheduled and it just won’t be acceptable for you to miss it. Thanks.

We started in my (now old) neighborhood at a REALLY old apartment complex.

And then stepped across the street to my FAVORITE park. Ever. Ever ever. Heather’s expression in this one make me so happy.. I can relate to having felt that way before.

Oh! I heart the colors in these two. all the green and then the pop of purple from Heather’s dress. For the longest time I though Florida was the ugliest place in the world for taking pictures because of the palm trees. Palm trees (unless on a fancy schmancy resort) are really quite shaggy things with browning fronds-that give me a really bad taste in my mouth. But then I discovered how beautifully spanish moss photographs–and it makes me happy.

And then there’s the majestic Southern live oak trees… almost forgot about those. This specific tree is estimated to be around 250 years old– and may be the single oldest living thing in Jacksonville, predating the founding of the city by Isaiah Hart during the 1820s (how do you like that history lesson?). That left image is hanging large and in charge in their home.

Though this one, personally, is my favorite. The octopus-like branches of the Quercus virginiana make me swoon.

Beautiful. Heather sporting my vintage headpiece–scored at an antique store in Yoder, Kansas. The shallow DOF with the trees just brings me to my knees.

I absolutely LOVE when clients (I mean new friends..) come to me with ideas to make their sessions unique. Heather and I share a love of all things old and I was MORE THAN happy to help incorporate some of her favorite pieces into the shoot. When scouting out this location the week before, the grass was long and flowing. We arrived to it having been cut short. We made it work.

Heather, you rock. That is all.

A picnic with romantic pictures, anyone?

LOVE!

Or how about a picnic with a record player streaming love ballads? Note to self- find boyfriend who won’t think I am crazy for wanting to have a picnic in the woods while wearing my prettiest dress.

Heather and I spent way too much time and energy trying to find tan suspenders. It was worth it.

Saving more of my favorites for last. These are the last images from our shoot.

Can’t you feel the love? I can.

It warms my heart. Thank you for sharing your evening with me, Heather and Jerry, and letting me witness your beautiful relationship.

Caroline has grown so much since March.

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A couple of outtakes- happy happy

The glory of being 2. I love action shots like these and capturing the essence of childhood.

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CHUBBY WITTLE CHEEKS- I could just eat her up!

can we say “doll-face”?

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I have SO many great expressions from Georgia. By the time these were taken, it was actually DARK outside. I cranked up my ISO, opened up my aperture and slowed the shutter speed as much as I could (while not blurring her movements). She makes my heart palpate.

Thank you, as always, Nat for being so open to different ideas (pulling off the side of a road in rush hour traffic) every time we get together. I find myself waiting to hear you are back in Jacksonville just so that I can be in your lovely company and hear your sweet love stories and relationship advice.

Hope your day is filled with happiness and yummy treats! More posts coming soon.

Jacque and I served together during the 2008-2009 AmeriCorps term. I was so excited to learn about her pregnancy-and secretly hoped she would schedule me to do newborn photos of the new baby. She did! Sydney Rebekeh arrived 3 weeks early at a tiny 4 lbs, 13oz. By the time I get my hands/camera on her she was at 5 pounds- still so tiny compared to my 7 and 8 lb-ers!

This session was only Jacque and Sydney, as daddy-Joe is serving overseas with the Navy. Keep him in our thoughts for a safe and timely return.

Sydney slept the entire first half of her very first photo session. She went from position to position with ease-oh how she makes my ovaries do flip-flops. She just may do the same for you (women)! Meet Syd the kid… she’s not a squid..(I’ll have to post the cute little limerick that Jacque made up to sing to her)

This little hat was so big on her that we had to use a binder clip in the back to keep it ON her head instead of covering her head. I think we pulled it off very well!

Little baby folds…

Daddy’s baby blanket. I absolutely love the deep red and the smile on her face. Another one of my favorite newborn photos to date.

Another one for Dad..

Mom’s baby blanket. I love when clients incorporate meaningful items into their sessions!

Sydney Bean (kidney bean)

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2 of my favorites from the session

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Gabe didn’t much like me messing with him-but between fusses, we got some sweet sleeping shots!

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I love this series of three

ohhh so kissable!

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My favorite from this session-I’ve been waiting to find a little baby to fit in my twiggy basket for so long! Until then it only held magazines Just look at those lips.