golden

we were driving home yesterday and decided to pull over because the sun looked so pretty on this open field and my camera sat on my car seat calling me. cate started picking all the dandelions, which she declared the prettiest "flower" in the world and then insisted on delivering them to granny's house "because they mean i love you". she was running and playing and looking so beautiful, i took 175 pictures! and i love them all! they warm my heart, because she warms my heart, and she won't be four forever. my challenge: drop what you're doing and take some pictures of your kids today! don't brush their hair or change their clothes, just get outside and start snapping! weeds, blurry pics, and dirty faces are beautiful when they remind you of a happy moment. :)

Comments

[andi]

What beautiful pictures, Kelly! And thanks for the reminder to take pictures, even ones where the kids have messy faces and crazy hair- because those truly are the moments I want to remember, not the perfect ones!

[Melissa]

Would you mind telling me what type of camera you have? Your photos are always great.
I am breaking into photography (shot a couple of small weddings) and am looking at purchasing a new camera.

[kelly mccaleb]

i just have a nikon d50. your basic dslr. but i love my lense that i always use- the 50mm 1.8

[coco]

these are so good! they look real warm and summery like the ads for the new marc jacobs perfume. and cate looks so old!

[Amy]

These are so perfect they remind me of a catalog. I'm not sure that sounds like a compliment but I mean it as one. :)

I can't wait to have a DSLR of my very own to play with.

[Melissa]

I love, love, LOVE these pictures! Cate is too cute! What happened to the adorable picture of Cate in a little meadow with blue and white flowers and a little chair! I saw it when I pulled up my google reader the other day and then it was gone! I loved that one too!

I just got the lens you use for mother's day. I still need to play around with it and figure out the best settings, but I am loving it so far!

[v and co]

i can't wait for you to take pictures of my kids

[laceyJ.]

Wow- I love these! So pretty! Where is this? Anyhow... love 'em.

[Julia]

Those are some amazing photos ... ones that should be blown up and large and framed or entered in a contest to win it all. Way to seize the moment!

[Christine]

Where is this? It reminds me of a place I saw on http://rebekahwestover.blogspot.com/2008/05/seniors.html . I have been looking all over the place for something like this to try out my new dslr. I love this kinda place. Beautiful shots by the way!!

[Marie]

Great pics of your little girl...that's a great reminder to me to start snapping away...even if his face is covered in goo!

Happy weekend!

[Lauren LeJeune]

I'm a new reader, but your photography and crafts impressed me so much that I spent this week going through all of your archives. It's pretty amazing to see how you have grown as a photographer. This are beautiful, and your little girl is growing so much too. I can't wait until I get a chance to be around for your next etsy update.

[Jaana]

When I first saw these (without reading the text) I thought "Oh, she must have had Tara take these when she was visiting".

Happy to say (and very impressed) that I was wrong.. these photos are amazing! Is there anything you can't do?

[kj]

Would take photos all day long if I could, and if my little one would face-plant into the concrete or dive into a window well or shove fist-fulls of rocks into his mouth the second I put the camera to my face! These shots of yours are too precious.

[Lindsey Cord]

dirty faces and messy hair are the best ones. i love the everyday, the mundane, the little details of life. real life.

[kirsti]

i love these pictures and your post almost made me cry. i can't believe how fast kids grow up.

[Jaime S.]

I read your blog about 2 minutes before I left for a walk with Aubrey today. I usually don't think to take the camera with me but obviously had to grab it after reading this post. Thanks for the challenge to "drop what you're doing and take some pictures of your kids today!". It's the simple everyday activities that should be captured by film. I put a couple on my blog even though I know you don't like to read about how awesome it is to live in Tahoe :) Luv ya!

[Michele]

a question... that "arise and shine" hanging in your craft room... did you make it? i love it. i want one. if you made it, how did you make it? and also, i just went through your baby quilt instructions. i am definitely going to make one for my new son. thanks for being so wonderfully inspiring!

[Michele]

one more question, probably a dumb one, but how do you put text/words on your photos? i have seen other people do this and have never figured it out. also what program are you using to edit your photos?

[micayla]

The photo's made my day, she looks so carefree, as a child should be and the photo's are stunning, Kelly.

[Rhonna]

wow.
that cate.
and
wow.
her mom!
you guys are sooo sweet!
was this before or after I saw you?
you're amazing.
smooch!
R

[Gini]

Love your blog. I am actually making it a point to carry my camera in the car with me also. You are right - they don't stay that age forever....

[kristen]

is she in busy bee's preschool program? her shirt looks just like the logo for the program I use (the author of the program is also in my group) and just wondered...I don't have a shirt, maybe you made it b/c you are crafy

[Snakecharmer]

I love these. I love the free spirit in them.

[katrikoehle]

SO sweet!

Dandelions are a flower that says I love you.

Darling.

[Margrett Langhart]

That's why it's always essential to bring a camera with you all the time. You'll never know when you will encounter capture moments like this. It's simply magnificent! Great pictures!