Algorithm this, post engagement that. The word is that to find more fantastic-fit wedding and family photojournalism clients I’m supposed to “show up more” online. As someone who’s chosen to opt out of leaving a big digital footprint of my children (by not posting photos of them very often), I haven’t found a lot of avenues to make my “content” more personal.
As a mom of four, my husband and kids make up so much of my life. And just because I don’t share the photographs, doesn’t mean I’m not toting around a camera, practicing my craft, documenting my family. It’s one of the most consistent things I’ve ever done: portrait making.
But in an attempt to be more “personal” for a moments, I’ve decided to pop in this blog as a little life update.
It’s the end of summer in North Idaho
and it feels like I’m living a life I made up in a dream. Matthew and I celebrated having our very own wedding photographed 14 years ago by snapping up a little camp site on a nearby lake. Because we don’t have family near-by anymore, which is truly the only terribly sad bit about this move Westward, now an “Anniversary trip” includes all the kids and the dog too.
Perhaps after a full year and all four seasons of being delighted by this landscape, I wouldn’t be surprised at how glorious Priest Lake was, but I still stood there jaw-dropped at the car door in awe when we pulled into our campsite. That evening, sitting on the beach with Matthew, watching our kids swim and play, I found myself exclaiming (again) that we were living inside a postcard. It’s a phrase I’m likely leaning on a bit too heavily lately, but truly the only way I’ve found to express what I’m seeing all around us.
It seems every time we leave our little town in a new direction I’m met with a fresh variety of postcard-perfect scenery to explore and adventure in. This more-often immersion in the wilderness has been a thread of what’s tied our family together stronger than before, and we all feel healthier and happier for it.
On our way home, we got the “cleared to close” email on our home here. Next week, it will be official: we’re going to be Idahoans for the foreseeable future and I’ve never felt more sure that we’re in the right place at the right time.
I kicked and screamed about leaving NW Portland for Milwaukie in Oregon, I cried for days when we decided to move to Florida, but the first day I set foot in our rental (soon to be our own) house here, I felt excited, at peace, and completely at home. Matthew and Theo pulled into the driveway that very first day, and I said “Welcome Home”. We were only meant to rent for a month at that point, but part of us knew immediately this was the dream and we had to find a way to make ir our reality. Here we are, a year later, with closing papers being prepared! I can hardly believe how beautifully designed it all is & what an incredible childhood we're able to provide our babies.
We’re enjoying the last of beach, paddle board season, and warm river days, but the kids are also excited to kick off another school year. I’m a shoulder-season hype girl, so I’m looking forward to the crispness of Fall, to our apple trees gifting us cider, and then it’ll be the the boy’s top favorite time of year: Winter. After all, it’s what we’re really here for. The big kids are set to learn snowboarding this year, and can go back to skiing on weekends or next season, so I’m excited to ride with them in a new way.
I’m excited for all the possibilities the next year in this home brings us. But for now, a few snaps from our little night away anniversary camping trip featuring the frames that don’t feature their features so much. Sometimes it seems a bit strange, with so many friends and family thousands of miles away, not to share my favorite portraits of my children, the ones with bright eyes and big smiles, but I stand by my choice. So, for now, I’ll continue taking these for me, for them, for us.
