Baby Chloe Ebadi

One of the best parts of my job is following clients from engagement to marriage to starting a new family. A great example is new arrival Chloe Ebadi, a baby I have been waiting to photograph for years!

This anticipation was of course due to her being born to two of my favorite clients: Molly and Mark. Images of their wedding are all over my studio...it was a breathtaking event and they were a dream to work with. So was their little one! Meet Chloe: And here is Bear who seems intent on reminding everyone that he is still only 9 months old and not nearly ready to be thrust out of his baby status. So surely the binkis are for both babies.Now, here is my little homily for the evening:

Molly is an interior designer and her home is just stunning (http://www.mollykeenandesigns.com/). I walked in and without thinking said, "Ugh. Why can't I get my house to look like this??" After thinking about this comment I realized how frustrating it is when people say similar things to me, i.e. "Why don't the pictures I take of my baby or my friends ever look as good as yours???" I always think, well, probably because you haven't pursued the craft single-heartedly for almost a decade. And because you haven't invested thousands and thousands of dollars into your camera & computer equipment and then spent thousands of hours learning to use them. But also because it isn't your passion. And if you had and if it was, I'm sure your pictures would be as good as mine! And you probably wouldn't have to do invest nearly as much time, money or tears as I did along the way because I'm exceptionally stubborn and really only learn by making mistakes.

Anyhow, my point is, don't compare your house furnished primarly by Target and flea market items to a brilliant interior designer's, your crock pot meals to a trained chef's gourmet creations, your garden to an inspired landscape artist's, or your family snapshots to a professional photographer's. I'm trying not to. I'm even trying not to compare the images I create to other photographer's images because I always start to feel like a fraud. I just need to try to do everything to the best of my ability, stay inspired and treat my family, friends and associates with love, grace and humility.

Ireland cont... on our way home

Here are just a few more images I took on the busride from Galway to Dublin. It was very rainy and fun to shoot out the windows.

Ireland

I'm not quite sure what it is, but Ireland grounds me as a human being. Just flying into the country makes me feel more quiet and comfortable in my own skin.

I think it was my first trip to Ireland about 5 years ago that I discovered a love for photographing old graveyards.

We took a drive through the countryside, chauffered by a local taxicab driver who regaled us with stories and patiently pulled over almost everytime we saw something we were dying to shoot. Another charming photograph of Julie Harris. I think this may have been one of the only "people" shots I did in Ireland. While Julie & Paige are inspired by the human interest aspect of photos, I really tend toward still life. More and more I find myself wandering off bedazzeled by some little flower or a haunting landscape that I will never be able to do justice.
The treasured swans of Galway.
The calm before the storm. Within about an hour of taking this photograph a very blustery storm came in with winds so strong we could barely stand up straight!!

Lessons Learned

Amidst the bustle of travel, the indulgence of too much shopping, and the absolute necessity of too much Parisian wine, chocolate, and gourmet food, I am reminded of what awaits me at home: the people and things I love.

My life in little old-town Louisville often feels messy and complicated...hence the instinct to run away and peak into other parts of the world. But my little life is also full of light, joy, and plenty of lessons. I shouldn't be surprised that the lessons have followed me to the European Continent.
As I balance the interpersonal relations and self-reflection a lengthy vacation inevitably inspires, I am reminded of my clients, all of whom come to Recherché during a period of upheaval, transition, and planning for the future. I am incredibly privileged to get to pamper and attend to them during momentous times. I do my best to document their new lives through a lens that likes to find love and beauty. I rely on trips like this to recharge my batteries so I can continue to give my all to my clients and the incredible phenomenon that is Recherché.

Much like my trip to Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, this trip has reminded me to lean into the basics. All that is necessary to travel (to Europe at least!) is a passport, a credit card (with available funds!), an open heart and an eager smile. I'm headed to Ireland to complete my journey...who knows what this next phase of my travels will bring?

In the meantime, here are but a few more images from Paris...

I love these shots I took in the decorative gold ball hanging above our table at the Bon Marche.

We did the classic boat ride down the Siene river. Whoa. Unbelievably cold. But some of our favorite shots and bonding time of the trip!

A collection of Eiffel Tower shots:

We were so chilled to the bone after our boat ride that our need for hot chocolate was DIRE. We stopped here...

for this...La Bella Epoque Carrousel at Jardin des Tuileries...

A favorite evening shot...We spent our last evening in Paris at Montmartre. The Bohemian epi-center. I think we all fell in love with and purchased original pieces of art here. I adore the two pieces I bought.

I also adore these images of Julie. I'm not sure which of us spent more time trying to create images that the other would love of themselves. I'm also not sure which of us is the harsher critic. But how could she not love these images??

Our last little cafe in Paris, sigh...