Early Autumn perfection ...

This beautiful senior, my wonderful model, and I met at Ault Park for a quick run around the Cincinnati gem.  Surprised by the few folk we saw as normally, there are many people buzzing about the busy place.  This evening was incredibly quiet making it easy to forget you were in the city parameters.  The pavilion and cascading steps are iconic and allowed this gorgeous gal to blend into it as if designed to be there.  The golden trees and beautiful botanicals were abundant as we selected our spots.   Standing atop the pavilion's roof for a 360-degree view of the surrounding Cincinnati area was breathtaking as this fantastic girl allowed me to catch some amazing shots of her.  The perfect breeze blew by, dancing with her beautiful brown tresses in a kind of Autumn show.  It was an effortless session as she spoke about school, family, and future.  This girl's beauty enhanced by her charm and intelligence I am certain she will encounter amazing things and opportunities.  Thank you so much E & family, for affording me the pleasure of photographing these seasons with you.  It is and has been, truly a blessing to me. ~ B Gallery

Mommas & Daughters ...

Gallery Heavy rain and rolling clouds have a beautiful way about them.  The quick session with this gorgeous Momma and her stunning girlies wasn't going to be hindered by the weather.  So of course, parking garages being absolutely fantastic places, we defaulted to the perfect one for a change of venue!  These pictures just remind me how much I love a terrific grey and with these beauties it was just the pop on what would have been an otherwise dreary day! ~ B

Sweet Surprises around every corner ...

Sweet Surprises around every corner ...

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Summer storms have always been an enjoyment.  Especially if at home, listening to the sound of crashing lightning and the echos of rain on the roof.  As a photographer, watching the percentages of digits rise or lower can be a real test of one's patience, and so it went with this session.  Friday, the prediction of weather volleyed around like a bee in a field of flowers.  This family and I opted to go with our date and ventured out to the beautiful Cincinnati Nature Center for what we hoped would be a beautiful night.  As I took the first shot below anticipating location, I could hear the rumble of thunder behind me.  And folks, this was the only shot I got.  The skies opened up and a disturbance began that had us seeking a new location in what appeared to be outside of the storm's path.  We drove through flooding roads, downed trees, hail and wind gusts that had rain blinding our path.  We never made it to the new location, but instead chose to try again the next night and I must say, we weren't disappointed.

We made our way to the spot above and were greeted by the sweet sounds of a young raccoon searching the mud for a tasty treat.  As we considered that a Momma might be present, we neared our spot hesitantly, while nodding acknowledgment of his space over ours.  As the little guy dined, he kept his eyes peeled on us, but we were swept away with the blunt button black of his teeny nose and the downy fur that lined his ears.  As we wandered other favorite spots, we listened to the sounds of a wedding reception, filling the atmosphere with music and laughter as they celebrated the start of a new life together.  This beautiful senior and her persevering Momma walked with me as we took in the sights and enjoyed the bright sun, reflecting on our experience the night prior, laughing that it was a session to remember.  As we rounded the corner to the playscape for the wee people of Cincinnati, we were face to face with the tender eyes of a spotted fawn wishing us a sweet salute with a simple curiosity of our business there, even granting us the divine pleasure of a photograph or two.  As we said goodbye to our new friend and continued our journey we were greeted by the white cotton of teeny tails of wee bunny babes as they bounced about the path in front of us and as we furthered our venture, hummingbirds danced together in the air above us.  We were enchanted by the critters that accompanied us on our outing, wondering if the world was offering a bit of an atonement for its behavior the night prior.  Around each bend, it seemed a new critter offering its own sweet apology.  It was no surprise when we came upon the pristine posture of a red tail hawk as he watched us nearing his position.  Sitting staunchly with pride just long enough as if to say, "I'll stand my ground just so that you may enjoy my beauty."  And with that he exited in supreme fashion as we witnessed his great wing span and a flawless retreat to the trees.

The great companionship of our furry and feathered friends had me feeling as if this session was written out for a fairy tale and believing that perhaps they were observing what I was as well....this beautiful senior had a natural genuineness that oozed about her as she softly spoke. Her smile reflected a sweet and serene confidence that would have eased a hardened person.   As the sun hung softly above us and the sky began to settle into a darkening blanket of clouds, that would soon offer a thundering applause to our finish, I was incredibly thankful for the experience and quietly delighted that this is my job.  Thank you, so much for allowing me the opportunity to pin time in this season for you guys.  It was absolutely a joy to wander those trails and share the experience.  ~ B

New Paths ....

Today we shifted direction.  We chose a different route than the one we'd previously selected for our little guy and that's ok.  In fact, it's better than ok.  Much.  While I am "feeling all the feels" over it, as they say, I know that our shift is a good one and trust that God will lead and cover the rest of the way.  As we have struggled with this decision, throwing around what the right thing was and how much it would impact Shepherd either way, or what already had, I was reminded of a commentary I wrote a couple of weeks ago.  I laugh because I wrote this inspired by my sweet boy and today, we are walking it out with him.  Figured I'd share the commentary here, because you never know who could use the reminder that there are paths laid out for us and that sometimes they're steeper than others, sometimes we have to change course a tad, but we have someone that will always walk them with us.  These new paths or unknown journeys don't have to feel overwhelming because the One who loves us best is leading.

~~~~~~~~~

Writing prompt  ... "Our hearts become recalibrated to True North as we lift our eyes off of self and circumstances. When we trust God with our very life-breath, we can stand firm in the knowledge that He controls the whole course of our lives".

My 5-year-old son recently told me that he doesn't like "The Nature". Stunned, but at the same time not surprised, I encouraged him that it would grow on him. By "The Nature", he means hikes. We live about two miles from a beautiful park (Of which this city is riddled) with wonderful trails and creeks and views. Our family will often head that way for a quick jaunt on a trail or for a little "creeking" and clay hunting. It is a simple way to be one with the world God made, an easy fix for forgetting our troubles and drawing closer to word from God and each other. We know most of the trails there very well, fortunately they aren't terribly long and there are slight tree markers along the way, so it's not likely that we'd get lost or not see someone at some point. I never worry about losing our way, but he continually does. Nearly the entire time we walk, he will ask, "Are we lost?". The number of times he, alone, has been there is great and yet each time, he fears we're misguided. I realize that the towering trees and steep steps must be overwhelming to his sweet mind and that he must feel so out of control because he can't "see" where he is going and everything is so big. He will enjoy himself, but he will only venture a few feet at a time from me and he won't touch anything he doesn't recognize. He is incredibly hesitant to try a new trail or cross downed trees for another perspective. So nervous, is he, that while shopping for new sneakers, he asked for ones with the compass in the toe, "just in case". Mind you, he doesn't know how to read a compass yet. :) I continually assure him that we will make our way out and that I know exactly where we are, my words will fall upon his ears, but until we break through the line of trees to open greens, his little heart is ongoingly troubled.

Aren't we much like that? Because we can't see where we are going or aren't certain what our future looks like we walk through this life nervous about our steps and encounters, constantly asking, "Are We lost?" We fear the treading of water and muddy inclines because we would prefer a surer footing and a gaze at an open life and picture. Our pride and fear cause us to stay on the course we are most familiar with, most comfortable with. When we fall into these comfortable areas it is so easy to be entirely dependent on ourselves, which serves to fill us with pride because we "know" what we are looking at, we know the way, we know what to expect ... but sometimes we were meant to veer a different direction, to take another approach, to walk in uncomfortable places, and stay in the midst of towering things longer. Our God is not in a box and walking His way sometimes requires that we close our eyes to the path in front us and let Him lead entirely. God is not only our moral compass but our literal one. If we stay close to Him as we walk, we can trust that He will not lead us down a wrong path. He knows what lies ahead and He will ensure that we make it to the wide-open greens of our lives. So just as my son has to trust me as I walk him into "The Nature", I seek to trust God blindly with my footing, trust that He will see me through to the other side of all seasons and that He won't leave me in the midst of overwhelming situations. And that, as I follow Him, I may even get to see some amazing things on the way. ~ B

Rainbows in Random Places ...

Rainbows in Random Places ...

What do you do when you're off for the weekend?  You grab your daughter and one of her friends and drag them out for impromptu pictures.  When we arrived T expressed that she felt as if she was in a giant's house with the large, expansive pillars and wide open spaces.  Likening it to a scene from "Jack and The Beanstalk".  The girls ran freely around this place, uncontained by the influence of an outside world that buzzed loudly by in passing vehicles, they sprinted and laughed throughout the garage, finding perfect echo spots and picking which color was their favorite.  The giggles echoing through these open walls rang sweetly across the cemented ground.  What a blast to just enjoy a unique space with these cheerful beauties, proving that anything, even parking garages, can lend itself well to photographs! ~ B

Crowned by Queen Anne's Lace ...

Crowned by Queen Anne's Lace ...

I am one lucky girl to get to spend my weekends wandering about beautiful places with some of the friendliest people you'd find.  I knew that would be the case for this shoot, what I didn't know is that it would be times 100.  We arrived at the Cincinnati Nature Center on what was their Hoots and Hops night.  There was the obvious fragrance of ale in the air and countless sweet smiles of staff and visitors roaming the trails along side my senior and her Momma.  As we maneuvered through the attending Cincinnati Observatory's incredible scopes set up for night viewing, we were greeted with kind words and laughing people the entire time. Good strangers jumped in for a quick game of photo bombing as they'd pass through, offering compliments and congratulatory accolades to my beautiful senior whose glowing eyes glistened & changed amazingly as the sun's dancing rays landed upon them in different places. This girly fit perfectly among this reserve, sitting amidst lace-y flowers enhanced by her smile, while the grasshoppers skittered about as if speaking a fitting "how do you do?" to this lively beaut.  It was my absolute pleasure spending the evening with this charming chica and her beautiful Mom.  Thank you so much for granting me the opportunity to record this ticket in time! ~ B Gallery

Bluegrass bands and busy streets ....

Bluegrass bands and busy streets ....

If there are two things Cincinnati folk love for certain, it's the parks and restaurants here.  Put that and restaurant week together and it is going to make for one busy week.  This was evident as we wandered the streets of Over-The-Rhine and through Washington Park Thursday.  A city with life; real, genuine, walk about life, is a fantastic thing to see and while it altered our angle of this senior session a bit, we went with it. We followed the sun and enjoyed the sounds of a brilliant bluegrass band in the pavilion on a perfect Summer's night.  We weaved our way through the busy streets and the teams of kickball in the park as we made our way around Music Hall and over to Vine St.  And when the sun was settling in the sky just so, we wound our way over to Eden Park and Twin Lakes for a little change of scenery.  The entire time enjoying the great company of this incredibly kind, humble and beautiful senior, along with her sweet Momma.  So incredibly grateful for the privilege of documenting the beginning of a life changing year for this stunning gal. ~ B Gallery

Tadpoles, Bull frogs and Turtles, Oh My!

Tadpoles, Bull frogs and Turtles, Oh My!

I believe one of the most underutilized gems in Hamilton County is the Cincinnati Nature Center.  This place has trails that seem new every time, a play scape like no other and countless critters just waiting to be noticed.  It is among my favorites for  sure, which is why meeting this beautiful family of five there for photos was an easy decision.  This gorgeous family wandered through the park with an ease, grace and happy that was so naturally them. Their interactions oozed love and patience and it was absolutely a pleasure following them around the center; watching the kiddos spot tadpoles, listening to their squeals of delight over the sounds of the very nearby bull frogs, hearing the pitter patter of sandaled toes across the wood walkways over the water.  There is nothing sweeter than watching little people discover the things around them and it made this shoot a cheerful and spirited evening of fun. ~ B Gallery

A little lad and lassie ...

A little lad and lassie ...

While I had been loving the extended cool temperatures we had been having, it was inevitable that Summer would tear me from that bliss in a most extreme and harsh way.  I was lucky enough to take pictures for a beautiful family with a super cute set of twins on a sunny day in a quiet corner of UC's campus, the Arlitt Playscape.  Yep, you guessed it, although a terribly hot day, the scorching rays of the white hot sun had nothing on those munchkins.  They darted about like nobody's business and smiled effortlessly the entire time, being one with their sweetness and youth.  Such sweet little kiddos and parents to spend the time with.  Catching the moments of them running about was a good time and certainly kept me from observing the heat to it's true aspect.  :) ~ B

Soaking up the light ...

Soaking up the light ...

This summer has been one that has been under a cover of grey cloud more than not and as each day passes, I have wondered when we'd get an extended break.  I never mind the occassional rainy day or overcast skies, but this season has me begging the sky to shower light on us in a big way.  As yesterday danced between rain and sun every hour, I anticipated the possibility that I could grab my 10 year old for a quick catch of the light and proof that the sun existed as it descended on the day and I wasn't disappointed.  We had great fun, wandering through the rain stained grass and fields, marveling at the sun glistening on the leaves around us, each drop of water catching it's own bit of the beauty, playing with the light from a peak yellow until it's beautiful glow cast across us like a warm spotlight on a limitless stage!   ~ B

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