Parenting Reflections

I posted the following on instagram just a while ago:

"In a day when parents are told to surround their children in bubble wrap and a blindfold to keep them "safe", I'm compelled to bring my children to the wilderness where they can wander, breathe, and explore. Growing up afraid of the world will never yield men and women who pioneer and the lesson here is this: until we are pushed beyond our own abilities there is no need for faith. We were born to explore, to learn, and to trail blaze. It's in our blood. There is a way to teach children safety without chaining them to the ground. The alternative, I fear, is a generation of men and women afraid to think, to speak, or to live fully. My prayer is these children would grow into people of Faith and Action, guided by God's spirit into a life of fearlessness."

I'm not really looking to do anything other than offer up my thoughts as a father of two young boys who thirst for the outdoors every day. It can be exhausting but it makes me so incredibly proud that I have two explorers in my house...that I haven't squelched their desire to learn about the world and their creator by telling them "Stop!", "Be careful!", or "Don't do that!". Of course, there are times we need to do those things...when there is mortal or moral danger...but I've noticed it can become a default mode for parents.

Rather than going on a journey with them, we prefer our kids to stick to the sidewalk, to keep up with the crowd rather than picking a flower. But I've been learning the joy and pleasure of slowing down, seeing the world through the eyes of a young pioneer, and teaching them what I know...and just letting them run in the fields and the sun. 

Perhaps I'm just inexperienced, but I truly hope this instills a sense of wonder and freedom to explore as they grow into young men...and I hope that it would help develop them into faithful and fearless people among their peers. That they would be trail blazers and not men who simply follow what everyone else finds comfortable. 

#fearless

Special Update: Family Lifestyle Photography

I took a break from photographing families for a while. I felt this pressure to compete with the images that cheap studios put out because people always seemed to want a photo of their kid smiling perfectly with their hands folded on their lap. I knew it wasn't for me. Trying to get that "perfect moment" with six kids screaming and jumping in the dirt just wasn't happening and more importantly, I didn't feel like it expressed my artistic sense. 

Fast forward to this Summer. I've been blessed with the chance to go all in to the business while staying home with my boys. I usually leave my big camera at home because it just feels clunky when I'm frantically trying to grab Sam before he launches into the sea, but on my last outing with the boys, I brought it along and something clicked.

I enjoy photographing families in their natural environment. No posing. No direction. Just follow and shoot. Just get the life in motion. No need to inhibit the natural energy and joy of children. I've done this a few times in the past and the results are perfect...you get to see a family in the flurry of life and the beauty of the mess. It's perfect, really. 

So that's my way of saying the books are open for family shoots, if you're interested. I'm not going to pose your kids. We'll find a park or swimmin' hole. We can climb on some rock walls or play in a classic car...whatever you want. Let's go have fun and show the world your real family portrait.