- Getting There -

It has been a really long time since I have blogged and shared photos from our shoots over the past few years.  2 years ago, our family went through the biggest challenge we had ever faced.  My dad passed away.  All of it was sudden and unexpected... dad had been cleared as healthy by his doctor and out of nowhere - that was it.  In the days to come I found myself rifling through years of photos that I had taken with my dad... and that's when it hit me... there weren't many candid photos of me and my dad.  Ever since our parents became grandparents, we had made a tradition of doing annual photos... but what I really missed was having some candid photos of my dad.  I found myself wishing that I had just hired a photographer to follow us around for the random weekends we would have backyard bbqs, sit around the table, or even as we would watch a Laker game.  This isn't practical, but it was what I was reaching for.  The year following our dad's death was a year filled with so many things, that I couldn't keep up - I had just finished grad school, our 4th child was born, and we moved into a new home - as a result of this mindless busy-ness, my attitude towards photography was less inspired and not-unlike a chore that costs as much energy to think about as it does to execute.  

This morning, after a long series of conversations with my sweet Annie and others... I decided to take a step out (literally) and do something I've been putting off for a while.  I've always wanted to catch a moment in the morning and slow down my camera enough to create a dreamy-like perception of waves.  I love the ocean... it's a place of rest for me... so it was great walking around in the morning to snap these shots.  As reluctant as I was initially to roll up my jeans and brace myself for sandy-shoes (yes, I wore shoes on the beach)... I took a few moments to express my gratitude to God for life.  I am grateful to be alive, to have family, and to be able to take in such magnificent views.  

Hope you enjoy them!