Spray Tans and Nose Jobs...

"Laughter is an instant vacation"

-Unknown

Being on vacation is one of the best things, but I do have to agree. One of the best things about vacation is the laughter. The ridiculous memories that happen when everyone is less stressed and enjoying being in the sun. I'm on the airplane home right now. It is bittersweet. Sad to leave the sun, the beach, and the naps. Excited to see my friends, my puppy, and my home. Secret about me: I LOVE my home. It is always warm and full of blankets and people, and most of the time...Banana bread. Yummy. 

These pictures were taken over a month ago. But I have to say, going to the pumpkin patch with the Hardebeck family has been one of my favorite moments. I think I like it the most, because I just spent time with their family. It wasn't stressful. We played in the mud and I took a million pictures.

Sometimes when you look at something too long, you don't see things right in front of your face. Kind of like a Where's Waldo puzzle. He's always right where you have been looking for 7 minutes. It was almost like that today! It was like "HOW DID I NOT SEE THESE EARLIER!"...I had to share them with you.

The reason I like these...Because they are real life. They aren't super posed or photoshopped. Actually, none of them are photoshopped. That is always my goal...To make people look like themselves. Because, who wants to feel like they just got a spray tan and a nose job when they look back at their family pictures? (Correct Answer=NOBODY) The people in my life are beautiful, my clients are beautiful. YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL. So let's take pictures of you being your beautiful selves! 

Galadriel is pregnant. With a baby, not a pumpkin. Don't worry!

Can this one please be in an Oreo Commercial!? 

Life is BEAUTIFUL!

Love Love Love 'Em.

"People who live the most fulfilling lives are the ones who are always rejoicing at what they have."
-Richard Carlson

The last 9 days have been wonderful. This is the longest vacation I have ever been on in my life. Needless to say, it came at the perfect time. The best thing about it, is that there is really nothing that demands my time. It is a weird feeling, to wake up with nowhere to be and nothing to do. Laying in the sun, reading, a nap here and there, chips and guac, not wearing shoes, forcing my family to watch Planet Earth and Baby Mama, writing lists of goals and plans...Time well spent.

Yesterday, while celebrating Thanksgiving with my parents, I decided to really think about the things I love...

Jesus, really, because he did change my life and continues to challenge me and love me through every season of life.

My family, because we might be small, but we have a whole lot of fun together.

My Aunt Jackie. She passed away on Tuesday, after a long battle with cancer... But I can say, she taught me how to laugh. She was the most wonderful woman, full of laughter and a touch of sarcasm. Aunt Jackie, I will miss you. Love you always and forever.

My friends, because they feel like family and I could spend days thinking about how wonderful they are.

Seattle, because a part of me misses the rain and can't wait to put on a pair of boots when I get home.

Random Things: Hair flowers, 80's Music, fleece blankets, dresses, new toothbrushes.

Photography. I am thankful that I have found something that I love doing and want to keep doing for the rest of my life.

And YOU- I am thankful that you take the time to support my new adventure and see the different things I have been taking pictures of. Thanks for looking! It means a lot.

Here are some of my favorites so far from the trip to Mexico. 

This alien fruit is what is know as a Rambutan. It is similar to a Lychee. It looks frightening, but it tastes like the most wonderful thing ever. Don't worry, you only eat the middle part, not the outside or the seed.  You won't be having weird hairballs, just big smiles from the party in your mouth.

Life is better when we remember what matters most. 

A Day in Paradise...

“We're so busy watching out for what's just ahead of us that we don't take time to enjoy where we are.”

-Calvin & Hobbes

You know those times when everything just seems perfect? That is what the last 3 days have felt like. In all reality, not everything is perfect, but it is pretty close. My family has been in Cabo since Wednesday with Pastor Ed and Marci. I have been LOVING it. Really, I have laughed more the last three days than I have in a while. Sometimes, life can feel like all business, all the time. But when my family is on vacation, it becomes a big huge play date. 

Yes, I am missing my sisters and my friends. My puppy and some of the comforts of home. But, I am enjoying where I am. I am glad to be here with family. We have had some good memories so far. Making salsa with my dad. Trips to Costco where finding cheddar cheese was like finding a million dollars. Fishing with my dad and Pastor Ed...Honestly, I didn't fish, I got super boat sick and spent about 2 hours throwing up and crying. Yes, I'll admit, a bit dramatic...But, at the time, I seriously wanted to be ANYWHERE but in the Sea of Cortez. Now we just laugh and talk about how I would never be good in the Navy and how we hope my future husband doesn't have a life long dream of living on a houseboat...

Anyways, here are some pictures...of life in paradise...

Life is delicioso, and so was that PICO!

Let it Rain...

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I love the rain. I love the sound of it, the smell of it, the craziness of it. I love that rain makes things into the most beautiful colors...Just like this family. It was raining a little bit, but they didn't mind. They love life, even when it rains. 

Sometimes, I will be editing pictures and I really will just have all of this love build up in my tummy. Maybe it is because I think that my life is filled with the most fantastic people. Maybe it is because I think everyone I have ever photographed is absolutely beautiful. Maybe it is because I love seeing when I have caught a moment and frozen it in a picture. Frozen moments, I live for them. AND THE FALL!!! Oh my, if there was a man exactly like fall, he would have to be my husband. I adore the fall. 

So, Tim and Nancy are lovely. They have a beautiful family. I love big family photo shoots. We laughed, I played with the babies in the leaves. We found calipiters (yes, I did spell it wrong, but that is how I say it..."CAL-ih-pitter") and we chased ducks. And during all of this, the rain would come and go. But we didn't mind, we just let it rain. 

Life is full of unexpected raindrops. 

If you are interested in a photo session, please visit my website: www.kelseylynnephotography.com!

Secret Secret, Shhh...

"Other things may change us, but we start and end with family." 

-Anthony Brandt

This weekend has been full of family. Two family photo shoots and one family day with my family has made for a full weekend of laughing and picture taking. Family pictures have got to be some of my favorites. I love relationships between sisters and brothers, mamas and babies, and cousins. All of it. I love that being related sometimes means you are best friends, sometimes means you can read each others minds, and means that holidays are full of time together.

Can you keep a secret? Okay, I trust you...Well, Randy and Miriam Hodges have 4 lovely children. And 3 of these children have children! So that means, there are grandbabies and cousins and aunties and uncles. So, for Christmas, Randy and Miriam will be getting a huge beautiful collage of their kids and grandbabies. I am so excited that I got to be the photographer for these pics. I LOVED it.

Look how beautiful this family is. I love them. I want to have Sarah and Chris be my aunt and uncle. I want to be cousins with Asher. I would play with baby Joshua! And Brie, oh we already have a great time whenever we're together. Love em...

Life is best when with family.

Cupcakes + Tea.

"To live a creative life, we must lose our fear of being wrong."

Joseph Chilton Pearce

Do you ever just wake up in a fantastic mood? This has been happening quite frequently lately. Maybe it is because I have a goal to never be awake before 7:30, or maybe it is because I am just loving how my life is going these days. I feel like my life is full of the best things, and I have more free time than I ever had. But I think I have decided to fill the days with things that are valuable to me, and that is what makes me happy. 

One thing I have decided to start doing is to carry my camera with me basically everywhere. Why this is such a big deal, I have no idea. But since my day is full of things I love, why not photograph them...

First thing I have recently fallen in love with is Starbucks Tazo Calm Tea! Delicioso...So in love that I had to purchase some to make at home. And the tea bags! They are the most beautiful things, it's seriously like a party going on!

Second thing I have fallen in love with are Pumpkin Cupcakes with Maple Frosting! YUMMY YUMMY YUMMY! I don't think anything could taste more like November than these babies, except for maybe a turkey. But it's definitely debatable. It's the first time I have ever flown solo on making frosting. Pretty sure I passed the test. Dad, aka Jer, was raving all morning. Yes, around this house, sugar is a common breakfast food...Maybe that's why I always wake up in a good mood? 

If you are interested in having some pictures taken of YOUR beautiful life, feel free to visit MY WEBSITE and send me an e-mail, or give me a call (253) 569-7600! 

Life is full of the best.

A Ray of Sunshine.

"Babies are such a nice way to start people"

-Unknown

In the midst of a rough day, I got an e-mail that was like a ray of sunshine. Theresa had e-mailed me about taking some pictures of her beautiful 3 month old daughter, Gabriella Sophia. This morning, I woke up in what felt like the best mood of my life ready for a Green Tea Lemonade and a morning photo shoot.

When I arrived, Theresa was telling me about Gabriella, and what her name means. Gabriella means "God is my strength" and Sophia means "Wisdom". Okay, pretty much my most favorite name ever, really, I LOVE it! When Baby Gabriella woke up, she put on some adorable dresses and we had a great morning. Oh baby, you are so sweet. I cannot wait to see you again.

Theresa, thank you for being my ray of sunshine. I am excited to take more pictures of your whole family. Here are some of my favorites of your baby girl. She is so precious. Thank you for letting me hang out with you both this morning, I had a great time.

 

Life is meaning-full.