Helen Joy’s Photographer Blog

Helen Joy George 11/11/15 Helen Joy George 11/11/15

adventuring with the davis family | pisgah national forest

Every child begins the world again.

-Henry David Thoreau

About a month ago, I spent the afternoon with the Davis family and my camera.

It was the sweetest time spent admiring lego creations, running outside in the fresh fall air, recounting Jack’s birth story and just celebrating the joy of family. Jack's feet hang well past his mama's knees when she holds him but he still lets her smother him with kisses as he giggles with his little nose wrinkled up. This season is sweet for them and I love the images we captured.

www.helenjoy.com

Helen Joy George 11/9/15 Helen Joy George 11/9/15

ansel picks an apple | celebrating one year of life

If you came to my house today and took a look around, you would see my walls covered in photos. Many, MANY of those photos were taken by my dear friend Davey. Davey photographed me in a field of flowers on the side of a highway nearly 11 years ago as a 19 year old bride. This was way back before photos like that were a thing. He indulged my creative side and has been following my family around ever since snapping some of our sweetest moments for us.

A little more than a year ago, I got to be there for the birth of Davey and Marissa’s son Ansel. And I’ve had the honor of documenting much of his first year of life.

For his one year pictures we took Ansel to pick his first apple. It was one of the few, non rainy fall days we’ve had this year and that little boy was just full of wonder and curiosity as he surveyed the hundreds of “balls” on the ground.

Davey and Marissa lost their first baby to miscarriage. I have watched Marissa work through grief and her desire to be a mother. So I have just melted going through the pictures of her holding Ansel. I can just hear the contented sigh and see the thankfulness brimming from her bright eyes.

So thankful for this family and their intertwining into the threads of our lives.

Happy first year of life sweet Ansel!

www.helenjoy.com

Helen Joy George 11/2/15 Helen Joy George 11/2/15

welcoming sadie | an adoption story

Last year, Sadie Caroline was in Bulgaria waiting for her forever family, and a few weeks ago I photographed her with her forever family. . .3 brothers and a loving mama and daddy. She wore her baptism gown, lovingly sewed by her grandmother and even trimmed in her grandmother's wedding dress lace and was smothered in love the entire time I shot.

It was like she's been there all along.