Helen Joy’s Photographer Blog

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.

www.helenjoy.com

Helen Joy George 10/30/15 Helen Joy George 10/30/15

my little darling | portraits of a curious soul

Born the baby of 5 girls, I will never forget the day I found out about you. We were all sat up on the bed in an Arizona motel like little stair steps and one by one our parents relayed how blessed they were by each of us, and then then finished and we all looked at the blank piece of bed and knew a new baby would be there soon. And we all cried bad tears. Oh but you were oh so very needed. You were born into a time of extreme turmoil and pain in our lives and you my darling sister could have very well been burnt up in the fire but you have instead come out a diamond.

Your sweetness and love for those around you is a beautiful thing to behold. You choose to smile even when things aren't worth smiling about. You are a scrappy little thing, always proving that you belong with the big sisters.

Senior portraits are always a little hokey to me. Awkward and forced and in limbo...just like that time of life is. But I knew it wouldn't be like that with you. Your curious little soul shone so bright and your eyes sparkled with a genuine, unforced love of life. Feminine but so very brave.

I love you.

My heart bursts with pride of you, my little darling.