baby shiloh | asheville, nc

A few years ago I got called to a Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep session; precious twin boys, one cradled in his parents’ arms, still and silent, and the other up in the NICU. The feelings of grief were so thick and yet there was still joy somehow woven throughout it all. I will never forget the love and the tears dripping down this mama and daddy’s faces, and the gentle way they placed them both in the basinet for their first and last pictures together. Hudson and Everest. I never forgot them.

To my delight this year, I heard from this dear family, pregnant with their third child, and they so graciously invited me into their home to capture him in his first days. They said to have me capture all three of their boys would be so special. Oh it did my heart good to see them, to feel the warmth of their home, to see Everest jumping around like all toddlers do. The moments were full. Full of gratitude, of overflowing love, full of laughter and energy (Everest is quite the character). Still in the midst of full life with two tiny ones, Hudson was so very missed.

I left feeling so full, so grateful to be a witness to the joys and sorrows of this life. I cherish each picture we made together and rejoice in the birth of sweet Shiloh. Welcome sweet little brother, you are so loved.

campmeeting | across the generations

One thing I know for sure is that pictures grow in value as time marches on.

12 summers ago, on the hottest day I can remember, I made the drive to Catawba, NC to my friend Catherine’s beloved campmeeting, ten 249 to take some pictures. There I captured her spirited grandmother “Ma Gaye” who traipsed around showing us all the places she used to come as a little girl. I took pictures of her with her hair damp with sweat, singing loudly the hymns of her youth, and some pictures with Catherine and her mama (3 generations!). When Ma Gaye died a few years back the pictures became irreplaceable treasures, as the memories of being at campmeeting with her were captured for generations to come. They are to date some of my favorite pictures I’ve ever taken.

Fast-foward to this summer. I got invited back to take pictures of Catherine’s children running around with their cousin, drinking out of the fresh spring, under the tree their great, great grandparents met, bare feet and ice cream cones, visiting on the porch, popsicles, scraped knees, visiting with the neighboring tents, and 3 generations on the porch swing. My favorite part was when they gathered in the meeting tent and sang their hearts out. As their voices wafted into the sticky, warm air, honestly I needed someone to pinch me I felt like I was dreaming. I was tickled to death to find their tent decked out in laminated pictures from our session with Ma Gaye along with treasured pictures of the past. To come full circle and see the generations enjoying this special place will always have a special place in my heart.

Love your family well, as they wont always be around, and for goodness sake, take some pictures! You will never regret it.

If you’d like me to help tell your family’s story, reach out to set up a session! There’s no time like the present!

12 years later…

www.helenjoy.com

the wells family | cortland, ny

There is something really sacred about stepping right into the middle of the chaos of a young family. It’s so physically exhausting just to do all the things that so often it is hard to see the beauty that is all around. I feel like an archaeologist dusting off the sand to expose the treasures that are right there in the middle of diapers and feeding and tween attitudes.

I was able to fly to upstate New York last week to be with my friend Ashlee and her family. The weather already felt like fall (my favorite!) and so we ventured to a nearby lake to take some pictures one morning. I’m not gonna lie it was not my easiest session with crying babes, and certain boys who didn’t want their pictures taken but we just pressed on and got what we could. When I uploaded the photos to my computer I was just bathed in the goodness of the in between. Those real moments of beauty just captivated me and I was so happy to show it to them, “Look! Look at how precious your family is! Look at the joy that is there among the early morning feedings and the late night picking up of toys”.

A gift for them and definitely a gift for me!

I especially love the tandem nursing shots I was able to capture of the girls and their brave mama.