Spring in the Central Valley is one of my favorite times of the year. Around early March the almond blossoms are mostly gone and are surrounded by soft green leaves. Now add in little ones wearing bowties and suspenders and dresses with ruffles, you have spring magic. I just love it!
One of the gifts that photography has brought me is being able to take photos of friends and their families. Getting to do a multigenerational family session in Madera for one of my childhood friends had my heart exploding. Monica and I started playing softball together back in junior high and all through high school. We spent countless hours together at practice, at games, and on the road away at tournaments. When we didn’t have practice or games, there was usually a sleepover planned. We basically spent our high school years together.
I spent so much of my teen years with Monica and her family. Their home really was a second home to me. Of course, time and distance happen, but her family has always been so special to me. Getting to see them all together was such a treat. It’s been years since I’ve seen Monica and her parents. Social media has allowed us to reconnect and stay in touch and I’m so thankful for that. She and her husband own a gym in Bakersfield so between being small business owners and raising their daughter, they’re definitely busy. So when she messaged me and said, “it’s time for family photos” I was ALL over it!
The day could not have been more perfect for photos. The sun was out, no crazy wind, it was warm and the orchard was just beautiful. Now add in grandparents, siblings with spouses, and four littles under the age of 8 running around, especially when the little ones are characters, you know it’s going to be fun. The only thing we were missing was a picnic basket. I’ll have to make a mental note of that for next time. I'm so grateful they trusted me to capture this special moment for them. My heart is full!
