Family Pictures (except they're not exactly ours)

There was a period of time over the last six months, where I literally didn't lay a finger on my camera.  I was lucky to snap a few with my aged iphone, whose shutter hardly opens and then takes about 30 seconds to close.

I wondered if I'd ever take a real picture again or if I would even remember how if I actually tried.  Luke's birthday came and went and I never took the pictures (until last month, which I already posted about).  Right around that time my sister, Leah, approached me with a proposal. I had already agreed that I would be more than willing to travel to Milwaukee, visit her and her family, and while there, take some family photos for them.

But then she presented the extended version.  How about I come and take their pictures and the family pictures of two of her friend's families, who would contribute to my plane ticket expense?  Apparently there are no reasonably priced photographers or even mom's with cameras trying to earn an extra buck in their area.

I have to admit, that the thought was exciting and scary at the same time.

But I went to Milwaukee and made up for lost time.  In my two day stay and three family shoots, I took a little over 2,000 pictures (and I already posted about that too and the rain).

The pictures weighed on me when I got home and I was overwhelmed by the thought of sorting them all out. But I did it.  And I got them in the mail on Friday.  Looking back I think the whole experience really got me over a photography hump. It gave me some of the confidence I was lacking.  Not to imply that I fancy myself a professional, but I feel more capable or sure of myself and my ability to get good pictures even if it's a family of four kids, or a family with two wild and energetic kids.

I know of approximately two people, who are interested in seeing these pictures, and who am I  if not accommodating to my friend and sister?  Besides this is a real part of my history and life, so bear with me as I share. You get to see what you probably consider "too many" pictures of my own family and now I'm making you look at "too many" pictures of other people's families!

These are some of my favorites.  As well as a couple I took just this past weekend of one of my best friend's family, who has coincidentally ended up living 40 minutes from me, even though we both started off in NH.