“Moments of happiness take us by surprise…..it is not that we seize them…..they seize us.”
I love this quote. Isn’t this just what we are looking for when we photograph the ones we love, especially those little people that we are watching develop their own personalities? Those images that make us say, “This is so my daughter or so my son.” I love those unexpected, unplanned surprises when they do something “so them”. Even years later, the image can transport us back in time and make us “feel” their presence.
I started photographing all these precious little ones at a store called Little People. Ironically, it was two doors down from my studio where Shear Attitude lives now. I absolutely fell in love with all the little people that paraded in front of my camera. I only had 10 minutes to capture something wonderful ( I later changed it to 15—I couldn’t stop in 10), but I found that I got “on a roll” (no pun intended since I was using film back then) and captured some of the most precious creative images. (I still have two hanging in my studio that I consider timeless.) Here they came; all dressed in their holiday party clothes. One little girl that still comes every year, was dressed to the nines (and she still is a fashion plate). She was shy, quiet and elegant, all at the same time. She is now quite a beautiful young lady and I am even invited to her mom’s wedding in March. Denise said she had a place of honor for me. Can you imagine, me having a place of honor? I guess that is what happens when we share lives, invest in each other and keep in touch. Kyle (I told you about him earlier) had on a vest that made him look so grown up. But behind the grown up clothes, Laura, his mom, and I could see this precious baby boy. Little did we know that each year we would have a record to watch him grow into a handsome young man attending Harvard? Laura has already e-mailed me to say she cried when she read the e-mail blast. She said she forwarded it to Kyle. Kyle, if you are home, I’d be thrilled to put you in front of the camera once again. Do you remember the time that the background fell over on me and only my feet were sticking out? I looked like the Wicked Witch of the East. You were being all cool and macho, but you started laughing so hard that I got some wonderful images. Whatever it takes to get a good image!!!!
Evelyn and Alice have brought their kiddos each year. Each year Evelyn comes and every other year, Alice comes with her. They are good friends and take pictures of their children together. One year, Peter kept shouting “Who…whoa.” about the time that I would snap the shutter. Evelyn and I still laugh about it. Sandy and Ken come every year with their sweet children, Taylor Jay and Casey. Talk about good manners. And Sandy, she is a fashion plate. Ken and my husband, Gary always have to talk a little football and make Nebraska/ UT comparisons. Go Corn Huskers and really GO HORNS. But that is football and I’m talking about Little People. I just love how our lives overlap if we take the time to get to know each other. What sweet memories of life happening right in front of my camera.
But back to the history. Little People moved to Town and Country Mall and then out to the Dairy Ashford area. Eventually, Teresa closed the store and moved out of town. I couldn’t stand to stop so I continued holding the “Little People” event every year out of my house. How crazy it was, but how fun. My mom, Beryldine, would open the door and greet them only like my mom could greet someone. She loved seeing everyone every year, loved being apart of the workflow and most of all loved helping me. I just moved her to a memory loss center a month ago. Can you see tear drops on the computer screen? She finally needed to stop helping, but each year she would ask about “YOU” and “YOU” would ask about her. The same comment was said over and over. “She was so sweet.” So that fills you in on my sweet helper and lets you know how she is doing.
When I moved to my studio in May, 2007 I was so excited about Little People having more room. This year will be the second CCP studio event and I can’t wait to see how you have grown. I guess blogs don’t have a given amount of space and the author can do just about whatever she pleases. Bottom line, I just love being apart of your life and I love the yearly updates that make up your life. See you on the 9th and the 16th. We will catch up with each other at that time. I’ll look forward to hearing all about your kids and telling you all about my grandchildren.
