My Third Session for St. Al's

What an experience these last two weeks have been! I have had the amazing opportunity to meet many families from the Treasure Valley. Each of these families brought a beautiful perspective to me and I am excited to be able to have their photographs displayed at the Family Center at St. Alphonsus.

The families I photographed on Monday were refugees. Some were from Burma, some from Burundi, some from Congo. Although our languages were different, I could see their story in their eyes. Such beautiful colors God has made - such beautiful spirits!!! I really loved shooting this session. It was a challenge because of mismatched clothing, children with dirt still on their faces and the language barrier, but it was a session that I would gladly do again. It was such a wonderful experience.

Here are some of my favorite shots from that evening.

More St. Als Models

Here are the remaining models I shot for St. Alphonsus last week. I am completing another shoot tomorrow with some refugee families. I am super excited about that!!!







These photographs were done last weekend. Baby Girl was already 2 weeks old and we wanted to make sure we got the squishy newborn shots :).

Okay - here's what I did on my birthday...

I was able to work with the families whose faces will grace the Saint Alphonsus' Family Center. It was a mad rush to get each family done in only 30 minutes, but we managed to do well. There were a few things that didn't go as planned (like me forgetting my CF cards at home...yes...you read that right!!!), but the end results were beautiful. Here are a few of the photographs that were taken on my birthday.







Here is one little guy that stole my heart. Meet "O". His parents were told that they would become his parents only 12 short hours before he met them. It must have been love at first sight, because the bond among the three of them, only 6 weeks after O's birth, is indescribably strong. I was not expecting typical "squishy" newborn shots because of his age, but as soon as he had some secure time with Mama, he dozed off and let me "arrange" him with his parents, getting these amazing images...





I'll post more by this weekend :).

St. Al's Models!!!

Well - what a huge support I had in the "model search" for St. Alphonsus' Family Center! There were some amazing applications with such beautiful families! It was a joy to see your photos and to read your stories.

Here a couple of my favorite responses to my question "How would your family be able to communicate diversity in photographs?":

"Our Family represents all the Army National Guard Families. My husband is an Apache helicopter pilot and served in the war for a year and a half from 2005-2007. We represent the dedication and commitment to each other as a family as well as our country."

"Our Family is the 'new' and upcoming American Family as we have an adopted daughter from China. We also reflect diversity in that we gave Josiah [son who has down-syndrome] life and legitimacy as a person who has value."

"We are a brand new family built through the miracle of adoption. Our inter-racial family doesn't match, but we definitely fit perfectly together."

What are y'all trying to do to me??? You know, I sit here again, bawling as I'm typing your responses. :).

Thank you to everyone who applied :).

Here are the people who were chosen to represent "diversity" in the model search. I will be getting hold of each of you within the next week to set up a date and time for your "mini-session".

Kingston
Gydesen
Ellis
Price
Burket
Turner
Gibbons
Kinsman
McKenna
Churchwell
Kwader
Seely
Wiseman

By the way - in case you missed it the first time, we have a little bit of diversity in our family as well :).

Here's Grandpa Art and his "Guide Kid", Julius. Art has lost his sight and it is pure joy for both of them to share in this activity! The Handsome Guy on the left is Julius' Great Grandpa.



The Hunka-Hunka-Burnin'-Love is My Guy on the left. My Sweet Little One is on the right.



This is me and one of my favorite boys :).

Model Search!!!

I have been given the wonderful opportunity to have a photography display at the St. Alphonsus Family Center. The Center has been approved for a makeover by some grants that were given to encourage family and diversity. One of the ways the hospital can incorporate this in their overhaul is by having photographs of different children, parents and families displayed throughout the center.



I am so honored to be able to share with them some of my work! Now here’s how you can help.

I will be holding several “mini” sessions at a make-shift studio at the hospital in order to achieve the goals of the Center. I am currently looking for models for these sessions. With a signed model/commercial release, the models will receive the session at no charge and a complimentary 8x10 for their time. Online ordering opportunities will be provided for all models of these mini-sessions. Photographs of the models will be displayed at the Family center.

While every family with young(er) children is encouraged to apply, (Caucasian, African American, Asian, native American, physically challenged, - ANY family), here are some specific groupings I am looking for:

Indian Family
Bi-racial Family
Adoptive Family
Asian Family
Caucasian Family
African Family
Hispanic Family
Blind parents with children
Family members in wheelchair(s)
Families of multiples
Family with a child who has down-syndrome

Curly Red-Haired 4-6 years old full of personality
African-American Girl 3-7 years old with enough hair to put into two pigtails
6 month old boy with bright blue eyes and blond hair

Newborn with a lot of hair
Breastfeeding newborn (I need quite a few of these)
Maternity Client willing to show belly

Please send an email via my contact page with a request for an application. Your application must be received by June 20th with an with an attached photograph of the applicants (please do not use a professional photographer’s photograph, unless you are the professional :) ). Models must be available for a session or two during the month of July. A Commercial Release must be reviewed and signed before the application will be reviewed. I will announce the models at http://www.ashkiphoto.blogspot.com on July 1st.

Thanks for your help, and please, please, please; link this to anyone you know who might be interested in interested in applying!!!

Sneak Peek for Miss "M"s mom :)

What a natural beauty, this girl is!

I photographed this young lady at Ann Morrison on a Wednesday morning. She was my last model for Laurie Appel's Display at "The Lotus Tree - Sensory Integration Clinic". She is such a natural beauty. Just stunning.

Thanks for letting us use you as a model. Enjoy your Sneak-Peek!

The Lotus Tree Sneak-Peek!

Laurie Appel, a local Occupational Therapist who has been working with our son, Julius, is opening a clinic in Bown Crossing called "The Lotus Tree". This wonderful woman loves children...it was apparent the first time she came over to work with Julius. I call her the "Pied-Piper" of kids :).

At one of our appointments, we were discussing photography and her new clinic. She mentioned that she was hoping to have photographs of children playing displayed at her new space. I asked her if she would let me display my photographs and she was thrilled! We had four mini-sessions last Wednesday with some local kiddos and I had such a fun time. These sweetie-pies were full of joy - thank you, Dear Parents, for raising such beautiful, kind, respectful children. I hope you all enjoy your Sneak-Peek!