{ Texas Family Photographer | Dallas Lifestyle Photography }

Undoubtedly most of you have seen in the news that our Texas Gulf Coast has been ravaged with devastation over the past week, with Hurricane Harvey and the tropical storms and flooding that cost many people their homes.  Up in Dallas, where it’s relatively dry, we are doing all we can through donations, etc, to help, but it’s easy to feel helpless nonetheless.  Just a couple of weeks ago, our family took a vacation to Port Aransas, where the hurricane wreaked much damage, and it’s hard to believe that the beautiful beaches might not look the same for a long time.  We are grateful that we had the chance to visit beforehand, but our hearts still reach out to those in need along the coast.

I am encouraged by the response from people all over the world, wanting to help in any way they can.  In fact, I texted a donation to Red Cross, and it took two days to process due to the overwhelming volume of texts!  That makes my heart happy.  Let’s continue to do all we can, wherever we are, to help restore and bring comfort to my neighbors in South Texas.  Go HERE to check out ways you can help in the coming weeks and months.

 

So, I’ll tell you a little about our trip to Port Aransas.  It’s rare these days when I can assemble all seven of us in one place for longer than an hour, what with three teenagers in the brood, jobs and school and life.  So I was really looking forward to a weekend with my beloved family, and was counting on taking time to take family photographs.  Of course, the minute we parked at the beach, I went to get my camera and apparently, said camera decided this would be the perfect time to break.  My screen was nothing but a haze of squiggly lines, like an old TV channel that wasn’t part of our cable subscription.  The camera, however, seemed to take pictures still, so I channeled my inner film photographer and resolved to spend the weekend shooting like I did in the old days, taking photographs without being able to see them.  I know, rough, right?  #firstworldproblems  Still, I was able to capture a night with my youngest, using my new fisheye lens, and a day with my kids, photographing them with my Lensbaby lenses and my GoPro Hero 4 while they played in the sand and waves.  And one night, I was able to photograph my six favorite people on a beach that was pretty much deserted, under a gorgeous sunset, so I couldn’t have been happier (except if I had been able to be IN them but I digress).  Of course, when you can’t see your screen, you can’t see how much the warm air is fogging up your lens or how much haze from the evening sun is seeping into the frame, but all in all, I was thrilled to have new pictures to hang around the house.  Next time?  I’ll hire someone and get in the pictures with my family.

We are about as goofy as they come, which is perfect.  When I was younger, the three or four times a year we kids had to pose for my dad’s camera for the obligatory holiday shots were universally dreaded, and usually involved a hefty dose of arguments, scowls, tears and exasperated scolding from the parents.  We preferred having our toenails plucked off one at a time.  So, with those experiences in my past, my silly, loving, and crazy kids (and husband) being so – well – silly, loving and crazy for the camera brings a joy to my heart that I can’t even express.  I love photographing families and getting to capture their amazing connection and joy.  Even sweeter when they are mine.