JCPenney and Seventeen Haul Nation [Wenatchee teen portraits]

OK, so if you have Facebook, and you want to help make someone's day, and you aren't opposed to contests decided by public voting (I hate them personally because they always resort to this type of asking for votes) then I would love if you took a minute out to vote for my daughter in a contest sponsored by JCPenney and Seventeen magazine. She made a video for their "Haul Nation" program (showing how versatile their clothes are and how affordable) and was picked by them to be in the top ten. First place is a trip to NYC to check out the behind-the-scenes of Seventeen magazine, among other things, but most important to her is a guest columnist spot at seventeen.com. She dreams of being a writer and that is her real desire to win the contest. Anyway...the link is http://apps.facebook.com/jcphaul/?video_id=97 and she is Carsey and you can vote once every day until Sept. 10. Here are a few pics we took yesterday in a little mini-shoot. Thanks! Oh, and have a great Labor Day. Always the bittersweet combination of time off and spent with family but it means summer is almost over. Boo.

Zavala family [Wenatchee family photography]

Our fourth (of what will be 8 total) sessions, this one we spent in a lovely Wenatchee park. Morning warmth and a perfect, light breeze made the session even more enjoyable. The boys got to play and I got to visit with my friends while we captured another slice of their life. They're moving soon (if you want a cute little house in Quincy, let me know) and I'll miss seeing them as easily as I can now. But we're hoping for yearly visits in their new hometown of Austin, TX and I look forward to seeing this little, vibrant family grow together.

Class of 2011 [Wenatchee senior photography]

Carsey, I still remember the night you came into the world. You were 9 days late, not surprising to know now, because you can be late with the best of them. As soon as we parked, your Dad realized he'd forgotten the camera and insisted he could go home to get it and be back before much of anything happened. I wasn't so sure, knowing you couldn't get ANYWHERE fast in Tacoma. So I checked-in and he headed home. Despite taking your own sweet time to get the ball rolling, you had no problem deciding that when you say now, you mean NOW. I was getting desperate because your Dad hadn't shown up and it was time to push. Then he walked in and you came out like from a slingshot. The doctor almost dropped you! Not one minute before I had been thankful for her "little hands" (someday, you'll understand why) and then I was wishing for big, steady, sticky football-catching-while-running-on-the-ice-hands. But she managed to hang on, or you did, and after a cleanup you were handed to me. Flash forward 18 years and you are getting ready to graduate from high school. You have worked so hard this year, realizing past mistakes are not roadblocks but detours, and that you can always find a way through with a little hard work. I'm proud of you. Proud for you setting your mind to something and then going for it. In the end, that's really what matters. Love you Bug!

Zavala family [Wenatchee photography]

Sweet, sweet family. We found a cool little spot that was right off the highway, but completely private because of a huge swath of greenery. There was an abandoned fruit stand and rocks for eager boys to hunt and toss and examine; rock piles and gnarled, old twisted trees. I love getting to explore a tiny little slice of nature that I wouldn't have taken the time to find otherwise if not for trying to keep sessions fresh and new.

Zavala peek, session 2 [Wenatchee family photography]

A sneak peek of the second shoot (of 8 total) that I'll get to do as I cover the amazing whole first year of baby Asher. (Here is his newborn session.) He is such a handsome little man and getting so big, it makes me realize how quickly you forget those rapid-fire changes. My own "babies" are long past being babies and quick changes (except their mercurial mood swings, since they ARE girls, after all.) Having a front row seat to see Asher and big brother, Alex, navigate the next year is such a cool thing for me. We found a wonderful, wild but private, outdoor location that let Alex be 3 in the best sort of way: by running and exploring and digging and rock-hunting. Throw in the beautiful, soft light and always relaxed mom and dad and how could we not have a good session? Thanks Sandy and Juan, I'll have the rest of your images soon!