Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Cooking Up a Great Love

In the kitchen, they cook together.  In the world, they laugh together.  In life, they'll always have each other.

He's a fisherman, a hunter, and all around outdoorsman.
She's a pastry chef, a vintage lover, and true creative soul.

I was honored to be a part of the day he asked her to be his wife.  After more than six years, he decided to pop the question and make an honest woman out of her! She, of course, said yes!

I couldn't be happier for the two of them and I am so happy for all the adventure and love they have to look forward to with each other!

Congratulations, Monica and Kyle!







***
All photographs are copyright Samantha Raye Photography 
and may not be copied, downloaded, edited or altered in any way.
***

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

maternity in black + white : part one of a series : maternity photography

There is something inherently magic about a pregnant woman.

It is unimaginable the amount of love a mother's heart is capable of.  I had no clue what I was in for when I was waiting for my little girl to arrive.  Everyone says that the moment they see their baby they are in complete love.  I realized quickly that this cannot be true.  As I fall more in love with her every day!  Watching her see, learn and explore are moments enough to make my heart almost burst.
The moment I found out I was pregnant my heart raced, and it still does to this day.  It races when she smiles at me, when I see her with her daddy.  When I realize that this husband, partner and best friend of mine and myself created this little human, my heart skips a beat.

Seeing women who are expecting when I am out and about makes me excited!  Although, I must contain myself from swooning over them and telling them how wonderful it all is.
They know.  Even mixed in with fear, uncertainty and anxiety, they know.

You can only imagine my love, then, when I am photographing a woman who is close to welcoming their little one.  I am instantly happy, relaxed, and amazed!
I mean, that belly!  How can you not feel something when you think about how there is a person growing in there!  *sigh* Truly amazing!

As we move through poses, their home, and their outfits I am constantly looking for the feelings.  Focusing on the bundle in the middle, but keeping the details of the smiles and the expressions that bring out the emotion of a maternity photo shoot.

In these photos is Becca.  She was carrying Cole, her second child and first son.  We had this session on a Tuesday and their little mister had his birth day the Friday just after!  So this momma had a beautiful big belly, a lot of anticipation and that "glow" that everyone talks about.  

By the way, the "glow", it IS real.  It is something we think we can see because we can feel it so intensely when we are around an expecting mother.  I believe dads-to-be glow as well, and for the same reason!  Mom may have the midsection of the 3rd trimester, but dad's have just as much excitement, anticipation and nerves that radiate to those of us who meet them. 

This mini-project was driven by that joy I get, that rush, when I photograph a woman who has been working so hard, enduring some unpleasantness (maybe a lot of unpleasantness), going to the doctor office and feeling like they work there, stretching and changing, anticipating, worrying, shopping, planning, nesting and completely beaming.  I have realized a moment with my camera that I am SO passionate about and even though I drove 200+ miles round trip on almost a whim, it was totally and absolutely worth it! 

These images are of the first half of the session.  In the uncomplicated black and white version of these personal and intimate images. Enjoy!


Special thank you to Becca for being the subject of my photographing for what I am sure seemed like forever, for changing your clothes a gillion times and for holding out until I took so many photos that this turned into a multi-post project of love!  Mostly, congratulations to you and your little family that is now a total of FOUR! Yay! Welcome to the world baby Cole! 


It makes my "job", capturing joy & love, easy when I feel it so deeply.


:::Please stop by the facebook page for constant updates of photos and specials:::
www.facebook.com/samantharayephotography

 :::My web site is there for your swooning pleasure as well as all of my contact and investment info:::
www.SamanthaRayePhotography.com


Thank you so much for stopping by! 
*S*









***All photographs are copyright Samantha Raye Photography/Samantha Taplin***
*Downloading, copying, altering or submitting as work under any other name is prohibited*
*Article is original to and copyright Samantha Raye Photography/Samantha Taplin*

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Boys Will Be Boys

This little family was a joy to photograph.  The two boys are super adorable! (No wonder, as they have a good looking set of parents!) 
Mom and dad have done great with them so far! They are little country gentlemen and I am sure they will be popular with the ladies when they get big enough to care.  

I mean, those boots, those little jeans, the matching plaid AND LITTLE TINY SUITS!!! 


It doesn't get much better than that, folks!



Thanks for stopping by!


*S*

*All photographs are copyright Samantha Raye Photography* 
*Copying, altering and downloading prohibited*


















Thursday, March 6, 2014

Welcome to the world, Henry!

Oh Henry, you sweet little boy!  Your Mom and Dad are so happy to have you!

Although it has been a tough road for these parents, they could not be happier to be holding their sweet boy in their arms!  This day was a sigh of relief and filled with joyful family and friends all welcoming Henry to this world! 

Henry is a little brother to a boy we never got to really meet, Hudson.  His big brother shone his light the day Henry was born - which was an amazing thing on an October day that started out wet and dreary.  I have taken so much from witnessing the loss of this family, and find it so fulfilling to be one of the many that have had their heart all full by getting to know Henry.

This little man is a handsome dude, and sure to be a riot just like his daddy, and a tough cookie just like his mommy!

Not only did I get to be there to take photos of him on his birthday, I got to come back and swoon over him when he was about a week old!

Tiny toes, tiny fingers, that wisp of hair and those dapper good looks! 


You are so loved, Mr. Henry! 

Enjoy him and all this good-enough-to-gobble-up cuteness!

*S*

Please have a look at the facebook page for Hudson's Rays Of Sunshine honoring Hudson's life, and supporting the struggles of grieving parents of still born babies.
The upcoming annual benefit is this March 29th!








*All photographs are copyright Samantha Raye Photography*
*Downloading and altering are prohibited*


Carlos & Michelle

I have known this beautiful woman my whole life, and her engagement shoot with her fiance, Carlos, went exactly as I imagined.
High fashion and plenty of sarcastic humor from all parties involved!

Though the wind nearly blew us across the river a few times, we managed to have a good time exploring the park.

The love was easy to see (make out sessions usually give it away, haha!) and I found directing these two through the session to be effortless.

She adores him, he worships her. Just as it should be when you are engaged to be married! 

Enjoy the romance, the sweetness and the sauciness of these two lovebirds! 

I am honored and excited to be photographing their wedding day in May!

*S*







*All photographs are copyright of Samantha Raye Photography*
*Downloading, copying and altering are prohibited*

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Monica & Kyle

These two... I mean, they are a riot!
This was supposed to be a mini session, but because I kept tearing up due to side splitting laughter, it took us a while!  By no means am I complaining! I had so much fun and was so glad to capture some of their love in photographs! 

We ventured around a local park and found plenty of things to joke about and I had no problem getting them to smile, that's for sure! 

I always feel like I am on an adventure when I am in a session, because I never really know what is going to be next.  I do not like to plan too heavily for shoots as I prefer natural reactions and movements.  Sure, a styled shoot with props is fun, but nothing is needed to photograph a couple or a family.  I look for the love and it is always easy to find!


Enjoy and thanks for stopping by! 

*S*


Here you go, you crazy kids! (Who are the same age as me!)







*All Photographs are copyright Samantha Raye Photography*
-downloading, copying or altering in any way is prohibited-