Faces of Life on Amazon

Occasionally, I’ll do a Google search of my business name. I did so yesterday and was excited to see that the Faces of Life book that tells the story of families receiving assistance from Covenant Hospice and their support systems was on Amazon. It is so neat to see this fantastic book still receiving kudos. There is a very nice review of the book listed on the page. I was excited that the featured photographs included the couple who taught me about genuine giving and the little boy who showed me the power of resiliency. My heart filled with pride in again remembering how lucky I was to be a part of such a wonderful project.  Check it out.

Also, if you want to see more about the Faces of Life project, check out Covenant’s website and watch the slide-show I created as a tribute to this project.

 ~Trista

Beachy Keen

All is well, all is bright, all is perfect on the beach tonight…

~Trista

In Honor of Memorial Day

Living in a community with several military bases nearby has exposed me to the human side of both those enlisting and those that support them. I’d always driven by large cemetaries with the uniform rows of grave plots and found it quite impersonal. Now that I’ve had the chance to photograph many families with moms and dads, sons and daughters, actively involved in the messiness of military life, I’ve learned to be more understanding and empathic toward those who have are part of our country’s armed forces.

Their fears, their joys, their passion, their hunger for life, are all very similar to those of us not personally invested in the military. It has been a good opportunity for me to open another door of understanding that had always been closed to me.

So in my own little tribute, today I honor the everyday things that we share in common with those serving. I honor the humanity of every single person who has died or is willing to die for our country. I shed tears of empathy over a mother’s pain in saying goodbye to her son knowing it hurts just as bad no matter how they died.

Ending on a positive note, here are a few photos I took yesterday of a young man deploying this week. Here he is with those who love him the most.

His mom:

His girlfriend:

~Trista

Autism Camp

As many of you know, I have been working with the Autism Society this year. Back in March I photographed a special event they held. The photos were used in various fund-raising and public relations events. I have been very honored to work with such an amazing group. Both the directors and the children have been nothing but wonderfully kind and beautiful.

I just got a phone call regarding their upcoming summer camp. I’m going to be photographing the children enjoying their time learning and playing this summer. I can’t wait to see what they will teach me. As you know, last year I worked with Covenant Hospice in photographing a book of those impacted by hospice. They taught me the value of each day of life and it has changed the way I live my life, honestly. I am so excited to open my heart and mind to the lessons that these children will teach me.

 Here are some of the faces of the children I photographed in March.

~trista

Congratulations Janet!

I was so excited to see that the prize for the winner of my April blog beach photo contest had arrived and it was stunning. I couldn’t wait to mail it off to her. She got it yesterday and wrote to share her excitment over how beautiful it turned out. I am so happy that she loved it and especially happy that I was blessed with the opportunity to photograph their sweet little M.

Here is the pearl/swarovski crystal photo tile necklace made as a gift for winning the contest. I look forward to having another contest in the near future. We had thousands of visits and hundreds of votes. It was really neat to see all the support.

~Trista

Those first kisses

There is nothing more enjoyable than feeling the soft, sweet skin of your baby against your lips. The earth stands still and the world’s troubles fade into a foggy haze as you drink it in. Ahhh.

~Trista

Little Boy Expressions

As I sit here proofing this photo session, I am laughing at the adorable expressions of this little guy. Doesn’t he make you smile?

Twirl Girl

What a beautiful day to twirl in the grass.

~Trista

Fun in the sun

Just another beautiful young woman I was privileged to photograph yesterday…

~Trista

Generations connected

I photographed this newborn today. She had three generations of women above her that were there as well to lend their support. How beautiful!

~Trista