Lately there has been a lot of talk about "being real" on social media. We are constantly bombarded by images that make us believe that our world is not as glamorous as the friend next door. As a photographer, I can see both sides of the issue. It is natural and good for us to want to share beautiful images where we are enjoying life at its best. This is what photographs are for - no matter if they are taken with your iPhone or with your film camera. Photographs celebrate the beauty of life. So part of me wants to say, "get off your jealous high horse and celebrate these moments with others." But then there is the other part of me that looks at my friends photos and believes the lie that "my life is not half as good as their life." This part of me wants to start a revolution of being real not only in photographs but also in all aspects of life. It has me thinking that, as a photographer, I could start here. Yes, you will still see the beauty of life in the majority of my photos but I am hoping to also begin to show you some of the "out-takes" that I never even show my clients. The moments where the kid is throwing a fit or a parent is making that exhausted face. We all have those moments so let's try to not feel so alone in them. And maybe even begin to find some sort of beauty in the hard of life along with the good. So now begins my series of Real Life photographs... To keep it real, I will start with my own.

the beauty.....

the reality...

(along with me screaming, "get up NOW! you are all wet & we came all the way here for pictures!!)