the whole story about my camera | paying it forward

well, originally this was going to contain the whole sob story of what happened to my dear, sweet camera and all the beautiful images i took while we vacationed in california. but then i realized two things. one, most of the very few people who read this blog have already heard the story 100 times and if they hear it again their ears (or eyes in this case) might bleed, and two, time to move on. the short of it? well. i was traveling with two kids, stressing out that we were going to miss our connecting flight that would bring us from NYC to BOS, and after i wrangled most things, my dear sweet camera got left behind in the dust. under seat 31E on delta flight 206 from SFO to JFK. i realized it quickly enough that delta should have been able to easily retrieve it, but in just that short amount of time, the camera had been stolen.

but! this post shouldn't be all about all that sadness. trust me, i've cried enough tears. it's about what happened next. my friends and family rallied around me with such great force and strength and love. a donation fund was set up for me (what?!?!?) and my mom, my sweet guardian angel, who i love more than i'll ever be able to put into words, saved my ass. SO! what does this all mean?! it means i'm back in business! and i'm playin with the big kids y'all! my mommy (imagine me saying that like a spoiled valley girl, it's way funnier) believes in me and my talent so much that she bumped me up to full frame. d700 baby. oh, it's so good.

if you're like me you're thinking "well, shit, that ended up pretty damn alright for her" (mind you, the loss of those photos felt like someone died) and you're right! it did! so, because i can't hand write a thank you letter to every person who donated (trust me, i cried and know who every.single.one. of you are!) i thought of something i could do. someone donated, and i wrote to them "this is absurd, i'll never be able to repay you or thank you!" and their response was "sharing your beautiful photos every day is thanks enough"

need a tissue? no? just me? ok...

so i'm giving away two sessions. two FULL sessions. see? just like this fancy flier says:

how to WIN:

in the comments section tell me about the last time you can remember having a family photo taken of you, or the last time you were photographed as a couple for all you lovebirds out there. the more hilarious the better, though it doesn't really help your chances, it just gives me something to laugh at.

you can comment twice a day. giveaway will be open until FRIDAY @ NOON. winner will be picked at random and announced Friday evening. so be sure you already like furie photography on facebook so you don't miss it! it might be YOU!

good luck! xo isabel

wait for it | wait for it | wait for it...

being patient. not my strong suit. never, ever has been. almost 3 years ago (what?!) when i was pregnant with leo the loin fruit, i met a dear friend in one of those creepy online chat rooms. it was a pregnancy support forum, aka where all the crazy pregnant people go to to talk about obscure food cravings, how much they love/hate sex, who's causing drama at their baby showers and who is going to destroy their child's spirit by either co-sleeping or not co-sleeping. crazy times people, i tell you. and i was totally one of them. well, the novelty of the forum wore off, but it wasn't for nothing. my friend erica and i were brought together by this craziness. she lived out in CA but hails from the cape (of cape cod) and so when our babies were small and fat (and boy were the fat...if only i had the photographic evidence) we met on a beautiful, breezy, summer cape day.

pretty much it was love at first sight and i spent a lot of time driving to the cape that summer. she is who brought milo and his rad parents into my life. good stuff.

so for almost 3 years, i've been whining about how much i wish erica would live on this side of the country. and finally, after waiting and waiting, and being patient, the stars aligned. here for good. i still don't believe it. it won't sink in for a minute. but the best part? little mr. kai, or meeks as he is the companion to meems, his big sister Evie, is three short months old. it pleases me to no end that we will get to watch him grow, and already since i met him for the very first time in CA (pour some out for the photos) he has changed so much.

this is a filler blog. a big old give away blog is coming with instructions on how to win a session with me, and boy am i making it fun! be patient...

until then, here's a little series from some time i spent with Kai last week.

it's hard work hanging out and chatting at the beach. eventually...the breeze, the warmth, the swaddle, win.

seriously. i'm giving away two sessions. so STAY TUNED!

xo isabel

she has a big brother | little sister plays with transformers

my husband was gone for work this week. one day we headed to my sister in law's and soaked up some niece mary nephew danny time. as i sat on the couch and watched mary fumble through cars, trucks, transformers and trains i thought to myself, wow, she has a big brother.

xo isabel

day on the cape | 20 diptychs | friends that are family

took my little rinky dink to the cape. forced myself again. forced myself to think of it as film with little room for post processing. my sister wives. bffs 4-eva. soul mates from anotha motha. i just really love them. and love their kids. and their mens. love em.

the last time i photographed evie and kai was in CA. i lost those photos. felt good to make new ones today, though. and man. what a good, good day. a summer day.

yep. no words, just a lot of love. xo isabel