Category: Snapshots
Brentwood Days 2014 {St. Louis Lifestyle Photographer}
September 21, 2014 Snapshots
What a beautiful and busy weekend with family and friends! We enjoyed the Balloon Glow at Forest Park on Friday night, gathered around the fire pit with my mom and step-dad afterward, went to synagogue Saturday morning, got a sweet, rare visit from my dad yesterday, and ended the evening at Brentwood Days with school friends!
Brentwood Days 2014 {St. Louis Lifestyle Photographer}
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Eleven years ago,, I was living in Denver with my husband, two dogs, and a cat (who would soon get kicked out of the family after peeing one too many times on the new baby’s things). After approximately 40 hours of labor, I gave birth to my first baby. This beautiful baby stole our hearts and changed our lives forever. Happy birthday Taliyah!
St. Louis Children’s Photographer – Birthday Portraits – Birthday Snapshots
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I have spent the last eleven years dedicating my life to my three children, my husband, my spiritual and physical well-being, and my photography business. I am grateful that my work has allowed me to express myself artistically by capturing moments of pure love and happiness with my camera, but it has never touched me in the way that Nia did during my first two classes with Tracy Stamper at Women’s Weekend 7.
During those two hours, I was transformed spiritually, physically, and emotionally. I felt an abundance of joy radiating throughout my entire being. I saw myself healing others through dance, music, and the transmittance of light, and I knew I had to become a teacher. I signed up for the next White Belt training five months later, having no idea what to expect, and was blown away by the depth of knowledge that Nia had to offer. I couldn’t wait to share it with others!! I had discovered a new path in life. I had finally found my purpose.
On a lunch break during the week of my White Belt training, I bumped into my friend, Dianna Lucas (co-founder of Women’s Weekend), and she asked me if I wanted to teach at the retreat this Spring. Although I was petrified, I knew I could not pass up the honor to return to the place where I had discovered Nia and to teach for the first time. For the next two and a half months, I had to balance learning a routine, running my photography business, attempting to be a good mom, and trying to take care of myself. As the weekend approached, I realized that I was just not ready to teach a class alone. There was too much I wanted to bring to class for my students, and I just didn’t want them to miss any of the beauty within Nia. Due to technical issues, my Nia class was not included on the first draft of the Women’s Weekend 8 schedule, and I took it as a sign that I could change my mind! Although I was disappointed, I decided that it would be best for me to attend the retreat as a photographer, and not as one of the teachers.
Thank goodness that isn’t what ended up happening, though! My inspirational, amazing, wonderful teacher and friend, Tracy, reached out with an offer for me to co-teach with her rather than teaching by myself or not teaching at all. I chose my three favorite songs, and Tracy strategically placed them into her awesome routine. Below are some photos of my very first time teaching a Nia class! I will never forget this honor, the exhilaration I felt dancing and teaching, and the love and open hearts that my first students brought to class. What an experience. Thank you Dianna, Tracy, Kalanit, Kendra, and all of my other supportive friends who joined me in body and spirit as I officially entered the world of Nia as a teacher.
I now know that I’ve been traveling toward this very place all my life. Everything I have experienced (“good” and “bad”) was to help me grow into a teacher and healer. I want to share my unique offerings through the holistic movement of Nia, and in doing so, I hope I can help others see their own sacred light so that they may love themselves and others more fully, and find deeper meaning in life.
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After having five guests from out-of-town, as well as hosting the 1st night’s Pesach Seder, I was absolutely exhausted by the time I got into bed last night! But I’m so glad my husband woke me up to see the lunar eclipse this morning. I may fall asleep during the 2nd Seder this evening, but I got some shots of the moon that I LOVE! What an experience! Here are just a few of the photos I captured between 2:44am and 4:32am on April 15, 2014. (By the way, the stars and planets in the 2nd and 3rd photos were added to enhance the images, but they are all real in the 1st photo).
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These pictures are additional testimony of your stunning photography, Neshama, and your artistic eye!
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Oh thank you so much Trudy!! 🙂
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I’m so happy that I stepped away from work to spend a beautiful day with my daughter and her 4th grade classmates on their field trip to Jefferson City, MO today. The weather was perfect, the kids were full of joy, and my eyes were opened to new possibilities for the future. Although I’ve never been interested in law, government, or politics, upon visiting the House Chamber, I actually thought I’d like to be a state representative!! Perhaps one day I will be. Here are a few highlights from our trip…
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Beautiful photographs!
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Thanks Kalanit!! It was such a great day!
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It’s been almost a year since my family and I drove to Gatlinburg with some good friends of ours and their families over winter break, so I thought maybe I should get some pictures up from our trip before the new year! We had a great time hiking, sight-seeing, and relaxing in our cabin. Here are a few highlights…
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Last Night of Hanukkah 2013 {St. Louis Children's Photographer}
December 5, 2013 Snapshots
For the last time this year, we lit candles in celebration of a miracle that occurred long ago. However, I hope that we are able to remember that miracles happen every single day. Happy holidays to everyone!
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I finally decided to take the easy way out. Instead of taking the whole family out on location for portraits this year, I took advantage of my favorite spot in our backyard. I thought this would be much easier than planning ahead considering it has rained or been dark and grey on our family portrait day for the last two years. I love that we have a giant white reflector (a fence) on the east side of our yard that lights up our children’s sweet, angelic, little faces as the sun sets in the west behind them, so I was excited to run outside for a few minutes of good ol’ fashioned portrait fun. What could be better? Ha ha ha…. Well, it’s very easy for me to make other people’s children laugh and have a good time getting their pictures taken while their parents stress out and worry that their kids are misbehaving too much. However, when it comes to my own children, it takes a lot of energy and determination for me to survive a photo shoot with them. The first two and half minutes start off great, and then it’s downhill from there! Here are a few shots I captured within the short amount of time they gave me before they all started crying because I was, apparently, torturing them to death. Since this was a total whim, I didn’t really spend much time coordinating their outfits, but I’m not going to be picky.
I love, love, love the lighting and the beautiful backgrounds in their individual portraits!!
Here they are having fun just before they all started getting bitten by mosquitoes…
And these were actually taken after I resorted to threatening to ground them from the computer for many days because they were out of control and wouldn’t just stand together for a measly few seconds so I could get one good photo of the three of them together. My desperate threat only caused them to scream and cry so I quickly had to pretend like I was just joking to get them to calm down. I’m so much better with other people’s children when it comes to portrait sessions! I really don’t know how I can capture approximately 70 joyful images of everyone else’s kids and only 7 of my own, but I guess it’s better than nothing!
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I know everyone is saying it, but seriously, this summer really flew by!! With as guilty as I feel for the amount of time I spend at my computer away from my kiddos and hubby, I’m so grateful that I’ve been able to squeeze in lots of fun family time over summer break. Here are some photos of my Kindergartener, 2nd and 4th graders (all three in Elementary school now!!) on the first day of school.
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So, I went on and on about how much I disliked snow on Facebook today, and about how I never take my kids out sledding when it snows in St. Louis, but then…I was inspired. As the kids got all bundled up to go play in our backyard, I too yanked on a couple of pairs of pants and prepared to brave the “wintry mix” that had been showering down upon us for hours. We had so much fun!!
There must always be snow angels…
There was a lot of ice coming down with the snow, which kinda hurts your face. Sometimes it was hard to keep your eyes open, as you can see!
But that couldn’t stop “S” from trying to catch snowflakes on his tongue!
Luna (the only Chihuahua I’ve ever known to like snow) had a blast too, until her tiny little paws started to freeze!!
Here’s “L” rolling around in the snow…
More fun down the snow slide!
I’m so glad I forced myself to go outside with my kiddos and capture these fun moments with them!! I hope all of you had a really great day with your family too!
4 Comments
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Love!!!
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Thanks Kalanit!! I am ecstatic not only that I went out to take these pocs, but also that it was still snowing while we were shooting. Sooo beautiful!!
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These are wonderful! My favorites are 7, 8, 11, 13 and the one with your son cuddling Luna. Beautiful photos and what wonderful memories! Thanks for sharing.
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Ellen, those are my favorites too!!! Thanks so much for looking!! 🙂
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Fabulous pictures! Captures the spirit of Nia, You. Tracy. And all of us – the students! What an amazing first class. I am so looking forward to the healing difference you WILL MAKE in this world! Keep on SHINING!!!
Kalanit, thank you so much for your love and support!!!!! It was so great to dance with you and your beaming light and smile.
Neshama! These pictures are absolutely gorgeous and are bubbling and BURSTING with JOY!!! You radiate PURE LIGHT and I am SOOOhappy for YOU!!! xo xo xo
Thank you so much for the BEAUTIFUL words Jen!!!!
What a beautiful story Neshama! Congratulations on stepping into your magical movement power!!! What a blessing it is to the world to have you sharing Nia and your passion for moving, healing, dancing and being such a bright light! I am so far BEYOND proud of you. Your beauty & exhilaration is amazing in the photo’s…. YAAAAAAAAhoo!
always dancing with you in spirit… LV jamie
THANK YOU Jamie!!! You and Tracy were so inspirational during that amazing White Belt week. My heart overflows with love for you and I can’t wait to dance with you again in person!!!!