I really believe that I knew becoming a parent would change my world.  I knew I would become forgetful, busy, and consumed at times with this new baby.  Lots of people warned me about this phenomenon.  There are a few things, however that nobody told me that only pictures can explain.

1.  Nobody told me how intensely I could love.

This picture was taken when our son, Elim Dean, was only 1 week old.  I had this overwhelming sense of urgency to remember this moment and made my husband grab the camera.  I actually cry everytime I look at it now.  Something about that moment made me realize that nothing could ever make me stop loving Elim.  You couldn’t make me.  If you could have measured the love welling up inside of me that night, it would have been off the charts.

2.  Nobody told me about this joy, every morning.  

Oh yeah, and nobody told me that I would have to figure out what to do with a little boy’s cowlick & bedhead.  What a chore!

3.  Nobody told me how this would melt my heart

4.  Nobody told me it would be so hard to get photos of myself with my child (very thankful for my husband for taking this one!)

5.  Nobody told me how much I would love dressing up a little boy

6.  Nobody told me I would feel crazy

Yeah, I don’t have a good picture for that but you can use your imagination.  It involves crying, asking the same questions numerous times, forgetting what time the baby last ate, sleeping, bedhead….yeah, you get the picture.

7.  Nobody told me how much this smile can change my mood

8.  Nobody told me just how quickly they get from the first photo to this:

With all that said, this is what Richest Wine Photography has been occupied with for the past few months.  While this photoshoot is likely to be un-ending, there will be new updates coming your way over the next couple of weeks and months.  You may even see this little guy in a few of them.  I can’t help it.  I apologize in advance.  Nobody told me how fun he would be to photograph!

love,

Paula

1.  Smiling!

2. Sharing the recipe for this photoshoot in step by step fashion.

3.  Feeling overwhelmingly blessed & thankful to be part of an awesome church family.

So let the recipe begin!  You may notice that the ingredient that you must worry about the most is the 1 – year old.  Haha.

Recipe:  Family Photoshoot (3-kid version)

by Paula Richwine

INGREDIENTS:

Take all of your “ingredients” to a lovely location with lovely fall folliage.

Step 1:  Organize & get everyone’s attention.  Start shooting.  Go fast before the 1 year old realizes what’s happening.

Step 2: Change locations even if you don’t want to. The 1 year old likely needs a change of scenery!

Step 3: Let the 1 year old run and capture the adorableness of the older two.

Step 4: Reintroduce the 1 year old. Start shooting before somebody squeezes someone too tight.

Step 5: Let the 1 year old walk away so she can happily (smilingly) demonstrate her skills to us all.

Step 6: Ok everybody follow the 1 year old.

Step 7: Don’t let the 1 year old fall and then transfer this moment into a wonderful photo opportunity.

Step 8: Yes you guessed it….let’s all walk! Snap, snap, snap away.

Step 9: Incorporate something messy but not TOO messy. Leaves…leaves are the perfect photo mess without embracing actual dirt. Let the 1 year old roam and try to avoid the eating of the leaves.

Step 10: Back to the family shot. Remember, now the 1 year old likes all the running around and leaf-throwing so move quickly before she squirms away.

Step 11: New spot. Encourage all to smile until the 1 year old does something cute….

…like perfectly prop herself on her daddy’s shoulder. Amazing!

Step 12: Lots of praise to the 1 year old. Let those smiles be your solo portrait!

Step 13: Snag some individual shots…

….even when they think its of everyone! (i love her pose!)

Step 14: Set the children free and capture the adults. Quickly before the little ones can get too far away!

Step 15: Unwind!

Step 16: Mini cupcakes with frosting for the super sweet & well-behaved kiddos! (not photographed)

Thank you guys!  It was a perfect day for photos (unlike the snowy day we had first planned!).  You are a beautiful, amazing family.  You have served & blessed our family beyond words for the past 1 1/2 years we have known you.  I am looking forward to the many more ahead.

With love,

-Paula

(See sweetness here……)

I simply love fall, love the colors, and love a great photoshoot with friends!…

Mostly, I am in love with how these photos capture the unique season in this family;  a season where a family that was once just made of two seems much more perfect as three.  A season where a 1-year old is starting to walk…and of course fall!  A season where a child becomes so expressive that you want to photograph every face in case they don’t make that exact one again.  A season where open-mouthed kisses from from a baby are more perfect than you could have ever imagined they would be.  A season where seeing what God has created through you in a little girl, makes you love each other more than you thought possible.

Dear friends, I have loved being in this season with you.  Love you lots.  Happy fall!

Love, Paula

This was definitely a wedding “first” that I LOVED!  The simplicity & details of this wedding day made for a relaxed, childlike, celebration of a stellar couple.

I mostly loved the “backyard” wedding venue that Chris & Becky allowed to come to life.  The whole day I kept thinking:  why didn’t I do this for my wedding?  Ok, ok…maybe it was the middle of December!  Aside from that small detail, I do think that had I done the wedding thing in the spring/summer/fall months I would have loved to do a simple, backyard ceremony & party.  Chris & Becky – I think your day was a hit!  The kiddos were precious and I loved that they were your sweet bridal entourage.  Congratulations and I pray that your relationship continues to be colored with fun and superheros!

Enjoy the memoirs from your big day!

-Paula

And this is why:

Look how cute they are!  And I love that they can just as easily be beautiful as they can silly & fun.  Their wedding theme is going to be a blend of reflection on their relationship & their love for Baltimore sports.

See?

I don’t know about you but I am guessing this will be a pretty fantastic, fun wedding next spring!…..

Whitney & Bobby – I hope you enjoy your photos.  Thanks for driving all the way to Cecil County to meet me!  I can’t wait to be there for the adventure of your wedding day in May 2012!

To all you blog spectators:  please don’t miss the last photo.  I like to call it “meditation prior to catastrophic leap”.

-Paula

Oh, and of course, there were red shoes to love (& photograph)!

Katie & Nick – your attention to the little details made your wedding a photographic success!  Thank you for letting me be a part of your sweet, romantic day.  The whole day seemed to fall into place just perfectly.  I hope you are enjoying the kick-off of your marriage and I pray for many more sweet moments to come!

-Paula

It may have been the most perfect outdoor photo place I have ever been!

Bill & Cathy I am looking forward to November 4th and capturing you tie the knot.  Thanks for showing me around a new spot and for smiling!

-paula

Cameron – You are a stunning pregnant gal!  We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Baby Sedgwick.  She will be here SOON!

- Paula

One thing is for sure, she has definitely has definitely changed a lot since this…

Congratulations Colemans!  Your daughter Haley is beautiful.  I hope you are enjoying your time as a new family of three.  Hope this photos make you smile (and hopefully not make you too tearful since I know she is growing so fast!)

much love,

paula

Well, actually I can’t really pronounce officially…but the pastor did a few weeks ago when Greg & Colleen got married!  I can’t believe how long it took me to get through these photos.  That is – there were WAY too many fun photographs to figure out which ones were the gems and which ones were the duds.  So please, take this as a sign Mr. & Mrs. Caskey….your wedding was FUN and FUN TO PHOTOGRAPH! Here are the few (or really like 50) that I narrowed it down to.

Greg & Colleen – I hope you are having as much fun in your first few weeks of marriage as you did on this beautiful wedding day!  Its been so great to get to know you both and I am looking forward to seeing you guys blossom into an amazing husband & wife.  Enjoy!

-paula