Curly kale and red nails…
The Magic House. Tanya and her family hold a special place in my photography journey. I met Tanya when she was pregnant with her second baby. I had just had my second kid, and I knew that I would not be returning to the classroom. I was interested in seeing what it would be like to try out my new photography obsession on other families, so I asked if I could photograph them. They let me in, and they keep letting me in.
Not only has Tanya become a dear friend, but I have been able to photograph both important milestones and ordinary life for her family. From birthday parties and extended family gatherings, to the stretch into a new house and the stretch into shifted relationships. It’s all part of family life, and it’s all worth remembering what it looked like and what it felt like.
And this time, this time it felt like curly kale and red nails to me. Nourishment and pizazz. Comfortable slippers and bendy backs. Quiet lego moments and Clark Kent superhero vibes. Mystery carrots and cash. Car cleaning and washing made to be amusement.
It’s a reminder to do the regular stuff with a side of party time. It’s a handstand and hands in the air type of joy in the now. Even when the now is different than what the past thought the future would look like, we can celebrate the present light.
Let the magic happen.
