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Madison Family Documentary Photographer | Late Summer Sundays

From a long blue tether attached to the front porch, Chelsea bounces forward to greet me. Not yet 9 o’clock, the day has already announced it will be Uncomfortably Sticky Without a Chance of Breeze. And so it seems Chelsea’s adorable, full body shimmy leaves her champagne-hued fur just hanging in the air long after the shake.

Shannon smiles from the doorway and as I cross the threshold, I feel an honest-to-goodness wave of calm and love and kindness. Dustin and Bryce are just as sweet and authentic, and there in that instant we all feel like old friends. Genuinely. I can’t explain it. The ooze kindness.

Bryce leads the way through their cozy home into the cool backyard garden. The sun sends kisses through old ash trees, while she plucks ripe tomatoes, spindly green beans, and rosemary sprigs for breakfast.

Mother helps daughter pick tomatoes from the garden.Child's hands holding two green beans in the garden.Mother, Father, and daughter grab vegetables from their garden.Girl with curly brown hair wearing blue starred dress outside Girl wearing blue flowered dress holds bowl full of bright red tomatoes.

Simple, real ingredients line their counters. Measuring, cracking, pouring, sprinkling happen over soft conversation. And soon words compete with a symphony of bubbling pancakes &  sizzling bacon. Chelsea is torn between getting comfy in sunny spot in the dining room and visiting the kitchen on bacon’s beckon.

Black and white. Family stands making breakfast in the kitchen.Family cooking in the kitchen. girl eating tomatoes from the cutting board.Many potted plants sitting on a window sill next to kitchen sink.Dog stands under kitchen table.Bryce masters several puzzles while her parents work the stove. Both Dustin and Shannon pause in the kitchen to chat with Bryce.
Girl works on United States puzzle at the dinning room table.Girl puts pieces into puzzle.Girl sitting at dinning room table works on puzzle pieces.

Hash Recipe (serve 2-4)
1 Large or 2 Medium Sweet Potatoes (cleaned and diced)
4 Strips Thick Cut Bacon
1/2 Medium Yellow Onion (chopped)
1 Tbsp Fresh Rosemary (chopped)
1 tsp Garlic (chopped)
4 Eggs (cracked and beaten with 1-2 tsp of milk (optional))
Salt and pepper to taste

 

In a cast iron skillet, cook off bacon and set aside to cool, reserving bacon grease in pan. Turn heat on stove down to medium and add diced sweet potatoes, garlic and onion. Cook onion and potatoes about 15-25 minutes, seasoning with salt and pepper, until both potatoes and onion are soft. Add bacon back into the pan, season with rosemary and cook two minutes. Add eggs and continuously stir all ingredients until completely incorporated and eggs are no longer runny, about 4 minutes. Serve immediately with a side of sour cream if desired.

Breakfast cooking on the stove top.Hands crack eggs into bowl on kitchen counter.Breakfast cooks on the stove. Dirty dishes sit in the sink.Black and white. Young girls face standing inside her house.Pony pieces spread out on wood table.Black and white. Girl standing on stool at the dinning room table.Fluffy pancakes. Sweet Potato Hash. Toast. Fruit. Coffee. Milk. Weekend breakfast is served. Yum.Family sits down to eat breakfast, Pancakes and hash browns.Family eating breakfast serves up the food at dinning room table.Black and white. Dad sits at table eating breakfast, Daughter drinks glass of milk.Woman puts dirty dishes into the dish washer. dog watches.Father and daughter sit with disney books laid all over the floor.Father and daughter sit on the floor reading disney picture books.That’s it. The humidity has declared victory over long curly locks–adorable top knot it is. Black and white. Mother does daughters curly hair into a top knot.Black and white. Father carry's daughter on his shoulders.Everyone heads back to the garden to plant fall herbs. Bryce preps by filling her watering can from the rain barrel.
Kid fills pink rain can up from the rain barrel.Girl waters garden with pink watering can.Girl puts on a pair of child size gardening glovesGirl carry's new plant over to garden getting ready to plant it.Girl in garden wearing gardening gloves and holding shovel digs a hole to put a new plant in.Woman smells plant before putting it in the garden.Family stands around garden planting many new plants.dDad helps daughter water garden with a hose.Father and daughter roll hose back away.We end our visit all curled up, coffee in hand, and Shannon reading with such enchanting expression.  Chelsea watches the passers-by from her sofa throne. All is right with the world.

Black and white. Mother and Father read picture book to daughter on the couch.Black and white. Mother and Father read picture book to daughter on the couch.Black and white. Mother, Father, and daughters legs curled up on the couch reading a book

Shannon’s beautiful, tear-inducing  testimonial to our time together:

Jen Lucas Photography is the best local company I could ever give my money to. Her professional yet extremely personal attitude is superb. Her dedication to get the best session possible for her clients is beyond expectation. Jen was flexible when I wanted to make location changes, understanding and willing to go the extra mile to make us so happy. THE PICTURES! Oh my goodness. The quality is the top notch. capturing every moment of our day together in the best possible way. The face of our little daughter never looked better. Our aging dog was captured in a way that will be well remembered even after she is gone someday. Our life in a house that we love will be with us forever. Jen Lucas will be my lifelong photographer. It would be a mistake if you don’t make her yours.

Goodness, excuse me while I wipe away this little tear in my eye. Thank you, Shannon, from the bottom of my heart.

If you’re ready to schedule your own Beautifully Ordinary documentary session with me, contact me to set up a time to chat!

xo, Jen

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Beautifully Ordinary is a trademark of Jen Lucas Photography, LLC.

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