My Own- Christian & Jackson

Every summer my nephew comes to visit. At the end of the summer, he heads back to BC exhausted from Rockband challenges, covered in dirt from the Sandpits/ Long Lake/ Reid Lake/ and everywhere in between, and sprinkled with bug bites from head to toe. But we send him home with handfuls of memories and clean him up long enough to snap some shots for him to take home to his mom. As I look at the last three years worth of photo sessions of Christian and Jackson, I cannot believe how much Christian has matured and how fast Jackson’s first three years have gone by.

Christian is always so easy to photograph. He is a regular teenager; hangs out and entertains my need for updated family photos with a few giggles and a couple ‘are we done yet’ glances. But, I find myself easily frustrated when I photograph my own bundle, Jackson. He hates my camera- refuses to look at me, let alone smile, walks away, stomps away, makes funny faces and sings partial verses of Twinkle, Twinkle to remind me he is now his own person. I find that it is the comments from clients about my patience with their three year olds that give me patience to take a deep breath and continue attempting to photograph my own little man. My poor nephew works hard to attempt to corral Jackson, a feat my husband refers to these days as “herding cats”.

I leave the session wondering if I have captured anything remotely frameable for the grandparents and my lovely sister-in-law. When I got home after this session and downloaded the images I couldn’t help but kick myself for doing exactly what I ask my clients not to do- attempting to mold my three-foot tall subject into something he is not. He is not a shy, reserved, wall flower by any means. He does not hang back and wait to be spoken to. He is outgoing, curious, and free spirited. He would rather attempt a pirouette than sit with his hands calming clasped against his knees. He would rather ask me twenty why-based questions than show me his pearly whites on command. And, he would like see first hand what a butterfly looks like rather than simply take my word for it. These simple traits that makes our babies who they are are what I strive to capture during each and every photo session I do with clients. But somehow I lost sight of it when it came to photographing my own son. But lucky for me he is three and fun is in his blood. There was no way he was prepared to let me mar our family excursion with ice cream lingering on the finale. I am thankful today for the innocence of childhood fun, the curiosity of my peanut who has grown into a bean stock, and all his goofy bones that make him who he is.

These photos are some of my favourite of Christian and Jackson because they are so genuinely them! Christian the patient older cousin, happy to finally have a younger family member, and Jackson, the wee squirt there to attempt to push every single one of Christian’s buttons. And, of course both equally as guilty of there own blend of sibling rivalry.

Thank you to both of you boys for reminding me that our family too needs the beauty of spontaneity preserved for years to come.
Thank you for the giggles, the hugs, the twenty questions I could answer and the twenty questions I had to make up answers for.
Thank you for staying true to your own special personalities and thank you for helping me capture them.

As I look back I am so thankful to have years worth of photos to help us hold onto moments. Here are some more moments, I will tresure for years to come:

Kudos from Adele

Cait – I just love them! The photo’s of Jackson made my morning and I love that his toe nails still have polish… can’t wait for our session!!

Kudos from Tricia Forde

Beautifully captured…both in the photos and in your words. Such a talent!

Kudos from Pat Bowden

What wonderful memories and keepsakes! Looks like it was a hoot with these two handsome boys! I love Jackson’s polish!!

Kudos from Pat Bowden

Oh my gosh, what a cutie and a little character your little man is. His photos are awesome. I just LOVE all his expressions. Hope I get to meet him one day.

Kudos from Amanda Malcolm

OMG! I cannot believe how cute Jackson is! Look at those blue eyes!!  And … his little outfit is so adorable! His shirt, jeans, sandals … and his little painted toes! Love it all! lol Great pics!

Kudos from Ev

Caitlin – What great shots. I could not help but laugh out loud at Jackson. What a character! And I especially love his nail polish.

Kudos from Brenda Hickey

Your work is beautiful, Caitlin, and your little man is quite the character