Last month I went to David and Aimee’s for a family shoot.????At the end of the day, I was post processing their pictures and kept saying to myself “this is not – them – this isn’t what I need to capture here.”??
I went back to Aimee and told her that I thought we needed to try again.???? We talked about what we wanted and what we needed to get there and we both decided that a more photojournalistic look was going to suit their family better.???? Aimee’s end goal was not necessarily a big canvas print over the mantle.?? She wanted pictures that would save this moment in time.?? Kind of “a day in the life of…” – pictures you can look back on and remember so clearly you can almost relive it for a second.?? You don’t typically get that with a portrait shooting.
So off we went up north dragging a $40.00 Goodwill couch with us!?? 
We had an absolutely wonderful day together.?? When Aimee and I look at her picture book in the future, here is what we will remember:
*?? The race to the couch where Zandi and Zane collided mid air just after the camara snapped.?? 🙂
*?? The sound of the bugs in the trees.
*?? The pond that was devoid of all fish but had PLENTY of crawdads!?? (Much to Zane’s delight who said that was HIS FAVORITE).
*?? The “owl” the kids found.
*?? Zane’s happy dance when mama caught him a crawdad.?? What does he call them again??? Aimee ate a crawdad once – just for David.?? Not on this trip though thank the Lord.?? Maybe she grew out of that??? LOL
*?? Zandi’s gorgeous baby blues that have no equal.
*?? Ty eating WAY too much candy.?? WAY too much.
*?? David asking me to drive home without an escort because he couldn’t handle my speed up slow down thing anymore.?? 🙂
*?? Mom and I wondering how we were supposed to know that to go South on the Freeway, you had to take the North exist.?? Who engineered that piece of rocket science??? Sheeshhh.
*?? Zandi and Zane pouring POURING red crushed pepper on their pizzas.?? And then they ate it without complaint.
*?? Tanner and Zandi laughing over a silly hat until they were approaching hysteria.
*?? Finding out that Tori prefers mint chocolate chip to cookie dough ice cream.?? David and Aimee are responsible for this.?? Shocking isn’t it?
*?? And by a long shot…the best of all…mom and I staring in awe and wonder and David’s bulging biceps in these pictures.?? (See David…I make good on my promises)!!!!?? 😉
I can’t say enough how blessed I am.?? I have the four best brothers in the universe.?? Getting to spend the day with David and Aimee was definitely the kind of day that perfect one’s are made of.?? Love you.
And believe you me…there are plenty more where this came from.?? 🙂
18 responses to “What Perfect Days Are Made Of”
Beautiful pictures!! I have to say I’m jealous of your talent!! I love how you can color the couch different colors. Such a fun photo shoot! ALMOST makes me want to move back to phoenix so you can be our photographer. :). We’ll just have to arrange a session went we visit the grandparents (although) we prefer to visit them while they’re in Maine). We’ll see.
Just amazing, Doni you are amazing. What wonderful memories to last forever and ever. I wish I could get Denis to pose for just one picture. He has got my boys following him in the dirrection I dont want. They all hate having their picture taken 🙁 Mayeb the baby will allow me to take what ever I want, when ever I want 🙂
Great job, waiting for more 🙂
What a beautiful family! Love the pics!
So Cool!! I love them! What precious pictures and memories!!!
i think husband’s like johanne’s are PERFECT for doni’s type of photo shoot. they don’t have to dress up in clothes that aren’t their style. they don’t have to sit still for a half hour while trying to manage the perfect smile, look comfortable, and rein in kids beside mom. they get to go (or stay home) where they are most at ease, dress however the family is comfortable and DO exactly what the family would normally do. HE GETS TO BE HIMSELF. ok, sure, there’s still a camera there – but it’s much less pressure – and looking natural, even if it is NOT smiling at a lense, is perfectly fine and even welcomed. he’s the perfect candidate for this kind of shoot. 🙂 (like my shameless plug for Doni?) 🙂
you know how in love with these pictures i am – how i want to steal the couch idea one day. in fact, you need to keep that couch for future shoots – others will want to steal the idea for sure. david and the truck have to be part of the package for hauling the thing though. 🙂 ha! you know, it seems like i saw a bed in the middle of a field for something – a cd cover maybe? that would be a good one too. or like on cindy morgan’s album one year – a piano in the field. this whole couch idea opens up a WORLD of ideas for people to be themselves but still out in nature. maybe a family loves bowling – why not bowl in an open field and knock down logs or something silly? or maybe they all play different instruments and could play in the forest… a drumming dad could set up logs or leaves or buckets of water to be his drums – kids would LOVE the splash… so many ideas… so little time. 🙂 wish i could come be your assistant. 🙂
the memories you’ve written of are enough to make me homesick… the photoshoot did by itself… but to hear the description of what family really is – that does me in. i miss you. 🙂
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family! great job, Doni. The images tell a rich, wonderful, loving story of their family.
Bulging biceps? More like bulging brain!! If his head gets any bigger we’re going to have to custom make his shirt necks.
HA!
That’s the kind of political slander that tries to distract us from the main point. My bulging bicepts!
David
Doni- Amazing pictures as always! David, get real.
Hmmmm….apparently his big brain doesn’t include the “spell check” function. And he treats people? I wonder if it’s dangerous when he uses CPtR, or loads patients on a streptcher? Just sayin’.;)
Doni, I just can’t say thank you enough. It absolutely was the perfect day. Like you said, we can look back on this day and remember how much fun we had even though we were getting our pictures taken! I love yout list of what we will remember about this day – too cute:). One thing I might have to add though is riding on the tail-gait with the kids on the couch in the back of the truck (they just thought that was the coolest thing ever!). Oh, and David catching the trantula (I’m sure my spelling is way off – hee hee!). SO glad he didn’t let any of the kids hold it – sheesh! These are just the most amazing pictures and they do tell such a beautiful story of our family, thank you for capturing us…you did it! Love you too:).
Note: The kids were only riding in the back of the truck on the couch for a VERY short distance in the middle of nowhere. 🙂 I would NEVER let my kids ride in the back of a vehicle on the street. (Though I do remember riding in the back of trucks ON the street when I was kid – and no seat belts – and no car seats – different world back then huh?)
A VERY VERY SHORT DISTANCE I MIGHT ADD! (I forgot to clarify it only because it made complete sense in my head and I didn’t think anyone might think differently – ha ha!). It was a dirt road and I think we drove all of about 20 feet. Not to mention I was in the back with them:). And for the record, I don’t let my kids ride in the back of trucks on the street either…this was a country only kind of thing:).
way to make the disclaimer ladies… you never know when it comes to a public blog do you? I GOT YOUR BACK! i know you are great mamas and safe too!!! but yup, i too remember riding in the back of pickup trucks all over phoenix… and sitting on my dad’s lap to help ‘drive’ when i was MUCH to young (thankfully there were no air bag risks on that one… but there were plenty of OTHER risks!!!)… crazy how it’s changed.
They look like the pictures of those perfect families that come in picture frames when you buy them! Such a handsome/beautiful family! And, since I don’t want to feed David’s ego anymore, I’ll stop now! 🙂 However, Aimee, any time you need a self confidence boost, let me know! I could brag on you and your gorgeous family all day!
Thanks Kristi, I was starting to feel like David’s biceps were getting all the attention:). Just kidding! LOL
wow funny posts but sweet pic love you much jenna