CaseyBower Photography

beautiful boy.

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 14:00:21 +0000

Meet sweet and wonderful one week old N. He and his momma came into the studio for a session on his one week birthday, and a few days later we had a shortened session so that we could get a few photos with his dad too. I don’t have to tell you that they are a lovely family. I also don’t really have to tell you that they love this little man to pieces. I fell a little bit in love with him too, admittedly. Particularly because he blessed me by being superbly content, and slept peacefully just about all through his session. Perhaps my favorite part of going through these photos was catching glimpses of that little whirl (whorl?) of hair on the top of his head.

Before you cross the street
Take my hand;
Life is what happens to you
While you’re busy making other plans.

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
beautiful boy.

~ John Lennon

nostalgia.

admin — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:00:07 +0000

Is it possible to be nostalgic for something that isn’t even really gone? It’s September now. My three year old and I are in search of a new playground since the kids are now back in school and using the one that we used to frequent. The start of the football season is almost here (which actually has me more than a little bit excited). But today I was cleaning off the back porch and saw T’s sandals sitting there. And it made me nostalgic for summer. It was a good one. A great one with my two little guys. I’m glad there is apple picking and pumpkin carving and jumping in the leaves to look forward to, or I might just shed a tear or two.

With the autumn cool in the air, it’s time to share a session from early this summer. And it might just make you nostalgic too. A is one of my Baby Sprout clients, and was 9 months old at the time of this session. These photos were all taken on location, with about 80% of them underneath a gorgeous old willow tree (I couldn’t resist — I have a soft spot for willows). The family loves that willow tree too, and I’m sure this little girl will be having lots of tea parties and picnics there in the future. For now, though, she was happy to sit contentedly in the green grass and enjoy the sunshine. Summer, I will miss you.

Oh, to be that happy about life. Doesn’t this make you want to be a kid again?

another year older.

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 21:30:58 +0000

I’m sure I’ve said this before, but one of my absolute favorite favorite parts of this job is having the opportunity to re-connect with clients and watch their children grow. Whether I see them every three months or every year, it is always so amazing to see how their little ones have changed… And at the same time, the things that don’t change are equally fascinating to me. This is H, who came into the studio a while back for his two year session. I photographed him in the same place on his first birthday, and my goodness how he has grown up! You can view the blog post on his one year session here if you are interested (you probably want to go ahead and click that link right now –he is sooo cute). He is an amazing little boy with an equally amazing family. Mom has already promised that she will bring him back for his third birthday session next summer, and frankly I can’t wait. Till then, little man, enjoy your adventures!

ps. I’m really trying to get caught up on posting. I have a bunch of sessions as well as two weddings to share with you! I’m making a promise to myself to blog daily for the next week. So keep checking back!

From his one year session…

And now…

Something about this next one I adore, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I think H seems simultaneously like an old soul and a little boy. And the colors are so rich and deep.

Mom said this was their favorite photo from the session, and I think I might agree. So very two.

We did brave the very windy conditions outside for a few photos, and I especially love the last one of H running toward his dad. It was the last one I took. I seem to always take some of my favorite photos of H as my last shots of the day.

chronology of a session, and some news

admin — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 21:51:25 +0000

I decided to do something new with this blog post and tell a bit of the story behind the images. I thought this was the perfect session to use for this sort of endeavor on the blog and also to accompany this small announcement : I will be closing the studio portion of my business this fall.

I have been doing a LOT of soul-searching recently — seriously, it’s like I’m 16 again. And I have come to the conclusion that I am meant to be an on-location photographer. I just love it. I love being outdoors and creating environmental portraits. I love capturing the stories of parents and children in their own homes. I love the challenges inherent in going to a new place for each session, because I also LOVE the excitement and inspiration that I find in every new place. I certainly loved my studio, and I will really miss it. It was the perfect location for the type of natural light photography that I love, and it served me well over the last two years. But I found, deep down, that it wasn’t the right direction for me. I’m going back to my roots, and going purely on-location from here on out. I’m excited. I’m excited to get out and explore more of the city that I love as I search for new inspiration, and I am excited to bring you along on that journey with me.

So with that, I bring you to the story of a session. And a warm summer evening spent with 14 month old C. A few technical notes: these images are presented in exact chronological order (also something I don’t always do) since it seemed to make sense for this post. All photos were taken with the Canon 5D (not the 5D Mark II, which I own but don’t love quite as much). Most photos were taken with the Canon 50mm 1.2L lens (pure butter for evening portraits).

This was my second session with C. She was about 10 months old when I photographed her last fall at the Arboretum. At that time, she didn’t really like the outdoors. I’m happy to see that this seems to have changed. Her mom was formerly an art director with a very well known children’s company, and so I love doing sessions with her because she has such fun ideas for clothing and props. I’m not a big fan of props in all circumstances, but I do love them when they suit the moment and when they mean something to the child, and this session had exactly the RIGHT types of props. Anywhoo, without further ado…

The session started at about 6 pm in July. Mom had seen this staircase and the cool turquoise wall while out on a walk, so we did a few photos there before heading to their home for the rest of the session.

5:59 pm: I love this image because I am a total softie for father/daughter images. I love how she is so eager to get out to explore, but he’s right there supporting her.

24-70mm f2.8L lens, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:05 pm: Pretty straightforward but oh-so-stylish family portrait. What makes this photo for me: the black staircase, and the grass (which we brought with us).

24-70mm f/2.8L lens, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:19 pm: C is holding a tissue flower poof, which her mom had made for a party a few weeks earlier and which C just loved. I love the color in this one. Her stylist momma really shows in this one, I think. Her expression is also pretty darn cute.

50mm f/1.2L lens, 1/125 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:21 pm: Sunflare, how I love thee. We’re back at their house now, and the sun is just getting to that magical point in the sky where everything starts glowing.

50 mm f/1.2L lens, 1/250 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:29 pm: I adored this quilt. And I loved her little dress with it. I feel like this photo could have been taken in the 40s, and I think that’s what I love about it. Square crop to show off more of the quilt.

50mm f/1.2L lens, 1/125 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:30 pm: Bubbles! Just pure joy of childhood is the reason I love this one. I also love the light and the colors.

50mm f/1.2L lens, 1/125 sec at f/2.8, ISO 100

6:35 pm: Love the connection in this one. It feels sort of documentary. I also love that their dog is in the background.