Photo Of The Year
Although the year is not quite over, I’ve chosen my favorite photo from this year.
2022 has been a great year for me in terms of creating. I have a ton of beautiful images that I can choose from at any given moment. But this particular image stands out in my mind as one of the most beautiful and meaningful that I’ve made this year. This photo of my daughter is proof that not every image we create needs to have a complex backstory to be important.
So, the story of this photo is extremely simple and straight forward. My daughter was trying on her new scarves. As she was coming down the stairs, I was on my way up the stairs. I saw how the light was hitting her face, so I asked her to stand there while I go grab my camera. I came back within a second or two and made the photo. I made a few frames just for the sake of variety, but ultimately this is the one that really spoke to me. That’s it. Easy right?
As you can see, sometimes the most simple, unassuming, moments can make for some of our greatest, or, most favorite work.
Don’t be afraid of “regular” moments. Often times they are overlooked, but totally beautiful. As long as you have a camera to record what you see, you will always be able to create something special.
Happy 23rd Birthday Ameera!!!
Happy Birthday to my first born child. My little Angel. I love you!!!
P.S. I miss you being this tiny because, you were such a little funny character. I pray that someday you’ll get to experience the same joy that I feel as your father with a child of your own. And I hope they’re as funny as you were! 😉
Happy 22nd Birthday!!!
It’s truly perplexing my mind that my baby is now a 22 year old young woman. How did we get this far so fast?
I just want to let you know how much I love and appreciate you. As we celebrate you today, please forgive me if I’m overbearing and emotional. Someday you’ll have kids of your own and you’ll fully understand what’s going on inside of me right now. It’s an incredible honor and pleasure to have you as a daughter. I thank God for you!!!
Now, let’s get this party started!!!!
StarChild
Beautiful star-child, with a glow so bright
You illuminate the day, as well as you do the night
Confusing to most humans, you’re a complex sight
For you may be dark, but you are also the light
Young Queen
Happy 21st birthday to my first born child, my young Queen. It’s so hard to process this much time passing by, and what was once my little baby has become a full grown woman! With every passing year I feel both happy and sad. I try to enjoy every moment with you because I know your next steps in life will move you away from me, and I’ll have to learn how to let you go…How did we come this far so fast?! Seems like you were just graduating high school, and now this! No matter what, you’ll always be my baby.
I love you with all my heart!!!
Grown Woman
Happy Birthday to my first born. I can’t believe that you’re 20 years old today! Where did all this time go? Sometimes I sit back and think, it really trips me out that you were actually born in the 90’s. I’m so proud of the woman you’re becoming. As a father you make me so happy! I wish you all the best going forward in your life. You’re one of the sweetest people I know and I pray you’ll always stay that way. Oh yeah, you may look just like your mom but, you act just like your old man! 😉 I love you so much!!!
Senior Prom/Learning To Let Go
I remember the day you were born. That day was my very first lesson in learning how to let you go. Having to leave you at the hospital to go to work that night was hardest thing I’ve ever done. I wanted to stay with you, to hold you, look at you, let you become familiar with me. My first child. But I had to let you go…
When you finally came home, each night that I left for work I would be so sad driving away, because I didn’t want to let you go.
When we put you in daycare, it was the first time that I had to leave you alone with strangers, and everyday that I walked out of that door I had to let you go. I would stand in the window and watch you until I didn’t have any time left to give.
Your first day of school, I was so happy for you, but so nervous. When the bus came to pick you up and carry you off I cried like a baby. I stood in the street and watched as the bus became smaller and smaller, until it eventually disappeared. There was nothing I could do, I knew I had to let you go.
Since then, there have been so many moments, so many times where the only thing that I could do was stand by and let you go. It never gets any easier.
Now here we are already, senior prom! Look at you. You’re so beautiful! You look just like your mother…
Once again I have to see you off and let you go. I’m so proud, but so hurt.
I know soon you’ll go off to school, or move out on your own and I’ll have to set you free.
Eventually you’ll meet someone, fall in love, get married, and that’s when I’ll lose you. That’s when my heart will truly break…that’s when I’ll really have to let you go.
I always knew these days would come, yet I’m still not prepared.
I love you so much!!!
You will always be my baby, sometimes I wish you could stay that way.
Why do I have to let you go?…
I never want to let you go!
But I know I must…
Portrait Of My Princess
A simple black & white portrait of my daughter from yesterday as we stood outside enjoying a slight breeze and discussing our favorite foods.
Happy Sweet 16 Ameera!!!
I Can Remember Almost Everything I Was Doing At 16 Like It Was Yesterday And Today I Have A 16 Year Old Daughter. I Can’t Believe It!!! I’d Like To Wish You A Very Happy And Special Sweet Sixteen Today My Ameera (Princess) Your Daddy Loves You More Than The Word Love Could Ever Describe!!!
Flashback Friday: My Little Princess
She’s growing up so fast!!!! I’m both happy and sad… These were taken last year around the time she was to compete in her first beauty pageant. I think it’s time I make her take some new ones? Hahahahaha!!!!
Makeup provided by Nichele Hardge
Happy 15th Birthday To My First Born!!!!
Happy Birthday my sweet angel!!!! I LOVE you with all my heart Ameera!!!!
Princess Safiyyah’s Glam Shoot Pic #2
Here’s one of my favorite shots from my daughter’s first real shoot with me. I love her facial expression here. I wish the weather would have been cooler that day so we could have continued shooting because I was amazed at how beautiful she looked and how great she was doing. I’ve set a few more of these to the side to share with everyone soon. Make sure you check back often!
Makeup By Shon Sanks
Versatility By RNJ 