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The Camas Lily fields are only in full bloom for a week or so out in our neck of the woods…

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…then they seem to disappear into thin air.

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On Sunday afternoon I knew the rain was coming…forecast looked downright dismal beginning Monday.

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So….

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bee in my bonnet every year at this time…

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must…take…pictures…in…lily…fields…of…kidlets…

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They usually protest…but with my sweet Katie Kat these days, MONEY TALKS.

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Yes, it is a bit shameful to pay your children to pose for you, but if that’s what it takes to get these fleeting images of them, I will gladly make the investment (and bless her heart she decided in the end that she wanted to be paid in books from Borders…love.this.child.)

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What an amazing gift to watch your young lovely (well…10 going on 16 at 5′3″) grow up right before your camera lens…that she allows me to direct her and joke while we work on these images.

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A reader.

An athete.

A lover of alone time and solitude.

A senstive heart owner.

A snuggler and hug giver.

A comedian.

A mini-Dave (my hub) right down to the palms of her hands.

A joy in every possible way.

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This sweet princess, as does my other little (”Don’t take pictures of me“) kidlet Rachey, are marvels in my life…watching them grown into the preteens-teenagers-women who they will become is one of the most heart-breaking, breathtaking, amazing things I will ever witness in my life.

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I’m working on a exhibit called “Vintage Reverie”…interested in opinions about whether these images lose their impact when the purple is washed over.

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On a side note…..(coming Friday on the Bloggity Blog)

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Anyone up for a July trip to the Oregon Coast to renew, refresh and ignite?

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ta-daaaa!!!!

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“Ignite the Heart” retreat might just be what you’re looking for.

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Stay tuned.

Friends…I’m taking my art in my own hands and shooting a series of images of women dressed in vintage gear.

I’m calling it “Vintage Reverie” . This was the first session…and I was so inspired by how beautiful my model (and friend) was, that I came up with a list of scenarios that I wanted to style and shoot. I’m having an exhibit of these images (in vintage frames purchased at various barn sales) in tandem with Pam, hostess extraordinaire from here on June 4th in downtown Camas.

Yesterday was the perfect blend of…

…gorgeous model (another willing friend)

…beautiful window light

…mushy shabby-i-fied bed

…vintage props I’ve been collecting for awhile.

These are some of my fave images of the year, friends…this woman, Lulu, is a lovely English gal who isn’t even aware of her loveliness and it was so fun to have her view them and see her own undeniable beauty.

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(we had to do a “product shot” of the cute hair accessory my friend and client Erika of Tottie’s Pretties gave me..Cute, huh?)

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I have a small list of models for this series (I definitely have a certain “look” in my head for these shoots). If you think you might fit the bill, email me (lara@larablairimages.com)

Sunny, LBI crew member extraordinaire, wanted a portrait of her family that truly reflected who they are. Exhibit A: Mud football extravaganza. It ranks up there with “all-time fave sessions” for me. I’m a little frightened about the ring around their bathtub, but it was totally worth it!

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I’ll never look at a mud puddle the same again!