First Snow: Reba and Emmett

I think I love photographing families because I get to see a lot of firsts. I get to see babies experience new places, families create new memories and newlyweds create new lives.
During this particular shoot, I saw Emmett experience snow for the first time.
This two-year-old saw snow when he was just a baby, but this year he was able to really dig deep and see what this fluffy white stuff is all about.
He rode a sled, examined the snow and of course, tasted it.
But I'm pretty sure my favorite moment was his first smile.
When I first started shooting, he was taking it all in. The snow, the sled, the cold. So there weren't too many smiles happening.
That is, until his mama slipped on the ice.
The snow covers up a lot of ice here in town, so when Reba stepped on a patch, down she went.
And little Emmett's face lit up with a smile and a laugh. Before I knew it, they were both cracking up.
Emmett hugged a huge teddy bear for the first time and even sat on top of a huge four wheeler for the first time.
But he wasn't alone in experiencing firsts.
Shooting in cold weather is something that I am not accustomed to.
I have learned that you can't leave equipment in the car because it will fog up and take forever to get warm.
And during this shoot, I learned that you must hold on tightly to your camera, because if it slips out of your hands and lands on the soft snow, it will fog up, too.
Don't worry! It didn't fall far, but that cold crept in and fogged up my lens in no time. So the photos at the bottom might seem to have a soft filter. They don't. That's just the fog. Firsts all around!
I love seeing firsts, but even more I love experiencing the love between families and the laughter that children bring.
Here's to many more firsts and even more smiles and snow.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Living in Alaska presents this Floridian with many new experiences and indeed some challenges. I'm sure it's hard for many of you to imagine how small my town really is. I imagine you think Skagway is similar to other small towns you've been to, multiple streets, houses spread out, Wal-Mart 30 minutes away. But Skagway is really nothing like most other small towns.
Allow me to elaborate.
Our nearest Wally World is 2.5 hours away in Whitehorse. And that's with good weather conditions. If the windy roads are icy, make it 3 hours or more.
For our groceries, we shop at the Fairway Market, which is open until 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and only until 4 p.m. on Sundays. So if you realize you don't have milk at 6:05, well, you're outta luck.
We have an eclectic hardware store with goodies ranging from paints, hammers and nails, and extending as far as Christmas decor, board games and dog shampoo.
In the winter, we have three restaurants to choose from, one of which is only open until 2 p.m.
We have two gas stations, both of which are usually unmanned.
We have a few clothing stores, a Radioshack, which also serves as a video rental (you know, like Blockbuster), a library, a few bakeries/coffee shops, and a couple other little stores.
The sun rises after 8 a.m. and it's dark by 4 p.m.
So, for this Floridian, who is used to the sun and Wal-Mart, there have been quite a few adjustments.
But with those adjustments have come new adventures and experiences.

On the first snow of the year, Sam and I ventured out to find ourselves a Christmas tree. Not in a Lowe's parking lot. Not amidst crowds and Christmas music. But out in nature, surrounded by trees of all different shapes and sizes.
We drove to the Dyea flats and searched for the perfect one.
Sam had to bring me back down to earth just a bit, as I kept picking out trees that were much too big. Too tall. Too fat. "No way that's going to fit in the house!" or "How will we get it on top of the car??"
But once he got my expectations under control, we found the perfect one.
No crowds, no lines, no price tags, just us, the trees and the mountains.
We cut it down,tied it up, threw it on top of the car and praised ourselves for successfully cutting down our first Christmas tree.
Once we got it inside, I went to that eclectic hardware store, where I know the employees by name, and picked out some garland and a tree stand.
We ordered a pizza from one of our two restaurants, heated up cider on our wood-burning stove and proceeded to decorate our home and enjoy the beauty that is Skagway.
Because while there may have been quite a few adjustments, that is the beauty of living in Alaska.
Its beauty is incomparable. Its people are exceptional. And its challenges are welcome.
Because without challenges, adventures, experiences and exploration, life would be pretty boring, wouldn't it?