Jen Reif Photography

It is the last Friday of the month and time for another installment in the “Life Stories” series. If you have missed the previous “Life Stories” posts, it is a monthly project that I am doing with a group of photographer-friends. We take a little time each month to find the beauty and magic in daily family life. Our kids aren’t posed or wearing “portrait” clothes. You may occasionally see a laundry basket in the background or smudges on the windows– it is true life as it happens.  At the end of this blog post, you will find a link to the next participating photographer in our group.

Since Valentine’s Day was last week, it only seems appropriate to do this month’s Life Story about ‘love’. If you listen to all the hype; the appropriate way to show someone your love is to buy them expensive flowers, take them out to dinner in an over-crowded restaurant. To buy them cards and flowers that will get tossed in the trash.  Personally, I think there are much better and more true expressions of love.  Kids have it right– something honest and from the heart means SO MUCH more than things you can buy at a card store.

My kids express their love by giving gifts.  They are all generous and give things freely.  Whether is it s a new drawing, a favorite toy, or a special art project, they frequently give me their treasures.  My kitchen windowsill is getting quite a collection of “treasures”, including rocks from the backyard; ceramic pots made in art class; a slightly creepy dude sitting on a small rug woven out of yarn; and a “love flag” made with crayons, scrap paper, and a paint brush.

It isn’t often that you get to hold a little piece of someone’s heart in your hands.  I am honored that they want to share their treasures with me.  These little trinkets might not be worth very much money, but they are priceless in my eyes.

Thanks for sharing my “Life Story” this month.  Please check out the next photographer in the line up, Audrey Frantz of Audrey Frantz Photography.  You can find her February Life Story here.

January is all about fresh starts, right?  Well, one of my fresh starts is to resurrect the Life Stories series that I started last winter.  About a year ago, I made a pact with some other photographer-friends that we would each make an effort to photograph our own kids more.  Something like the cobbler’s kids without shoes; so many of us had beautiful images of other families, but not many of our own.  On the last Friday of each month, we promised to share images of our own kids doing their own thing.  No poses, no special clothes, no special props.  Just kids being kids.  I made it through most of the year, but fell behind in the fall.  Now that the busy holiday season is over, I hope to get back to it.  At the end of this blog post, you will find a link to another participating photographer.  If you follow the links at the end of each post, you will eventually end up back here.

This month, I have the Story of a Winter Afternoon.  Big brother and sister still have to go to school, but my smallest sidekick and I had a chance to be cozy and warm on a particularly nasty afternoon this week.  We started with a cup of “warm chocolate”, because she says she doesn’t like hot things. 

Next up, we had a particularly engaging episode of “Angelina Ballerina”.  Is it just me or does she look a bit like Cindy Lou-Who from the Grinch Christmas story?

What cozy afternoon would be complete without a nap on the couch?

We hope you enjoyed a peek into our cozy afternoon at home.  Next up in the circle is Kathleen Weibel from Texas.  You can find here Life Story HERE.   It is probably a little warmer there than it is here!!

Last spring I was asked to contribute images to the Down Syndrome Associate of Northern Virginia’s annual calendar.  I was excited to photograph this 2-year-old cutie and his older sister.  I am honored to support their mission to to ensure that all individuals with Down Syndrome and their families receive the support necessary to participate in, contribute to and achieve fulfillment of life in their community.  To find out more about the Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia or to order a calendar full of amazing kids, click HERE.

Just a little note to let everyone know that my phone isn’t working.  I guess it decided to take a Thanksgiving break, too.  If you need to reach me in the next few days, please send me a message on Facebook or email me at jen@jenreif.com.  My new phone should get here in a few days and things will be back to normal.  Sorry for any inconvenience!

I had so much fun hanging out with these two handsome dudes a few weeks ago.  Not only are they good-looking, they are full of energy, spunk, and fun.

Little brother was so sweet and cooperative.

Big brother was so smart and full of jokes.  He was a great assistant and picked some of his own poses.  He’s a natural in front of the camera, isn’t he?

One last photo for good measure:  I did manage to catch a rare moment of quiet with Little Brother.  I adore this photo and his big brown eyes.

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