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Meet the Velasco Family! I have once again paid forward a gift that was given to me, and this time to the UBER-talented, Meggie Velasco! Check out her blog by clicking here. I met Meggie, and her husband, Adam, and son, Noah, in downtown Knoxville for an urban family session. I did some more light-painting, which turned out awesome, but I really think my favorites are the two casual photos. How flippin’ cute is Noah? Meggie warned me that he was an active little man, but he did such a good job giving me “just enough” to work with! ( I love the shot of him hanging upside down, although the pouty face is pretty adorable as well!)

Remember, now it’s Meggie’s turn to pay it forward. She’ll be photographing another photographer and their family for FREE. You can follow this snowballing awesome-ness at the blog completely dedicated to this project:

www.roadsidefamilies.com

ATTN: Photographers, GET INVOLVED! I know there are photographers who were initially photographed by John Michael Cooper and are having a hard time finding another family to photograph. Daryl Brewton is still in search of a family in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. His website is here:

www.darylbrewton.com

If you are interested in being a part of this project, just send an email! If you don’t know someone, this is a great chance to network with your other local photographers. Make friends, y’all. And leave some love!!

So here they are! My first family involved in the Pay It Forward Project, the Hopes! Wes, Danielle, Maddie and Millie made the long trip from Maryville to Oliver Springs for Odelia’s 1st birthday party, and because there would be a slim to none chance of us getting together on another Saturday, I suggested we take their family photo. It was HOT! I had other plans for their portrait, but sticking a newborn in direct overhead sunlight at noon is not smart. We found a shady little hill that worked just great. Maddie is a pro at taking direction for photos (hmm, I wonder why?)

So, now, the Knoxville branch has begun! Wes now has 30 days to Pay It Forward to another photographer. I already broke the rules by not taking my photo within 30 days, but there was a pretty good excuse–Millie was still hanging out in the belly. I’m hoping that this can continue on, and no one breaks the chain. So . . . all of you photographers who read this blog and want to be involved, click it on over to:

WWW.ROADSIDEFAMILIES.COM

And I’m sure Wes needs to Pay It Forward to someone . . . (hint hint–it’s a free family photo, guys–get involved! Meet someone new instead of stalking the blogs!) Here’s Wes’s Blog:

hope-photo.blogspot.com

Wes, I apologize in advance for the flood of emails you’re about to receive. Neener neener.

Check out this beautiful little family, the Hopes!

While in Atlanta, I was so incredibly fortunate to have my family’s photo taken by AltF as part of the Pay It Forward Project!  37 photographer’s families were photographed accross the US during the Very AltF tour workshop.  JMC and Dalisa are just really sweet, awesome people, and I don’t think I’ve said THANK YOU enough, so here’s another HUGE THANK YOU!! I am so happy to have my very first family photo EVER taken, finally!

The rules of the Pay It Forward Project are that I must photograph another photographer and their family.  Well, I’m taking on two!  Wes Hope and Meggie Velasco will be my photographers who will then have to photograph another photographer and their family.  See??  This way every photographer will be graced with their own family portraits!

Check out the website dedicated to this project, and see how it’s already snowballing!:

www.roadsidefamilies.com

Without further ado, my family and I.