Christiana Childers Photography Blog

I’m going to keep posting photos of Ireland to keep me motivated to get my photography tour off the ground.  Here’s this week’s photo -

I snapped this shot in a little village in Co. Cork.  I was with my friends on a girls weekend and we were driving through some of the little seaside villages on the South Coast of Ireland.  We stopped for some chips and refreshment   at a little pub in one of the villages.  Across the street a man was exercising his horse by letting him swim in the bay.  I was amazed at this scene while my Irish friends were like, “We see this everyday…we’re going to the pub.”

I’ve been assisting Kelly Chandler with weddings this summer.  It’s been a blast!  She’s taught me so much.  I really appreciate her as a teacher and now friend.  She has some of my shots up on her blog.  Here’s my favorite –

So fun!!  I freaking love this job!!

I’m putting this out there….my dream.  World Wide Internet you should know my dream.  Here it goes -

I want to lead photography tours in Ireland.

There it is.  Out there.

I’ve actually been working on this for a while now.  But I’ve never posted anything about it so I’m hoping that by posting I’ll keep my motivation up, let people know and eventually give my dream life.  I’m going to add a category that is solely dedicated to Ireland and our time spent there as part of this process in getting this tour going.

I have always loved photography.  In my past life as an architect, I dreamed about changing careers to photography and admired those who had made it happen.  I tried to soak up photography knowledge from anywhere I could but it wasn’t until we moved to Ireland that photography changed from a hobby to something totally new.  It was a way to record, process and savor my life there.  It was a way to tell a story.

Now, I take what I learned about myself, about my camera into my new career as a photographer.  I think my shots aren’t just interesting photos but actually feel a little like you’re there.  A time capsule to be relived again and again.  That skill all came from my time with my camera in Ireland.

I want to take people to Ireland and not only show them my favorite spots and some good craic (Irish word for fun – sounds like crack) but also teach them to use their camera to tell a story.  Something that they can take with them that is more powerful than learning just how to take properly exposed shots.

That is my dream.

This post is about my friend H.  I’m a leader for Young Lives (Young Life for Teen Moms) so met her at the HS I volunteer at in the Day Care Center.  She was 17 and pregnant.  She is probably one of the sweetest girls you’ll meet.  She has a shy smile but smiles often.  She generously lets you into her life.  I’m truly a better person having known her the short time I have.  She planned to raise her baby but near the end of her pregnancy made the hard choice to let him be adopted by a family.  I can’t imagine getting to that point and then carrying through with the plan.  But she did.  I just wanted to do a quick post to honor her.  She put her baby’s needs in front of her own and it wasn’t easy.  It took lots of strength, courage and ultimately a strong mother’s love.

So proud of you, H!!

Before my sister reads this and starts to cry again because she couldn’t be there, this is for her – COLD.  It was really really cold.  OK, Muggs – earmuffs… but we had a really good time together.  Here are a few photos from the trip -

Our brilliant friends the Judys let us borrow their wicked cool old trailer.  The Beatties let us borrow their car to tow it in.  We do have the best friends, do we not?!  I loved having the trailer so much.  I could happily live in there….if I didn’t have such slovenly roommates! 

Does my daughter not have thee most impressive bedhead?

My parents have a 1960s VW camper van.  It’s really cool.  I wish I would have gotten some better photos of it.  You can see a bit of through the trees above.

I take offense to this bag of candy -

As I mentioned above, it was really cold.  Sadly, I did not venture to the beach much because of that.  It’s a bummer because I love the beach!  But the wind was blowing so hard.  It made really interesting sand patterns though!  I don’t know why this is but I can’t look at this image very long.  It gives me the heebies.  Anyone else with me?

And the requisite cousin shot…  I took a lot of photos of the kids and this one was the best.  Less than half of them are looking at the camera!  I guess they are at least mostly smiling…except my daughter

One last one of Blue who had the time of his young life!

Cute ‘er what?!

My neighbor asked me to take pregnancy photos of her but the difference with this pregnancy shoot and the other ones I’ve done is that I usually get asked this for baby number one… this is baby five for K!  And boy do they make cute kids!  Here are a few of my favorites from the session –

I loved to see the Love between these two…

We are excited to meet you Baby Boy!!

We here in Seattle have officially entered summer….finally!!  On the 4th, I think I actually saw my breath.  It was that cold.  And yesterday was hovering around 90 (depending on who you asked).  We had over 30 degree jump in one week!  Crazy!

So, in celebration of Summer, here are a few shots I took of my girls and my youngest’s BFF -

“Mom, do you always have to be taking pictures?!”These photos just make me happy.  Or maybe it’s that I have the window open and fans blowing wildly.  Or maybe it’s because I’m still in my Pjs!   What ever it is – what’s not to LOVE about Summer?!

My daughter took my phone the other day and started taking some photos with the Hipstamatic App that I have on my iPhone.  I had to share a couple with you -

Cool, no?

My sister said that about farting once…”Ah man, it’s never not funny!”  And I thought that was funny!  You see, she used a double negative! And she’s a comedian so the way she said it… And it’s about FARTING!….Oh, never mind….

Anyway, I think laughter is really important.  The man I married made me laugh and thankfully still makes me laugh.  I know he will continue to make me laugh.

I think that is why this image is one of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken.

I was hired to photograph their anniversary party given to them by their children.  I hope that someone catches a shot like this of me and my husband at our 58th Wedding Anniversary Party.

Hopefully it isn’t because one of us farted.

(Note: that isn’t why they are laughing in this photo, btw… They are super classy and would never have hired me had they known I giggle like a Jr Higher when anyone passes gas in my vicinity.)

I realize that I talk about yummy babies a lot on this blog. I’m sorry.  I just can’t help it. I just want to eat them up!  I’m mean, will you look at this one?!See!!  Yummy!  And he giggles like the recording of a perfect baby giggle when you chew on his cheeks.  I’m salivating again.  His mom said he’s addictive.  I agree!

And his sister is personality with a capital ‘P’!

No girl should be without a skirt to twirl in.  I still remember my favorite twirly skirt.  My mom made it for me for just that purpose.

And here are a few more of my favorites from the day-See what I mean?!  Y U M M Y!!