While baking my mom’s crescent rolls Thanksgiving morning, gathering the Pumpkin Somethin’ and the supplemental stuffing I had made the night before, I was scrolling through a photography forum I {very much} enjoy, and the thread was about who was being asked to bring their camera to Thanksgiving dinner, with many flat out refusing, some sighing that it was expected, and a few who wouldn’t dream of not bringing the “big” camera and documenting the day. While I am conscious of not being all up in everyone’s face during the day, I am solidly in the camp that packed a bag and did a little insisting. Mainly, I can never have enough photographs, but also – last Thanksgiving I packed the camera and took some group shots, pictures of the kids and some of the food, but did not get pushy enough to do individual family groups as I had intended (Thanksgiving at my dad’s includes in-laws, outlaws, exes, siblings, steps and pretty much anyone we can squish into the tables). Turns out, my stepmother had a mini stroke that day. She is fine, but it was my last Thanksgiving with my mom, and then my dad had a stroke in February. Around the table, we have lost mothers, fathers, aunts, grandmas and grandpas, have other family members that could not come due to illness or distance. I am so grateful for the ones who were there in person and in spirit, but what I wouldn’t give for some from last year, with my mom and her wife, my sister and my niece, me with my mom and sister. So it was fairly dark, the images are not perfect, pretty noisy, “not my best work”, but I am so pleased to have them. The love is there and it is real. Bring your camera, your cell phone, your iPad. Please don’t turn away from a picture because you don’t look your best (note my daughter with a crazy barrette in her messy hair, food on her face and a thrift store dress – perfection), or are too busy stirring the beans or want to lose 10 lbs. Be present in pictures. Grab someone you love, make a goofy face. Just be there.

Missing Beni in France

Thank you so much Dad & Donna for having the whole crew, whole crew for including me and mine, Marianne for all the planning and organizing, ALL the fabulous women who cooked and baked, Gordon for crossing the pond, John for frying the turkeys, Jake for lending your voice, Marianne for getting my picture with my dad and the great turkey hat dessert with the kiddos. STEPHANIE. Love you all. Oh, and the first couple of images are from our Snoopy inspired Thanksgiving breakfast of popcorn, toast and candy. What? It’s TRADITION.

Family, Thanksgiving, Kitsap Photographer, #bepresentinphotos, #familylove, 2015, Amazing Grace