When dear hubby came from work, I was already waiting at the door, handed over kids, a quick kiss and out I was heading to the session. Well in time and luckily so, as there was a major car crash on Kehä I with 3 police cars and 2 fire trucks. I came in time and what a heavenly transformation I underwent from one stressed tired mama to a relaxed photographer as I was stepping into their house. I love the effect my job has on me. It makes me a better person. And there they were – a family of 5, full of smiles and good mood and absolutely, professionally ready for the shoot. Kids were almost adults, so I tried my luck:

“Everyone speaks English?”

“German,” the answer came. Now what you should know about me is that I am from a little town in the Czech republic, located mere 5 km from the border with Germany. We all speak German there. I have been working in Germany. My German is was fluent. Back then. Now I can understand pretty much everything, but if I try to speak it, my brain sadly switches to English after about the third word. Without me even knowing about it. Well, so that was not going to work. But they all also spoke English. Lucky Niki.

I really like the interaction among all of you. Rarely you can see so much understanding between parents and their teenage kids. You were great and there is a plenty of other beautiful pictures coming your way soon.

They can be summed up by words of Barbara Bush: “To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”

“Are you Janne’s mother?” I asked.

“Yes, yes, that’s me,” came the answer.

“Do you know I am going to photograph you today?”

long confused look

Me: “Janne is joining us soon, right?

I could feel her confusion growing. So she called her husband. I asked again if they were Janne’s parents. Yes, yes… without a doubt.

“Janne Mycustomer’s parents?”

And then the light shone and we discovered that no, not Janne’s Mycustomer but Janne’s Somethingelse indeed. Mycustomers live just up the road. They have their mailbox here, but that’s all …

Luckily I had enough time. Mycustomers were waiting for me. We visited a nearby swamp that had a very particular, very subtle smell. It was really dangerous in certain spots and Janne’s father of course had to go right there to pick up some rare plant for Janne’s mother. We were happy when he got back, safe and sound. The we took off the rubber boots and took some images around their garden. At the little pond, at savusauna, in a small apple tree orchard… We had much fun and then Janne and his family arrived and we had more fun and then we got tired and the light was gone and there was excellent pizza and then I had to say good-bye, but got a bag full of fresh lettuce pressed in my hands before I was able to disappear in my car. I didn’t object and made a delicious salad later.

These are just few. A quick sneak peek. The problem with you guys is that there are just too many good ones. I can’t choose!

Cheers to all Jannes and their mothers … I am curious, how many Jannes do you know? And is that the most common Finnish male name? Because it sure does look like it!

I, too, want to be classy and ravishing… Especially when my dear husband takes our kids to the ZOO by car and I have to walk to the photosession. It would be ok, I like walking, but it was far, it was +33 degrees Celsius, the sky was clear, there was no shade en route and there were no buses (Thank you, YTV, for a gap-free summer schedule. Not!). Add the heavy equipment in a black backpack. Finally I arrive. And start frantically running from one side of the lake to the other, because we have not agreed an exact spot. Sweat is dripping from my eyebrowes, my t-shirt is completely wet and, of course, I forgot the mosquito repellent at home, so now thousands of hungry mosquito ladies are dining on my skin.

And then my customers arrive. Fresh, smelling like a rose garden and all smiling and happy. Right there, that’s the moment when I want to be glamorous, radiant and star-like!

But then I take out my camera, end up on my stomach in the dirt and knee-deep in smelly water of the lake and I am thinking that it wouldn’t last long anyway. Though it could have saved the first impression I make. I hope to impress you with the photos at least. Because I was not there on Wednesday to show off, but to capture who you are. And you are…

Playful.

Acrobatic.

Cute.

Loving.

Sisters.

Family.

And very much in love.

It was a pleasure to meet you!

Oh and anyone knows a proved cure to mosquito bites that are itching so much it is driving me crazy? I want to know it!

xoxo

The little baby boy slept throughout the entire time and he had a super clean and smooth skin, even for a newborn baby. The sun shone and I really, really, really very much enjoyed this session.

This is Julietta and her two kids. Julieta is without a doubt the most beautiful woman I know in real life (and actually she is more beautiful than any of the virtual creatures magazines and movie industry daily serves us). Yet she hates being photographed. The nerves some people have! My heart aches and bleeds and my camera twists and turns in the bag whenever I see Julieta … I met her about 3 years ago when she had few weeks to the due date with her son. She and her husband were strolling through a mall where I was searching models for one project I then photographed. Unfortunately, solely to my own mistakes and wrecked nerves, the photos turned out to be a disaster. I didn’t keep them. But I kept Julieta, we became friends and I love having her in my life. Not only is she absolutely stunning, but she also makes the best hot chocolate in the world. Who would not want to be friends with her?

Julieta, darling, I love you. Don’t move anywhere abroad, my life would become really boring! And please, please, PLEASE, let me photograph you more!

And dear readers, if you like the photos, please leave a comment to tell this stubborn lady that she has to let me photograph her. Ok?

Julieta and her charming kids.

Just in case the 52 weeks challenge intrigues you, here the first 10 topics:

1. Time
2. Trees
3. Books
4. Candy/treats
5. Chair
6. Water
7. Money
8. Shoes
9. Hats
10. Tools

Where should I start? Oh, by mentioning that I love my job because it allows me to make people happy. Different people. First time mums. Parents. Small kids. Teenagers. Brothers and sisters. (getting all emotional now) People of all kinds let me in their homes and close to their hearts, if just for a moment. It’s precious. It’s priceless. I value it above all. And this time powers of universe brought me the most exceptional family. A sister and two brothers, grown-ups, who share their lives, sorrow and happiness alike, so tightly that they made me feel like I want to be part of it for longer than just a moment or two. And what more – they were absolutely cool in front of the camera as well. We had so much fun, I hope the pictures show it! (besides the lovely photos we took at the beginning, there was a surprise theme … heavy metal!) You guys are not getting rid of me now …. because this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

First few for their mom and grandmother (happy birthday, by the way )…

Then we started unleashing the devils…

And finally, the Theme! There are two heavy-metal drummers in this photo, do you care to venture a guess which ones they are?

The little  ones are SO lucky to have such fun family…

33.

Not afraid to say it. I don’t feel age matters anyways. I have all I need. My husband and my kids (I LOVE YOU). My great family who always supports me – my sister and my parents who believe in every step I take. And if they don’t agree, they will tell me! A mother-in-law that is an angel (which never happens I heard…). My soulmates Irene and Raduska. My friends, Svend, Juhana and all the Czechoslovakians here in Finland. My photographers. Super cool chics who call Wende “mum”. I love you all and I owe so much of my energy to all of you. I cannot walk through life without my loved ones.

This is me and my family on Suomenlinna yesterday – fooling around and playing hide and seek. It’s hard to say with the big party still coming on Sunday, but this might be just the best gift I have gotten and not only this year. I am eternally in debt with my two awesome colleagues, wedding photographers Anna Jarske and Derek Latham. Thank you guys, you just made my day. (I am in tears really.)

(do put the speakers on…)

me and my family