Highlight Real Fast Forward!

March 4, 2016

I have no excuses, but I could use a couple more hours in a day!

Happy Friday! (FriYAY!)

Let's dive right in to images for the past few weeks, shall we?

Week 6 was "hearts".

(Can we all agree that February flew past?) GUH!

These gorgeous freckles...

These gorgeous jewel tones...

This moment.

This awesome shadow capture...

my own little valenstinse!

All of our hearts...

Week 7: MOMENTUM

Appropriate since we kind of lost momentum that week, lol.

It is so hard to keep a project like this going, but that is the challenge, right? Sometimes the themes are going to be hard to capture. It's okay. nobody gets a failing grade.

That you ever participate at all is HUGE.
Especially to me.

I went to college for 11+ years so I get this next one...

I want to go to here. That is all.
Even if only in my mind for a moment.
This is good enough for the living room wall...

This little climber with the cutest ponytail.

This exciting moment.

Twirly girl circles.

I love the lines in this one.
I can feel the movement in her hair....

Highlight Real: 52 weeks of real images: week 4: like a girl

February 3, 2016

Oh guys, life is so crazy busy and I am barely keeping my head above water.

Last week's theme is such a powerful theme, because the words "like a girl" have probably hurt each one of us at some time, regardless of gender. But girls are amazing, not weak, not irrelevant. Girls are taking over the world. They are resilient, strong, full of heart, and most importantly, they are making their way in our world mastering strides never available to women before now.

Girls are amazing. I am proud to be one, to do things like one, to be raising two strong little people who change the connotation of "like a girl" every day.

This group is vulnerable, connected, growing, and cooperative. I love it.

Like a girl.

First up. Powerful image. Girls can kick your ass.

Thank you Amy. Watching you grow as a photographer is a joy for me.

Little girls need to know they can do anything. They can win anything, be anything, defeat anything. They can hit things HARD. Like a girl.

4/52 "Like a Girl"Yes, another boxing one...this is my daughter and she does everything "like a girl", ha! Heidi is my "ride or die" adventure partner. No matter what challenge lies ahead of us she will never turn down an offer to explore and I hope… — 4/52 "Like a Girl"
Yes, another boxing one...this is my daughter and she does everything "like a girl", ha! Heidi is my "ride or die" adventure partner. No matter what challenge lies ahead of us she will never turn down an offer to explore and I hope that spirit lives on in her forever and ever!

And this one. Danielle, I can't even type without choking back tears. The feeling here - vulnerable/alone/torn shows the ravages of the war of "like a girl".

Girls can kick cancer's ass.

4/52 ~ This photo and the next are of one of the most beautiful, courageous, strong women I know and she is currently Fighting {Like a Girl}. In my job, I deal with the beginning aspects of breast cancer on a daily basis and the women starting their… — 4/52 ~ This photo and the next are of one of the most beautiful, courageous, strong women I know and she is currently Fighting {Like a Girl}. In my job, I deal with the beginning aspects of breast cancer on a daily basis and the women starting their Fights. They all begin in the same place but, unfortunately, they do not all end the same. This woman underwent a double mastectomy in November and currently has expanders in, stretching the skin enough to place implants in the next month or so. The lump on the lower outside edge of her breast is the port where they inflate the implant more and more. The line underneath the scar is a tube that runs from the port to the expander. She wanted a photo to document this time in her life, and I am beyond honored to be able to share it with you all. ~Danielle Bolton

Nothing personal, but these 2 images were so moving, I thought they should stand alone for this week.

If you know a girl who is struggling, who is being too hard on herself, a girl who needs your help, tell her she's GOT THIS.

We've got this. together.

The other submissions were lovely. But these 2 made me cry. Thank you so much for your participation in this space. It means the world to me.

Highlight Real - 52 weeks of real images WEEK 1: Arrival

January 11, 2016

Welcome to Highlight Real!

I loved all of the submissions from this week, and I am so encouraged to see the heart in your images already. I tackled my first 52 project last year, and I want you to know, it was amazing - the friends I made and the images I took were such an inspiration I wanted to do it again, (even though I didn't exactly get all 52 weeks completed.)

This year is a project in itself, and I think having a group like this just makes 2016 more fun.

Of all the submissions from this week, this one stood out most, because when I first soaked it in and then read the caption, I burst out in tears, and I don't even know these people. This is moving subject matter. I haven't been able to shake it all week, and have found myself adding this stranger to my prayer list.

This capture by Mary at Babies and Fur Babies Photography.

The arrival of daddy coming home each day is a blessing.

Eye contact. It isn't always straight into the camera, but it is incredibly powerful. Connection is such an ethereal concept to cement, but when that magic is made real, oh, the FEELS.

I love this next one by Billie at Billie Leatham Photography. So much purity in this little natural child/beast moment that embodies the beauty of childhood. Also I love little frogs.

We arrived home from camping to find frogs had made themselves at home in the corn rows, much to my husbands delight... Now if we could just get the girls to leave them there so they can the pests at bay!

Again, another heart skipping arrival - this time by Victoria over at Victoria Majors Photography. Guh. Daddy's are never so handsome as they are when they are gushing over a baby girl. I absolutely LOVE hospital newborn shoots. The windows, the little clear baby viewer, the fresh new love. The arrival of butterfly kisses and a heart full of promises!

...here is the 'arrival' of a friends baby with daddy seeing her for the first time.

I LOVE love stories, and wedding kisses. The arrival of their new family, their future, their true partnership. This gorgeous in-the-moment image will certainly be a favorite for this beautiful lifetime they are building together. This priceless moment captured by Cat at Cat Runyan Portraits. Lucky THEM!

Arrival. I photographed a wedding on New Year's day and here's their moment just before their first kiss as husband and wife. I guess you could say they're just arrived at an entirely new point in their lives. — Arrival.
I photographed a wedding on New Year's day and here's their moment just before their first kiss as husband and wife. I guess you could say they're just arrived at an entirely new point in their lives.

Denise from Bella Light Photography sent in this gorgeous capture. I don't know if I am feeling sentimental about the belly, the diaper, or the quiet wondrous look of a tiny seeing something for the first time, but this is beautiful. The light washes over this little with such a perfect sweetness, I just want to snuggle up and kiss this one!

Please take a moment to enjoy all of the images from this week...

arrival images of people of loved ones...

So excited to see the group grow and get to know each other!