Stefanic Family Photos [tampa photographer]

When you're on a photography hiatus because you're almost nine months pregnant and your best friend from high school asks you to snap a few sweet pictures of her family for Christmas, you find a pretty field at sunset and pull up a chair! 

It was a great time, but I have to be honest: I was a little apprehensive. I hadn't shot professionally for months, and this time I'd be stationary! It was a fast thirty minutes of having lots of fun and avoiding bugs-- since Florida weather loves the 80s in December. I shot in a way that was loose and unencumbered by my perfectionism since I was so rusty. And honestly, I was just hoping (somehow, someway) I'd be able to get a few moments that wouldn't shame me and that would make my dear old friend happy.

Once we piled into the car and headed home for dinner and catching up, I had to steal a few glances at the images on my camera... By then, the apprehension increased. I knew I saw some great moments, but I was worried they'd be just right... or in focus... or with the right light... But instead of disappointment I was blown away by the moments we were able to capture together. Because I was so free in the moment and because I had forgotten some of my old "professional" habits, I was able to see more moments of pure love and joy and less moments that needed "perfect" composition or "perfect" execution. It was a wonderful lesson of learning to "let go" and to just "sit" in the moment. It was an example of trusting myself and my instincts...

But on a much larger scope and in a much deeper way learning to "let go" and just "sit" in the moment is exactly what God's been trying to teach me during this pregnancy... and to be honest, for most of my adult life. What a beautiful metaphor this shoot was for me: Things turn out far more beautiful and meaningful and special when we let go and trust.

So needless to say, these photos aren't just beautiful to me because I am happy how they turned out, but they are beautiful to me because they are some of the people I love the most and because they remind me, yet again, that I must learn to "let go."

So here's to letting go. Enjoy!