Tiny pleasures...




I think a lot about contentment and disenchantment. The never-ending human quest for the ultimate, unbridled source(s) of happiness. And also how we fall from joy and satisfaction.
con·tent·ment
kənˈtentmənt/
noun
a state of happiness and satisfaction.
dis·en·chant·ment
ˌdisenˈCHantmənt/
noun
no longer happy or satisfied with something
a feeling of disappointment about someone or something you previously respected or admired; disillusionment.
On this day, I was really stressed. I had so much going on, and I've been dealing with the personal struggle of finding contentment in my day-to-day life especially lately. Plus, while K is a dear, dear friend, I was really stressed about this freelance shoot going well. Shooting for friends is hard! You never want to disappoint. But I was more than happy to help K surprise her fiance with photos of the kids!
I met K on the beach with their boisterous crew of six balls of energy. From the second they spilled out of her car, yelling and laughing and flailing and teasing and sassing, the stress started to melt and I started... having fun.
After I shot a few portraits, I suggested to K that we just let them run around so I could shoot some candids. Well before either of the present adults could think twice, all six kids (and myself!) were leaping into the ocean, fully clothed in dresses and khakis, swimming and diving into the waves and laughing our butts off. Some really beautiful photos came of this spontaneity!
Plus, I learned some really refreshing (yet so very obvious) lessons that evening.
1) I gotta loosen up.
2) I know, I know... we shouldn't be searching for things that bring us joy, but instead letting joy happen to us. I need to stop looking and start experiencing, allowing things to surprise me. Being open.
3) And the one that really gets Kayla: yeah, I could definitely be into kids one day...
:)