teenage years!

For the past few years, Taylor has shied away from the camera, so you can imagine my surprise (and excitement) when he agreed to let me take his photos for his 13th birthday.  My mom happened to be in town for Spring Break and I kindly asked for her help in watching the little ones while I had a session with Taylor.  On an earlier drive, I had found the perfect location in a grassy area near Red Top Mountain on Lake Allatoona, so we headed off for the day, which included a picnic lunch with the kids.

When we stopped for lunch, we noticed the huge boulders and lake backdrop and thought we would improvise with a session using nature's gifts. 

Taylor was very engaging in the shoot, offering suggestions and taking my lead on every shot.  But, put a boy (no matter what age) with water and you're bound to have some testing going on.  He wanted to lay between the boulders over the lake at one point and jump off of one rock to the beach in another (which I firmly demanded he not do!).  

When we got home and I was able to view the pictures, I was so happy at how they turned out.  I'm sure in a few years I'll miss all those goofy grins and faces he usually makes, but I was happy he gave me "grown up" pictures this one time.  He's growing up fast and time will fly by, so I'll cherish any photos he "lets" me take!