ERIC CHAPMAN|PHOTOGRAPHY

Yesterday I put up a swing set for my son’s first birthday.  And once I was over cursing the swing set company for their lack of useful instructions, I was able to stand back and wonder how on earth is it possible that I already have a one year old?  I look in my backyard now and see a small (and unfinished) garden, the dogs playing, and my wife swinging our child on his new swing set.  I just don’t understand how all this happened so fast.  Did I mention I’m turning 30 this week?  30!!  I guess if you’d have told me I’d have a one year old with a swing set when I was 30, I wouldn’t have thought you were crazy.  What’s crazy is it’s actually here.  I think I can deal with getting old if this is what it’s like.  Happy First Birthday Reid!

I love my family and our friends more than anything.  Thanks to everyone that came out to celebrate with us.

As you can tell, he is EXTREMELY excited about his swing.

Last summer, at a wedding, I witnessed a strangely over-the-top reaction to the “winners” of the garter and bouquet toss.  Apparently these two were the “favorites” to “win”, if I can even say that.  I find out months later that those two, Pat and Haley, were engaged 2 weeks following that wedding.  It could be the first time in history that’s actually happened.  (Other than in the movies.)  Anyways, I’m super excited about shooting Pat and Haley’s wedding.  Here’s some shots from the engagement shoot.

This post is about a week overdue.  Better late than never right?

Last week we got back from Kenya.  It was my second trip there with Compassion International in as many years.  I won’t go on and on like I usually do.  Compassion is something I’m very passionate about but I’m going to let someone else do the talking this time.  One of my favorite things on these trips is to see people witness Compassion for the first time.  Andy Blanks came along this time and he’s much better at communicating the experience than I am.  Here’s the link.  Read it and enjoy.

It also wouldn’t be a photo blog without some of my favorite pics from the trip:

Last year I had the amazing experience of meeting one of our sponsored kids with Compassion.  His name is Brian and he lives in the Mathare Valley slum, one of the most dangerous in all of Africa.  It was by far one of the coolest experiences of my life.  So when they told me we were going to have the opportunity to spend a half day with our sponsored kids, I was pumped.

Brian is so awesome.  He remembered me from last year and ran straight to me.  We took pictures, looked at crocodiles, played on some rinky-dink fair rides, I almost threw up because of them, he jumped around in an inflatable castle (I wasn’t allowed in), we kicked the ball around…. it was a great time had by all.  Brian and his family are doing great, and it was amazing to spend this kind of time with him.  I realize its very rare to meet a sponsored child and I don’t take it for granted.

Here’s Brian:

Here are a couple portraits I did while we were with a Masai tribe:

And we finished off with a trip to the Masai Mara:

I fight really hard  not to be cheesy or overly sentimental in my posts, but for this I’m going to speak the truth and you’ll just have to forgive the cheese.  Yesterday was Taylor Robinson’s last day in the Student Life office.  We’ll leave today for Kenya on another Compassion trip, and when I return to the office next Thursday, it’ll be the first time in my career that Taylor won’t be there.  He’s leaving SL to start his own production company with Jason Wallis, and I couldn’t be more proud of him for doing so.

His departure leaves a huge hole at SL.  Taylor’s a guy that made everyone around him elevate their game just a little.  We called him an idea machine.  He’s got a gift for turning a bad idea into something great, he can see all angles of any idea, he can breathe life into a creatively dead room.  Taylor’s crazy talented but that’s not the only reason he’ll be missed.  He’s one of the best friends I’ve ever had, and I’ll hate not seeing him around the office every day.  But we are all super excited for him and his new company.  He’s going to do some great things.  Good luck Taylor!

On a much lighter note, Taylor loves having his picture taken.  If a camera’s out, he’s in front of it.  Only fitting he’s going to work with a photographer.  Here’s some of my favorite shots through the years: