O Grace Photography: Davis Family

I met Lani 12 years ago when I was looking for a roomate mid-semester in college because mine decided to move back home...those of you who have ever looked for a roomate mid semester before it is not fun at all. Let's see I had every wack-o in the entire state. I had the girl who wanted to teach flute lessons in my living room, the 40 year old man (I was 21 at the time so not a good fit), then it only got worse from there.... I was never a big roomate person mainly because I am a little OCD about how my house is kept, I was probably the only college student with all white furniture and never left my apartment without making my bed. So to be honest when Lani walked in the door I thought she looks normal and I can't deal with interviewing anyone else. So I figured worst case scenario I will live with her for six months and at least I have my own bathroom so I will survive. Needless to say she has never gone away, thankfully. She became one of my dearest friends and is someone I could never imagine living life without. She has always taken care of me in a way, she is older than me even though she probably still gets carded everywhere. When she first moved in she thought I had an eating disorder because I only had diet coke and ketchup in the fridge....hey I worked at restaurant and went to school full time who needed to cook! So there was Lani pulling out the crock pot making sure I had a healthy diet...I swear I didn't ever even go to the grocery store before I met her as sad as it sounds. I was lucky that school came really easy to me and so I spent my time biking and going to happy hour. She was the serious one with the sales job, a designer wardrobe and actually went to the study groups on Friday nights. I know it would drive her crazy that I would come in and out at all hours and somehow, still to this day don't know how, would pull an A in a class (I think having kids made my brain shrink, but Lani can tell you I was smart at one time). I went into sports radio after college and then moved like a gypsy around the country. She stayed put married her college boyfriend, Jay and went into pharmaceutical sales. I was always the one jumping off the cliff and she was the one standing at the bottom with the towels. We probably could not be any less alike, which is probably why we have always had such a good friendship. It does not matter how long we go without seeing each other, I know I can walk in her house and plop on the couch and be right at home picking up in a conversation mid-sentence and she will totally follow me. (She has way better manners than I do of course, but she accepts me the way I am and never says a word...but I do occasionally see the eye roll, but she never says anything because she knows it is who I am and she loves me). She has gone through a lot of different stages of life with me and has been a constant source of support. I had a blast shooting her family...yes her family was part of this shoot as well and they are great too! I just wanted to take a sec and thank Lani for being such a loyal and loving friend....I will always cherish your friendship! (Lani is the one in the light blue shirt)

You can view the slideshow at the bottom of this post. The shoot consisted of her parents, who have also loved me through some pretty wild stages of my life, that I hope they keep secret, and her brother's family. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

Enjoy!

Those who shoot with me know I am not a great portrait person, but this is as good as it gets with 4 small kids:) I seriously don't know what the people do who have a lot of kids to get them all behave in pictures. Any ideas would be greatly appreciate...I have already tried bribing.