Meet my sweet friend Ella.  In the summer of 2007, she found Faux-Toes and asked me to be a part of her sister's visit by photographing their families together.  Ella and I shared an instant connection, but our paths didn't cross again (despite being a stone's throw neighbor)  until just recently.  Here's a look back at images that make me want to cry because the kids have grown up and changed so much!



In mid-May news spread throughout the women's bible study community that Ella is battling a mean case of ovarian cancer.

And just like that everything changes.

I contacted Ella immediately to let her know I am here for her and would love to share my talents of Faux-Toes to bestow on her beautiful family.  Ella is one of those lovely people whom you speak with and look into her big blue beautiful eyes and you just instantly feel like the most important, most special person in the world because of her affection for you. I absolutely adore being next to her and always walk away hugely inspired.  A college girlfriend and I coined the term moms have "choppy talk" -- meaning that blurbs are spoken in between making sure your kid doesn't drink the drain-o or go head under in the swimming pool. I feel like the choppy talk between Ella and me could fill a book about life and wise advice.  I probably should be recording these conversations now that I think about it. They are so poignant and sweet and smart and encouraging and uplifting. I just LOVE Ella so big, so much.

Over the past month or so, I've documented Ella going through her chemo transformation --  wig shopping, chemo treatment, and even a head shaving party. After visiting with my doctor/ Dad one weekend, I let my earthly worry grab hold when he told me starkly that chemo therapy takes away the patient's good days. I felt my mission to make beautiful images for the family ever important and I just had to break through whatever boundaries that I had met with so far in my attempts because there is "NO day quite like Today" - my personal mantra.

Let me tell you a little bit about that day we scheduled and how it turned out *nothing* like I had it mind. The day started like any other -- brighter than humanly bright in central Texas, but at 7 p.m. just as I was driving to Ella's house this big, big, big cloud rolls into the picture to completely cover the sun.  I mean, it was almost dark a good two hours ahead of sun setting schedule.  I shook my head and laughed at God (hello, flying pig!).  Here I was with this big grandiose plan of sun-drenched images and God steps in and shakes things up. So we took a step back and approached it so laid back. It was sweaty hot and the gnats were something awful and although Ella looks absolutely stunning, she later confided she wasn't feeling that great.  I was lucky blessed to get what I got for sure.  I love how pictures only tell one side of the story.  I love how the best laid plans get usurped and then the next thing you know you hear the flapping of pig's wings flying high overhead. This is why I don't really like to plan things too much. Just vague semblances or ideas or what might happen... I think of plans like in a fluid and structureless and adaptable kind of way, like an amoeba.

All of this to say, there really is no day like today for pictures of you and your family. There are no guarantees for any of us for what tomorrow holds. Faux-Toes would be honored to tell a portion of your legacy's story. Ella shared with me just yesterday how unexpectedly critical these family images have been to her during the course of her treatment. There is no greater compliment than that. Thank you for letting me share these stories with you.

Enjoy the Faux-Toes, friends!


A couple of days later, we met up again for an intimate head shaving party. Ella's good friend's husband shaved his head, too. Another beautiful day in the life of Ella and her family.

***UPDATE***I have to say something about the girl in the brown swimsuit.  That's my daughter, Rosa Jane. I know *all* parents think the world of their children and for the most part it is probably true, but I have to say there is something extraordinarily beautiful about my daughter's character.  Most times, I don't hesitate to bring my "sidekick" along to shoots, but I was a little hesitant to bring her to the head-shaving party just because who the heck knows what a kid will say, anyway, right?! But one of my favorite images is with RJ in the center smiling back at Ella and Ella's uncertain daughter in the opposite corner of the frame.  RJ's smile somehow makes it all seem okay and a great diffuser.  I hope I'm not projecting too much or overstepping boundaries when I say that. This is just one more vibrant example about how we've all been impacted by Ella the Great. Thank you for letting me share.