https://www.facebook.com/657623751010323/

Gwen Papp Photography

Home
United States
Ann Arbor, MI
Gwen Papp Photography

Armed with a camera, and a journal when that's not available, I'm just one woman determined to stop time. It's my superpower. ;)

08/09/2016

{Summer of Song} Time for another installment of my collaboration with Allison Shellaway! This week's lyric was:
"The first things that she took from me were selfishness and sleep / She broke a thousand heirlooms I was never meant to keep / She filled my life with color, cancelled plans and trashed my car / but none of that is ever who we are" - from "The Mother" by Brandi Carlile

When Allison gave me this lyric, I knew at the first line that it was about Saoirse for me. Oh, the sleep she took...I'm not sure she ever managed to rid me of selfishness as completely as she rid me of quiet nights. In truth, no matter what else I ever wanted to be, it was nothing compared to my wanting to be a mother. And this girl made it a trial by fire. The most difficult, the most humbling, the most exasperating job I've ever had. But that face...I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

07/20/2016

{Summer of Song} "What a gift, what a gift you can give me. Here with my heart so whole, while others may be grieving. Think of their grieving." - from What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World by The Decemberists (Check out Allison to see her take on the same lyric.

When this boy runs towards me, it is one of the purest joys in life.

07/11/2016

After a short hiatus, Allie Shellaway Photography and I are back with Week 6 of our Summer of Song project. This week's lyric is "I know it gets dark, but there's always a light." from "Ain't No Man", The Avett Brothers.

This weekend we took all four kids to a drive-in movie. It rained while we waited, the "theater" turned out to be a parking lot with bad sight-lines, kids were jockeying for decent seats and at one point three of them were crying, all before the movie even started. It was chaos, and I wondered why in the heck I put myself through things like this. And then I watched through my camera, waiting for a moment when all four of them were in the frame. And while I watched, and waited, this happened. This is what photography does for me. It helps me to watch for these tiny little moments that can disappear in the chaos. It has taught me to look for the light.

06/27/2016

It's Week 5 of my Summer of Song with Allie Shellaway Photography! This week's lyric is from "All Your Favorite Bands", by Dawes, "I hope that life without a chaperone is what you thought it'd be / I hope your brother's El Camino runs forever / I hope the world sees the same person that you've always been to me / And may all your favorite bands stay together."

Parenthood is filled with our hopes for their futures. One of my most fervent hopes for them is that they have each other. When I picture their lives as adults, I want them to have each other's backs, to enjoy each other and love each other. Starting my life as a mom with twins only made that wish more poignant, really. When I was on bedrest, pregnant with my girls, I watched a talk show in which a pair of twin sisters talked about their broken relationship. One of them wanted to be close, loved her sister. The other totally rejected their connection, dyed her hair, moved away, and wanted nothing to do with her sister. It broke my heart to imagine the girls I was carrying ending up that way. Moments like this reassure me that their path will be different.

06/20/2016

Week 4 of my Summer of Song project with Allie Shellaway Photography. This week's lyrics are by Pearl Jam, from "Sirens": "It's a fragile thing/ this life we lead.
If I think too much/ I can get overwhelmed by the grace/
By which we live our lives/ with death over our shoulders/
Want you to know that should I go/
I always loved you, held you high above, true./
I study your face, and the fear goes away."

This week was a hard one, as a person and especially as a parent. Harsh reminders of how easy it is for everything most precious to be lost were everywhere. The fears were heavy, and the sadness for those who were suffering. It's in these moments that I have to try to also remember to be present, because it's the only way I know to calm those fears. Yes, I could lose it all in a moment. But in THIS moment, all my loves were here and together and laughing, and life was good.

06/15/2016

Bubbles at Summer Fest. And a good daddy. What more does a 2 year old need? Oh, a sno-cone helps, too.

06/13/2016

{Summer of Song} Time for another installment of my project with Allie Shellaway Photography, where we take photos inspired by our favorite song lyrics. This week's lyrics are "Wherever is your heart I call home." by Brandi Carlile.

As I took photos this week and thought about these lyrics, there were plenty of options. Scenes of my crazy kids, of course. But I knew pretty quickly that it needed, actually, to be a photo of Chris. Before I was a mom, it was clear to me that he was home, and always would be. On our craziest days it can be hard to remember, but I consider myself so lucky to be living this life with him. It is literally my dream come true.

06/06/2016

{Summer of Song} Monday already?! Time for Allie Shellaway Photography and I to post another shot inspired by song lyrics. This week's lyrics are from Billy Joel: "You may be right/ I may be crazy./ But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for."

Spending time with my littlest lunatic definitely reminds me that I spend most of my life being too serious. Here he is in his minion sunglasses, his "Elsa cape" made of footie pjs worn over his clothes, and his (stolen) Elsa doll. He makes sitting in the pickup line infinitely more entertaining.

05/31/2016

{Summer of Song} We're back! Allie Shellaway Photography and I are kicking off our second summer of weekly photos inspired by our favorite song lyrics. Our first lyric is "Toss your misery out the door / What are you waiting for? / You've gotta learn to get a little happy along the way" from Diamonds and Gold by Langhorne Slim.

Two weekends ago I ran a 5k with my girls...and it snowed. On May 15th. It felt like this winter was never going to end. Looking forward to leaving behind some misery and moving on.

05/23/2016

I'm enjoying bath/shower time happening while it's still light out. One of the things that make up part of my photography year. I find that it has its own rhythm.

04/13/2016

Oh my god I love this child, I really do. But if he stands in the pantry one more time saying, "Mama, what I have?" while making this face....Well, apparently "I'll take his picture" is the end of that sentence. ;)

04/04/2016

My girl in evening light. See that little tiny dimple off to the side of her chin? I've always loved that dimple.

Address

Ann Arbor, MI

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Gwen Papp Photography posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Gwen Papp Photography:

Shortcuts

Want your business to be the top-listed Photography Service in Ann Arbor?