Claire Wise Photography

oh the thinks she can think

2012-01-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

“Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think up if only you try!” ~Dr. Seuss

the simple joys

2011-11-30T07:43:00.001-08:00

This image brings me joy. I love being able to capture sweet moments like this.

What we start and end with

2011-10-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family. ~Anthony Brandt

This is true love - you think this happens every day?

2011-10-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

I could not resist using that quote from The Princess Bride in my title for this cute young couple. The groom's name is Wesley after all and it is true love. The bride to be was about 5 years old when I last saw her and her mother is a dear friend. It's hard for me to believe.
I can't wait to see their wedding through my lens next weekend. I can't wait to see O in her wedding gown and to see the look on her groom's face.

the moments that take our breath away

2011-10-16T18:37:00.000-07:00

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” ~ Maya Angelou

Better than a superhero

2011-10-13T13:42:00.000-07:00

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. ~Marc Brown

Seven million wonders

2011-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. ~Walt Streightiff

Where there is love

2011-10-02T16:21:00.000-07:00

“Where there is love there is life.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Fathers and daughters

2011-09-25T18:24:00.000-07:00

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.
~John Gregory Brown

It was a super day

2011-08-28T18:47:00.000-07:00

We do not remember days; we remember moments.
~Cesare Pavese

The future

2011-08-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

Family faces are magic mirrors looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future

~Gail Lumet Buckley

sweet childish days

2011-06-20T21:11:00.000-07:00

Sweet childish days, that were as long
As twenty days are now.
~William Wordsworth

Oh. My. How I love these two little people (and the big people that come with them)

Spring Cleaning ...

2011-05-09T09:02:00.000-07:00

includes hard drives did you know that? :)

I am offering a spring cleaning deal I have never offered before!

If you've had a session in 2009 or 2010 and are interested in a sweet special on your digital images, please email me for details!

In case you were wondering

2011-05-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

They are here. Cicada Brood XIX otherwise known as big fat red eyed bugs that will soon be everywhere! They are already everywhere in my yard this morning.

Blessings

2011-04-18T10:34:00.000-07:00

It is as grandmothers that our mothers come into the fullness of their grace.
~Christopher Morley

One of my favorite things to do as a photographer is see moments like this one between grandparents and grandchildren. The bond is just magical - and to be able to capture that? Priceless.

this little piggy

2011-03-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

Happy today

2011-03-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it.
~Groucho Marx

somewhere in the middle

2011-03-18T06:36:00.000-07:00

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with family”
~Anthony Brandt

only in childhood

2011-03-17T12:01:00.000-07:00

Only in childhood do we ever have the chance of making dreams come true when they mean everything.
~unknown

some days are harder than others

2011-02-27T07:57:00.000-08:00

Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson

truest of true

2010-11-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog. You are his life, his love, his leader. He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart.~unknown

Brothers

2010-10-11T10:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero. ~Marc Brown

Two of my favorite boys!

October gave a party

2010-10-02T16:20:00.000-07:00

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came -
The Chestnuts, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The Sunshine spread a carpet,
And everything was grand,
Miss Weather led the dancing,
Professor Wind the band.
~George Cooper, "October's Party"

Hope you are all enjoying this (finally!) fall weather!

the extraordinary in everyday life

2010-08-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

If I could I'd work without regard to real life obligations, my spirit joyful for being able to show what I see but without your collaboration and investment I could share this with no one. You my clients make it real. You allow me into your hearts and minds and the soul of your family, an honored guest at the banquet of your life and I am beyond grateful.

I try to always reflect this gratitude in what I do. For those that read my blog or follow my work you know that I am short on words often times borrowing the words of others that represent what the portrait I am posting means to me, posting nothing but an image and a simple quote.

Every portrait really tells its story, and because of you and your investment in my business I am able to let my work speak for itself and for your children. These portraits I take of your children will be there in your home when they are grown for you to look back on and see the wonder of childhood, to see the person they were and who they still are, that is an investment worth having made.

Photographing children for me is the essence of pleasure through simplicity, truth meets moment, and magic. As they live it, I get to see again and again the extraordinary in everyday life, in portraits painted by light using my camera to capture childhood as it happens™

Each portrait is a waking dream of the rising and falling of laughter and butterflies in the garden and whispers of sunbeams through rustling trees of holding hands and best friends walking away with bare feet in beach sand and wishes blown through dandelions.

Whenever you trust me to shoot, share or store a moment as rare and precious as these. I truly thank you - the best way I can with images that reflect your children who they are in that moment.

Fall and Holiday sessions are booking

2010-07-28T06:05:00.000-07:00

and filling up quickly!

Please email me about booking and ask about the exciting new mini session option.

Also if you haven't already please consider "liking" my facebook fan page & watch for upcoming specials.

Claire Wise on facebook!

Everything is

2010-07-14T08:32:00.000-07:00

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.
~Albert Einstein

making lemonade

2010-07-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
~Marianne Williamson

Some things are more than what you say, they're what you do.

Today I decided to make lemonade.

One moment

2010-06-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in”

~Deepak Chopra

Tessa Grace

2010-06-16T18:01:00.000-07:00

There are things that we don't want to happen but have to accept, things we don't want to know but have to learn, and people we can't live without but have to let go. ~Author Unknown

Love you friend.

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/donate/

remember me when I was small

2010-06-03T07:56:00.001-07:00

Sometimes just one sneak peek isn't enough ;)

I love how tiny and precious Miss C is in the arms of her sister. It goes so quickly.

the meaning of life

2010-06-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life. ~Isadora James

The End of another school year

2010-05-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

To learn and never be filled, is wisdom; to teach and never be weary, is love.
~unknown

I have been looking for quotes about teaching and teachers as the year comes to an end. I finally found one that fits our teacher this year.

We were blessed this year with one of those fantastic teachers and I have been trying to come up with an adequate thank you and quite frankly I can't :) so I settled on taking portraits of her children.

Thank you Jessica for all your hard work, your patience, your genuine understanding, and your absolute love of what you do. You are appreciated and you completely rock. Any child that happens to get assigned to you is a very lucky child indeed.

much love,
The Wise Family

miracles and wonders

2010-04-25T13:47:00.000-07:00

beautiful sweet newborn boy!

Roots

2010-04-19T17:52:00.000-07:00

Our roots say we're sisters, our hearts say we're friends.
~Author Unknown

Gorgeous day, even more gorgeous actresses!

2010-04-17T17:49:00.000-07:00

Totally enjoyed meeting you two today! I hope you both enjoy your sneak peek! I'll be in touch soon!

Wonder

2010-04-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

"Be aware of wonder.”
~Robert Fulghum

I adore this boy! It was so so hard to narrow his sneak peek down to just this one.

I loved seeing him interact with his surroundings and his complete and totally joy and wonder at the world around him. He’s such a bright eyed curious child and I had the best time at our session watching him discover everything he could. Thanks so much for sharing your sweet boy with me this afternoon.

I’ll be in touch soon with your gallery.

Bigger than life

2010-04-01T06:14:00.000-07:00

Acting should be bigger than life. Scripts should be bigger than life. It should all be bigger than life

~Bette Davis

the wait is over...

2010-03-20T15:55:00.000-07:00

...Here she is world! Meet Miss Hazel Wren

Spring Fever

2010-03-07T13:49:00.000-08:00

It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

A little sunshine on a snow day

2010-02-15T07:13:00.000-08:00

Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine. ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

Bits and Pieces

2010-02-01T07:29:00.000-08:00

of my fine art photography is now available on Etsy! While I only have 5x5 prints listed other sizes are available upon request. If there is something on my website you don't see in the store convo me & I will be happy to make a custom listing.

My Etsy Store

Have you been enjoying the snow?

2010-01-31T09:16:00.000-08:00

We have in my neighborhood! I hope you are all staying warm and having fun with your families!

getting close to a big birthday around here

2010-01-14T10:18:00.000-08:00

and I thought I would share these cute Taekwondo cupcakes! They were super easy to make and really I think they are pretty adorable!

The theme for my youngest child's birthday is Taekwondo. She's been very involved in this sport for the last few years and I am sure her love it will continue to grow.

If you are interested in this sport check out this webpage and give them a call. I really can't say enough wonderful things about this place.

Winter

2010-01-12T14:48:00.000-08:00

Winter is the time for comfort, for
good food and warmth, for the touch
of a friendly hand and for a talk beside
the fire: it is the time for home.

~Edith Sitwell

I am enjoying my winter and I hope you all are too. Lots of hot cocoa and marshmallows these days! I have been busy doing some fine art and happily booking spring sessions.

2009-12-06T13:39:00.000-08:00

As the year draws to a close, I wanted to thank each and every one of you. I am so thankful to have a job I love and to share beautiful moments with you. To create cherished memories that you can hang on your wall is a blessing to me and fills my heart.

I also want to take this moment to tell you to want more this Christmas season.

More love, more laughter, more time with the people you love. Breath it all in and cherish every minute – even those temper tantrums and difficult moments if we did not have those how would we ever know how blessed we really are!

It all goes by so quickly, open your eyes look around and see how much MORE you really have.

Love to you & your family,

claire

Thanksgiving and the National Day of Listening

2009-11-23T16:31:00.000-08:00

http://www.nationaldayoflistening.org/

I read about this today and thought it to be important enough to pass on to others. The day after Thanksgiving is The National Day of Listening.

Take an hour out of your day and interview someone important to you – your child, a grandmother, a friend, a teacher, anyone you care about. How fun would it be to make this a yearly tradition? Can you imagine the stories you would have to look back on and enjoy?

I hope you all have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving with your families. I am thankful for each and every one of you!

happy go lucky!

2009-11-16T16:46:00.000-08:00

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

Thanks so much for this afternoon! I had a great time working with these happy go lucky children.

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek & I will be back in touch as soon as your gallery is ready.

they are growing up

2009-11-16T10:03:00.001-08:00

I look forward to having these girls as my clients every year. They have gotten so grown up I can hardly stand it. Sweet big sister has turned into a little lady and little sister has come right out of her shell and has turned into chatty cathy which was fun to hear! :)

I hope you enjoy this sneak peek - and I will let you know as soon as your gallery is ready!

Holding on easy and letting go

2009-11-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

...Gotta hold on easy as I let you go.
Gonna tell you how much I love you,
though you think you already know.
I remember I thought you looked like an angel wrapped in pink so soft and warm.
You've had me wrapped around your finger since the day you were born...

...Someday, some boy will come and ask me for your hand.
But I won't say "yes" to him unless I know, he's the half
that makes you whole, he has a poet's soul, and the heart of a man's man.
I know he'll say that he's in love... But between you and me. He won't be good enough!

~Tim Mcgraw

Seriously I am so behind but I did finally finish the wedding images and I must say every time I think I have a favorite, well it changes. I simply adore the way this father is looking at his daughter on her wedding day.

I know my husband will be looking like that one day at our girls. Well actually he might be looking like that and crying his eyes out ;) He's just about as sappy as I am most days.

Hopefully I will be posting more sneak peeks of other sessions but darn it some of my parents are spoiling my fun by wanting images kept under wraps until after Christmas - understandable but it's hard for me to "sit" on all these simply precious children!

Happy Birthday baby girl!!

2009-11-11T18:15:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday to one of my favorite babies in Nashville! I have had the pleasure of capturing this sweet girl her whole life - pretty lucky aren't I? We had a birthday mini session the other morning. She's gorgeous and sweet as can be :)

You are the best thing...

2009-11-11T17:15:00.000-08:00

that ever happened to me...

peas and carrots

2009-11-08T18:38:00.000-08:00

These sweet little siblings go together like peas and carrots. Both of them have their own distinct personalities, yet blend together perfectly. It's no wonder to me though as their parents are a perfect match.

I was thrilled when they came to me this year for some portraits. They put their heart & soul into life & love and work. My youngest gets to benefit from this by attending classes at Unlimited Martial Arts here in Nashville. I really can't say enough great things about these people!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek and I will let you know when you gallery is ready :)

The grey skies finally cleared up

2009-11-01T17:28:00.000-08:00

enough for me to be able to capture this sweet family! They have been very patient with the weather.

These parents have such a loving and easy way with their precious son it was a pleasure to work with them. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek & I will be touch as soon as your gallery is ready.

The best conversations with mothers always take place in silence, when only the heart speaks. ~Carrie Latet

these little moments

2009-10-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

make me love my job.

I sometimes feel a little bit like a spy - I get little glimpses into people's hearts. These little moments make up a life. I love what I saw today...a precious boy and his momma who loves him so.

Thank you for spending part of your morning with me. I will be in touch again when your gallery is ready!

hut hut hut

2009-10-28T16:39:00.000-07:00

this mornings session included lots of football! This little football fan is one of my favorite 3 year olds around Nashville. Thanks so much for the fun session and all the tackle lessons. I will be in touch soon about your gallery.

sweetest little farm boy ever

2009-10-24T11:52:00.000-07:00

really truly I think it's true! Today I had the pleasure to meet this happy little man and his family. Could he be any more the gentleman farmer in that b&w shot? Love those cheeks and dimples too.

Enjoy your sneak peek - I will be in touch when your gallery is ready.

oodles of fun

2009-10-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Just a little sneak peek from a fun yet freezing session today. :)

there are days

2009-10-09T10:31:00.001-07:00

That I completely utterly enjoy working. This is one of them as I sit here working on getting proofs for a gallery this is another shot from the family below.

Completely blows me away how sweet this family is - this moment? I get the feeling from just spending just over an hour with them that this IS their life - not just for my camera. It is and I love that.

One of lifes greatest things

2009-10-07T19:01:00.000-07:00

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

Sometimes in life you run across families that have that inexplicable "extra little something" this was one of those times.

Thank you sweet family for spending your afternoon with me! More to come soon :)

A string to remember

2009-10-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

October is designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

I am privileged to volunteer for a wonderful organization called Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep which provides heirloom portraits to families faced with devastating news.

Please consider supporting this organization this month.

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/donate/

Thank you!

OH! THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

2009-09-26T18:03:00.000-07:00

You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing great sights!
You'll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
~dr seuss

What a week! Lots of rescheduling due to the weather... I hope to get caught up soon.

One one day this past week I was lucky enough to tag along on a field trip - a rain or shine field trip. Lucky for us it decided not to rain.

There was lots of mud, lots of poison ivy, a few yellow jackets, a question every few moments...and tons of fun!

paper airplanes

2009-09-20T08:09:00.001-07:00

...So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again...

the end of summer

2009-09-12T13:06:00.000-07:00

Then followed that beautiful season... Summer....
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light; and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood.
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

you never know

2009-09-05T11:34:00.000-07:00

what you will see in the yards around you! I captured this shot yesterday in my neighbors yard. Amazing hawk isn't it?

Reaching out

2009-09-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow. ~Alice Walker

sometimes once is not enough

2009-08-19T06:26:00.000-07:00

“I will not play tug o' war. I'd rather play hug o' war. Where everyone hugs instead of tugs, Where everyone giggles and rolls on the rug, Where everyone kisses, and everyone grins, and everyone cuddles, and everyone wins.”

~Shel Silverstein

Had to share one more. Love the lashes and giggles.

love & joy

2009-08-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
~Author Unknown

Two babies equals double the love and joy. I loved spending time with this sweet family yesterday. It’s very plain that despite the hard work that twins bring this family handles it all with grace and love – they make it look easy!

I will be in touch soon about your gallery but here’s a little peek to tide you over until it’s ready.

ring around the rosey....

2009-08-09T09:18:00.000-07:00

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

So happy to meet this sweet sweet family! I enjoyed our time together despite the record high temps! :)

rain rain go away

2009-07-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

Sometimes it works!

I got to spend this glorious morning with some beautiful children.

Thank you two for working with me to get some gorgeous images for your parents. More to come soon!

Have a fun filled vacation.

Christmas in July!

2009-07-30T13:25:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share a small sample of some of the Christmas cards I will be offering this year. I have several really cute cards this year & I will be sharing more samples soon!

P.S. Don't tell Martha...

2009-07-28T11:41:00.000-07:00

A funny thing happens when you start working on Christmas cards in July. You start craving Christmas cookies.

I had a snickerdoodle recipe but I wasn’t happy with it so I started looking for a new one and I found Martha Stewart’s with one minor tweak it was perfect (don’t tell Martha but I added the vanilla).

I hope you enjoy & in a few days I will have some card samples up!

Snickerdoodles
(from Martha's Holiday Cookies 2005)

makes about 20 (or 40, if you make the balls very small)

2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 tsp vanilla

2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Sift together flour, baking powder and salt; set aside. Put butter and 1 1/2 cups sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in eggs. Reduce speed to low; gradually mix in flour mixture.

2. Stir together cinnamon and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar in a small bowl. Shape dough into 20 (1 3/4-inch) balls; roll in cinnamon sugar. Space 3 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

3. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until edges are golden, 12 to 15 minutes.

Sunshine on a cloudy day

2009-07-26T18:44:00.001-07:00

Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.

~Howard Thurman