It is both a surreal and deflated feeling I have as a mother and as a photographer right now.  What are you to feel when the one of your child's treasures, a horse who shares his name, suddenly dies a painful death?  

Tucker was the cooky little horse among the giant draft horses at Danada Equestrian Center.   He was the little guy who didn't sweat and instead of heading to the pasture with the other horses was often found fanning himself in his stall. He was the lone chestnut among the dark bays and dapple grays.  There are so many reasons for which Tucker stood out at the farm. He was our prize. He was the horse we went to find each time we ventured there.  And yet, when we arrived there yesterday he was gone.   In his place was an empty stall, an empty bridle, an empty food tub.  

Tucker was gone.   As a photographer I immediately began cataloging my brain, trying to organize and remember what photographs I had taken of him.   I remember him in the pasture, I remember him in his stall, I remember him with his fan, but unfortunately I could only remember one photograph I had taken of him.   One.   How was that possible?   He was such an important part of our time there, but I didn't have any more than one photograph of him to remember him by.  No photograph of Tucker the horse with my son Tucker.  No photograph of the peculiar horse with the fan.    No photograph of the little guy in the pasture with the giant draft horses.   I had planned to have these photographs, but I never took them.   My mind is reeling, wishing I had taken more, but I didn't.  In his absence Tucker has left a big sad hole in our hearts but also a big reminder that we need to take photographs of the things we cherish.  Thank you Tucker.

As luck would have it, I did take my camera out to Danada Equestrian Center when we visited there yesterday.  The walls of the stall were lined with decorations, memorabilia, and condolences from Tuckers fan and loved ones.  I fell short of capturing the photos of Tucker I had wanted to, but I could still capture the love that is present in that lonely stall today.  I plan to take my own kids by to say their goodbyes and write a message to our lost friend.  I plan to take pictures.   I plan to take pictures of my kids, my dog, my husband, myself.   I plan to take pictures of the things I cherish and the wonderful memories that we makes.  There is a reason a became a photographer and sometimes it takes sadness and loss to remind us these things.  I challenge you to take more photos too.  And lastly, of course, please contact me to help you capture photos of you and your loved ones! 

In tribute to Tucker and all those who cared for him, the photos of Tucker and his good-bye messages at Danada may all be downloaded for free from www.carriecheng.com/danada.

Hugs to everyone today.

- Carrie

A Tribute of Photos to Tucker, the horse
(these photos may all be downloaded for free from www.carriecheng.com/danada)

Tucker, hugs, hearts, and love go out to you.The last time I can remember seeing Tucker before he passed away and unfortunately the only photograph I have of him.

My one photo of Tucker the horse.

An empty bridle hangs in an empty stall.An empty bridle hands in an empty stall. Tucker the horse has passed away and Danada Equestrian Center. Our hearts are filled with sadness. Photo by Carrie Cheng Photography the empty bridle that hangs in his stall

A silent goodbye to Tucker the horse.A silent goodbye to Tucker the horse at the Danada Equestion Center. Tucker passed away recently due to a bout with colic and we will sorely missed. Photograpy by Carrie Cheng Photography in Naperville. Tucker's halter and fly mask he left behind

A goodbye to Tucker the horse capture by Naperville Child Photographer Carrie Cheng.A goodbye to Tucker the horse capture by Naperville Child Photographer Carrie Cheng. lovely artistry by one of Tucker's fans

another lovely picture and message for Tucker

the walls of Tucker's tribute stall

heartfelt and true

<3 Tucker

Tucker's goodbye story from the staff at Danada Equestrian Center

 a suddenly somber view at Danada with the news of Tucker's passing

A friend left behind.  We miss you Tucker!

In addition to photographing children-being-children and the connection between parents and their children, maternity photography ranks right up there as my favorite and most inspirational work.    There is something so serene and beautiful about being alone with the mother to be, directing her and arranging her to find her (and her belly bump's) most stunning angles, in the most amazing natural light, and pulling out the ultimate beauty that exists in this so important time in her life.   Many expectant mothers feel heavy, bloated, and not themselves.   I love being able to show them the true beauty that simply radiates from them.

This particular maternity shoot was no exception.   Set at expectant parents' home, with just the dog in attendance, we spent nearly two hours finding various light around the house and then finding her best angles in that setting.   I doubt there was any way this skinny little mommy-to-be fell big and bloated, but I know she was surprised and elated by the photographs.

Being pregnant is a huge life experience.   Whether a good experience or a bad experience it changes who we are and our bodies forever.   Why not cherish and celebrate this time of unforgettable memories in photographs?  

Naperville family photographer and maternity photographer Carrie Cheng.Photographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of an expectant mother. www.carriecheng.com Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng Photographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of an expectant mother just weeks before becoming a mom. Naperville family and child photographer Carrie ChengPhotographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of an expectant mother and her loyal companion. Naperville family photographer captures a beautiful young mother to be.Photographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of a beautiful young mother to be.

Naperville maternity photographer Carrie Cheng. www.carriecheng.comPhotographs by Naperville maternity photographer Carrie Cheng who specializes in families, maternity, and young children.

Naperville family and portrait photographyPhotographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng.

Naperville family photographer. www.carriecheng.comPhotographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of an expectant young mother.

Naperville family and maternity photographer Carrie Cheng takes sneak peak at a mother to be.Photographs by Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng of a mother to be.

Maternity photo sessions can be intimate in home shoots or in an outdoor setting in our around Naperville.   Please call or e-mail photographer Carrie Cheng to book your maternity session.

Any one who follows my photography, especially on Facebook, knows how I love my black and white.   I love it for the romantic feel it gives the photograph and how it leaves a clean, uncluttered focus on the most important thing in the photograph, the subject.   I use if for drama and to center the audiences attention on the feeling I want to express in a photograph.   Many of my favorite photographs of my own children I have converted to black and white as, to me, it adds to the timelessness of the photos.   

This particular session is one of the few that I felt should be entirely NOT black and white.   It is all about COLOR.  Lot's of it.   From the early summer rich green of the grass to the reds and yellows dancing off the setting sun, this particular family photography session is just brilliant in color.   These color in these photographs accentuate their love, the warmth in their embraces, the joy in them lifting their children in the air.  In the same way black and whites make a photo seem timeless, the color in these photos remind me summer, of childhood memories, of the winding down in the late evening before the kids are off to bed.  Often times before I take a photograph I will know whether I will prefer it in color or black and white and this time I new all along, color!

About the warmth in these photos, this family session was of particular importance to me.   The older son is off to school at Beebe Elementary School in Naperville with my own son this year.   I know the importance of this last summer together before it all begins... their oldest son is growing up.  

I know the parents were also concerned about how their children would be during the photo session, like all parents are.   Despite their parents fears, they boys were both little angels, engaged and enjoying the photoshoot as we played and ran through their beautiful white picket fenced back yard.  It was exactly the way a photo shoot should be.   No yelling at or over directing the kids.  We simply let them be themselves, guided them in certain ways, and as a result we have an a wonderful set of photographs that truly capture the personalities and connections between this family of four.  There were so many great photos from this session that I am tempted to post of all them.   Yes, all of them.  For now, here is a sampling of my favorites.

Naperville family photographer www.carriecheng.comNaperville family photographer Carrie Cheng captures the warmth of a young family at their home in Naperville.

Naperville family photographer Carrie ChengNaperville family photographer Carrie Cheng captures the warmth of a young family's two young boys.

Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng www.carriecheng.comNaperville family photographer Carrie Cheng captures the bond between a mother and her son.

Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng Naperville family photographer Carrie Cheng captures the love and playfulness between a Dad and his youngest son. Naperville family photographer and child photographer Carrie ChengNaperville family photographer Carrie Cheng captures the warmth of a young family as the sun sets in their back yard.