Enchanted

It is true that the magic of childhood is for the most part intangible however, as a professional photographer and a mother I know that the perfect moment in time captured in a picture can tell a pretty grand tale of the enchantment.

What is it exactly that makes us swoon at the sight of a sleeping baby or melt when we feel the motion of uninhibited play and total freedom of being?

Do the eyes have it? It is a gesture? Or something about the context of the shot that makes it irresistible?

Even after all these years, and many clients later, I’m not sure I can put my finger on it exactly. I guess I just know it when I see it, just as I’m sure you do.

Share with us in a photo what kind of kid stuff stops your grown-up heart in reverie.

Comments

[owlhaven]

This picture of my daughter playing dress-up really captured my heart.

http://www.owlhaven.net/2008/08/19/how-many-pictures/

Mary, mom to many

[Lan]

what a pretty picture! her eyes are mesmerizing.

http://s28.photobucket.com/albums/c218/PRIS-CILLA/?action=view&current=HPIM2205.jpg (not sure if this will pull up...)

originally posted at http://angryasian12.blogspot.com/2008/07/inner-harbor-madness.html

the father and daughter, hand in hand.

[Melanie]

The way that they still know how to love, love, love their friends:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/apartmentlife/2777639597/

[margie]

this is my youngest grandson, pinchas daniel, pinky for short, or danny for short. taken this past weekend at the cottage. the photo is the bottom photo in the post called "money shots". and i think in this photo, it is his mouth that says it all.

http://3yrplan.typepad.com/soeursdujour/2008/08/money-shots.html

[kristin]

this was SO easy. one pic has stood out all summer. defines my summer memory for 2008. freedom, glee, abandon, bravery, love, dreams, all in one shot.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2763011289/

[Jess]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2731172307/in/set-72157606538520345/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesspunky/2725142993

I think that even when they are 45 years old, I will still think of them this way, passed out cold, exhausted from a busy day.

[gonzomama]

the boy in our bed at about a month old
http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/354058820/in/set-72157603841785678/

something in his eyes and the seriousness in them. i know this won't be the last time i see this look.
http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2773134906/in/set-72157603845082673/

one of the funnier nursing moments (such a boy)
http://flickr.com/photos/59735955@N00/2239620092/in/set-72157603841785678/

[Secret Agent Mama]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/secretagentmama/2770252293/

Capturing children has always been a favorite type of photography, for me. There's just something about their innocent smiles!

[Steph Wiese]

Have you ever looked at a child (assuming you don't have children at this point) and thought to yourself 'That child looks like it could be my own'? When I see my husband play with this little darling I get that thought everytime. Let your heart melt on this.

http://stephwiese.squarespace.com/display/ShowGallery?moduleId=2513434&galleryId=109089&SSScrollPosition=0

or here...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephwiese/2777672841/

[Marcie]

How 'bout some nature kids???
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=493
http://bravo.unisonplatform.com/~marciesc/index.php?showimage=492
Not sure what the best order is to look at these....

[erin.darcy]

her laughter...her smile.
from the first moment I held her in my arms-my heart melted, she owned me then and there-and she is only just my niece.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2136855949/in/set-72157600746388045/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edarcy/2134144367/in/set-72157600746388045/

[Bridge]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2444636870_9c6414d217_b.jpg

An old one, for sure, but it captures her playing. In that moment my heart melted and I never will forget watching her play in that dollhouse.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2048/2420150698_10975e9833_o.jpg

And the same girl today playing hide and seek.

[toyfoto]

Always the little things.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/toyfoto/2739467758/

[Blazey]

This one is of my friend's daughter at a park. It cracks me up every time.

http://flickr.com/photos/blazeyphotography/2669943276/in/set-72157606059217017/

[tonya]

For me it's the sheer, untempered joy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/2435958597/
Gets me every time.

or something so classically "childish": http://www.flickr.com/photos/tonyadoughty/2606757084/

[jfrancis]

...all see
the intangible
through eyes
of the heart.
a common thread
we share.

[Melissa (Photomom86)]

I've posted this one before, but it makes me smile every time I see it.

View larger here: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/2665668407_47b66e268b_o.jpg

Blogged here: http://aphotomom.blogspot.com/2008/07/randomness.html

[amy]

some i love:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/2657209971/in/set-72157606060461676/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/2657211255/in/set-72157606171869704/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/amysahba/2632019061/in/set-72157606171869704/

[Julie Alvarez]

Oh, lovely picture here!
My heart melts when I see her play, just really playing.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2743902519/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2754953545/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2756930403/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/2730043714/

[ELK]

As your children get older...they still stop your heart
(in a good way!)

http://flickr.com/photos/sammymom/2777866729/

[Kim M]

Having a pretty noisy household, I feel the enchantment of my kids' childhood when we're out walking. I love the way my daughter looks like she's going to blow away.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/onwaterstreet/2739737204/

[maya]

being sassy in the sun!

http://flickr.com/photos/23558661@N03/2752714223/

[Jo]

I'd already posted this but it fits. She knew I wanted something more than a snapshot and a smile.

http://appletree.typepad.com/fourrooms/2008/08/my-wild-child.html

[SH]

What I love about children is that everything they do takes the form of play. Even sitting in a chair is playing:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sh_photography/2742600266/

And in the water, of course. You can't go wrong there:
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3178/2556008329_51f7e4b5bc_o.jpg

[tangobaby]

Those blue eyes on that baby is just TOO adorable! Taking photos of children is such a wonderful way to see the world through their big, clear eyes. Thank you for the fun post today!

My niece, in the garden:

http://flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2778025155/
http://flickr.com/photos/tangobaby2/2778030533/

[MelodyA.]

Thanks for the props up there. ;-)

Kid stuff stopping my heart? Letting them break the rules once in awhile. It makes them so happy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/hipmommatexas/2778932910/

[laura - dolcepics]

Love the cool aqua tone in your photo Tracey!

I love photos of kids doing what they do best... being kids! Seeing them in their element, just being them is the cutest thing ever.

http://www.dolcepics.com/dailypic/mine/

[Cocoa]

My favorite thing to do when I was little was to splash in puddles. Now when I see my own children doing the same it makes my heart melt. Here are two different photos of two of my children splashing around.

http://flickr.com/photos/7914841@N08/2220962197/in/set-72157603801459227/

http://flickr.com/photos/7914841@N08/2472894270/in/set-72157603801459227/

[shelli]

My son and I just returned from visiting his uncle and new cousin in Colorado. I'll never forget the trip and all the firsts that Aidan had - most of all, flying on an airplane. But I think the whole trip opened his little eyes to so many things.

Here my brother is pushing him on a swing - one of his favorite pastimes. I'll treasure these photos forever.

http://web.mac.com/pabis/Mama_of_Letters/Blog/Entries/2008/8/17_Colorado.html

[Bet]

The pure joy on their faces from something as simple as running in the yard with a bubble wand.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3228/2721460069_8ef470caeb.jpg

or running through the spray from the hose as you wash the car
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2528105717_16c01ee3df.jpg

Because they truly do dance as if no one was watching and even if someone is... they don't care. They just enjoy!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2151/2528870700_15e84fced4.jpg

[Sarah - Ji]

Ah, childhood...I love taking photos of Cadence and her best friend Rudden together. The innocence and playfulness make my heart full:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierraromeo/2758157721/in/set-72157604744240241/

[lora]

GOOD HEAVENS! let the tears roll. You picked some stellar photos to feature in this post. i didn't expect to CRY. thanks. =)

Here's my daily enchantment:

in sleep:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/2341354066/in/set-72157603851001638/

in love:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/2310263756/in/set-72157603851001638/

in viewing his world from a tree branch:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28987938@N00/2242332315/in/set-72157603851001638/

I am enchanted. =)

[Jenny Rebecca]

Pudgy, little hands playing with toys. :o)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/fanglord2/2737083963/in/set-72157606524148014/

[Cheryl Doran-Girard]

The shining eyes, full of mischief

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cheryldoran-girard/2778664679/

[rant: motherhhood uncensored]

What a lovely image! So much happening in those baby blues! Here are a few of my guys that I just love:

http://bp1.blogger.com/_qwAj0pUl7d0/R_FRuBiutGI/AAAAAAAAAEc/6SfosNDI0sg/s1600-h/IMG_2702.JPG

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_qwAj0pUl7d0/SAOE9PE8-jI/AAAAAAAAAIc/hn1WhhX8Rbg/s1600-h/IMG_2706.JPG

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_qwAj0pUl7d0/SE2oWWR6nsI/AAAAAAAAAPw/VVB6nCILPCM/s1600-h/IMG_4653.JPG

http://bp3.blogger.com/_qwAj0pUl7d0/SE2oVij-MZI/AAAAAAAAAPg/TNbshQ4Hqqo/s1600-h/IMG_4650.JPG

[Rhiannon]

Gorgeous photo you've posted...the eyes, the dress, the backdrop - its all perfect.

Though I also take a lot of portraits of kids my favourite at the moment is one I just finished working on today...
http://starrybluesky.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/girl2.jpg

[camerashymomma]

these days it's all about what he's learning and what he's drawn to. finding his own way in his world, finding his own loves.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/2769989144/

[claudia]

he doesn't like his picture taken anymore
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2779958612/

he still poses
http://flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/2779958458/in/photostream/

[emily]

Oh. My aching ovaries!

I have loved perusing the pics in the comments. So fun.

[carrie]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/carrielouise/2772336928/

it IS hard to define! But you do know it when you see it!

[NatureMama]

My youngest son's fascination with the outdoors and his constantly changing expressions have me in a never-ending click fest. His curiousity is inspiring, as is your site. Thank you for challenging my talents and helping me to stretch my wings.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2722138849/in/set-72157605952816701/

My daughter's freedom of spirit also inspires...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2722780704/in/set-72157605938827422/

... as does my son's zest for life.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/naturemama/2780098526/in/set-72157605948350432/

[katie]

I agree, not sure what it is exactly, but I see it here in my Syl:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52187819@N00/2780363652/

And it always breaks my heart a little when I catch a glimpse of what is to come in their gestures, like my four year old going on fourteen here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52187819@N00/2779510731/

I have to add this one even though it was taken with a shaky hand, nothing sweeter than that first wave to their reflection:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52187819@N00/2780367570/

[Bridget]

This one for sure of my little guy...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/iheartjimmyhank/2441232649/

Discovering new things here:
http://mamabelly.blogspot.com/2008/08/down-by-riverside.html

and any other pic of him on my blog:)
http://mamabelly.blogspot.com/

[Wayfaring Wanderer]

The moments when the let go.....

http://wayfaring-wanderer.blogspot.com/2008/08/sunshine-on-her-shoulders.html

[dr lyn]

I'm so late on this -- but one just melts my heart!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/11439752@N04/2675617833/in/set-72157605201836768/

[Jeana]

Your photo is absolutely stunning!

My little one, showing me a stick. She has been sticking her tongue out as in this photo since she was born. It makes me smile:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeanamarie31/2776467590/

[Mandy]

this one totally captures my adventurous little Livie in a moment of "uninhibited play"....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mandaroo/2741909528/

[stephamama]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3108/2777021134_86323bfe20.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3110/2776166575_feef3974dc.jpg

[brittany]

its the eyes...

http://flickr.com/photos/28332747@N07/2772906226/in/pool-sivyers

[Sheri]

LOVE this photo, tracey. so great.