I got the chance to spend some time with fellow photographer and mother, Ajira of Ajira Darch Photography. We had tons of fun just hanging out at the park and letting our kids play. What a joy it is to talk to someone who shares a common passion.

It was also a treat for us to take pictures of each other and our kids. We moms (photographer and non-photographer alike) are so often behind the camera and rarely in front of the camera. It’s a shame that even though we spend so much time with our kids, there aren’t more pictures of us with the kids.

Here’s Ajira’s little boy, Chesaweh. Despite his blue eyes and blond hair, he is the spitting image of his mom. And oh, do his blue eyes sparkle! Chesaweh was putting everything in his mouth! Yum, wood!

I’m a sucker for baby lashes.

Chesaweh had gotten hurt and started crying.

This is what Ajira calls, “the lip.” Heart-breaking, isn’t it?

Mom makes it all better.

If there were just one thing that I could tell you about Ajira, it would be that she is such a compassionate woman. When we were checking out a little cafe as a pit stop, there was another mother who came rushing out with a crying baby. The woman was frazzled and upset and desperately trying to calm her baby. Ajira’s heart clearly went out to this woman, who was a complete stranger! I could see that Ajira wanted so much to reach out and help.

Here’s a serious portrait of Ajira.

In reality, most of the time was spent like this. We laughed a lot.

Thanks for hanging out with me. We must do it again soon!