If you’d like to read about how we came into being a Kansas City based photography family, or even how we came up with our name, this post in my old blog lays it out nicely. But if you really want to know who is behind OrangePeel, you need to meet my family.
This is Peter. He’s our youngest (for now). When he’s not wearing super adorable hats, he has the craziest hair. It sticks straight up and has a hint of red. I can’t bring myself to cut it just yet. He loves his food and you’ll often find him carrying his toys in his mouth like a puppy. He would ride the vacuum cleaner if I let him…he is that fascinated with it! He’s one of the most joyful babies I’ve ever met and he seriously melts my heart.
This is Truett (aka “Truebug” or “Bug”). He’s all boy. He had his first set of stitches before his 2nd birthday and already insists he’s old enough to drive. He kept me in labor for 30 hrs and continues to keep me on my toes. I can’t imagine life without him. He’s been able to sit at a drum set and keep a serious beat since he was 13 mos old. If he picked his career today, he’d probably drive a trash truck. He’s obsessed.
This is my guy, Tyler. He is (without a doubt) God’s best for my life. I think it’s safe to say I’m addicted to him. He is the most attractive nerd I’ve ever met, and I find it crazy hot that he has been known to watch Apollo 13 with his HP calculator. You know…to be sure that they’re not just making up all those calculations. I’m fairly confident that he is the only person on this planet capable of loving me as crazily as he does. He continues to break photography books and manuals down to a digestible level for me. If it wasn’t for him, I would still be flying by the seat of my pants with my camera and crossing my fingers hoping I got lucky with the 2000th shot I took during a session. He’s challenged me to whip my camera in shape and figure out the “science” behind the art of photography. He may not be behind the camera as often, but he is certainly as much of a key player in OrangePeel as I am. Can you tell how crazy I am about him??? I’m thankful everyday that he picked me to share adventures with.
And then there is me. Kami Dawn Van Slyke. Passionate. Pain in the rump. Love you ’till you can’t stand it. Intense. Opinionated. Kinda snotty at times (without even realizing it). Terribly insecure. Often overly transparent (aka “over-sharing”). Crazy in love with God. A redeemed and changed woman. A lover of Carmex (there is no substitute). Owner of countless pairs of cheap shoes (and I mean like $3/pair). Scourer of clearance racks. Rarely do I wear make up. Driving with my windows down and the A/C cranked is something I love to do in the summer. RARELY will I pass up an opportunity to eat brownies…not a brownie…but brownies. It doesn’t take much for me to get lost in a book. I am walking evidence that God finds it worth His time to love the most stubborn of people.
Our family is far too “…fearfully and wonderfully made…” to be summed up in a few paragraphs. If you come back and visit enough, I’m sure you’ll feel a part of our family in no time.
(photos courtesy of ericamay)
