I remember walking into the Costners’ modern, minimalist, and refined beachfront home in Santa Barbara, CA. It was a bit after lunch on a cloudy day. The house is situated inside a gated compound that’s impossible to find from the road, unless you knew the passcode and whose residence you were looking for. At that time, they had just bought another property nearby to build their dream house at, one that will be, “A beautiful place where family can gather.” Not that this one was shabby by any means. A larger-than-life sized Peter Beard photo of baby cheetahs in the jungle greets you in the foyer. It was one of our earlier celebrity shoots so I was still feeling my way around. Their patio is steps from the vast ocean, and staring out at it reminds you that the world is majestic. This, after all, is the house of one of the world’s most respected thespians, and is the dwelling of the people most dear to him. The house cleaners were busy with their duties, so we stayed in the family room/Kevin’s office while our photographer set up. It was almost surreal, looking around at their framed family photos, and some of Kevin’s solos when he was a younger (read: very hot) movie star. I was a big Robin Hood, Dances with Wolves, (fine, even The Bodyguard and Waterworld) fan, so I felt transported to my teens. Christine, Kevin’s stunning and warm wife, had recently given birth to darling Cayden (who, as you can see, is a dead ringer for his father, and is the eldest of the couples’ three kids together).
We were a small crew, and I brought my daughter, Sabina, along with me to the shoot. Chris pulled out the Barney videos for her, to my little girl’s delight. Chris relates that motherhood has changed her outlook in life. “I have discovered a higher appreciation for time, and I think I have begun to see things differently. The giggles, the surprises, and the pleasure Cayden finds in something as simple as clapping of hands together, or spinning the tires on his tipped-over dump truck. I like how he studies faces when he touches noses and cheeks. I love the quiet and tender moments that we share before bedtime—when I know that his belly is full, he’s had his warm bubble bath, and is cozy in his pajamas—ready to have his last play and goodnight story. It is a good feeling, walking out after he has fallen asleep, knowing that he is peaceful and resting. Maybe the biggest lesson was underestimating the love I would feel. It is immeasurable."
Words and Styling: Tanya Favis
Photography: Benjamin James
*View other photos in the first issue of BC Philippines out in bookstores and newsstands, Most Beautiful Moms Issue
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