Sweet Little James

When Jaime's mom heard I would be in Kentucky over the holidays, she reached out to see about a gift session. Jaime is my cousin, and I hadn't met her baby yet, so I was thrilled at the prospect. My time was limited, so arrangements were made on the one day that worked for both of our schedules. That day the temperature hovered in the high 20s- not ideal for photographing a young family with a toddler, but as Jaime and I texted, she insisted it would be fine. And she was right; it was more than fine.

Little James couldn't have been more thrilled to be outside with both of his parents to play with, and Jaime and Adem laughed their way through our time. We all fussed over James' hands (were they too cold?), but really the chill couldn't be the focal point when love shone so clearly in every frame of their session. I have so many favorites and narrowing it to a few to blog was difficult. I adore this session.

Daily Photos: February Edition

If one thing is for certain it's that our move is so fast approaching that my heart hurts some days and feels infinite with excitement others. Holding that in tension feels about right and in the midst of lots of planning and preparing, life happens, good old everyday life. Every day. Here is a month of whirlwind travel and photo shoots and learning my job in Connecticut and trying to savor the present tense in Texas while preparing for a future in a new place. It's a lot of bittersweet these days, but the bitter comes because we've got a lot of goodness here to say goodbye to. 

As change approaches I want to remember the wealth of community and experiences Texas provides us (and will continue to albeit from afar).

February 1: At the end of a walk wherein we decided to put an offer on the home that will be ours at the end of March.

February 2: So many airport days, already, this year.

February 3: Uncle Jono brings the laughs.

February 4: I spy the naughtiest packing, er, helper.

February 5: How to Sunday.

February 6: My in-laws have 5 (!!!) dogs. I married into a family of animal rescuers. My father-in-law found Saunie in a Sonic parking lot, hence her name, and she's the happiest girl.

February 7: Treasure hunting at the yard.

February 8: Mornings.

February 9: I've been photographing the Poes since they wed, and they're moving just days before us, meaning this is our last shoot for a while (but I refuse to believe that it's the last one ever).

February 10: When Ty leaves for work...

February 11: Somehow, inexplicably, Nadine turned five this month.

February 12: I spy evidence of a rainy DC layover.

February 13: Week two at Connecticut Children's was marked by cold and snow and more cold and more snow.

February 14: If Valentine's Day is spent on a work trip away from your Valentine, I highly recommend butter cookies and hot cocoa alongside a good book and comfy pjs.

February 15: Olivia's family shoot last summer was when her mama mentioned a photography job at the hospital where she works. That referral led to our decision to move, so of course we had to have a winter ice cream to celebrate.

February 16: Six days away from home. Three books. Good math.

February 17: Packing.

February 18: Atlanta layover.

February 19: I'm pretty sure it is impossible for Jameson to get any cuter. Then again, I thought that last month...

February 20: Evenings. 

February 21: View from the morning walk with the best dog in the world.

February 22: Ty needed some samples for his research.

February 23: Jenny and Josh's engagement session. I met Jenny at an American Heart Association workshop I taught on smart phone photography, and she is one of my final Honey and Salt weddings. Talk about bittersweet. These two, though, are stunning.

February 24: Packet pickup for the Cowtown Half Marathon, Zeke's first! He did awesome. I don't have a photo of him racing the Sunday after this photo, because I got to run with him.

February 25: Jack, after assisting with communion at his parents' vow renewal.

February 26: When triplets birthday...

February 27: Outside looking in at her near-constant perch.

February 28: Spring approaches. Fast.

Mayflower Beach at Sunset

A Cape Cod holiday marks summer time festivities for many a New England family. When my vacation aligned with a weekend these regular clients were going to be holidaying, we arranged to meet up for their annual session. The evening we did photos looked like sunshine and warmth, a perfect backdrop for low-key family photos. It felt like a vacation session from beginning to end: beautiful and full of life, relaxed and finishing all too soon. It's been summer weather in Texas this week, and that's made me want to share all the good stuff of warm weather sessions from 2016. Enjoy!

Waiting for Savannah: A Summer Maternity

Emily emailed a few days before her maternity session and asked if I thought we could do a few photos using her in-laws' pool. We'd planned a morning session in their backyard. August in Texas, well, it's hot. The pool sounded like the perfect ending for the shoot. The anticipation of baby girl number two alongside of delight in big sister number one filled every frame of our time together, and I especially love that towards the end Emily suggested a family jump into the pool. Those photos turned out downright magical, and with the thermometer still pushing 90 in mid-October, revisiting these photos for the blog seemed pretty perfect. 

Incredibly Not Perfect

When Caitlin inquired about booking a session for her family, their third with me, she thought a lot about what she wanted to preserve about this season with her brood. Just before their shoot  she sent me an email that said, "I've finally decided to face the fact that every time my family is in front of a camera I try very hard to make us all look 'perfect.' (I use quotation marks because it's really such a farce.) Well, despite my efforts, my family and I are so incredibly NOT perfect... And I just can't do masks anymore...

"...Where I am now is that I want REAL... even if the cost is imperfect pictures where the darkness is captured along with the light." I heard a quiet yes resonate in me as I read her email. I knew their session would be something special from the moment Caitlin shared her heart. And it was. It really was. We hiked the muddy woods the children love. We wandered and talked and paused and laughed. It was incredibly not perfect. It was incredibly real and raw. Mostly it was incredibly beautiful.

This session makes me want to capture these kinds of photos for all the families I work with. They move me. I hope they move you.

Magic Light and Real Life

Real talk: the families who sign up for a session at the day's end when the light is golden and beautiful have regular kids, meaning kids who get tired and are sometimes a *wee bit* grumpy towards the end of the day. When Andrew and Alex arrived for family photos they'd had a big day, so we spent a few minutes just kinda being. Real talk, part two: almost any kids, given the undivided attention of their parents at the park will warm up and get distracted from said end-of-day *ahem* challenges.  A little bit of play, a whole lot of laughing, some fast running and a good bit of interacting created one of my favorite spring family sessions this year. So much love shines through in these photos. 

If your photo shoot feels a little crazy while in process, have no fear. Good stuff is happening, and it looks like what is uniquely beautiful in any given family, through a camera lens. I love this job.

Almost Trio: A Maternity Session

Jessica and Sam's dynamic duo of brothers will expand into a trio in a few short weeks, and I got to take a few photos as they await the arrival of their new guy. It was the muddiest day, and the boys were so excited to have an excuse to get their feet dirty and play. I've done sessions with this crew for several years, so the kids know me. I love that the familiarity yields stunning results every time, and I love that I'm getting to watch a family grow and change and make room for one more. Such a sweet time. I cannot wait to post newborn photos soon!

Just a reminder that I'm running a maternity and newborn special through August, so if these photos appeal to you and you or someone you know is expecting in that time frame (or in the fall... the special can be extended by paying a retainer while it is running), I'd love to hear from you. Pricing starts at $425 for 20 digital files, a $125 savings with the option to upgrade to the full gallery. Maternity sessions are minis priced at $275, a $75 savings and include 10 digital files with the option to upgrade to the full gallery. Some restrictions apply. So excited to fill my summer calendar with beautiful bumps and babies!

Ten Years In

The approach of their ten-year anniversary caused Elisa to reach out regarding photos. They'd never had professional family photos done, and Sal, their three-year-old was at a great age for capturing some real life moments she thought. When I met Sal, I knew I agreed with his mom's assessment. He was busy and exuberant, ready to take our photo session by storm. He is a light with a killer smile. As is best, I mostly stood back and let Elisa, Sal and dad Alex do their thing. I love what love looks like ten years in, the way a couple becomes a family and adds a little one... it is timeless and beautiful every time I get to see through my lens. I've already decided that this crew ought not wait ten more years until next time. ;)

Two, On the Way

Their twins arrived at the end of May, and we spent a few minutes before sunset documenting Marie's pregnancy before the endless rain came. The location we used would be under water by the time the babies arrived, but this was an evening of a quiet calm. When a photo session serves the purpose of recording the kind of day that is all the good stuff of a family lived out authentically as I shoot, I get excited about sharing these images.

Big Brother Cooper!

Shelly and Justin were early wedding clients who have become really good friends, and when Cooper was born two years ago, I photographed his birth and newborn session. I've documented this family as thoroughly as any family I work with, and it was so fun to do gender reveal photos for Cooper's coming-soon sibling at his two-year session. Baby Riley will arrive in June, and I'll be there to capture her first photos. I also work with Shelly at Thirty & West, an online clothing boutique that is in development. This session reminded me of what I love about the Poe family: Shelly and Justin are kind and patient as parents, attentive and authentic as a couple. Cooper adores his mom and dad. He wasn't too sure about Miss Erin at this particular session, but he was super enthusiastic when Justin threw him in the air. So we did that, on repeat and as a means of convincing him to allow me to do some other photos as well. It was a fast-paced and fun evening, and it made me excited for all that is to come for the Poes. Riley will be a blessed little girl to be born into so much love.

My Beautiful Aussie Friends

In December I had the privilege of hosting my friends Kate and Steve and their dynamic duo at the beginning of their Stateside vacation. They airbnb'd a place in my neighborhood. We spent the better part of their time in Dallas drinking our way through coffee shops and exploring here and there. I met Kate years ago at a photo workshop, and while we were fast friends, I don't think either of us realized just how good of friends we'd become through the years. We've been through ups and downs together, and Skype and FaceTime alongside of the occasional visit have gifted me one of my dearest friends. Those occasional visits have made Steve and the kids dear to me as well. We took about fifteen minutes to take a few photos on the next to last evening of their time with me. I think we captured a good bit of beautiful for such a short time. We also captured a good bit of inside joke expressions, and how said expressions came to be, I'll never tell. Looking at these photos makes me miss my friends. They're some of the best people I know.

Boys Will Be...

...boys. These boys, how I loved their big movements and brotherly buddy-hood and beautiful lives. We moved through their session with a light drizzle and loads of laughter. I think the best family sessions are the ones that are candid and casual, with affection doled out in ways that are genuine to participants. That was exactly how this session flowed, and it was a privilege to see. I am excited to share a few photos today and cannot wait until it's time to update their photos. The fun we had while capturing the beauty that is theirs makes me want to do it all over again. I hope these photographs remind them of the goodness of everyday love as a way of a being a cohesive (and fantastically fun) family, because that's what I see when I look back over this collection. And that makes me smile.

Paint the (Cow)town

Because Dallas is where I live, my clients tend to be on the Dallas side of the DFW area. The Redding crew hails from Fort Worth, so their annual session typically takes me west. This year we opted to use the newly updated Sundance Square, exploring in and around downtown as we went. I loved the change of pace. We had plenty of friendly banter illustrative of love and fondness and kids-who-are-mostly-friends whose parents still flirt with each other. I love this collection. We worried that we'd get rained out that day, and I'm so glad we weren't, because this session makes me smile. I'm grateful that I've gotten to know this family through the years, because they are engaging and warm. It's always a blast to work with them.

Meghan and Jay

These days my wedding work is being shared and blogged on the Honey and Salt site, but when my sister got engaged, of course I had to take some photos. It's Meghan's birthday today, so I wanted to share these as an excuse to say how blessed I am to have a sister who doubles as one of my best friends. Meghan is generous and kind, more of a baby whisperer than I (if you can believe such a thing is possible), a lover of people, a great hostess and one of the most articulate people I know. Jay is truly her compliment, and I've loved becoming his friend through the course of their relationship. It's been so incredible to be a part of their story. I'm guessing 29 (and holding) is going to be Meghan's best year yet. I can't wait for their wedding and all that is to come. The future is looking very bright for these two.

Happy birthday, Meghan! I love you to the sky and back.

Bandit Steals the Show

A Saturday night spent celebrating this couple and their sweet dog. Bandit was the most enthusiastic and well-behaved canine subject I've ever had at a photo shoot. I loved the casual interactions and abundant laughter shared as we captured photographs. It's clear that Terry and Patti belong together. I'm glad I got to see who they are through my camera lens. Love photographs beautifully.

Coming in February: Niece 2.0

Maternity photo sessions always put a smile on my face, especially when I have a newborn session booked to follow when the baby arrives. When my brother and sister-in-law decided to come home for Christmas, in addition to being excited about their visit, we realized the timing would line up perfectly for maternity photos. This particular session brings me such joy. At most maternity sessions I walk away amazed at the depth of love and scope of anticipation that exudes from the parents. At this particular maternity session, I got to share those emotions as I thought about my hopes for my soon-to-arrive niece. I know she is already wanted and loved, and I hope she understands from the get-go that she is a treasure and a gift. We are all so excited to meet her!

A Winter Morning

It's not often that a Dallas session means bundling up for cold weather. That said, last weekend was a total freezing rain out, and when this crew rescheduled, it meant a cold morning-before-Thanksgiving session around the Bishop Arts District. Camille was such a trooper, wrapping her hands in her scarf between takes. Camille is such a young lady, full of poise and grace. She has a big laugh and beautiful smile.I love the simple interaction and felt love in these photographs. The weather may have been cold, but I have no doubt that hearts were warm.

Everybody, All Together

My mom's family hired a photographer every few years to update family photograph to include the ever-increasing number ofnew additions. I remember both the photo shoots and looking through the proofs of those sessions time and again as a child. When Kate contacted me about photographing her husband's extended family when everyone was in town, I thought back to those sessions and was excited to get to work with a family to capture a glimpse of who they are in 2013. We gathered at the park and did the song and dance of trying to keep the little ones' attention. Everyone laughed a lot (well, the baby only laughed a little, as sometimes happens with babies...). All in all, it was a fun morning, and I wanted to share a sneak peek.

The One Where Sarah and Brandon Got Engaged

I'm not sure what was more impressive about Brandon's proposal plan- that he hired a photographer to capture the event or that he designed a website to pop the question. That he also pulled it off as a surprise for Sarah is pretty incredible... Brandon hired me, then loaded the aforementioned website on an i-Pad, which he gave Sarah as a birthday gift. After she scrolled through the site, he got down on one knee. She said yes.

Congratulations are in order. So happy for these two! And so loved getting to tell a part of their story visually.

Tuesday Night Lovebirds

We postponed this session several times due to weather and schedule conflicts, and now I'm so glad we landed on Tuesday night. The summer evening light complimented the warmth between these two. I love these photos. I love capturing love.