In January, my dear friends welcomed their third daughter, beautiful Rosie. I cannot believe I'm just now blogging these photos. I'm mesmerized how wide-eyed this sweet nugget was then (and she remains so now). I'm amazed that this is the third little miss in this family that I've captured through my lens. I love that Ellie, Mae and Rosie get to grow up with the gift of each other and that they belong to two of my favorite people. Revisiting these photos makes me want to photograph All. The. Babies. and also makes me so grateful for friends who entrust me with documenting their families as they grow and change.
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!
Brand New Big Sisters Make the Sweetest Newborn Session Magic
Poppy's arrival meant two-year-old Violet graduated to a new role of big sisterhood. I love seeing the way a family grows and expands not just in number when a newborn comes home. Hearts open wide and even the tiniest toddlers discover they are capable of great big love. Violet's busy, big-girl-self nestled alongside of sleepy Poppy was not the only magic moment at the session, but it is a good place to start in sharing a family's warm welcome of a second beautiful daughter.
Newborn sessions are day in and day out among my favorites, and in sharing this session I want to share that I am running a newborn special through the summer. Full newborn sessions with all digital files are $550 (a $300 savings) or with 25 digital files are $425 (a $125 savings). Maternity options are also available. If you or someone you know is due June through August, I'd love to hear from you. I want all families to have beautiful photographs like Poppy's sweet session!
Adventures in the PNW with the Bestie and Her Sidekicks
"To live would be an awfully big adventure." -J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan A friendship forged during twenty-something globetrotting fueled by passion and marked by adventure started with a whole lot of wandrelust. It's fitting, then, that these days my friendship with Carla looks like everyday explorations with three inquisitive minds. We may not be collecting passport stamps these days, but our conversations remain rich. The time we get together these days, fleeting because of the many miles between DFW and the PNW, is something of a sacred space for me.
Seattle-Lifestyle-Photographercomp001
Seattle-Lifestyle-Photographercomp002
Seattle-Lifestyle-Photographercomp003
Seattle-Lifestyle-Photographercomp004
Seattle-Lifestyle-Photographercomp005
I learn a lot from Carla. She's wise in her relationships. Her marriage is full of grace and kindness. Her intentionality with her children- genuine consideration for each little personality and heart- is something I hope to emulate in motherhood some day. The places she takes her brood on any given day invites imagination, wonder and an appreciation for what is beautiful on this good earth. While we didn't manage a single family photo during my last trip, what we did capture tells a whole lot of story about what really matters in the life of my dear friend. Revisiting these photographs inspires and delights me.
Luigi and Lucia
It's their bond that she loves seeing, Kristy, Luigi and Lucia's mama, told me. "I love the way Luigi loves his little sister. And she absolutely adores him, stares at him in complete wonder." I caught glimpses of their mutual affection all throughout our time taking Lucia's one-year photos. They giggled at each other, and Lucia's pure joy every time Luigi walked into the room put smiles on everyone's faces. I loved that I captured each child's spark as well. Luigi has a mischievous grin, and he was delighted when we went outside to explore for a few minutes, just the two of us. From the front porch of the Italian-style villa, a visual tribute to his dad's homeland, Luigi called out, "watch me!" as he posed. Five is such a fun age for the camera. Little Lucia is in that stage where she crawls so fast she can't be bothered to walk, and her curls and cheeks pulled me right in. She's a bubbly girl, eyes ever exploring to take in the great big world. This session was all goodness, and I'm delighted to share it.
Baby John's One-Year Photos
How did a whole year pass between John's newborn and one-year session? I am always amazed at how a tiny newborn turns into a precocious baby. John showed up to his photo shoot wide-eyed and curious. He remains one part baby but is also somehow one part toddler, and at a year old he seems pretty certain he is well loved and pretty content in his parents' arms. I'm already excited to see how he continues to grow and change in the coming year.
Riley's First 24
Few captures rival photographs from the first day's of a baby's life. I've been working with Shelly and Justin since before they were married, so getting to document the arrival of their second born was so special. I got to show up not only as a photographer but also as a friend. Seeing the first time Dad held his daughter and Cooper realized he was a big brother made my eyes water, and watching the natural way Shelly transitioned from mom of one to mom of two inspired me. The love in this family multiplied right in front of my camera lens. I don't have a lot of words to describe this type of session; the photos tell the whole story. I'll just say if you're interested in having these types of photos made when your baby arrives, I'd love to hear from you. A first 24 or 48 session allows you the opportunity to have permanent visual reminders of one of the most incredible times in your life.
July at the Lake
My husband's family centers their summers around their lake house; it's been that way since before Ty was born. Last summer I met his extended family for the first time as his girlfriend; this summer I returned as family. A lot can change in a year. I love that I married into a family that has this place that is constant as life ebbs and flows. We are both fortunate to do work we enjoy and that suits us, but I think as long as we live in Texas we'll be purposeful to do summer the way we've done this one. We've headed to the lake every weekend that allows us, sometimes cutting out for an extra day when time permits. Days are full and rich yet slow. The rains in May and June created quite a few projects, so it's not all play. That said, the work is tangible, measurable. We wake and drink coffee on the porch. We run miles and see very few cars. We read a lot. We swim. Some nights every bed is full; some nights few bodies slumber. One weekend we hosted my super-sized family. I watched three of the kids learn to ski, the youngest of whom at 5 was timid about being pulled behind the boat in a tube at the beginning of the summer. It was such a proud moment to see her determined face announce she wanted to ski.
I pulled photos from July, and this is a long post. It captures so many moments, so many memories, so much of the goodness we've experienced over the summer. I share partly so you can see and partly to remind myself that the comings and goings to the lake during the summer are so worth it. Our lives are made better by a rhythm that makes time and space for these days. I am grateful. I hope the time spent there serves to refresh and refocus me as work picks up to a busy clip with fall portraits and weddings.
And we still have August.
Repeats: Favorites, Annually and Always
If the great joy of family photos is witnessing what love looks like in any given season of life, then seeing that a year later only grows the goodness. Like etchings on the wall to mark that a little one has grown an inch or three, a year's passing seems to extend the beauty and the fullness of who a family is. This was my second time to photograph Teddy and his family. Last year's session took place at the nature center, so this year's session we headed downtown for a more urban feel. Teddy talks a lot now, and he's emerged from toddler shyness to preschool confidence. He makes his parents laugh, keeping them on their toes with lots of running and jumping. When I asked him if he saw a dinosaur in my lens, his three-year-old wit came quick. "No," he said, "I see Spiderman."
Spiderman it is, little guy. I'm grateful that my job has allowed me to cross paths with this family, and I look forward to continuing to document the ways they grow and change through the years. I'd love to do the same for you and your family too, and I'm now booking into October and November. Shoot me a message for session and scheduling details, and we can get the ball rolling.
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. ;)
Brothers and Bluebonnets
Just before bluebonnet season ended, I met up with these littles for a session planned at the last minute before the flowers disappeared. I'm so glad we scheduled on the quick, because I love the ages and stages of these beautiful boys. I've been photographing this crew since Nick (3) was a newborn, and getting to watch him grow into a doting big brother to Evan (1) has been so rewarding. The contagious smiles and endless energy of these two guarantees their parents are on their toes pretty much always. I see these guys a couple of times a year, and I'm amazed at how fast the boys are growing. Seeing their little lives documented as they grow makes me hope they look back and remember that they were buddies from the start. I hope it makes them remember their mom and dad's patience and calm even as they chased after one boundary testing big brother while his little brother watched, learning. He just kept running away, and they kept chasing him down and bringing him back. I hope they know their parents seemed to have in mind that this is what little ones do, how they explore... I hope they can see how loved they were from the get go.
First Family Photos
When Tricia reached out regarding a photo session, she said this would be the first collection of family photos with eight-month-old Ethan. I looked forward to documenting such a fantastic age- and in their home- where babies tend to be the most at ease with new faces. Ethan had big grins and belly laughs from the get go, and I witnessed lots of the pride, joy and delight that brightens the faces of parents watching their little one shine. New parenthood may bring challenges that requires adaptation and change, but the overarching theme I see when I meet a family for the first time is the unique beauty that their expression of love displays. This was a laid-back, simple session with that produced photographs that captures a family as they are, perfect for first family photos. I've been excited to share a sneak peek; it makes me anticipate watching little Ethan grow. It makes me anticipate the new families I've yet to meet. Lots of goodness to behold here.
Easter Weekend
Over Easter we loaded our newlywed selves and the dog into my little Honda Fit and made the drive to El Paso to visit Ty's sister and her family. We didn't tell the girls we were coming; we showed up and knocked on the door. Emory (5) was in Ty's arms as soon as the door opened wide enough for her to see us. She'd had a birthday the weekend before, and we'd missed it on account of my sister's wedding. Our newly joined lives multiplied the size of our families, and I am so grateful that we not only love but quite like both sides. We spent the weekend exploring and with very little scheduling, two of my favorite ways to do life. I think Ty is at his best around his family; they fit just so. I fit right in the mix too, and these photographs are rich with memories for me. Life isn't all low-key days of ice cream and sunsets and egg dyeing and sandy desert. On the days it is, it is so very easy to remember that life is good. I love that Ty's family is now my family, and these are my people. I spend work days documenting stories for others, and I want to be intentional about doing the same for us. Sharing these makes me anticipate being together over the summer.
Lexi is One!
This was of those days when I showed up with my camera, and I literally could not take enough photos of the beautiful interactions that happened. I photographed Lexi all through her first year, from when she was a bun in the oven, so I already knew we'd have good rapport. These family photos though?!? Are you kidding me? I love them so much. It has little to do with the backdrop and clothing selected. Though who doesn't love a green park in the spring and a baby girl with great accessories? It has everything to do with parents who showed up ready to engage their daughter and each other coupled with a baby who is bright-eyed, curious and adorable. I have been dying to blog these since I shot them. These are the kinds of photographs I love to create. It's kinda icing on the cake- pun intended- that the planned, staged smash cake shots decidedly did not interest Miss Lexi. She's also an independent little miss, and she didn't want cake, thank you very much. Want photographs like this of your favorite little(s) and family? Shoot me an email, and let's make a date! In addition to DFW sessions, I'm booking in Lexington and Louisville, Kentucky (June), Raleigh, North Carolina (August) and Boston, Massachusetts and Hartford, Conneticut (September). Don't see your city listed? Reach out, and we can make it happen!
Fairy Doors, Part Two of Nadine's Three-Year Photos
Donna first noticed a red hand-painted door in a tree on a morning run in the neighborhood, and in the coming weeks she noticed more along the trail. She refers to them as fairy doors, and they're a family favorite "I spy" affair for an afternoon walk. A three-year-old with a vivid imagination made a photo shoot themed around visiting the fairy doors a perfect activity for creating a memory and taking some photographs. We'd done a few photos a couple of weeks prior on a rainy day. I'm so glad we arranged to these photos on an unseasonably warm late winter afternoon. It was laid-back and lovely, with warm light and lots of laughter as I got to hang out with one of my favorite families to document three years of Nadine's amazing life. I love the end result.
Georgia is One!
Georgia, my second-born niece, turned one in February, and of course we did some portraits. I don't know how she went from newborn to six-month-old to a one-year-old who chirps, "Enin" when she sees me. She's got a whole lot of "What's that?" in her world these days. She is curious and calm. She is serious and silly. She loves to dance, to read, to play with her favorite doll. She has made our whole family's lives sweeter by being her own little self. Georgia's independence means she doesn't always want to be picked up and held, but she's always game for playing on the floor. We did her first birthday photos just before her party, and she loved having all her people around to celebrate her. When it came time for cake, we sang, and she stared. She was cautious in her approach until she realized cake is sweet. Then she laughed between bites and went to town. I love this little girl to the sky and back and am so glad I get to be a part of who she becomes. Being her auntie is the best.
Nadine is Three, Part One
We planned Nadine's three-year photos around having golden hour light to compliment a favorite family outing. On the morning of the scheduled session, rain set in, so we rescheduled the bulk of her portrait session. Her parents were on a deadline for a few photos, though, so we did a mini-session on the front porch of their house. I'm so glad we did, because while the second part of her three-year photos is really fun (and will be shared soon), I love the beauty seen here. I see Nadine's contagious joy. It lights her face all the way into her eyes. I see the way she loves and is loved. I see a child I've known since birth coming into her own, secure in her identity because her parents are raising her to be strong and brave and honest and good. I've been doing Nadine's photos since she was born, and she's my little buddy, counting herself my friend right alongside her parents (she's right). That said, it makes me so happy to share these.
Stella is One!
I had the privilege of meeting Stella as a newborn and watching her grow as a six-month-old, so I anticipated her one-year session as the holidays calmed down and January set in. The anticipation was rightly placed. Stella is a delightful baby who is fast becoming a toddler, and she had lots of smiles and sillies for the camera. She's independent, curious and determined, and she remains the absolute apple of her parents' eye. Witnessing the family dynamic in which Stella is growing up allowed me to see beauty and wonder and love. We let Stella do her thing and followed her around with the camera, and her bright eyes put a smile on my face. I am grateful I got to photograph the first year of this baby girl and look forward to continuing with her family this year. Getting to do her photos made me excited for the newborns I'll meet this year and the stories I'll get to tell as they grow. Photographing the life of a baby as she becomes a child in the context of her family is some of my most rewarding work. Starting off 2015 with Stella's photo session was a treat, and I hope this post allows you a glimpse of why.
Introducing Baby Mary
Every time I look at these photos of little Mary, I hear a Downton Abbey voice in my head elegantly commenting, "Baby Mary is such a lovely girl..." And she is. Mary was my last newborn of 2014, and I loved her calm disposition that captivated her parents. Whether awake or asleep, she was mostly content to be here, earth-side, at home with her mom and dad. The feel and pace of the session invokes the welcoming quiet of the family home. Blogging these photos reminds me of the beauty of new life and the fullness of the love a tiny baby brings. They make me anticipate both the newborns I'll meet this year and seeing this little one as she grows. This will go down as a favorite newborn session from last year.
