In the Waiting

A few weeks before a baby arrives, maternity sessions often get scheduled. This session was about capturing that memory: a mama's stretched belly and her son's adoration of said belly. I photographed a family anticipating expansion. Kathleen also wanted to capture the beauty of her family right then: their joy and laughter, their calm. She didn't only want maternity photos focused on the coming baby; she wanted family photos in their home to remind them of the fullness of life when they were a family of three. And fullness came through in every frame.

Maternity sessions preserve a fleeting moment in a changing season, and I love knowing a family will be able to revisit that season for years to come.

Introducing Savannah

Remember the sweetest maternity session ever? Savannah arrived a few weeks later, and her newborn session took place on a quiet and rainy Sunday afternoon. Big sister Scarlett proudly showed off her tiny new sidekick (and gave her daddy a makeover). Savannah stayed awake and calm most of the session. It was a conversational, pass-the-baby and tickle-the-toddler session that left everyone content in the way that celebrating an expanding family should. So many photographs in this collection to love!

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. 

Here is September in Thirty Photographs.

What I didn't foresee in setting out to do a 365 project was the way it would point me towards gratitude. My life is rich: the people, the places, the work I get to do and the beauty I get to see. The ordinary is extraordinary when held up to the light. Here is September in thirty photographs. 

September 1: Selfie with Jameson.

September 2: Georgia spreads her arms and legs in the pool and shouts "Starfish," and the cuteness kills me.

September 3: Leftover 4th of July fireworks on Labor Day.

September 4: How many kiddos can you fit on a paddleboat with Uncle Rudy?

September 5: Ice cream, before and after.

September 6: Engagement session magic light goodness.

September 7: New kitten for my little friend.

September 8: The reluctant daily photo subject. 

September 9: *NOT* his birthday, but my lunch date on the 9th loves dinosaurs, and NEEDED to wear his t-rex shirt.

September 10: Wherein all of my photography dreams came true.

September 11: Nadine in four frames.

September 12: Nightly kitten routine looks like fetching and jumping for green beans. 

September 13: Anniversary photos for Debo and Tyler. So. Much. Love.

September 14: Every time I vacuum these two camp out on the landing.

September 15: Pink.

September 16: Early morning stalker.

September 17: Photo by Ty. I am finally getting consistent at landing *small* jumps on the wakeboard. Ty surprised me with a properly fitting board, and it's made a huge difference. 

September 18: Grease... high school musical edition.

September 19: Besties.

September 20: The reluctant daily photo subject, location scouting in the Jeep edition.

September 21: Photo by Ty. An eff cancer kind of day.

September 22: The look Albert gives me when Millie stalks from overhead.

September 23: Lake sunsets win every time.

September 24: Abba's senior photos looked like recreating a photograph we took when she was 10.

September 25: Savannah.

September 26: Happy birthday, Josh!

September 27: Never let go.

September 28: Because date night.

September 29: New glasses.

September 30: Dinner and a movie with friends. Elim kept yelling "ooky." I think he's ready for October.

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.

Sunsets and Sweetness

Shelly and Justin were some of my first clients, and I'm amazed at all the goodness in their lives. I've had the privilege of capturing so many significant moments. This session, Riley's six-month and Cooper's three-year session, took place a couple of months after both significant dates. That meant Miss Riley was sitting up and Mr. Cooper had even more words than you can imagine a precocious kiddo having. I love these kids. I love this family.

We played and laughed and carried on, and towards the end Justin headed to the playground with Cooper so that Shelly and Riley could do a few nursing shots. They are among my favorites from this beautiful family in all of our years together. I love her chubby hand reaching up, her feet kicking wildly, the sun setting in the distance. It was one of those sacred moments in my little corner of the world when everything seemed just right.

Austin at Three Months in Black and White

The black and whites of Austin's three-month session: this boy is loved, cherished and wanted by a proud big brother and a busy big sister. His pudgy feet kicked and kicked as their play surrounded him. His patient mama redirected them when it was time for Austin's solo portraits, but they hovered close, watching me and doting on him. I've worked with Austin's family on an ongoing basis for the better part of three years, so capturing this little man growing up makes my day. Isn't he adorable?