Kendra + Tyler Maternity Session- Welcoming a Daughter and a Sister

Blessings to you both on this wonderful news! A beautiful little girl will be coming soon to join your already amazing family. Little Thaiden, born just last year, will have a little sister!

It’s funny that both your maternity sessions were in the colder months. I was sure that we were gonna freeze our little behinds off when I woke up and saw that our 7:45am photo session was in 25 degree weather!! Surprisingly, with the sun shining and almost no wind it was quite pleasant. We really lucked out. It was so wonderful to get to see Thaiden too, since the last time I saw him was for our newborn session and he was just a tiny little thing.

Can’t wait to meet little Freya. Such a beautiful name too. And thank you guys for coming back to work with me for you second pregnancy!! I always do first time maternity portrait sessions but rarely do seconds and thirds. I think it’s just as magical the second time around and what a wonderful opportunity to get some family photos in, not only for the momentous occasion of a new baby, but also to capture, in this case, a soon to be Big Brother while he’s at such a cute age! I’m so delighted I got to share in the beauty and joy of this moment. Thanks for making my first portrait session of 2021 a blast!

Autumnal Family Portrait Session - Candice and Charlie

A beautiful family on a perfect autumn day. Timed the session so the sun was still peaking through the trees and adding it’s beaming yellow/orange light to the already saturated colors in the trees behind us. Add in some pumpkins and a beautiful baby girl in her fall attire and we had a glorious family portrait session to capture these special memories. It is my mission in life to get families to document every year with at least one session. Time flies so fast! Don’t you want to remember days like these?

Baby Kyllian Newborn Session - Music, Medicine and Owls

The best part about doing maternity sessions? NEWBORN SESSIONS! And in this case, it was wedding to maternity to newborn. My amazing couple from 2017 got back in touch with me to capture this very special moment in their lives. It’s such a privilege to be in this profession and take part in the amazing moments like this.

So Jamie and Rob new they wanted a few things for this session. An owl hat, a medicine theme for Rob and a music theme for Jamie. They are loving their cloth diapers and used many of the unique ones they have to play into these themes. We got a genuine Baby Ky smile right off the bat! It wasn’t gas, it was a smile, I know it! And he was amazing and sweet through the entire rest of the session. Well, balancing him on a cello was not his favorite LOL, but third times a charm with some extra cushioning underneath, and voila, the music them with all of Jamie’s instruments.

Thank you SO MUCH Jamie and Rob for connecting with me again and letting me be a part of this very special moment. Can’t wait for many more family memories for you both! Joy, love and laughter to you all.

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Sister Love- A Family Photo Shoot with Beatrix and Eloise Sharing Love, Baskets and Apples.

I have worked with Nana and Eloise in the past. It’s always so special and touches my heart. The last time I met baby Eloise it was her 1st birthday and she had just learned how to say potato! SO cute. Now she’s a big sister, and it perfectly suits her.

This photo shoot almost didn’t continue because Eloise came and sat on my lap right at the start and it just melted my heart. Nana, I swear I almost snuck her into my purse and made a run for it. I know that doesn’t make any sense but you know what I mean. Luckily she did sit and “smiled her big smile” as mommy put it, holding on to baby and monkey. Later on it was her fascination with the basket I brought that lent to so many other magical moments, including hide and seek, playing with her own toes, and making bunny and lamb share kisses. Note to self- Always bring a basket!

We were hoping during that time Beatrix would fall asleep but, just the same as her sister was at that age, she was WIDE AWAKE! I think it lent to some super sweet moments between the two sisters, and we got to see her amazingly large, blue eyes. Eloise came in and out of the photos as the moment struck her, and the last time she came to photo bomb, it was with a bright red apple in her hand wearing her baby sisters top. For just those brief shots, we caught a true life sister moment in the making.

Much love to you, Beatrix and Eloise. Can’t wait to watch you grow up.

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Sweet kiss for baby sister

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Now offering video as an add-on to portrait sessions!

Helping to make your moments ever lasting and ever joyful.

Watch Eloise give Beatrix True Loves Kiss. We share our love of princesses Eloise!!

Click video below to share in the moments

I would love to hear your comments, please leave one below.

What did you love? What moments were your favorite? or any other tidbits you wish to share :)

Family Video Makes Memories Sparkle- Lask Family Picnic

I’ve started offering video as part of Family Portrait Sessions. Video is unlike any other medium in that it captures movement, expressions as they change, and interactions that can’t be transferred in to still photos. I look back on old family videos that my parents got transferred to DVD from old film reels in wonder. It fascinates me to see my grandparents and watch them as they play with tiny versions of me and my brother. Moments that I have seen only in photos are now coming to life before me. They seem so real, so tangible. I feel I know them more. It’s memories like these that I am so passionate about capturing. And that’s why I LOVE the power of video. I am now bringing that power into Family Sessions.

Nothing will ever be as sweet as looking back 20-30-50 years down the road and remembering how your kids moved around on unsteady feet as they were growing as a toddler. Or the playful, silly things your 7 year old does, and the faces they make. Or the brooding, ever growing intelligence that is incubating under a teenagers skin. These are all moments that are going to fade with time…unless you capture them. And that’s what these family videos will do.

During my session with Shannon and her family, I decided to experiment with capturing some of these small moments. And I LOVED the results. I’ve been doing it with weddings for years! Seeing how photography and video can combine to create a total picture of the days events. But I had never done it with other portraits before. Now, I can capture some of those special life moments between family. And I’m so excited to share it with you!

It also serves another purpose. Rather than sending family and friends a link to an album, this is a more personal, and involved way to share your photo experience with them. At the click of a button they are transported into the session, seeing the video clips and some of the favorite shots from the session come to life.

Thank you so much to the Lask Family for allowing me into their amazing lives for one day. May these memories bring you closer together with laughter and smiles.

I’d love to work with you and your family! Contact me today!

To see the blog post with the Lask Family photos, click HERE.

Lask Family - A Family Portrait Session with a Winter Picnic Outside

This was a truly special photo session. Shannon planned a family outdoor picnic (IN THE WINTER!) with food and decor to rival Martha Stewart! It was amazing. And it celebrated her beautiful family now, as well as the year anniversary of her dearly beloved’s passing, Mike.

Luckily we planned it on a not TOO freezing day, so we were able to enjoy being outside. Darwin was running around with a very large stick, which whacked a few heads and fingers, but I got the greatest shot of him looking like a world-wise wizard, or avid hiker, take your pick. Well worth it! Elanor was so full of energy and spirit. We had a great time jumping, and posing, and her foot always wound up in the air with her tongue out. Very cute, and I love capturing the true personality of the kids in my photos. That way, when you look back on them 10-20-30 years from now, you can say “Yup, that was them, always with their tongue out!”. She showed me the locket with a picture of her daddy in it; Always close to her heart and dangling in the middle of the group photos, which was so perfect.

It was so easy to capture the spirit and loving energy between this family. Hugs passed around, bubbles being chased, Darwin stealing grapes and sushi through the shoot, and Elanor running around in her dress and tights, which had such a cute hole in the bum. I wish I had gotten a shot of that.

Thank you Shannon for asking me to be a part of your family this day! I hope these pictures bring you joy and peace throughout your lives together.

I loved this series of Eleanor. She has so much radiant personality.

I saw her touching the locket all the time, opening and closing it, swinging it up as she jumped. I asked her what was inside, she said “My daddy.”

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How do you keep everyone’s attention throughout a family group photo? BUBBLES! Although sometimes the adults are more crazy about them than the kids :)

The Celebration of a Family Moment

I LOVE family photo shoots.  I don't think people do them enough.  Time passes quickly, and if friends, family, or pets are at all important to you, then why wouldn't you want to document that. Especially if you have a family, and your children are young. 

Kids grow up fast!  I would say plan for a photoshoot 2x a year the first year, then once a year up until 4 or 5 years old, and then maybe every 1-3 years up until mid teens or they graduate from high school.  

Leslie and McLane shared celebrated 9 months with their precious Avery with a family photoshoot.  I brought a balloon, which Avery loved, and we went into the river and played in the water.   Was able to catch a few tender, candid moments when Avery was getting her hair brushed and having a new outfit put on.  I love being able to show those real family moments, since that's what they're going to look back on and remember with love.  And of course, she got to keep the balloon! 

When was the last time you had a family photoshoot to document your loved ones?