I grew up with Cory, and Jenny is one of those wonderfully warm people who puts you right at ease, so it's always fun to do their photos. We met at a park just down the street from their house, and it was Piper's debut in a family photo session. I love the way the older two dote on her. Smiles come easy, and time passes quickly with this crew. The just go together, and it shows. I'm grateful I'm getting to document the life of my friends.
Though holiday portraits were the reason for this photo session, the takeaway, for me, was getting to see how Luigi has come into his own as a big brother. He is a busy guy, but in between the previous session and this one it's as if he found his stride with Lucia. That's not to say he wasn't good with her at their first set of photos together; it's just that he was more comfortable and confident this time around. And he had a lot of laughs and sillies to share. Miss Lucia's wide eyes captivated me, and she was at the stage of taking it all in, ever-watching. I felt like I could see her little brain working. She is such a lovely little lady, and it was so fun to see her alongside of Luigi. She's an observer for now but soon enough she'll be chasing after him. They are a sweet pair. I can't wait to see who they continue to become. Their parents have their arms and hearts full.
Baby Evan is the same age as Nicholas was when I first did photos for these guys, and I love seeing their similarities and differences. Nicholas has really come into his own in the past year, not only as a big brother, but as a toddler who is figuring out how to transition to being a big kid. He wants to do things for himself and has opinions about what he does and doesn't want. Seeing that emerge in a little boy lets me catch glimpses of who he is becoming. Evan is calm and cheerful and content to watch his big brother play. He was in that wide-eyed wonder phase of babyhood that makes the world seem new when you watched his delight at leaves falling or birds soaring overhead. He had belly laughs for Mom and Dad and shy smiles for me. I treasure the opportunity to tell the ongoing story of a family. Each time I am with this crew I witness goodness and love and wonder that looks as beautiful and unique to them as they are as individuals and as a family.
It rained on Jenny and Joey's wedding day... and engagement session before that and Ellie's newborn session after that. We were all excited, therefore, when we looked at the forecast for their photos this fall and finally saw sunshine on the horizon. I loved seeing how Ellie has grown and meeting baby Rhett. Getting to watch a couple whose wedding I photographed transition to parenthood and raising a family was so incredible for me. This was a low-key session, with the pace largely set by the little ones, and I'm glad we were able to capture such sweet moments. Having two tinies makes life a little hectic at times, but the morning of our session was calm. I love Rhett's crazy hair and Ellie's coy smile. It was one of those mornings I would have been happy to stay out in the sun with my friends and their babies, because the day was just full of sweetness.
I'm never opposed to an afternoon at the lake, and neither were these guys. While I've photographed the littles before, it was the first time we've done family photos. It was a tag team parenting approach to keep up with two busy toddlers, and we stayed busy for the whole session. A certain young man was inclined to run, run, run, while his baby sister was newer in her walking skills. We mostly just let the kids set the pace, and the end results were a selection of photographs that illustrate what's beautiful about each individual as well as the whole family. It's fun to look at these now, a couple of months later, knowing that in the time that has passed since these session, each of these kiddos has continued to come into their own. It makes me excited for next time as well as thankful that we got to document the page they were on in the fall. They change so fast...
What's not to love about a baby in Burberry? I hadn't seen Miss Elle since her newborn photos, and it was so fun to see her interact with her mom and dad. More important than great fashion sense was Elle's contented little self, as long as Mom and Dad stayed close by. While I was unsuccessful at making their wee girl laugh, she had big belly laughs for them. We had a perfect day at the lake for our session, and looking back at these photos makes me so grateful for beautiful families who allow me to see the way they love one another. I can't wait for two-year photos!
When families show up the day after Halloween with wide-eyed wonder still left in the eyes of the elder child, I know we're going to have fun. Jack chirped away about trick-or-treating while he chomped on the endless supply of treats that he'd collected the night before. We explored the outdoor space we'd selected while watching him show off then calm and play with his sister. Claire, meanwhile, grinned and babbled and let me see her teeth peeking through (a favorite to see... why are baby teeth so cute?). I got to witness love and laughter and a few "Jack!! Stop! No!" moments when a precocious Jack took off in one direction or another. I love when sessions go this way. It's not that everything is perfect and posed and planned. It's that it's bright and beautiful and real. The photographs that resulted from this session are my favorite of this family, and we've been working together since Jack was born. Other sessions have produced some lovely images, but these photographs, I think, show love and tenderness and are just so them. I don't have the right words for that, but I know when I've seen it through my camera lens. I'm excited to blog these and look forward to seeing these littles as they continue to grow down the road.
Fall at White Rock Lake means wind and sometimes lots of it, but that didn't mean this session wasn't fun and tons of it. I've had the privilege of watching this little miss grow for the last year. This session she was more enthusiastic and vocal than a few months ago. Her parents are a good team, making her laugh and winning lots of smiles. They're such a sweet family that it hardly feels like work to be with them. I am excited to share a few photos and hope they illustrate just how good it is to be this trio.
This was our first meeting, and new families mean I get to hear and see their unique expression of what love looks like. These bright-eyed, beautiful little girls both gave me lots of smiles and laughs, and I got to watch their parents do that tag team thing that happens when a couple has a pair of busy girls. They did so with affection and ease, and while I'm sure there are days that aren't so quiet and simple, what stands out to me about this session is how peaceful it was. I am continually humbled by the goodness that occurs when I get to show up for a photo session and bear witness to a family who decides to fully show up for a session, bringing their best. That's what happened here, and while I love how wardrobe choices and warm light played into how these photographs look and feel, what stands out is the interactions illustrative of how a family goes together just so. So much joy to behold here...
My next door neighbors have the cutest little guy, and on mornings when they happen to be letting their dogs out when I'm coming back from a run, I get to see his sweet little grin. Getting to capture that grin for his one-year session made my day. Beckham loves my dog and wanted to grab everything in reach, and he took to family photos like a pro model. I love this whole collection, but my favorite photos might be the ones at the end of his mom and dad who told me they were engaged right in the middle of our session. I loved getting to capture a few photos of their beautiful selves and am so excited for their future.
On her first birthday, I had the pleasure of photographing Harper. We'd done photos in February when I was in Delaware, and I'm amazed at how much a few months changed this baby girl. For one thing, she is going, going, going... everywhere. Her daddy wasn't home in February (he's an Air Force pilot), so I love that Harper's birthday session was a family affair. I wanted to post Harper's blog today so you can see her beautiful, vibrant personality. She had a medical procedure done this morning that requires her to be a courageous and resilient girl in the coming days and weeks, and this little light of a girl just shines, shines, shines. I wish photographs could contain the sound of a sweet baby voice, although I think her enthusiasm for life comes through. Would you say a little prayer for sweet Harper and her amazing mama and daddy today and in the next few weeks. She's going to be just fine, but they have a challenging month ahead.
Next time I see this brave one, she'll be running and talking and more of a kid than a baby, but for now, here's Harper's happy birthday session. It was happy indeed.
I cannot believe how much baby Kendall has changed in just a few short months. Her first session was sweet as can be, and this follow up mini-session let me see a happy-go-lucky, busy and gregarious girl. The photos I selected to blog are four frames taken in succession, and I love the expressive delight shown here. Mini-sessions don't give the same variety as a full session, but they most certainly provide ample time to illustrate just who a little girl is becoming, and that's just what happened here.
Landon was born on the same day as Harper, whose blog I posted yesterday, and his daddy serves in the Air Force as well. This little love was all smiles and eager to be in front of the camera. A rainy, cold afternoon couldn't keep us from lots of belly laughs and sweet moments with his mom and dad. It was a low-key, fun-filled session that went by all too quickly, and I am excited to share Landon's blog. He is one of the happiest babies I've ever met! I am so grateful I got to work with a couple of military families on my recent trip to Delaware and am already planning a return trip.
When I went to visit my newborn niece in Delaware, I had the privilege of meeting a couple of her baby buddies whose daddies serve alongside my brother in the Air Force. Harper turned 7-months-old on the day I met her, and she showed off her brand new sitting and clapping skills all while sizing me up. Harper is one of those babies who makes you work for a smile, but her disposition is sunny, inquisitive and sweet, and I loved that at the end of the session she reached for me when I asked if I could hold her for a minute. Because let's just be honest here: a huge part of what I enjoy about my job is getting to love on sweet babies. For this set, we explored the house and picked fun favorites from her wardrobe and wished her daddy was home for some family photos. In the end we got a great collection of photographs, and now I can't wait to watch this tiny girl grow.
On February 6, Georgia Suzanne arrived, making me an auntie for the second time. She lives in Delaware, where my brother serves in the Air Force, so I planned a trip as quickly as I could. Trying to find the words to express the joy I felt when I met this little peach is difficult. Her disposition is quiet, peaceful and sweet. Georgia cries when she's hungry and sleeps easily, and she is every bit as heavenly as a newborn could possibly be. I cannot wait to see who she becomes as she grows, but at the moment I want to relish her newness. New life brings a freshness and delight to a family, and ours is delighted to welcome this much-anticipated little girl. Seeing Jaybo and Kendall step into their roles as parents is so fun to watch, and I know they will do an incredible job caring for their daughter. I love her so much, and while I'm not sure these photographs express the fullness of my heart in regards to this baby, I'm excited to share them nonetheless.
When we did Brendan's newborn session, his big sister was globetrotting, so we planned a second session to capture some photographs with the whole family. Then we had weather and sickness and more weather and more sickness. It took a few months, but we finally gathered to do a photo session with the whole family. I love seeing how big baby Brendan has gotten and how doted on he is. This is a lovely family with a sweetness about their relationships. Everyone showed up with their best selves. Sweet Isobel is such a confident beauty, and she's taken to the role of big sister like a pro. I am so enjoying documenting this family's story. Previous sessions can be viewed here and here.
So much sweetness at this newborn session that I don't quite know what to say. Twin baby girls just a week old who were snuggled up and sleepy and content for the entire time I was doing their photos? I wouldn't have dared hope for such easy going babies. Newborns can be challenging, and it's always amazing to photograph them. That said, having two so cooperative to work with was so lovely. Their big brother was proud and doting. His grandma took him to school once we finished photos with him and the girls (I'd done his individual portraits in November). We did these photos before Christmas, and I'm excited to finally be back to blogging after the haze of the holidays! Cannot wait to see how these little peanuts (both were just over 5 pounds) grow and change between now and our next session!
August Emanuel arrived on December 8 at 1:27 pm, weighing in at 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Dallas was a sheet of ice, and his mama texted me from Austin at around 9 am that she thought it was time. I don't normally take birth clients in Austin, but Augie's parents are friends. We did the same song and dance just two years ago for his brother Beau's birth. Beau, also a December baby, didn't arrive in the middle of an ice storm. I made it to Beau's birth. I didn't make it to Augie's. I hopped on a plane as soon as Erika texted, and I arrived just as Augie went to the nursery for his newborn exam and bath. The first thing I noticed about Augie was the way his dad couldn't take his eyes off of him. The second thing I noticed was what a chunky little man he was. I shot photographs throughout the rest of the day and a few the next day as well, and of this tiny-but-not-tiny newborn, I'll say this, he fits right into the family to which he was gifted. His brothers doted on him from the moment they met him. His parents' arms were well prepared to receive a third beautiful boy. His grandparent's beamed and then beamed some more. And Augie, in typical newborn form, mostly slept through it all. I stare at these photos and see the miracle of birth and the wonder of love and the joy of new life, and I am both honored and mesmerized that I got to be there.
Augie is already growing and changing, but these photographs mean we stopped, time, at least visually. I am thankful I got to be the one to capture these images, even though I missed the actual birth. So much goodness to behold here...
Sweet Baby K made my day with her big smiles, and oh my goodness, her eyes shine so bright. She seemed so happy to be passed between her mom and dad and found their antics quite entertaining when it was time for her solo photographs. I love seeing how a baby brings out the best in her parents, and that was the case at this session. This mom and dad are so in love with their baby girl, and that love looks good on everyone. So enjoyed a cold, beautiful Bishop Arts shoot with this crew.
To say my family is enamored with this little girl is an understatement. We are in love. So. In. Love. Just thought that love should be shared. She was here over Halloween (hence the Pebbles costume), and every minute together was a treasure.
