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.

Wishes and a Little Crush

Jonny didn't love the sun in his eyes at the beginning of this session, so we found some shade under a tree in a patch of dandelions. I asked Jonny if he'd ever made a wish on a dandelion. He hadn't. I showed him how to blow the seeds, and that turned out to be a game changer. The rest of the session allowed me to capture some sweet nuances of a three-year-old boy without that pesky sun. Jonny laughed and played with me for the rest of the shoot. Jonny's mom emailed me later in the day to say that her little guy had had a great time. As they were leaving the session he asked his mom why I was married and then told her that he wanted to marry me too. That's the cutest endorsement ever and not a bad way to end a photo shoot. A few favorites...

Lucie: Sweet Sixteen

The first time I took Lucie's photos, she was 11. She demonstrated her dance skills with grace and poise while retaining a bit of childlike wonder about the world. I've done her photos several times through the years, and this time we celebrated her 16th birthday. At the session we chatted easily about music and school and boys and life, and afterwards she told her mom she liked doing photos with me because she gets to be herself. I loved hearing that, because when I took the photos my hope was to capture photographs that illustrate who Lucie is, not just what she looks like. She still has that grace and poise and even a bit of that childlike wonder, and she also has maturity and depth, a quick laugh and an easy smile. The next time I see her will likely be for senior portraits, and I am so excited to watch her continue to become exactly who she was made to be. She's beautiful and fun, intelligent and calm.

Introducing Hanley

Hanley slept her way through pretty much her entire newborn session, minus the last few minutes when she snuggled with her big brother and gave me a few peeks. I loved getting to hear her brothers dote and play in the background while we did her individual portraits. Trying to get the cooperation of her middle brother, though, proved to be a(n adorable) challenge when the time came for sibling shots. New baby sisters bring a bit of processing for newly promoted big brothers, so we let Payne do his thing. I love this sweet collection of photographs, and it makes me excited for my upcoming newborns as well as updating some whole family photos when Hanley's mom and dad are ready. I enjoy few things as much as capturing photos of new babies and the ways they transform a family. Hanley fits right in with her brothers, loved and lovely, the sweetest little miss.

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.

Before the Tooth Fairy's Services Were Required

When Laurie reached out to me regarding photographs of her son, "just a few," she mentioned, "because we want to capture his smile before his baby teeth fall out." Brice used his tongue to demonstrate loose front teeth when I arrived. Laurie suggested the swing in the front yard, because it's a family favorite. I was charmed by a little boy who told me he loved staying in hotels and ordering room service and who beamed when is dad teased him. I so look forward to capturing some family photos soon, but this session endeared me because it was scheduled with the recognition that Brice is growing up. The desire to preserve a bit of his babyhood and early boyhood visually made me so happy to be the photographer hired. Brice and I hung out a bit on our own, and towards the end of our session, he asked me if I worked for someone. He got a lesson in self-employment before he turned to me with a grin and said, "Well, all the people should hire you. You're really good at what you do." I'll take a seven-year-old endorsement any day. I left with a full heart and a simple collection of photographs of a fleeting, nuanced moment in this boy's life.

Last week Laurie and I poured over Brice's gallery and made selections for enlargements to hang as art in their home. While I was there, one of those loose teeth fell out, making the services of the tooth fairy a requirement. A misty-eyed mama recalled her teething baby and thanked me for capturing her son. The timing was perfect; the photographs were done and will soon deck the walls of their home, a reminder of days gone by that hopefully build anticipation of all that is to come as Brice grows up.

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.

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.

Little Ladies in Red

With family photo sessions, it's the ways people interact and look when they're at their best that compels me to do this job. I love seeing the expressions on little faces and hearing the laughter that ensues as we pursue some glimpses at real life. This session felt so special, because they'd never had family photos done- not even wedding photos. I loved getting to bear witness to the goodness that is uniquely theirs. These three little ladies in red are treasures, and I loved getting to see that. The twins are doted on by all, and their big sister simply shines. We didn't do a whole lot of posing or setting up shots. Everyone just did their thing as a family, and I got to photograph just what that looks like. Those tend to be the very best sessions. I hope I get to continue to witness and document these beautiful lives.

Little Ladies in Red

With family photo sessions, it's the ways people interact and look when they're at their best that compels me to do this job. I love seeing the expressions on little faces and hearing the laughter that ensues as we pursue some glimpses at real life. This session felt so special, because they'd never had family photos done- not even wedding photos. I loved getting to bear witness to the goodness that is uniquely theirs. These three little ladies in red are treasures, and I loved getting to see that. The twins are doted on by all, and their big sister simply shines. We didn't do a whole lot of posing or setting up shots. Everyone just did their thing as a family, and I got to photograph just what that looks like. Those tend to be the very best sessions. I hope I get to continue to witness and document these beautiful lives.

They Just Go Together

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.

Luigi and Lucia

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.

Dimples!

This sweet session made me smile from beginning to end. Blogging the session reminds me of just how compelling it is to meet families who are good at loving each other well and honoring who one another is. The unique expression of that love and honor in this family was siblings who interacted as friends and parents who let them be themselves. There's that and then there's the smiles that start in the eyes and reveal deep dimples, showcasing joy and contentment, beauty and wonder. It was tough to narrow a sneak peek from this session. That's a good problem.

A Good Story

Just before Christmas, I got to hang out with this lovely family for an afternoon of running around and telling stories. These guys haven't lived in Dallas very long, so we discussed the city's offerings, comparing and contrasting it with their native San Francisco. I hope that Texas offers them as many adventures and warm memories as California, because when I meet a family whose interactions are kind and conversational, I hope for the very best for them. I think these photos tell a good story about a beautiful family, and I'm thankful I got to tell it.

Troublemaker and Company

For Ledger's first birthday, his mama booked some photos and bought him my favorite t-shirt ever for a busy little fella. We kicked off the session with a few studio shots before heading outdoors to catch the sunset. His grandparents met up with us there, and we captured some lovely moments. It was so fun to meet this family and help commemorate this sweet time. The last photo was one of my favorite captures from 2014. He looks like baby Peter Pan!

These Boys

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.