State Fair, Take Three

The color and energy in these photographs perfectly match the way this family shines. And shine they do. It's not just that they're beautiful, though they are. It's not just that they have great style, though they do (side note: mom Somer made the kids' t-shirts... love that). It's that they show up fully alive. They show up wearing their love for each other. They show up with a willingness to be themselves in front of my camera. That creates a warmth in the way we connect that photographs well regardless of backdrop, activity and interaction. Everything I love about my work shows up in these photos, and I'm already excited for next year. It's such an honor to witness this family in all their amazingness. This is the finale of my State Fair of Texas mini-sessions and third blogs in two days. I'm trying to share some of the incredible sessions I've had the privilege of photographing this fall. More to come next week!

State Fair, Take Two

If any story can be redeemed, which I believe to be possible, then the car accident that led to the premature arrival of baby Claire (the youngest of this foursome) had an element of redemption in the way friends rallied around the family during that time. I was more of a friend-of-a-friend back then, with mutual relationships connecting us. I'd done their photos before, but Claire and her mama needed a little help, and I had a little time. So help I did. And now we are friends, a sliver of redemption perhaps. Maybe it's presumption to make this speculation, as I did not suffer through the pain and challenges caused by the accident. But I can't help but think that the way friendships form and thrive in the midst of hard things puts a stout solidity in their foundation. For this I am grateful. I'm also grateful for a beautiful day at the fair with my friends. We rode rides and weathered crowds. We ate funnel cake and fed animals. We made plans and re-planned based on better, more thrilling activities. And I think (I hope) I captured the blend of relationships that is siblings who are oftentimes also friends on a super fun day for a kid or four. The State Fair of Texas is an institution, and that we got to do this year's portraits there gives a little more fun to the photo session punch. I always love sharing photographs from a session, but when those photos are of friends, the sharing is that much richer. Just love these beautiful kids!

State Fair, Take One

This was the first year I offered mini-sessions at the State Fair, and between the midway, Big Tex and yummy treats, we had plenty to explore. I love the bright color and warm light in this session, but more than that I love how low-key and fun our interactions were. The littles were excited to be at the fair, and their parents were happy to let the kids run the show. We explored and ate and played a bit and then they were on their way to do their own thing. I love that we caught a few minutes of their memory of the fair. We had such fun. This was our second year of photos, and I love the continuity of watching a family grow. It never gets old. So excited to share this collection. My other State Fair minis are coming right up.

Boys Club

On the rainiest Thursday, the proudest big brother of them all introduced me to his twin baby brothers with eager hands wanting to help. The twins, two-months-old at our shoot, kicked their feet and stared at my lens. They were not a hundred percent sure they thought photos were a great idea, but I am a hundred percent sure I love this session. Such love and sweetness to behold in this busy family-turned-boys club.

And She's Off...

Lexi is the busiest six-month-old I've photographed to date. She was sitting... and crawling... and pulling up... all while grinning and shrieking and showing off her bright-eyed wonder at the world. Seeing how she approaches life, with enthusiasm and curiosity, makes me smile. She may be little, but she is fierce. And sweet. And darling. And so, so loved.

Introducing Anya

She was just shy of two-weeks-old when I met her, and Anya's grandparents had gathered in her parent's home to help welcome their granddaughter and care for big brother Bowen. In the space of time between his two-year photos and the arrival of baby Anya, Bowen grew in confidence and words, and he showed off his sister and beamed as he nuzzled her forehead and counted her toes. Anya, meanwhile slept, primarily, as she was passed among pairs of arms. Her contentment made the session interactive and warm. It was as if she knew she was safe and loved. Even with a busy two-year-old's clunky affection she seemed at ease. It's beautiful to see the way a newborn fits into a family just so, every time. It doesn't get old to witness the fullness of love that surrounds a brand new baby, and in Anya's world the fullness spilled over into a gorgeous collection of photographs. Anya's grandma brought bright fabrics and stuffed tigers, protectors in Chinese culture, with her from their homeland. These items brought elements of Anya's cultural inheritance to the session. This will go down as a favorite newborn session to date.

Introducing Harleigh

On her two-week birthday Harleigh arrived in the studio with her mama and her cousin, and she smirked and slept and showed off her bright eyes. Those bright eyes captivated me. The wonder of a newborn added to the family created a lovely warmth in the studio. I listened to the story of this very-much-wanted but somewhat surprising addition as I watched her mom cradle her girl with tenderness, crooning adoration. If Harleigh had any strong opinions, she kept them to herself. She fussed very little. When her cousin scooped her up for photos, though, she wailed. I think she knew that her mama's helper since her arrival was leaving the next day and had some protesting to do about the situation. That seemed appropriate. That momentary meltdown did not even for a second threaten the joy of celebrate this baby girl that this session allowed.

The Little Prince

“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye," so says The Little Prince in Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's classic book. McKai's mama kept calling him her little prince, and she and his daddy seemed to know these words to be true. They so love their tiny guy and each other, and I'm pretty sure that's most essential to a newborn baby becoming a well-adjusted little boy who will go on to become a good man. I saw a bright and beautiful future for this adored little prince, for he has captured his parent's hearts and in their arms is home.

Sisterhood

Sisterhood, for these two, is fairy tales and wands and wings. It's silly songs and endless racing. It's being best friends, from the start. I love seeing their beautiful spirits interact. I wanted to find endless ways to make them laugh, and as it turns out, that wasn't particularly hard work.

I Love Five (Times Three)!

I cannot believe these sweet triplets (yes, triplets!) are five! From the start of the session, they brought energy and grins, playing with each other and making photo suggestions (How many jump photos can a session have? Well, lots.). Five is one of my favorite ages, because autonomy shows up in full force around this time, and with that comes a sense of who a child is becoming in a whole new way. I loved seeing that in each little personality at this shoot. Since they call Dallas home, using the Continental Bridge made sense, as it's a vast canvas of space to run and jump and go. Two laid back and ready-to-participate parents let me see how love continues to grow in this family. I've done their annual photos since the kids' first birthday, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to see who they are and what they're about.

The Shoemaker's Children...

Erika is a friend who happens to be an Austin-based photographer, and I photographed Augie's birth in December (and Beau's two years before that). Before she booked this session, we texted back and forth. "I know it's worth the money, but..." And I get that. Photography is a luxury and it's not inexpensive, and photographers know how to take beautiful photographs of their children. Erika's sister-in-law is also a client and encouraged Erika to book. Having the opportunity to be fully present with her husband and boys for their photo session, creating the potential for a variety of real-life photographs with Mom in them ultimately led to this session. And I'm so glad this session happened and that this shoemaker's children have some brand new shoes. This will go down as the session where the five-year-old mooned his parents on the University of Texas campus when I asked him to help me get Mom and Dad to smile for their couple's shot. We laughed our way into tears. This will also go down as a session where the whole family engaged and loved and laughed and played. I love the energy and expressions in these photos. Everything that matters shows up in the collection, and I am sharing a sampling today because they are so happy.

All the People Who Love Them

Four years ago tomorrow, I spent the day photographing Bela and Sean's wedding. Four weeks ago I spent the weekend photographing their twin girls with so many loved ones who have surrounded them to celebrate the joy of these two babies. I love that Bela prioritized getting photos of her girls with their grandparents, great grandparents and godparents. We did part of the session in Hartford, where the family lives, and the other part of the session in Ludlow, MA, where Bela grew up. Emma and Olivia are happy girls, and they are so loved. It was beautiful to see what makes each baby smile and how those smiles in turn light up the faces of every adult in their lives. They are treasured by all, and rightly so. I'm so excited to watch these two grow up! I love the continuity piece of telling the ongoing story of a family, so it seems fitting to post this blog on the eve of Bela and Sean's anniversary. I couldn't be happier for this family and am so grateful that they are clients-turned-friends.

The Continuing Adventures of Lucy and Sam

This post isn't limited to a photo session, though the second half includes photographs from my dear friends' family session. Rather, these images were composed over a visit that spanned several days when I was in Massachusetts last month. Nannying for Sam and Lucy when they were tiny babies facilitated my growth as a photographer by providing constant subjects as well as supplemental income while I finished school, started a business and developed a new-found passion. The natural progression of life has led to a beautiful friendship with their whole family, and when I travel to the East Coast, I am welcomed into their home. These guys have been my friends on good and bad days, and I love the way they love each other. Getting to be a part of their lives is getting to be a part of something special: a family who thrives because they keep choosing each other. The kids wear the confidence of well-loved children, and the whole crew seems intent on mastering the art of being on each others' team. These photographs have so much joy, especially in Miss Lucy's toothless grin and Sam's non-stop motion. Every year I say the newest photos are my favorite collection, and I think that's maybe because the good keeps getting better. I'm so grateful I get to witness just how beautiful that looks.

Fall and Family and Verging on Grown-Ups

Lynne and her boys have shared their lives with my camera lens for the past six years, and I've watched two little boys become teenagers. I'm not sure teenage boys are enthralled with the idea of family photos at this stage in their lives, but it's always fun to hear what's going on with them and what bands they're listening to and what they're reading. The real treasure, though, is in the in between moments when they let me see what is beautiful about their family. Laughs and looks and gestures and kindness... these things consistently show up. And someday these boys will have photographs to show their own children, and that thought makes me smile. I so admire the mom Lynne is. She has strength, grace and compassion, and she wears all three well.

After School Shenanigans

It only took a few minutes in their backyard to see that unique mix of love and being determined to out-pester one another that close-in-age siblings seem to share. These two made each other laugh and came up with ideas for photographs. I got to see a quiet boy and easy-going girl do their brother-sister bond perfectly. Seeing how they looked at each other and their expressiveness in their individual photos made this session one I'd looked forward to editing from the moment I uploaded the cards. Excited to share a few selections today.

Afternoon Park Playdate

I see these beautiful kiddos every year, and Lauren and Cole were about their little sister's age when we started our adventures in photo shooting. This year, we met for an afternoon playdate at the park in their neighborhood, and the older two greeted me happily and then proceeded to look out for little Charlotte for the duration of the session. To say these three adore each other is an understatement (though I'm sure they have their moments). We played and laughed and interacted, and the end result was a bright collection of photographs illustrative of their bond. It's a joy to witness.

Reasons Why

One of the privileges of meeting a new family is getting to hear pieces of their story and then getting to see the page that story is on as we engage during their session. This session took a couple of years of correspondence to actually get on the books, as my travels to Massachusetts are limited, and their two-kid, two-job routine keeps life moving. When our schedules aligned, I got to watch conversation and jokes followed by giggles. I saw big gestures, small smirks and easy conversation. It's the stuff of daily life that I imagine parents reflect on when days feel too busy or the kids can't quite seem to keep their acts together. I love taking family portraits because it creates a visual reminder of the good and the beautiful that looks unique on any given family. I think it matters. In this particular set, I love that you can see one little boy's vibrance, his eagerness to befriend me and his joy. I love that you can see his sister's calm, her steadiness and her warmth. Here are siblings making each other laugh. Here are two parents surrounding their children with love. Here is a family being themselves. It never gets old, getting to see the reasons why a family works and getting to create photographs with them so that they can see the way they fit just so.

Home, Life Happens Here

Spending an afternoon with these two was refreshing and calm. Their home is a beautiful space, and we did most of the session in the backyard and garden, with much loved four-legged family members making appearances here and there. Seeing the interaction between mother and son through my lens put a smile on my face. Melissa is intent on investing in Zach's interests, from the animals to surfing and snowboarding. Her son comes alive when he talks about and does the things he loves. That she knows that, that she celebrates that, this is how a parent comes alongside a child. She is raising him to be a good man. A whole lot of life and a whole lot of love builds the constructs of their home.

The Happiest Session in the Public Garden

Of this crew I knew we'd have lots of fun, because last year it rained (and by rained I mean poured), and we had a blast...This year, though, we had a beautiful Sunday morning. I love the big grins the kids got out of each other when we did their photos together. They made my job easy! These guys love and live well, and it was the perfect kickoff to my Massachusetts sessions this year to hang out with them in the Public Garden in Boston. They live in Bean Town, so shooting in the city was perfect. I had a hard time narrowing photos to share for the blog. This was truly one of the happiest sessions I've ever photographed.

Doubly Sweet

I loved meeting these sweet babies, two months into their story. They were wide-eyed and sleepy, in rotation, and they seemed pretty enchanted by their big sister. She in turn is pretty enthralled with the girls. We spent a couple of hours in the studio capturing these photographs, and I love that you can see three distinct beauties in the collection of images.