Just So Them

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.

Windy White Rock Lake

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.

Little Girlies and Joy

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...

The Baby Next Door...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A New Sister Makes A Big Brother

A couple of weeks ago, I met week-old Lucia for her newborn session and returned over the weekend to take some family photos. That meant I got to see Lucia's proud big brother Luigi dote on his sister. Luigi is a super high energy guy, and he made it very clear to me that he loves his sister. He was eager to snuggle up beside her and as gentle as a four-year-old can be when he kissed her. I never tire of seeing the interaction between siblings, and this session did not disappoint. Luigi and I spent a few minutes playing outside as well, and pretty much all this kid wanted to do was laugh. I'm a fan of little ones who think I'm hilarious, so that worked out well. I think photos are so valuable, as they provide a tangible reminder of what a family looks like loving one another. I recognize that having a newborn is busy and demanding, and coupling that with a busy preschooler means life is very full for parents who might be low on sleep and high on tasks. That said, I look at these photos and see love and joy and what is beautiful about this family. I hope you see that too. I consider it a privilege every time a family lets me catch a glimpse of who they are together. I look forward to seeing how Miss Lucia grows and changes in the coming months and how Luigi continues to own his role as big brother. The future is bright for this family.

Savannah is 1!

For Savannah's one-year photos, she came to the studio. From the get-go it was obvious Savannah's first choice for in-studio activities was running back and forth. She ran and ran and ran some more. I love her sweet spirit and zeal for life. She didn't seem phased by the fact that I, a new adult, was there and kept shifting her back to where the light was best. She just wanted to keep moving, and enthusiastically. When we pulled her big brother in for a few photographs, I loved his expressions and toddler conversation skills. The two were less interested in interacting with each other than with me, but I thought that made for some really fun shots, true to life with a pair of littles so young. It was a great way to spend the morning, and it made me excited to do family photos for this crew later in the fall. A quick sneak peek here, and if you're interested in a studio session, I have limited availability remaining for September and some openings in October and November. I'd love to hear from you!

Stella

A lot has changed in seven months. Stella has gone from sleepy newborn to bouncing (busy) baby girl. At seven-months-old she is sitting, crawling and pulling up. To say her parents have their hands full is an understatement. But what a precious way to have hands filled. Stella's inquisitive eyes captivated me, and she is quick to coo, smile and laugh. I loved the interactions of this family the first time I met them, and the beauty, love and tenderness has grown right alongside the baby who made her mom and dad parents. It was a fun Saturday, and I am already excited for one-year photos!

Darling Emmaline, Six-Month Edition

At her newborn session, she slept and slept. At her six-month session, Emmaline smiled and laughed. She beamed at her parents as she demonstrated her new found sitting skills, perfect for exploring the grass and beach at Lake Lewisville with eager hands. I love her chunky legs and bright eyes. Emmaline is such a fun baby. I love that this collection of photographs illustrates her sweet spirit and the beautiful way her parents interact with her. They were all smiles and encouragement as they watched her play, and when we did family photos, it was goodness to behold. Cannot wait until next time!

Little Love, Big Time

Cooper is such a little love, and I've had the privilege of witnessing this truth from the moment he was born. It's been a big time privilege to be a part of this family's life. I've documented Cooper life story thus far, and prior to his birth, his parents story, from engagement up to the present day. It has been an honor to follow them on their adventures, and in the process they've become wonderful friends. I'm grateful to have them in my life. For this session, we decided to keep things low-key and mostly just played and let Cooper be himself. Cooper being himself means letting a happy toddler run around and wave at people and play to his heart's content. He's an easy going kiddo, so it was a blast to take these images. I am excited to share them on the blog today.

Landon is One!

When I first met Landon, he was a vibrant, busy little guy. He kept his mom and dad on their toes, and they beamed at the task. Just days after his first birthday we had a follow-up session, and while Landon is very much the same sweet and active baby, now mobility has been added to the mix. We headed to their backyard to create some photographs to show off Landon's eager smile and big personality. He was the picture of contentment throughout the session. I love seeing how adored this fella is, and this blog doesn't even begin to illustrate the fullness of love I got to witness in this family. So excited to share these!

The Day Before Turning Three

The day before little Hailey turned three, her mama and I did a mini-workshop in their home, and we followed that time with a photo session. We updated family photos while doing Hailey's three-year photos. Three is a great age, and baby James, age five months, is also in quite an adorable stage. I loved the backyard light and the easy interactions. Hailey was hesitant to put her mermaids away (what wee girl isn't?), so we started the session with figurines in hand but transitioned to them "helping" me take photographs. That led to giggles from Hailey and grins from James. Taking a family's photos allows me a glimpse into who they are, and the glimpse I caught on that Monday night was of a family that is really good at being family. Mom and Dad naturally passed the kids back and forth, wiping noses and tickling tummies. Hailey showed off her baby brother with pride. James cooed and drooled and demonstrated his rolling over skills. It was a delightful evening, and the captures illustrate love and connection. They make me smile.

Harper is One!

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.

Zane is One!

Things I love about Zane's one-year photos: he wore the same outfit his uncle wore as a baby that his grandma made for the first part of the session, for one. Also, he absolutely loved "driving" the old bus we used for the second part of the session. And how darling is this baby? He adores his mom and dad, and they sure do love him. I've so enjoyed watching them become parents. It's been so sweet. A quick sneak peek today...

Crosby

Crosby's mom booked this session as a Father's Day gift for his dad. Their three-month-old grew their family in the most beautiful way that new life does. We spent a quiet morning in the backyard and around the house capturing these photographs. I really love the antique crib where Crosby naps during the day and that the family's furry friends are so enthusiastic about the addition of a happy little guy to the mix. Crosby snuggled, smiled and slept. As much as we enjoyed this session, we all had ideas for future sessions too, as Crosby hits milestones and learns to sit, then crawl, then walk and talk. So much wonder to watching baby grow through my camera lens, and Crosby gave me glimpses of just that. He is a little gift, much loved and celebrated.