Busy Boys, Best of Times

This family has so much to celebrate, as theirs is a story of overcoming great odds to be healthy and whole. Both the boys and their mama have undergone incredible fights to live. And while those fights are their stories to tell, I am so pleased to share this set of photographs. Two-year-olds are busy. Two-year-old twins, doubly so. Two-year-old twin boys? Let's just say full throttle in opposite directions for the duration of our session as a summary. That said, I loved every minute of this shoot. The interactions were real and full of love. The activity level was high and full of opinions and laughter and endless patience of a mom and dad relishing the joy of their sweet boys.

Everybody, All Together

My mom's family hired a photographer every few years to update family photograph to include the ever-increasing number ofnew additions. I remember both the photo shoots and looking through the proofs of those sessions time and again as a child. When Kate contacted me about photographing her husband's extended family when everyone was in town, I thought back to those sessions and was excited to get to work with a family to capture a glimpse of who they are in 2013. We gathered at the park and did the song and dance of trying to keep the little ones' attention. Everyone laughed a lot (well, the baby only laughed a little, as sometimes happens with babies...). All in all, it was a fun morning, and I wanted to share a sneak peek.

This.

Four beautiful girls. One baby boy. Two incredibly patient and doting parents. Photographing this family for the second time made me smile and then smile some more. I loved how much love was present- how the older girls fought over who got to hold the baby, how the little ones smirked and giggled when their mom and dad peek-a-booed to get smiles, how each little face lit up when it was their turn for individual shots. I really love my work, and this family showed me so much goodness in the way they were a family just being themselves in front of my lens. It's with a grateful heart that I share these photographs.

Sweetest Girls

I love photographing sisters. I loved the way the elder of this pair insisted on trailing her little sister. She so wanted to make her smile and laugh. I loved the way the younger of these two wasn't too sure about me but sure did love her mama and daddy. A sweet mini-session sneak peek...

Mini Magic...

I have a few quick sneak peeks to post from mini-sessions, and this first family, well, how cute are these kiddos? I love their sweet smiles. It's always amazing to see what comes out of such a quick session. Love these photographs...

All the Good Things

When we met up for this family's photographs, I thought it had been a year since we first did family photos. It had been two years. That said, I'm so glad that we did this set before they welcome a new addition in December. Everyone really showed up and got into the flow of moments that make a session go well, and I am happy to see so much of the good things that make this crew a family. Fall photos are in full swing, and I'm so glad the schedule included these guys...

Sunday Morning in Oak Cliff

Of these photographs I'll say this: I am so thankful that my job forges friendships. Sometimes I find myself inviting myself to dinner at the house of friends who started out as clients. This family? They're some of those clients. I love that we met in our neighborhood on a Sunday morning and that my dog, Darby, ran around while we took photos. I love that Nadine will grow up considering Darby her friend and me her honorary auntie. Because I know these guys, I know these photos reflect who they are and especially who Nadine is at this stage in toddler-hood. She goes, goes, goes and she loves her gi-jaffs and she uses her core all while being utterly adored by her mom and dad. And her eyes? They shine, captivating. So fun to share this blog...

These Littles

Has it been six years since I nannied tiny baby twins? I was just starting my photography business and needed extra income. What I didn't know was that I also stood to gain a four-for-one deal of friendships that have so enriched my life. They are the reason I started going to Massachusetts. I had to watch the littles grow. I am so grateful that we have remained in touch. This year the entire trip was marked by seemingly endless rain, so we didn't capture as many formal photos as is typical, but I still love these images. They are real life and full of beauty.

Rainy Day Play Date

This is the third time I've photographed these little girls, and I entered their home on a rainy Massachusetts morning to big hugs and shouts of "Miss Erin!" The whole session felt like a play date. The dog ran wild. The girls showed off their speed. Umbrellas didn't keep us dry. And it mattered not. Once again, real life, among sisters, looks like love. It doesn't get better than that, even if the session ends with a downpour.

Rainy Day at the Gristmill

I have this to say about this family: they're troopers. The sky looked ominous on the way to the session, but the rain held off. It had rained most of the night, though, so we wandered around the grounds of the Sudbury Gristmill, muddying our shoes. We had so many smiles and laughs, and even the dog cooperated. And then the rain came. And with the rain came more smiles and laughs, plenty of love and a most memorable photo session. One little girl *may* have been a bit sad about her soggy shoes by the end of the shoot, but other than that, it was a great session. Though I love the fall colors in Massachusetts, I really love the black and whites from this session. They better convey emotion, and I see so much joy.

Breanna in the Apple Orchard

Massachusetts has become a second home for my photography business, and I love going in the fall when the colors change, enchanting New England with color. I first did Breanna's photos when she was in junior high, so I was excited that this fall's trip corresponded with the timing of her senior photos and the arrival of autumn. Breanna was a natural model, and I loved hearing her plans and dreams for her future. I love that her brother and sister jumped into a few photos as well. We did this session in a beautiful apple orchard, and it turned out to be the perfect location for these photographs.

And Korbyn Makes 8!

Having grown up in a large family, it was so beautiful to see how the older children in this crew loved on the younger ones. It was so genuine and sweet. It was like everyone decided to show up with the best version of him or herself the morning of our session, and that best version looks like a family, loving well. I especially loved how tender everyone was with baby Korbyn, just 8-weeks-old and such a pumpkin! Just a quick sneak peek tonight...

A Beautiful Song

Tiny little Aria had opinions about newborn photography. I wouldn't say she was impressed with the idea in the beginning, but once she realized Mom would stay close by, she did just fine. What a beautiful baby this sweet girl is! Her mom's maternity session was one of my favorites ever, so I was so excited to tell Aria's story visually now that she's earthside. It is always lovely to meet a newborn and be with a family during such a sweet time in their lives. I love the way these photographs turned out and cannot wait to watch Aria continue to grow. She's a gift, and her parents and big brother are well aware. Aria's mama has great attention to detail, and I love that she pulled out her wedding dress to use in the photographs. Paired with a ruffled pink diaper cover made for gorgeous, meaningful photos.

Zachary's One Year Session at Tillman's Roadhouse

It's always hard to believe when one of my baby plan babies turns one, and Zachary did just that last week, and he is oh-my-goodness darling. Watching his sister dote on him alongside of seeing him teeter on the edge of walking made for such a fun session. We were fortunate to be able to use Tillman's Roadhouse for our location, and it was a perfect backdrop. I'm excited to share the blog. Happy birthday, little man. Can't wait to see how year two treats you!

Here Come the W Three

Three-and-a-half years ago, my sister and I met the W family on a flight to Kentucky. The triplets were babies, and we wound up sitting across the aisle. We visited a bit on the flight and a few months later, I got to do their photos for the first time. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, and I met up with my favorite trio of four-year-olds to update their photos. They are so full of life and personality, and I think they are the smiley-est kids I know. I just adore this family, and I just adore these photographs. So much life and love to see. I pulled a photo from each of their previous sessions this morning, and I love seeing how these three have grown and changed. One thing has stayed the same: they are such cuties!

It's a Moment in Time

A visiting grandma and a soon-to-be developed empty field moved the timeline of this session up a bit. "It's a moment in time," Christie said when she booked the shoot. Their neighborhood is undergoing constant change these days, so we used a place that has been special to their family before it goes away. Everything about this session shouts of everything that matters about family photos. It's not that the light was perfect, though it was. It's not that the location was ideal, though it was. It's not that the dog cooperated, though she did. It's that everyone showed up, as themselves, and let me catch a glimpse into the world that makes a family work. It may have been a moment in time, but I suspect that empty field or not, there are endless moments of stories to be captured of life being lived well for this crew. They just fit. I'm glad I got to capture a glimpse.

Telling Visual Stories: Happy Birthday to the A Twins!

I photographed these sweet girls as newborns, at six months, for their first birthday, for their second birthday, for their third birthday, and then we followed up their three-year session with birthday party photos. Families that return to me time and again make my job that much more enjoyable, and I love that over time, tiny babies become little girls who know my name. Rapport comes with repeat sessions. I start to know more of a family's personality which leads to more-thought out ideas for the next session. It's remarkable to watch babies grow up. Photography is an investment in telling today's story for future generations. Adding chapters to that story as years go by is beautiful and compelling. I'm thankful that the A family has entrusted me to continue to work with them. I looked back over the past few years in preparing this blog post and wanted to share a few photographs through the years.

All is Love. {Lexington Family Photographer}

Green grass and blue skies and extended family and sunflowers and sunsets and happy children and sweetest friendships... Spending days seeing the best of my friends as they love their ever-growing and changing families makes me grateful for my work. And these photographs? Just love.

Sunny Days

With two little ones, the days just fly. I love a quiet morning at the park with a family I'm watching grow before my eyes. How has it been six months since I've seen this crew? I love hearing Lady L learn to talk, and Mr. R is ready to take over the world. It is an honor to tell the ongoing story of a family, and I'm already excited for the next go-round with these guys. How much do you love the photographs of Lady L with her mom? And that little bowtie... to die for.

Two Turning Three

This is the month of multiples! I photographed twins on Cape Cod, twice, then photographed these lovely little girls this week and have triplets to photograph at the end of the month! I've been photographing these two since they were newborns, and turning three has turned them into enthusiastic chatterboxes, enthralled with princess and baby dolls and oh-so-eager to see everything. The session was laid back and fun, and in a few weeks I get to see them again for their birthday party. I can't wait.