Hugs and High Fives

Planning for this session looked like an email that said something along the lines of "Eli and Em insisted on choosing their own clothes for the shoot. And they are excited." That made me excited. I've been photographing this family for 6 (!!!) years. When we started Em wasn't walking, and her shy two-year-old brother barely looked me in the eye. The kids know me now, and we have had such through the years. This session is no exception. The magic of the Japanese Gardens certainly contributed to the feel of this shoot, but it's a family being who they are that really shines. The lush, endless paths for exploration put everyone in adventure mode, so we let the littles take charge and followed them around. I love Eli's quiet, calculated approach to life and Emerson's eager, just-go-for-it yang to his yin. Elementary school looks good on them. As for their parents, what can I say? I love clients whose love is complimented by their "like" years into a marriage. Sessions like this make me thankful for my life, for this job and for the way it lets me see the best in people. I love that going to work this day started with hugs and ended with high-fives. Cannot wait til next year!

One Sunday Morning

When I do a session, I get to catch a glimpse into the life of a family, loving each other. I'm not a parent, but I know that the desire to get great photographs of the children, of the family-year in and year out- is a very real one. And I believe it matters: that capturing who a family is, now, preserves something. When I shoot, I hope to capture a bit of real life. Real life translates well to a photo session. Real life is a busy two-year-old running, running, running. It's a daddy carrying his middle son on his shoulders for a walk, because that's what they do on Sunday mornings. Real life is a little girl exploring the woods. It's a mom calling to schedule a photo session just a couple of weeks out during the busy season because her original photographer fell through. That's how I came to connect with this family, and I am so thankful that I did. I really love these photographs, love the life reflected and preserved.

Getting Upgraded!

This little man is getting upgraded to big brother in a few short months, so I was excited to get to do one more session while he's flying solo. Jack was one of my newborn clients, and now he's a very busy two! That meant the session was spent going, going, going, and I'm glad I got to see who he is right now. Jack is enthusiastic and opinionated, but when his mom and dad asked him to do something (mostly stop running...as twos are prone to do) he would stop and think about it. And usually he turned around. And came back. This kid is smart. And adorable. Love this sneak peek.

Niece

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.

Red Sparkle Shoes

Her red sparkle shoes matched Kaitlyn's bright personality. She's a chatterbox and would have spent the entire session jumping had it been up to her. Four is such a fun age. We played our way through a morning of photographs, and I love the end result. We even managed to get a bit of fall color in the background for a few shots, a rarity in Texas. Just a quick sneak peek...

Three Little Ladies

A few things I love in a photo session: -Sisters who clearly adore each other (even if they have their moments... I rarely see those moments). -Grandparents who join in the photos session fun. -Littlest family members who finally warm up and give me real smiles. -Photographs that reflect who people are, not just what they look like.

Those things said, I love this sneak peek. A great day with so many gorgeous images. It was hard to select photos to blog.

So Much Goodness

I've known April since we were 10, making her one of my oldest friends and one of my best. The last time I photographed her family, they were living in Taiwan as missionaries. They've added one sweet baby to their brood since then, and they're adding another in a few months. I was so happy to have the opportunity to do these photos while they're a family of four and cannot wait to capture them as a family of five. April and Brent, I love you guys... who you are and what you're about, and I'm honored to be your friend. Thanks for letting me take some photographs of the goodness that is your life.

Little Big Boys

These two have grown so much since I last saw them! These boys are funny and sweet. We planned to meet at the park, but it was such a rainy wet day that we moved our session to the Grapevine Vintage Railroad to avoid muddy muck. I loved seeing the interaction between the boys, and their parents are so easy going. I was excited to see them. Already excited for baby P's one-year session in a few months!

All You Need Is...

Love, love, love photographing this family. Love the way they show up and love each other. Love the way they are stylish and fun. Love the way every year, without fail, their session ends up being one of my favorites. The banners hanging in the background? Part of Highland Park's 100th birthday celebration. I love the addition of color. So excited to share this shoot.

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.

Beautiful Baby Bump

I got to meet this sweet mama last week, and we talked about her soon-to-arrive (December!) baby girl. The anticipation of welcoming her first daughter showed all over her face. We had a perfect afternoon for taking photographs. I can't wait to do newborn photos in just a few short weeks. This tiny baby is already well-loved and so wanted.

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.