It was on a day where I really needed the perfect weather, the perfect light, and the perfect family to cheer me up. And that is exactly what I got!

I left for this session straight from my friend Kathi’s house, after saying goodbye to her as she was moving to Texas. As one of my dearest friends for over 10 years, this was heartbreaking for me. I cried most of the way there, and got out of the car hoping I didn’t look like a total disaster. But oh… this light… this family… they made me feel so much better.

This little girl is the luckiest girl ever. To be so loved is such a wonderful thing…

Twins!

Thanks, Dallas, for serving our country! (he’s a Marine)

These two are the best.

It’s nice to snuggle and cuddle a sweet new baby. And it’s also nice to sleep a whole night through. So, really, this is probably the best of both worlds: Photographing sweet new babies.

I usually try to get newborns to sleep, because they look peaceful and relaxed and their eyes aren’t distractingly pointed in two different directions and they aren’t making weird faces. But this little guy looked so sweet and peaceful and relaxed, he actually looked great awake!

If he was mine, I’d smooch those little lips. But he’s not, so I didn’t. Therefore, I wish I could turn back time and smooch my own babies. But again… I did sleep all night last night… There are advantages to every stage.

Big sis.

I can’t help it. I love a screaming baby. They’re so mad. It’s all they can do. So helpless and mad. It makes me melt.

Mama was one of Sophia’s favorite teachers. She says Sophia was one of her favorite students. Of course we love her.

I took a break from shooting for a couple months, so it felt good to get back in the groove with such a sweet little subject!

Ahhh… the fur. I love baby fur.

I can’t help it. One of my favorite shots from every session. Why? My kids think I’m so weird that I love little baby bottoms, but I just can’t help it.

Thanks you two for taking such good care of my babies, and I’m so excited for you to have your own!

I captured these images nearly a year ago. In the meantime, Matthew has grown a bunch and gotten braces. Franklin has lost his two front teeth and grew in the beaver teeth that are so popular with kids his age.

This session almost didn’t happen. In a burst of inspiration, I planned/bought the outfits. Then, it rained. Then, I lost motivation. I stayed in that place for a few weeks. Then, one day, the sun was out, the kids were home, I had a rare burst of energy, and I decided we should just do it. Now. I yelled at them to get dressed, did some things to Sophia’s hair, and we left as the sun was getting low.

I had visions of how this would go… I’m good at this. People connect with me, and we have fun during sessions. It’s just a great playtime that ends up looking really pretty and everyone looks so happy. I’ve learned by watching stressed-out moms, that stressing does nothing for the session but drag it down. No disciplining during sessions, that’s my rule. Yeah.

I found myself being that mom. THIS HAS TO WORK. You’re going to smile if it kills you. Stop complaining. Just stand over there and SMILE!! Stop whining. Stop bickering. Oh man… this was hard to be the relaxed, fun mom when it’s MY pictures I want to turn out well! And my kids who are acting like punks! The fun-photographer-me was watching the stressed-mom-me and just shaking her head and telling herself to chill out and do what I do for my clients. I don’t yell at their kids. I make up fun games! But the stressed-mom-me kept taking over. I bet it was hilarious to watch me, like one of those movies with people multiple personalities fighting to get out. Yell at the kids to do something, then act like everything is so fun.

But the cool thing about professional photography… you throw out the crappy shots, and just keep the good ones. I shouldn’t have stressed. I’ve done this long enough to trust the process (for other people), that it ALWAYS TURNS OUT. Somehow. I always get treasures from every session, even the disastrous ones. I don’t even pretend to think it’s because of me.

I was just talking about this last weekend with a client… God cares about good pictures.

I swear, He does. There have just been too many times when the clouds parted and the perfect ray of light would shine on that screaming toddler as they took a breath, and they actually looked happy and beautiful. Or the time when I crossed the country to shoot a wedding, and it poured. POURED. Poured really isn’t a good enough word… the entire day. The entire state was a mud bog. I was feeling so bad that she wouldn’t get pretty pictures after all the effort to get me there. Then God heard the I Do’s, called a cease-fire on the rain, and gave us 30 minutes to get the shots we wanted before starting back up. And it’s not just me… I’ve heard other photographers recount the same things, time and time again.

God-the universe-nature-Allah-energy-the force CARES about pictures.

It’s probably because He knows how much they’ll mean to us. Of course we want beautiful images of the people we love. But it goes deeper than that. Seeing them in this ideal state (quiet, happy, perfect) moves us. Allows us to appreciate them more fully. Reminds us of what is important. Captures the moment, and lets us revisit it again and again. And captures those people who change so constantly and lets us hold on to them a little tighter, to keep them a little longer.

Watching my kids grow creates a tiny bit of an ache in my heart. As much as I love who they are and who they’re becoming, as much joy I feel in the present, I loved the former versions (who I only can visit in pictures) just as much. Photography is a gift, really. A gift from God. He parted the clouds of my laziness and then stress and grumpiness and allowed these to happen. Treasures.

I love these people. I love the energy they bring to my life. I’m not talking energy- do things, I’m talking energy- vibe. They are the most amazing group of people I know, and I feel badly sometimes that I’m not more for them. But I am what I am, and they are gracious and accepting of that. I feel the same way about them. They’re not perfect either, but that doesn’t change how I feel about them one bit. I’m just enjoying (as much as and as often as I can) the ride we’re on together.

Like these ones:

I love me a crying baby. I can’t help it.

Big sis is the best!

My *favorite* type of family shot. Real, loving, close.

These eyes… sigh….

I love these next two snuggly shots:

I think I might be super hilarious to babies… I’ve gotten several smilers lately! 

Nothing melts me like a strong daddy and a tiny baby.

And a gorgeous mom with perfect hair giving snuggles.

First, the little bun

and then… announcing… the amazingly sweet and sleepy and calm little Gino!
He’s a happy baby.

The cutest toes, with a little character (the overlap).

I adore this little family shot:

He didn’t sleep the entire time… He did wake up to poop on dad, pee on his favorite toy, and lose his bellybutton thingy. It was a pretty eventful day for the little guy~ you can kind of tell by the look on his face that was all part of his master plan to rule the world. He’s got one household down.

We almost got rained out… but instead we just got a little bit of a rainbow.

Even the doggies dressed up for the occasion!

He is one lucky little guy, with parents who love and adore him and each other. Total love-fest.

Love make me really happy.