Engagement Session | Ashley & Travis

…and that’s the reason for this session!

Meet Travis and Ashley, who will be enjoying a destination wedding this summer. We had So.Much.FUN (really!!) in old Richmond this weekend. Ashley and I have been corresponding via email for a little while now, planning out their session. We actually put together ideas through Pinterest — and I realized what an amazing tool that (not so) little website can be in planning a session with a client! By comparing our different ‘boards’ I was able to see the style of photos that Ashley had in mind, and plan accordingly. It was fun to style and set up our own versions of photos we’d each ‘pinned’ and it kept the creative mode of our time flowing. Travis was amazing at going along with our ideas — he definitely deserved that steak dinner afterwards. (He completely adores his bride-to-be. They were such a precious couple to be around!)Ashley and Travis, I wish you two all the best for your upcoming marriage! You’ll have to send some pics my way of your big day… Thanks for allowing me to capture your engagement session!

Family Session | The Walstad Family

Meet the Walstads!

We met on a crisp, clear winter morning to capture these beautiful (ahem, handsome) smiles. I so enjoyed being around this trio, who so obviously have close relationships with one another. How fun for me to see a mama with her grown children, and catch a glimpse of what my own little family dynamic might be like in 15-20 years. From what I’m told from those who have traveled this road before, that time goes awfully fast.If my little family can enjoy close relationships like these three do, then I’d say the time will be well spent.What do you do with boy/girl siblings in a fun photo to not make it look like a “prom picture”? Do a jump shot! These two were so creative — we did three jump shots, and all three are different and equally as fun. They planned their jumps and did a great job!

Thank you, Walstad family, for a great session together!

Newborn Session | Mr. Jackson

Meet little Jackson! Jackson got some lovin’ from his big brother Jayden at the beginning of our session. After taking some photos of the family and brothers together, we moved upstairs into Jackson’s room for his part of the session — isn’t he a handsome addition to a beautiful family? He’s just seven days new…I loved all the giraffes in Jackson’s room, so we tried to incorporate as many of them as I could find. Wouldn’t it be fun to see this same photo in a year, with Jackson sitting in the middle? Thank you so much Kristie and Roy for allowing me to spend yesterday with your precious family! I enjoyed meeting you and getting to love on your boys. Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek – there are many more that will be in your gallery soon!

Family Session | Lerich Family

Meet the Lerich family!

Glenn and Karen are ‘home’ from overseas for the holidays and a bit of a furlough to visit with their kids Molly, Mitchell and his wife Diana, and grandson Corey. Karen had asked in advance for her Christmas present to be a family session, and that is just what we did on the last day of 2011! I couldn’t have asked for a better session — we had a great time, and got some really wonderful photos. I’ll let the rest of the sneak peek tell the rest… Glenn, Karen, Mitchell, Diana, Molly and Corey — Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph you ALL at one time! I enjoyed our evening together, and I hope you’re able to treasure these photos for a long time to come! You’re a special family, and blessed to have so much laughter and love. Glenn and Karen, though for most of the year you’re far from us, you’re never far from our hearts. I cherish our friendship and consider myself blessed to know you.

Happy New Year, everyone! May your 2012 be filled with incredible joy in all circumstances.

Family Session | Wiggins Family

I don’t think I can find the words to explain how happy I was to do this session. Pictured are the faces of four people I have known since childhood and hadn’t seen for well over ten years. Stephanie, in the maroon sweater and red scarf, contacted me a while back to let me know that her family as well as her sister’s family would be in town at the same time visiting their parents, and would I mind checking my schedule to see if I could snag some family photos of them all together? Of course!!Stephanie and her husband Mark live in Albuquerque, New Mexico with their little guy Ezra. She’s disguising it very well in these photos, but Steph (and Mark and Ezra) is actually about three weeks away from meeting her second little boy! Stephanie is the tiniest thing with the hugest sense of humor. She was cracking jokes that afternoon about looking like a pregnant snowman (yeah, right).Stephanie’s older sister Monica was in town with her husband Chris and kids Jonathan, Daniel, Sam, and Anna. They’re visiting all the way from London! Monica, I have fond memories of you in youth group in high school, as well as riding to church with you my freshman year at A&M in your amazing blue ’60s Mustang. You might not know how much I looked up to you back then, and still do.Ladies and gentlemen, this is one fun family filled with lots of love and an over-abundance of laughter, if there is such a thing! Mark and Chris and the kids have only added to an already incredible family, in my humble opinion.Mimi and Pops (Ann and Alan), I thoroughly enjoyed seeing you both and spending a bit of time with your entire crew. What a beautiful family you have!! Thank you for the pleasure of photographing you at this moment in time. Let me know when you’re all in town together again!

Newborn Session | Mr. Anderson

Welcome, Mr. Anderson!

Anderson arrived a bit earlier than expected, but what a wonderful Christmas surprise! He was 14 days old on the morning of our session, and was a perfect little model for his photos. We worked in some frogs (for mom, who likes frogs) and a traditional Indonesian print (dad is from Indonesia, and we wrapped Anderson in one of dad’s shirts!) to make this session unique for Anderson. He is precious in both! I love his full lips.Congratulations Cecilia and Jaka on your newest little addition! Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to capture sweet Anderson at this time of life.

Merry Christmas to everyone! May your holiday be blessed!

Siblings | Beckham and Kellan

‘Tis the season!

For twinkly lights, giddy children, stories of Santa, reindeer, elves and snowmen, matching pajamas, first Christmases, wish lists, wrapping paper and memory cards full of photos.
For decorating, celebrating, collaborating, and all things fascinating.For telling the age-old story of our Savior’s birth, candlelight, soul-stirring carols, and sleeping babes.For family love, God’s gift from above, cozy nights by firelight, and hope in our hearts.Thank you Beckham and Kellan for this fun, unique session by your Christmas tree! Happy 6-month birthday to Kellan as well! I so enjoy photographing these boys!

 

TIP: If you would like to photograph your children and/or family near your Christmas tree and would like to capture the beautiful twinkly lights as well as everyone’s faces, try photographing during the daytime without a flash. Hopefully your tree is set up near a large window — open the curtains and blinds and let in as much natural light as possible. Then, have everyone sit 3-4 feet in front of the tree, while you stand 5-6 feet or so beyond them (or set up a tripod with your camera at that distance). We did not have the space to do these distances in the session above, however, the light from the window as well as from the lights are all showcased nicely and the faces of the boys are illuminated well.

If you want to get even more technical and your camera allows you to change the settings, use a larger aperture (lower f-stop number) when shooting. It draws the focus tighter on the faces, and gives the background more of a blur.

Family Session | The Burris Family

Meet the Burris family!

Life with littles is never predictable — especially during a photo session. Little S and Little L are two seriously adorable tow-headed boys who keep their mom and dad on their toes! We enjoyed lots of laughter, adventures in the woods, and of course a great amount of “herding” in our efforts to get some fun family shots as well as some of the boys themselves.

I’d say we were more than successful. The last two are my favorites…Thank you so much Burris bunch for meeting with me this past weekend! It’s always good to catch up with old friends. Y’all are doing a wonderful job with your sweet boys — I enjoyed seeing all of you!

(note: Click on any of the photos above to see a larger, clearer version)

Family Session | The Griffins

Say Hi to some of my extended family! This is my brother-in-law and his family, and we met this weekend for their Christmas photos. Don’t they look sharp?Mr. J is about to turn four years old! Believe me, he grins like this all.the.time. and has such a sweet heart. Love him! We had some fun playing on the rocks and a bit of hide-and-seek, too. The smiles kept on coming!
Thanks to E, B, & J for a great session! Love y’all!

Baby Boy | Mr. Graeme

Meet Graeme! This precious 3-month old baby boy was so much fun to ‘shoot.’ He sure did have eyes and grins for his mama, who is quite possibly one of the sweetest people alive. I had such a nice evening with this little guy and his mom and dad! He was too cute — just talked and talked to us! Mr. Graeme, you’ve no doubt brought joy to your family and I just know you’re going to do the same with everyone you meet. Enjoy your first Thanksgiving and have a very blessed first Christmas, sweet boy! I so enjoyed meeting you.