Lindsay & Steve: Family Photos
I love winter photos-- even though they are never as easy as they look. Lindsay, Steve, and their adorable son, Lucas, were absolute pros though. And you couldn't ask for a happier, more photogenic baby than Lucas!
We even found time to squeeze in some extended family photos! Thanks to this group for being a great ending to 2015!
The First Snow:: Michelle & Matteo
Toddler sessions never go as planned-- which is actually why I find them so fun. You can't go in with a plan and pinterest-visions dancing in your head, because toddlers have an amazing ability to throw all of it out the window; yet, what they come up with is usually much better anyway. Such was the case when I photographed Michelle and her son, Matteo.
It was the first snowfall of the season. Matteo was so intrigued by all the white fluffy stuff, that he couldn't stop bounding through it and then stopping to pick it up. Another challenge of this shoot was the fact that I had laryngitis at the time-- and my usual method for getting kids to smile at the camera involves making a ton of weird noises! Matteo was a pro though and would stop and flash a smile for me-- if I was quick enough to catch it. :)
We took a short break to warm up inside the Loussac Library. When doing sessions with kids, it's always helpful to have some sort of activity for them to do so they don't get bored. (As a teacher, I also LOVE the idea of the library shoot. Instilling a love for literature at a young age is something I can definitely get behind!) Michelle and I had to race around to keep up with Matteo-- he was so excited about all the books and electronic check-out machines!
I've known Michelle since High School, when we did theater together. I've seen her in many roles, but none as cool as her role as Matteo's Mom. There's something I'm in awe of in my friends who are raising tiny humans. There is so much love, and patience, and kindness. Every word and action carries so much meaning for these kids, and I see all of that beauty coming through the camera. And each shot restores my faith in humanity. (I know that sounds kind of cliche' and even extreme, but in light of world events lately, I think it's important to recognize these beautiful moments for their power.) It was an honor to spend the afternoon with these two and celebrate a powerful Mother-Son bond. Thank you for bringing so much love to the world!
Palmer Portraits
My favorite thing about taking portraits is capturing people's personalities. (There's a reason I became a portrait photographer...people are so much more fun to photograph than landscapes or bowls of fruit!) And during this photo session in Palmer, the personalities of these three kiddos definitely came across!
Addison is the princess. She’s got the flowing princess locks to prove it, and took every opportunity to sport a princess-y pose (even trying to organize a shot where her siblings carried and/or fanned her.) But don’t let that fool you—she’s also super spunky. I’ve never seen anyone scale a tree in a pair of flip-flops like this little girl. (She was also rocking a pretty sweet scab on her forehead from a case of bicycle road rash.)
Amelia is the oldest and a total sweetheart. She definitely watches out for everyone and makes sure everyone is taken care of. It's really sweet the way she looks up to her Mom too-- which was literally captured in this photo as she glanced over at her during this shot. She is very observant and quietly adventurous.
And now we come to dear, little Max.
Max is the youngest, and was quite shy at first. It wasn't until I started asking him to jump around and make silly faces that he got really into the photo shoot. This kid is going to have some serious moves when he grows up-- one of my favorite moments in the session was when I asked Max and Addison if they could try to make Amelia laugh. Max shook his butt in the most hilarious way and was the reason this photo of his big sister was possible:
That's pure joy, Ladies & Gentlemen...
It was such a fun session with this group. We started out by enjoying some Italian sodas (gotta get them all sugared up and excited for photos, right?!) They climbed some trees, found a message in a bottle, and raced around in their Grandparents' yard. All in all, a wonderful day and captured some fun snapshots of this time in their lives.
Q: Who's the Boss? A: Toddlers.
The best advice I ever got about working with Toddlers is: don't go into your photo session with any preconceived notions. If you have the perfect image of a Toddler smiling at you while basking in the lighting you've set up, think again.
Outtake: Jesse deciding he's done with this location.
Call me crazy, but this is one of the reasons I like working with Toddlers. It keeps me on my toes! And if worse comes to worse, you can always reschedule a session. (We actually did do a second shoot for this one after Jesse just wasn't feeling it-- and I'm so glad we did!)
Jesse is nearly three. Like most Toddlers, he's moving constantly. His favorite word seems to be "no!" which makes it all the more rewarding when you can get a smile out of him. (Which usually involves me getting everything framed up and then screaming in a weird voice, which Toddlers just think is hilarious!)
The amazing sweater he's wearing was made by his Grandma, with yarn Jesse picked out himself-- I'm guessing because it's got some Ninja Turtle colors in there, including his favorite: Donatello. Jesse's Grandma lives in Minnesota, so doesn't get to see him often-- which was the inspiration for the photo shoot.
Another thing I love to capture with Toddlers is the love for Mom. The world begins and ends with her! Jesse's mom, Maggie, is absolutely amazing-- so it isn't any wonder that she is everything to him.
During our shoot, Jesse fell on the gravel and began to cry. I felt a little guilty taking photos during his meltdown, but at the same time, it was so sweet. A routine the two of them have done probably hundreds of times: Jesse takes a spill and starts crying, immediately runs to Maggie. She makes everything all better with a tight hug and a kiss. I love that you can see the tricycle in the background of this photo and that the light was hitting her face.
Aren't Moms the best!?
Jesse was a great sport and I'm so glad we tried for a second shoot. The afternoon light was so warm, and was perfect for bringing out the vibrancy of Jesse's busy life.
To see the full gallery, click here.