backtracking thru 2008 – part 6

Posted on February 9, 2009

I believe this is the last of 2008 that I haven’t shared… Well, almost. Regular sessions, yes.

I had an awesome maternity session back in November – on the beach, in glorious weather, with such a great couple. Except for one other time very early in my photography, this was my first outdoor maternity session. Normally I just do indoor maternity with the black backdrop, which I like, especially for its classic simple look, but this was new and fresh… an absolute treat! The couple allowed themselves to be very comfortable in front of the camera which I feel translated beautifully in the images. I’m struggling to find just the right words to describe how great this session was for me… Let’s just say that the more and more I do this photography thing that I do, this awesome thing that I get to call “work”, certain sessions along my journey strike me in a way that tell me I’m growing. As an artist. The vision and the technical take one more step towards each other. Its absolutely encouraging. It assures me that I’m on the right path.

Having said all that, I left a few of my faves out because I wasn’t sure if the mom would feel comfortable with me sharing them here… I just might add a couple more to this post later.

Was thinking about Notting Hill with Julia Roberts here… He needs a book.

Sometimes I struggle with this crazy thought that every photo in a maternity session needs to show her belly. But what my heart tells me is that this is also about capturing two people, as they are in this very moment, before their world completely changes. They know they have been given a special gift, and there is much anticipation for the moment when they can hold that precious gift in their arms. But for now its just them. Enjoying the last few days of life as they currently know it. And I want this child to one day look at these photos and be able to look into their eyes and perhaps see the special glow that I see. Glowing for them. With so much love and anticipation.

Then how lucky am I when I get to see them in the first few days of their brand new life. And I get to meet precious little gifts from God, such as this little guy ~

Just so loved and fussed over ~

These next two shots really speak to me… When I was a brand new mom, *both* times, I remember holding my babies and just staring down at them in disbelief and wonder. So beautiful and precious. You just want to freeze that moment and never let it go. I always say that I wish I could take photos with a simple blink of my eyes, just to capture exactly what I am seeing at that very moment. When I took this first photo I was trying to do that for her ~

Then I found myself looking down on this beautiful mom’s face and I was very struck by the way *she* looked at that moment, so lovingly holding and admiring her brand new son… Not sure which I like best. Both are precious.

To say that Dad was loving this moment is almost an understatement…

One of my new favorites ~

We absolutely wore him out by the end ~

Sleeping like a baby… Hopefully mom and dad got a little of the same after I left.

Oh, and did I mention that this newborn session was done early on Christmas Eve? It felt so fitting to do a newborn session on the eve of our Savior’s birth. What a miracle.

backtracking thru 2008 – part 5

Posted on February 3, 2009

A super windy day in November, at the beach, with a baby under one year, could have been disastrous, but absolutely wasn’t. Add on top of that, the baby had never been to the beach before, so it could have really been bad! But she did fabulous and was such a trooper in the wind.

The not quite one year old and her wonderful parents ~

And when I say wonderful, I mean “love ‘em to pieces” wonderful.

And those were taken before we set her down in the sand. She LOVED sitting in the sand. LOVED it. Not only loved it, but would look up at us and show us how much she loved it. So not the norm, let me tell you. It was awesome. (Here is the link to an earlier post from their session where you will actually see her in the sand.)

We really didn’t get any of her alone because the point of this session was to get a great photo of the three girls together. That we did. Here are a couple more ~

One of my all-time favorites!

And after that set of photos is where Miss “S” pooped out and decided it was just too windy for her cute little self.

So we moved on to the girls and their parents, the best friends of the first family shown above…

and had a fabulous time! All of them are naturals in front of the camera. They not only did what I asked them to do, but did it like they were pros and like they weren’t guided in any way. It was awesome.

They brought along this super cute snowman and put the finishing touches on it when we first got to the beach ~

A favorite of mine ~

And how great that we could get a group shot. I want a photo like this with our best friends…

Back to the almost one year old… I have some awesome one year old photos to share with you soon! Talk about CUTE!

backtracking thru 2008 – part 4

Posted on February 2, 2009

Only a few more to go and I *think* I’m caught up through 2008.

One of my favorite families that I get to see every year before the holidays…

I think this is our third year of doing holiday photos. I look forward to this session because its like getting together with old friends.

I love that I get to watch kids grow…

These two seemed so young our first year. They were little girls… I’m sure of it! And when I saw them walk up this year I was struck at how they are suddenly crossing the line to becoming young ladies and just growing more and more beautiful, just like their mama.

This little guy was not exactly in our first round of photos three years ago but he was there, snuggly in mama’s belly. I love this shot and how it captures him being such a little boy, getting cuter and cuter as well ~

Ooh, but was he mad that he could see that playground from where we were taking photos!… Caught some fun outtakes and mom and I both agree that we are a bit amused by them ~

I love that mom and dad specifically wanted photos of just them without the kiddos. I know I say it a lot, but it is so important that we make time for just the adults in our family photos.

I LOVE what we captured ~

And one more family shot. One of my favorites… you guys know I like “cozy”.

Wow, I’m so lucky to know this family. They make me feel like a million dollars, every time. Thanks guys! May God bless you with much family happiness this year and I look forward to seeing it on your faces again in the fall!