Earlier this fall I met up with one of my favorite families for our annual photo session.  It has been such a pleasure watching their kids grow; I look forward to our sessions every year, because I know I’m going to be surrounded by a whirlwind of silly antics, adventures in the woods, and all around crazy fun as can only be experienced in a household of four children and two dogs.

Dad built this amazing fenced in garden with raised beds.

There are all kind of cool things to be found on an outdoor adventure, like little peppers…

Strange and wonderful bugs…

Prickly pinecones…

Miniature posies…

…and über -cool mushrooms.

Did I ever tell you?  I looove red hair!  Surrounded by a halo of golden backlighting, she looks like a little angel.

Looking forward to our adventures next year!!

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It’s hard to believe it has been a little over a year since I photographed Adrik as a newborn–he has grown so much.  What a miracle children are!

Adrik and his mom and dad are huge Penguins fans.  He already knows how to say “We’re #1!” with his little finger.

So nice to see you again, little man!

With a few good friends
And a stick or two
A house is built at a corner called Pooh…

I’ve had this idea for a photo shoot in my mind for a while, and I finally had a chance to bring it to life this week at my parents’ property in Butler.  My daughter and her two cousins are the best of friends, like three peas in a pod.  I really wanted to capture the sweetness and whimsy of their childhood in these images.  My Dad helped me put together the little tent, and my Mom lent me a couple of her amazing handmade quilts to complete the set.  The clothing I chose for the kids  had a slight vintage look to them, which I just l-o-v-e.  Fyi, when planning a photo session for your children, clothing can really make or break a session, so I am always happy to help clients choose clothes for the shoot.

I am just over the moon about these images!

After story time at Pooh Corner, we picked some apples from the trees my Dad planted when I was a kid.

So cute how you can see the tops of the little ones’ heads as they watch their cousin bring the branches down for them.

I just love this little girl to pieces.

Being a photographer is truly a dream job for me.  I love being able to preserve memories for people, and I have the privilege of getting to know my clients on a personal level over time as I watch their family grow.  I met Rosalie and Chris for a lovely summer photo session at Highland Park to mark their youngest daughter’s 6-month milestone.  I can’t imagine a more perfect evening; the weather was warm (but not too warm), the lighting was golden and hazy, and there were flowers in bloom everywhere.

Rosalie and Chris, it was so great seeing you and the girls again!!

I haven’t forgotten you, dear Reader, even though you have been hearing crickets chirp due to lack of activity here!  I have been editing photos like a fiend – I’m waiting for my computer to implode on itself, seriously.  Anywho, here’s a gem of a session that I did when the weather was just a tad warmer. :)

I just love seeing my clients’ families grow over the years!  I’ve been working with Little Man’s parents since their maternity session, and I can’t believe how he is growing up!

I just love this time of curiosity and discovery in a child’s life.  Everything is so interesting!

We were getting a little sleepy, but after a quick rest we were recharged and ready to go.  I think it is sooo cute when little ones do things like hold on to their mommy’s hair when they are tired.

Meet 7-week old Little Miss M and her beautiful mum:

Meet her brother, Little Man A., who looks is completely adorable whether he is being serious…

…or goofing off!  Here he is pretending to ride his motorcycle – so cute!

Little Man had me smitten when he took my hand and led me outside to show me around.  He likes digging in the dirt, as most boys do; plus he has this ultra-cool helmet he wears when working.

Love this one – kudos to mom for the awesome vintage blue chair and the perfect outfit complete with hat!  I l-o-v-e it when clients bring accessories; little things like that can add so much. Little Man loves his daddy very much.

Many thanks to the R family for inviting me into their home!  You are beautiful.

Hugs,

Sandy

A few weeks ago my sister asked me to photograph her son for his first birthday/Easter portrait.  It’s hard to believe he is already a year old!  I had great fun chasing after her two children and my daughter that evening as they got their sugar buzz from all the chocolate, lol.  Here Little Man is expressing his displeasure at being forced to sit momentarily with his sister, by “hulking” furiously.  If you’ve never seen a baby hulk before, you are in for a real treat.  It is hilarious!

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You know all those really cute pictures of babies and toddlers where they are sitting ever so sweetly together and looking right into the camera?  Yeah, that’s about 1 out of every 50 pictures.  The rest of them usually look like this:

We child photographers really work hard to get those perfect shots!  It’s a ton of fun, though–totally worth the sweat and hard work to get that shot, and always an adventure.  I absolutely adore photographing babies and children!   Here is Little Man looking all dapper in his cute little outfit:

Happy Birthday, nephew!

Meet the three musketeers of the F family!  I had a fabulous time shooting their portrait session which, as it should have, turned into a fun, smiley, goofy session.  What a hoot!

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After their parents saw their online gallery, they sent me this wonderful note:

“Oh my goodness Sandy! the pictures are absolutely awesome!!!! I love them!!!!!!!! They made me cry and laugh, too! You did another fantastic job!!! Thank you, thank you!!!!”

Can I just tell you that getting a little note like this is the absolute best.  This is what keeps me going.  It makes me feel so good that I can make someone laugh and cry tears of joy when they see their pictures.  Thanks so much, Debbie and Jim!

One of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting to see a family grow right before my eyes.  I first met Rosalie and Chris over a year ago for maternity photos.  Since then, they have referred two couple for wedding photos; Vanessa and Matt, who were married in May, and Jessica and Danny, who will be married in August.

Rosalie and Chris, happily expecting…

Then this couple became a family of three when little miss Imogen was born…

I had the pleasure of returning for her 6 month milestone…

And now, it’s hard to believe that Imogen is 1 year old!  How she has grown and changed in such a short time.  I feel honored that Rosalie and Chris have chosen me to document their family’s growth.

I’ve been trying some different processing for a new look here and there; which one do you like better?

These photos make me chuckle. :)  We kept Imogen happy with a handful of Cheerios; here they are suspended in the natural catch-all of her poofy little tutu.

She is so engrossed in pushing the phone buttons…already at the tender age of one and she is embracing technology!

It took several tries to get her to keep her birthday hat on.  My favorite is the one in the lower right corner; the look on her face as she pulls off the hat is priceless.

Rosalie and Chris, thank you so much for once again allowing me into your lives.  I am already looking forward to the next session.  Happy birthday, Imogen!!

This is my adorable niece, little Miss D.  My sister asked me to take some springtime portraits of her in her Easter dress, and of course who could say no to an opportunity to capture a sweet little face like that.

Ah, springtime is finally here!  Winter snow is lovely to look at, but I am so ready to feel the sunshine and the breezes of spring in the air.  These shots were taken on my parents’ property; here at the edge of the woods you can see the field where the grass is starting to green.  And I really like the moss growing on the ground.  What is it about moss that enthralls me?  I love the color…the soft, velvety, blanket-y-ness that just invites you to touch it, maybe even take a lovely nap on it like a deer in the forest…it reminds me of childhood.  Note to self:  I must grow a moss garden some day.

Thank you, little Miss D. for being so cute and cooperative!