Maisie

She’s got style. She’s only 5 months old and already, she’s got style. Between her round perfectly rosy cheeks and the stylish headband across her brow she totally works it. Boy are this first-time Mom and Dad in trouble. Their little girl is so full of style and beauty they should have their hands very full by the time this little lady reaches her teens!

She isn’t technically sitting up yet on her own, yet somehow she managed it just for our shoot. What a feat! I’m so glad I got to capture such a big moment for such a little girl. It was one of those times when you could feel the change and growth in the air. Filling the room.  Almost as if time was speeding up. I watched her grow before my eyes in that hour we were shooting as suddenly she went from an infant to a fully-sitting baby. It was miraculous. Just one of the many perks of photographing children. Every once and awhile you get to witness a miracle.
Thanks Lenessa, for having me over to take photos of your sweet girl. I can’t wait to take some more in a few months!

Tommy

He is perfect.

His daddy holds him tenderly and his mommy laughs at how much they look alike. He endures the position changes, the barely-there onesie, and the constant clicking of the camera. He sleeps through it all and even graces us with a few smiles. His head is perfectly round with the smallest bit of fuzzy dark hair. His toes are just the right size. He is the first son to this beautiful couple, and he is perfect.

When Peter and Cathrine asked me to photograph their new baby boy I was so thrilled. You see, I enjoyed another newborn shoot just a few weeks ago with his cousin- Gretta. Tommy is only the second of three cousins due to join this family this spring! What a fun time for this family to be having babies together!

Peter and Cathrine, your son is beautiful. He will grow so fast. I hope you live in the moment and enjoy every bit of him.

Beginning at the Beginning

The month of February was filled with sorrow. Death came unexpectedly and repeatedly into my blissfully unruffled daily life. My world crumbled just a bit each time. I felt like a small child, with eyes wide wondering how this could happen. How the lives of two small children with so much ahead of them could be snatched away so quickly. A rude awakening. I closed my eyes and waited. Waited for the sadness to abate. Waited for life to return to normal. The truth is, nothing will ever be the same again.

How strange it is that with the loss of two little ones so dear, two new babies were the first to be captured by my camera with my return to photography. They will never replace the babies that were lost. Life ends, and begins again. Still, how sweet it is to be there for the beginning.

Baby Caleb was the first. What a character! He refused to give in to the overwhelming sleepiness he so obviously felt. He knew we were watching and waiting for him to drift off and he was too stubborn to let us have our way. It wasn’t until we put him to sleep in his bassinet and left the room for a few minutes that he finally drifted off. I was reminded once again that babies come with their own personalities right from the start. This guys likes things a certain way, but in the end I got the shots I wanted, and he got the sleep he needed, making it all the more worth it.

Baby Gretta was a sweet chubby little girl. She was so compliant and slept through nearly the entire shoot. She grinned multiple times in her sleep and allowed me to move her around without cracking an eye. What a darling! Funnily enough, my favorite shot from this session (the first one below) is the one she happened to open her eyes for. Go figure!

Thanks to Elaine and Lindsay for inviting me into their homes to capture these sweet babies as they begin their journeys. I hope I have the opportunity to capture many more moments with them in the years to come!

I’m Back!

Wow! It’s been a long time since my last post. Explanation time…

My holidays this year were extra full due to the arrival of this little Thanksgiving gift:

Meet Zoe, our second little girl. She is a beautiful, sweet little baby and we love having her in our family.
Accordingly, I have been filling my days with diapers, baby rocking, and bottles instead of editing and fun shoots. However, I am back now and up to my usual tricks. Last week I started taking photo sessions again. So expect a plethora of beautiful babies filling my posts in the coming days.

Tootsies

Today I got to photograph some of my favorite kids and we had a blast. I used to babysit these kids back before I became a mommy myself. It was such fun to visit them again with camera in hand. I feel so blessed to be able to use photography to capture photos for the people in my life I care about so much. This is just a sneak peek. More to come soon!

Kate and Dan: Just Because

It’s in the way that she smiles. It lights up the room, it holds your attention, it makes you want to be her best friend. She has that power, to make you feel like you are important, brilliant, and interesting, just by the way that she listens to what you say as she smiles encouragingly. No wonder Dan loves her. She smiles and Dan looks at her like he can’t believe luck brought him such a woman. But it wasn’t luck. Dan makes her smile that wonderful smile. He has a special talent for it.

Kate married Dan seven years ago. They are expecting their first child this summer and Kate is glowing these days. You can see in her eyes that Motherhood suits her. And what a mom she will be. She radiates a feeling of nurturing, encouragement, and love. Dan will make the kids laugh, and Kate will always hold them when they cry.

I felt very privileged when Kate and Dan asked me to document their love at such a special time in their life. They stand at the threshold of parenthood. Their lives are about to change forever, and they wanted simply to capture this moment and their love, as they enter this new chapter. I was so overwhelmed to see how happy they both were, how happy they make each other. This is why I love taking pictures. I never tire of capturing those smiles, stolen kisses, and moments when life is changing.

Thank you both, I can’t wait to meet your sweet baby!

Carly

She’s a cute 17-year-old with beautiful eyes and a sweet demeanor. When she smiles it warms your heart and you can’t help but smile in return. She’s smart, fun, and she isn’t afraid to get a little silly. It must be the abundance of brothers she has, or the big plans she has for the coming year away from home, but you can just tell this girl has got it all together. Wherever life takes her, she’s ready for it. Good luck with the rest of your senior year Carly! I hope you enjoy the photos.

Sneaky-Peeky

More to come soon Carly. Thanks for being a great model!

My Sista!

Marni is amazing. She is my little sister. She dresses how she wants, acts how she wants, and doesn’t care what anyone thinks of her. She is spunky, daring, and very much an individual. Marni, you are my hero!

Santa Baby

Last weekend I was asked to take photos at my ward Christmas party of the kids on Santa’s knee. Not wanting a repeat of last year’s abysmal photos (we do not speak of that), I decided to be prepared this year. I borrowed studio lights, I used my new black backdrop, and I got my camera and the lighting all set before the party started. I had been promised some nice Christmas decorations like some poinsettias or a Christmas tree to put in the shot, but in the end the decorations did not come through. At first I was disappointed because I thought the shots would be boring with just Santa and the kids on a black backdrop, but it turned out nice. There is a simplicity about the photos that I really like, and I feel like I got the lighting and the color just right, which is big since I have never set up the lights without help before. Here are a few of my favorites (oh, and please disregard the horrible Santa costume, lol):