W and C, brothers

These great folks are actually my neighbors and we'd scheduled this session some time ago, hoping for beautiful fall leaves. Most had fallen by the time our date came around, so we decided to go to the Pittock Mansion, which I love.
It wasn't rainy, but it was very cold, but even the little guys held up very well! I'm going to have to start remembering gloves though!
I just love shots like these....interaction and fun!
Such a personality on this guy...can't you just see the little mischievious smile waiting to pop out?

I'm only including this one for fun, if you look really closely in that reflecting glass of the door, you will see the dad chasing his youngest around, keeping him warm and occupied. Can you see them? :)

Such a sweet, sweet little guy! He was born just a few days after my youngest, it's so neat to have next-door neighbors with a little one of almost the exact same age. They have a good time sharing bikes and toys in the summer.

Ah, mister handsome!

I just love the lighting in this area, it's magical!

And we just had to do a clothing change, these guys are big fans!!! Go Beavs!!!

Thanks so much guys, this was fun! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Big happy family

I had the opportunity to photograph a very fun family this weekend, with five kids. Reminded me a little of my own family as I was growing up, except we had four girls and one boy, the opposite of what they have. I love a big busy family.
Ok, is it wrong that I can't stop smiling at this shot? Poor baby had had enough. But it's the reality of family life...it doesn't look perfect, but it's perfect for you.

These are my favorite kinds of shots, unposed and fun.

Sweet M is so gorgeous, and known for her 100 kilowatt smile, but I think she's just captivating without it too. Beautiful.

Talk about personality, this cutie had it in spades.

I figured out the trick here...to get a great, natural smile from this guy....just ask him if the chicken sounds I heard in the distance were really coming from his mom. :)

Sweet guy, you can't tell where his allegiance in college sports lies, can you?

The baby, sweet baby P, was everyone's love. And I amazed at how happy he was in general, he would fall down and hop back up, chipper as ever.

The kids loved this idea. "When I say jump....JUMP!"

Thanks E family, it was so fun!

Senior pictures for S

S is a really wonderful guy, open and warm. A great lacrosse player and student. We did the session in his backyard...his father has made some beautiful landscaping choices and we had to take advantage of the gorgeous fall colors.

I asked his mom to step in for a few shots. She was worried that she wasn't dressed for it or ready for it, but she looked beautiful. I loved the shots I took of her and her son, she was talking about him leaving for college and even I got a bit teary behind the lens. The emotion was right there at the surface and I know I'll be in that place sooner than I know.

Thanks so much, S. I wish you all the best in the coming year!

Beautiful boys!!!!

When I was first contacted about this shoot I was so excited! The idea of 3 boys so close in age (two are fraternal twins and are 5 yrs old, and the third boy is 4 yrs old), and probably very close in size was really interesting to me! The possibilities and the visual impact of the three of them together...I was really looking forward to it!
And they certainly didn't disappoint. When they piled out of the car, they just could not be more cute! Their mom, who is gorgeous herself, by the way, had dressed them so beautifully, and they seemed so polite and sweet.
There were a couple of challenges on this shoot though, neither of which had anything to do with shooting three little boys. It pretty much rained really hard most of the day, and we were able to do most of the shoot under cover, but every once in a while the rain would let up and we would sneak out to try and get a few shots in a different location. Well, the clouds just laughed at us trying that and got us plenty. Those poor boys ended up with wet hair at the end, but the boys and their mom were all marvelous sports about the whole thing.
The other challenge was my own problem. My back had been very much out that week (barely able to walk) and I was still recovering at this point. I felt so stiff and was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up with these three little guys, but I did all right, considering.
I love this one, they all look so cute, and obviously love mom so much. And...psst...if you look closely you can tell that it was raining at this moment exactly, I was standing in it.....and on the windowsill that they're sitting on you can see some of the raindrops. :)

Such handsome guys. I only got to know them a little, but I like how this shot seems to show their various personalities.

Had to have some playtime at the end. I played with the processing a bit on these last two, but I'll present the normal processing as well in the gallery, just in case.

Thanks so much, M! I had a fantastic time with you and your little men!

K's christening

I love working with clients that I've photographed before, it's so amazing to see how their families grow and change! I photographed this family for their maternity and newborn shots and now it's time for some christening and family shots.
Little K has grown up so much, but still has the great, happy personality that I remember him having as a newborn, very laid back. And more surprisingly....still has tons of hair!!! It seems that most babies lose it all in a couple of months, but this little guy still has it, tons of thick luxurious hair. So much so that he had to already get his first haricut, at just 4 1/2 months!!! It makes him look like such a little man!
The happy family:

Can you believe this guy, mugging it up for the camera like this...eye contact with me and everything. I'm keeping this little guy....haven't told his parents yet, but I need to hold on to little natural models like this one. :)

Love this one, I can picture him in 80 years sitting in the same spot, such a little man on a park bench!

K in his gorgeous heirloom christening gown.

The cousins and extended family were equally gorgeous, look at this guy!

Some cousin love....it's gotta make you smile.

And if you could see this from the kids' perspective, it would be hilarious.....all of the adults and me behind my lens trying to get their attention by being silly, laughing, calling out with crazy voices, holding dogs above the photogs head....anything for the price of a great photo of the kids!!!

I think there are pictures out there of the other side....send them to me and I'll post them! :)

K's cousins, beautiful pair.

See what I mean....gorgeous subjects for me! And the clothing choices were perfect for the whole group. Just lovely.

K's other aunt and uncle, they were so kind to me, putting up with the poses that I suggested, with everyone looking on. Poise under pressure.

And I love the orange scarf, great choice.

These two were great, she seemed so sweet with him, seemed to want to give him a smooch between shots.

So I asked her to do it once for the camera. :)

I loved the senses of humor in this family, the dry wit and lust for life, what fun it must be to be a part of this family.

And it was neat for me, after having photographed K and his parents a couple of times, to see extended family and the resemblances....where they got those eyes, that smile. It was great fun for me.