I love my job

I love my job, love it. What I love most is how breathtaking people are, and how beautiful they and their families are, and how I get to be a part of those relationships and that realness for a short time, like an observer, watching and adoring and admiring....
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These pictures of Hannah take my breath away. Before our session she worried a bit to her mom that she would have to be too pose-y, wear a dress, get floofy, etc. Nope, not with me. I just wanted her to be just who she is - and she did. She is beautiful and energetic and smart and whitty! Her little brother just watched... watched and checked often with mom and dad to be sure he was OK. And then he became melty in his sisters arms, just melted right into her.
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Did I say I love my job?

Another Steim Family

Ok I'm not the first, as much as I like to think I am in all things :) There IS another Steim family out there, in fact several of them! This is my husband's brother and his family, The Other Steim Family - OK THEY were first :) Their kids have grown up so much! I still remember the day Ryan was born, their firstborn, when my husband and I were just dating. Look at that boy, my GOODNESS is he handsome! I am so in love with his hair, LOVE IT! He had such a cool smile (or non-smile) - awesome. And Megan is the second child, what a beautiful old soul, she seems so maternal. Look at her face and her eyes, she seems much older than her years. Briann is the third child, and what an attitude! I love how she posed for every picture, she knew exactly how she wanted to look each time. Alayna, the youngest, was not so interested in our session. It took awhile for her to warm up and I'm not sure she was really ever that comfortable with me, though she was certainly comfortable with her sibs. My favorite part of any family sessions are towards the end when I encourage folks to let loose - and this session was no exception. The leaf fight was AWESOME! They came back to my home after the session and after they were gone I found leaves all over my house, especially the bathroom. Thanks for being so flexible Steim Family! It was a totally fun session and great to spend time with you, as always.

Good Friend

This is my good friend Lindy and her family. Lindy is a fellow photographer, check out her AMAZING work here. We did a trade of sorts, she took my family photos and I took her family's pics - well worth the trade! Hope you are as happy with yours as I am with mine LJP. I thoroughly enjoy working with you, you have amazing talent!

Check out her baby's eyes - you could just swim in them they are so deep and gorgeous!



"So big!!"

Happy Birthday Baby!

Are they still babies when they turn the Big One or are they a toddler now? Well if you ask moms that question one year olds are undeniably babies. This sweet smiley boy was so friendly! When I arrived to the session I bent down on my knees to say hello and he walked right over to me, didn't even bat an eye at this stranger who was carrying this big large clunky black thing that made noises every so often. He walked to me in his I'm-just-learning-to-walk way, leaned on my knees and reached up to my face. I was hooked. Who wouldn't be?!?
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And oh my favorite - CAKE SMASH SESSIONS!!! That and a bare baby's butt and you've got the makings of images that even the grumpiest geezer can't help but smile. Look at those cheeks!! Both sets of them!!

Happy first birthday Jakson!

Marshall

Another growing boy - my good little buddy Marshall. Marshall has soulful eyes, he's been around in another lifetime so he knows how a growing toddler like himself should have fun. He's not about to let anyone get in his way, he doesn't hold back when he knows what he wants. I love how his mom just lets him go... and go and go and go. She let's him fulfill his urge to take off and explore, to be the boy that he is. Yet she's always right there to bring him back when he needs it, like good mom's do.

Growing Boy

Wow I'm behind on blogging, and this is absolutely the last sweet boy I should be slacking on!! This session was in OCTOBER!!
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You may remember sweet Aidan, he's two years old now! I've been photographing Aidan since he was 4 months old and his mama trustingly allowed him to be my first newborn model. Some of you have heard this story before, but for me it's one worth telling again, I feel so lucky to have been a part of Aidan's life. Aidan is truly the happiest toddler I have EVER seen in my life, he just radiates joy, his whole face smiles, and it's all contagious. And he runs, runs, runs.... during the session he didn't stick around long, he had another agenda! The first image posted, below, really sums up the experience of the whole hour - but I think he had fun! Just looking at the images from the session make me smile :)

Family

I know I've titled posts of family photo sessions "Family" before, but somehow this seems different. The word "Family" feels like it has special meaning for these sisters and their sweet mama. These ladies lost The Man in their lives a few years ago, their father/husband, yet their sense of family doesn't appear to have been broken. The special quilt that they are sharing in the photos is one that was hand made by their mother of their father's flannel shirts. What a precious memorial.
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The closeness of these women is something that you can not only see, but feel. I felt drawn to their camaraderie, the wisdom from their years of growing up together, and to the bonds that they've created through the joys and tribulations of life. I only have two daughters, but I hope that as they grow up and old together they feel the same type of love and connection with each other and with me. Thank you H family for letting me document this moment of your lives.