Thursday, December 3, 2009

Newborn Mania

When I first met Allison, we were, ahem, colleagues at a downtown restaurant, slinging burgers and earnestly working our tables for tips. Look at her sweet young family now!


Well hi there, little Lina Rachel!


Of all the shoots I'm privileged to be a part of, the newborn sessions capture me in a way nothing else can. Maybe it's my season of life at the moment, with the baby in my own belly growing and moving more each day and the anticipation this brings. Whatever the reason, I have been feeling an extra measure of blessing in the last week as my hard drive fills up with photographs of tiny shoulders, fingernails, and of course, those FEET.



What is it about a daddy's hands? So tender and protective and strong, playing with tiny toes, cradling his sweet firstborn daughter...





Welcome to parenthood, Allison and Travis, and thank you for allowing me to witness a few of these precious first moments with your perfect little girl. I'll have your complete portfolio of images up soon over at the website!


Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Earlier this year, I drove out into the country for a springtime photo shoot with this little 16-month-old. When we met up this time, little Thompson had done a lot of growing up.


Honestly, how cute is this kid?!


This time, he brought his big brother and sister along!



I do lots of sessions with wee urchins, so it's a fun challenge for me to get the personalities of "big kids" at different ages and stages.


And again, I glean fashion help from a kid.


Way to go picking the sunniest Saturday in West Michigan's November, kids! All your photographs will be ready soon.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Little Liam



It's been just a number of days since we first met Liam in the hospital, and what a difference a few days make!


I was so struck once again at how completely dependent a newborn is for everything he needs. That tiny arm draped over his momma's is such a picture of trust and comfort.

These little parts get bigger and stronger every day, in barely-perceptible increments. Newborn photos are so incredible to look back on years, months, and even weeks later.


Welcome to the world, little Liam! I'll have proofs ready for you and your momma very soon.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Chomping at the Bit


Although we haven't yet done the formal "newborn session" for little Liam, I got to tag along with my husband when he went to visit this sweet newborn son of one of his colleagues. Oh my goodness oh my goodness oh my goodness.



Look at those squishy lips! Those wrinkly hands! Those impossibly tiny fingernails!



You're just too much, Liam.



Congrats, Tanya, and welcome to the world, little Liam. Hope you don't mind that I'm giving you a little taste of the newborn portfolio before we take them all. :)

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Facebook proves to be more than an idle time-waster.

A few months ago I ran a promotion just for fans of BeeTree Studios on Facebook, and one of the lucky winners was this guy. Can you guess who the shoot was REALLY for?









Daddy didn't escape the photos entirely, though, and little Johanna was okay with that.




While I'm tempted to post a collage showcasing Abigail's talent for the dramatic, I'll leave it at this...
...as I try to convince myself I don't need a frilly pink skirt of my own.






Monday, November 9, 2009

Blessed Beyond Measure

Among myriad other roles, I am a momma. I'm a momma of two young children, soon to be three... children with needs and love and blessings and trials and all that goes with them, all those things that other mommas know and have experienced for generations and generations. And yet, even with the shared experiences (and perhaps BECAUSE of them) I am in awe at the family I shot a session with last weekend:

Two loving parents, a beautiful, sensitive five-year-old girl, and three active two-year-olds, full of personality and ready to take on the world.

(You caught that, right? THREE two-year-olds?)

Whew! This shoot was so energetic and the kids so eager to smile for me (for the most part ;) I find myself struggling to make this merely a teaser. Whittling down my favorites has been a challenge. For now, we'll just get everyone represented... Scott and Jill will have to show you the rest!


The boys...


The girls...




The eldest sister, ready for her close up...



...and each of the triplets, showing their personalities.





These two made it look like no sweat!



I've been blessed by your blessings, Nelson family! I can't seem to keep my hands off your photos... your proofs will be up shortly over at the website!

Friday, November 6, 2009

BeeTree Weddings, 2010

It's difficult for me to imagine life any further out than February, when the arrival of our third little burrito will render both my husband and me- as well as MY GRABBING ARMS- outnumbered. However, I'm confident there WILL come a spring after this crazy winter, and this week, I've been thinking a lot about next summer...










...WEDDING SEASON, to be more precise. :) So for all you brides- and grooms-to-be out there who have inquired, thank you for your patience as I have been hammering out BeeTree Studios' Wedding Packages for the 2010 season. We're talking dual photographers, complimentary engagement sessions, and ALL images on disc included in EVERY package. For more information check out the
website under "Session Fee" for all the juicy details!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

After School Special


I'm thinking of words to describe this family session...

easy
energetic
autumnal
kid-paced
comfortable

and... can you believe it... QUICK?

The time frame for our family session was indicative of the busy family: dad drove in from a business trip straight to school to pick up the kids, shot home to change clothes, and then immediately downtown to meet up with me before jetting off to a restaurant to enjoy a family dinner.

Would you believe, over 300 photos later, that we were done in 40 minutes?



The kiddos were rearin' to go and I am having so much fun playing with the photographs, I just can't pick what artistic treatment I like better. So you get to see all three favorites, on three VERY different personalities:







I was really touched by how sweet the boys were with their little sister.



We did get a few more traditional family shots, as well, though not lacking in personality.


VanDam family, you were so much fun! Your proofs will be up soon over at the website!


I have a few more openings in November for family sessions... get 'em while they're hot! (Or, more accurately... before it's too COLD!) To check availability and schedule your session, email me through the website or call me at 616.283.0150.