Two under two

One of the first weddings I shot (2003? 2004?) was Seth and Dani's, and I still remember with horror the moment I realized I had reached the beach location an hour away, ready to shoot the ceremony, only to discover I had forgotten the film on my kitchen counter. (What does THAT tell you about how technology has changed in only a few short years?) Thankfully, the two were gracious and forgiving, and patient as I peeled out toward the nearest convenience store to buy out their supply of 400 speed Kodak.

Since, then, with soon-to-be five children between us, we've all learned something about patience, and going with the flow. Sofi and Emma are just over a year apart. But my oh my, look at those faces.




Our session was in the middle of the family's vacation in a rented cottage on the lake. Every day had been spent in the sand and surf... and four days in, everyone was in full-on vacation mode.

Playing with daddy

Who says you need the whole face in the frame? I know exactly what's going on here.

Poor Emma had some brutal teething going on, and just about anything would do to ease those little gums.

There were some more traditional pictures where everyone was facing the camera and looking pleasant, but I love what this one says about life with two very small children.



Thanks for dinner, guys. It's been a treat to watch you transition from dating to marriage to parenthood, and your family is beautiful. Your proofs will be up soon!

Let's call it a post-Engagement Shoot

When Caitlin and my brother Adam met two years ago this September, they began what was truly a whirlwind romance. They were engaged that December, and married the following May. Since they never did a real engagement session (stopping by my house for half an hour to get a photo to submit to the paper does NOT count,) we did a little shoot while on vacation this summer in Port Austin, Michigan.

I'd like to point out that I didn't ask them to kiss or get cozy ONCE. I love sessions like that... it's how I shoot best.

This one is SO Adam's personality.

Not staged.

This one either.

Oh my goodness, you guys.

It's so authentic, you have to love it.

Who knows, maybe the Post-Engagement shoot will catch on! No pressure, no deadlines, just lovey newlyweds being their lovey-newlywed selves. Happy almost-2-year-anniversary, Adam and Caity! We love you!

Reeve at One Year

You can put a little boy in the right outfit, plan the photo session for after his nap, and save all the best toys for when he doesn't want to cooperate anymore.

You can not, however, keep a one-year-old from sleeping in the car on his 4-hour drive down from Northern Michigan on a warm August afternoon, three hours prior to his planned-on nap time.

Did Reeve let this get him down?

No, indeed.

I know that a boy in blue isn't exactly unexpected... but COME ON.

Even after his eyes began to glaze over with fatigue, a cuddle with mama and a story was all we needed to get a few more shots.

Impressive, Reeve. (I hope you had a restful nap after I left. :)

My first dollar

We're coming up on the end of a summer full of shoots: newlyweds and newborns, families, couples, toddlers, high school seniors. But last week was the first photo session I booked from the website last March, shortly after it launched. Driving to the beach shoot, I felt like I'd gotten to know Vicky and her family through the many emails we exchanged over the months. (She even sent a crisp dollar bill with her deposit to frame as my first. How sweet is that?) The icing on the cake was the PERFECT weather in Grand Haven the evening of our session. August in Michigan is where it's at.

Oh, a mama and her girls.

My first thought was to correct the ultra warm tone here, but I thought better of it. One has to be able to look at a photo in the depths of snowy winter and remember that, YES, the sun did at one time shine warmth on our faces, and it will happen again.

I couldn't stop these two once they got going.

Where it all started. Aren't multi-generational shoots fun? There are always great stories...

All Skate :)

Even as I upload a few favorites from the evening, I am reminded of the many I had to leave out. It was hard to pick out favorites for a post here. HARD, I tell you. But it is a teaser, after all. I have to leave some suspense. :)