Although I’m still incredibly behind on posting all of my sessions from last fall, I thought that I’d try to be better about blogging my newest sessions now that I’m back from maternity leave! I’m sure I’ll fall behind again at some point, but, well, I’ll do my best…
I’ve had the honor and privilege of photographing this family since they were a family of three. Now they’re expecting a little boy in July, and I couldn’t be more excited for them! That little guy is going to have two amazing big sisters, and I’m sure they will all enjoy adding more trucks and dinosaurs to the house
It’s been pretty quiet around here lately. With THREE little ones to care for now, computer time has been pretty scarce! That’s right, my daughter Julia Kate was born on March 19th at 11:17am, weighing in at 7lbs, 12oz. My two boys were both over 9 pounds at birth, so having such a teeny baby is such a different experience for me! The big brothers absolutely adore their little sister, and ask to hold her whenever they can. I’ll be posting lots more pics of both Julia and her brothers in the weeks to come, but here are some images from our time in the hospital. The first pic is one that I will treasure forever…it was snapped by my amazing husband during the c-section.
Just a reminder that I’m officially on maternity leave until May! Until then, I’ll be returning emails and phone calls in between snuggles and feedings
First time parents have a lot on their plates – along with caring for a newborn! I always warn new parents that the baby will run the show during a newborn session. If she wants to eat, she eats. She wants to nap? She naps. We just go with the flow!
That’s why I love returning to a family for their baby’s 6-month session. All of that uncertainty is usually replaced with a much more relaxed vibe. 6-month-olds are often full of smiles, sit up on their own (or with a little help), and Mom and Dad are much more comfy in their new parental roles.
This little beauty was no exception! I first met her parents for their maternity session last year, then caught up with them again for a beautiful NEWBORN SESSION. Seeing everyone again for her 6-month session was a happy little reunion I can’t wait to hang out with them again in another 6 months!
In these last few weeks as a family of 4, I find myself watching my little guys with a new realization – they are no longer babies. That may sound a bit silly, since they have grew out of toddlerhood awhile ago, but there is nothing like a new baby to emphasize just how grown up your other children are. While I am a bit nostalgic for those days of babyhood, mostly I am just proud of the little boys they are becoming. I love listening to their conversations, laughing at their nonsensical jokes, and watching each of them carve out his own unique personality, interests, and talents. At the same time, I am unbelievably excited to find out who their little sister will be, and how the boys will react to her. My guess is that they will thrive in the role of big brother, and will enjoy helping us care for her. At the very least, they will certainly take it upon themselves to make sure she has a thorough knowledge of trucks!
I am so incredibly grateful to my friend Erica for helping me capture our family as we are right now, just before our world is turned upside down (in a good way!).
Well, here it is! My little girl’s nursery is everything I wanted it to be for her – soft, calm, pretty, and filled with meaningful little things for her to enjoy. It’s hard to imagine that just a few months ago, this was my office – green, pretty dark, cramped, and filled with photography stuff! I can honestly say that I don’t even mind that my “office” space is now in the midst of toy central in the family room – I can’t wait to bring my baby girl home to a room of her own!
A few of my favorite things:
*The dresses above the crib were mine (thanks to my mom for saving them all these years!), and I love how sweet they look on the wall.
*The little plate on the tall dresser with the last stanza of the poem “Song for a Fifth Child” by Ruth Hulburt Hamilton. My mother had the same words displayed on her her wall when I was a child, and I remember reading them every night while getting my hair blown dry before bed.
*The small Beatrix Potter bank on top of the stack of books on the shelf was saved from my own nursery
*The dressers that I found on Craigslist fit with the feel of the room perfectly! I love that they work well in her nursery, but they can also grow with her in future rooms.
*The framed pink flower photo on the shelf is a j.imprint taken by my fabulous friend Michele, of Pinkletoes. Check out the link to see how you can contribute to a great cause by purchasing your own j.imprint!
Baby girl shouldn’t be coming home to this room for at least a few more weeks now, so in the meantime I am enjoying reading, rocking, snuggling my boys and daydreaming in here. Soon enough, it will be filled with the sounds of a newborn, and I doubt it will ever be this neat and peaceful again!
Way back when it was still nice and warm out, I got to hang out with this happy bunch at Smolak Farms for a few hours. Baby girl was so full of smiles that I couldn’t stop snapping pics of her! Her older siblings were equally awesome to work with, and we had a fabulous time running, playing, tickling, chasing and enjoying a beautiful day in a beautiful place
Exactly one year ago today, I began the most intensive personal photography project I’ve ever attempted – a Project 365. For all of 2012, I captured one image a day that reflected something about my life. Most photos involved my two little boys, since, well, my life basically revolves around them Of course, there were times that I wasn’t with them (like my sister’s wedding in Mexico!) and days when I chose to capture a different subject in my life, but looking at the completed project makes me acutely aware of the depth of my love for my family.
I’m not gonna lie – some days this project was just plain hard. There were days when it rained all day, the kids (or I) were sick, and it got to be 5pm before I remembered to drag out the camera bag. But then there were others where photo ops seemed to throw themselves at me all day long! Our family vacations, daytrips, days when the boys were happy and the sun was shining…it was often hard to choose just one image!
I learned a lot in the past year, and the lessons were not always related to photography. I learned to slow down and look around. To notice the little things – pockets of beauty where I least expect to find them. I learned the importance of capturing memories for my boys, since life can change in the blink of an eye. It’s already a bit hard to look back at the first few images of 2012 and remember just how dramatically they’ve grown in the past year.
Although I won’t be doing a Project 365 for 2013, I will continue to bring my camera wherever I can. Watching my boys as they viewed this year’s slideshow for the first time was absolutely wonderful. They laughed, squealed, and smiled as they relived the memories of 2012. In fact, they’ve been talking about our adventures for the past hour, and we are already planning out an amazing 2013. THAT is my inspiration. I will continue to shoot with their giggles, happiness, and love in mind.
For those of you curious (and patient enough) to watch my culminating project of 2012, I present to you….
**The slideshow will take a minute or two to load (more if you are viewing on a mobile device), so turn on your speakers, sit back, and wait for the show to begin!
Last March, my boys were thrilled to learn that they had a brand new baby cousin. Of course, they wanted to meet her right away, and Oliver even practiced his baby-holding skills in preparation. Unfortunately, she lives about 10 hours away from us, and we didn’t get to see her until a few weeks ago. The boys were thrilled to FINALLY meet their little cousin, and I was equally excited to play with my very first niece! I swear, she was smiling and/or laughing for about 99% of our visit. I only hope that our little girl will be as easy to photograph!
The LAST TIME I had the pleasure of playing with these little guys, baby brother was just a few days old! This time around, he was a giggly, wiggly, happy little explorer. Big bro still had the same sweet personality, but a much bigger vocabulary to go with it! I loved how awake and energetic everyone was at the crack of dawn…and we were rewarded with a beautiful morning for a photo session.
There is something magical about seeing your child so happy that he just can’t help bouncing up and down, grin spreading from ear to ear, as he grabs your hand and enters his little-boy version of paradise.
Today we surprised the boys with a trip to the DANBURY RAILWAY MUSEUM on the way home from a family trip to NY. Their little faces lit up as we pulled into the parking lot, and they cheered (loudly) when we told them that they’d even get to ride on a REAL train! Honestly, the place WAS really cool. Not only are you allowed to explore the yard full of old train cars on your own, but you are even encouraged to climb aboard many of them! I think they would have stayed all day if we had the time.
Our time at the museum was priceless…even if we did pay for the overstimulating afternoon during the 3 hour drive home
…big fun!
I had a blast with this group back in August. It was a beautiful, warm summer evening by the water, and everyone was more than happy to play, snuggle and laugh
As a photographer, I feel honored and lucky to capture so many beautiful memories for families each year. Photographs are so important – not only for the present, but also for the future. Images freeze moments, so that they can be relived and remembered long after our children have grown.
That’s why once a year (or more!), I make it a point to take my own advice and get in some family photos. With the help of patient friends and family, I spend a couple of hours with my husband, my boys, and a camera, hoping to capture some of our love in photos. It’s usually a bit of a dance that involves setting up a shot, handing the camera over to a friend, then snuggling up with my family. All in all, not a bad way to spend an afternoon! In fact, this year my boys actually looked forward to it for days ahead of the session itself, repeatedly asking when we were going to take our “snuggle pictures.” To them, family photos mean lots of hugs, kisses, and cuddles…without a single “smile and say cheese.” That way, when I look back on these images, I remember not only where we were and who was there, but I also recall the little Eskimo kisses that Ollie and I shared and how happy Hudson was to play running games with Mommy and Daddy.
This year, the photo session was more important to me than ever since it’s likely our last before a new baby joins us in March! The boys are incredibly excited to have a little sibling, and regularly talk to, hug and kiss my belly. I wanted to capture a little of their excitement in these photos, and I think my amazing friend Casey did a fabulous job of doing just that. In fact, I already have that sunset silhouette pic as a big canvas in my family room
Some newborns come home from the hospital and sleep for what seems like two weeks straight. Others are so intrigued by the bright, new world around them that they barely blink during their entire photo session! The great thing is that you likely can’t tell the difference when you see the photos
This little beauty made us work for it, but our efforts paid off when she snuggled in and took a refreshing 5-minute doze.
I always love when I have the chance to get to know a couple during a maternity session. It’s so nice to already feel “connected” to the family before the little one is even born! Since I’m extremely behind on posting these days, I suppose I should also share their maternity images from a few months ago…
“Dreams do come true, if only we wish hard enough. You can have anything in life if you will sacrifice everything else for it.” – ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
This evening, we were treated to a one-of-a-kind performance of Peter Pan – aboard a hayride in the scenic orchards of Smolak Farms! My guys were captivated by the magical characters, and felt like they were part of the action as the actors climbed aboard the fantastic ride. Oliver was relieved to find that Captain Hook wasn’t TOO scary, and Hudson was almost as excited about the complimentary donuts as he was about the ticking crocodile. Such a fun family night!
I can’t wait to hang out with them again in another 6 months!
