the o family | four generation photo session

Four of the photographs I cherish the most are the four-generation pictures I have for my children while their great-grandparents were still living. It is so important to take those pictures when you have the chance! I know that these pictures showing the links of our family will be treasured by my kids some day too. One of my baby plan families scheduled time for a four generation photo session before their daughter's 4-month-old session. We got together at Allison's mom's gorgeous home on Lake Norman to take the photos.

First, the girls. It is so cool how you can see the family resemblance in these beauties!

Then we let some of the guys join the fun...

I think that Catherine has the same color of eyes as her great-grandma!

Kim (Catherine's grandma), saved this dress from her childhood. You just don't see this dotted swiss fabric used anymore, which is such a shame! Catherine was way more interested in checking out her toes than looking at me though...

Allison's dad had been painting when I arrived, so had to get cleaned up to be in the pictures. This is my favorite picture of all of the direct members of the four generations. I hope that they will cherish this picture some day as much as I do mine.

reese | newborn session

My friend, Allyson, wanted a special gift to give to her brother and his wife for their new baby. She wanted something that would be memorable, and more enduring than just a new outfit, or a piece of baby equipment. So she purchased a newborn photo session!

I was so honored that she chose me to be the photographer (she has several other talented photographers as friends). But even more, I was struck by what a meaningful gift she chose. Many new parents don't realize how quickly their newborn changes, and scheduling a newborn photo session is the last thing they are thinking of while trying to navigate the challenges of bringing home a new baby. I know that I didn't think of doing photos of my babies until they were closer to a month old because I was nervous about taking them out to a portrait studio when they were so young. The photos that are captured during a newborn session will be something that parents will be able to treasure for the rest of their lives.

I got to meet Reese for his photo session when he was 12 days new. He was still such a sleepy little guy, but was already starting to want to stretch out a bit more!

He did NOT want to keep his legs curled up in the little nest.

He was starting his 2-week-old growth spurt, so we had to take a little snack break, but it hardly took any time at all for him to slip back into that newborn milk coma!

I am forever amazed at what a newborn will sleep through! I can remember tiptoeing around with my son for fear of waking him up. But once they are in that deep sleep, you can move them all over the place!

When I was visiting my parents the week before this session, I raided some of my mom's antiques. With a house like theirs, there is no need to go to antique stores! I couldn't wait to try putting a baby in this old wooden bucket. It was a looking a little rough when I first brought it home, but after three applications of orange oil, the rich wood is just gorgeous! And when you curl a bitty baby inside, it's just too cute. :)

His momma says that he almost always had his one little arm up by his head when he was still in her belly. I love how he put it up there for her to remember that forever in this picture.

There is something about a tiny baby in his daddy's arms that always melts my heart. I don't know if it's because the dad's just seem so tender with them, or if it's because the baby just looks that much teensier...

Thank you for allowing me into your home, Candice and Eric! I can't wait to see the pictures you ordered once you have them hanging in your gorgeous home!