the k family | family session

Jen and I have been talking for a few months trying to get our calendars to mesh for a family session, and I think it was worth the wait! What a gorgeous family! The clothes that Jen picked were so classic and timeless, the weather was warm but with a gentle breeze, and the light? Oh, the light was just perfect. That wonderful, glowy, golden time of the day that we photographers like to call "the golden hour."

We met at Stutts Marina which gave us lots of places to put together family poses, but also a great place for the kids to play and be themselves. There was a family of mallard ducks that particularly caught the kids' imagination!

Henry, Maddie and Eva were such a delight to work with, each with such different personalities. Henry is all boy, and loved chasing the ducks, picking up rocks and then throwing them in the lake, and did a great job of corralling his little sisters. Maddie is a very girly girl who at first preferred her sister's ruffles and bows until I pointed out that her little sister's outfit wasn't nearly as good for twirling as hers! And Eva? Well, she's one! And she has places to go, things to see, and no time to be sitting still for pictures, thank you very much!

We had a lot of fun together and I hope that I captured your family's dynamic the way you live it!

kyler, kamren, chase, peyton | children session

I can't believe that it has been 8 (!) years since Kelly and I moved in to the same neighborhood and were pregnant together. How does the time slip away? Since then, her family has moved twice, and we have moved to a different state. Oh, and she went and had a sweet little girl!

When I was visiting friends this summer, we were able to connect for a very short visit, and a mini session with her kids. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate with our photo plans, as a HUGE thunderstorm rolled in about 20 minutes after I arrived. And the nice glowy evening light quickly grew too dark for a natural light session.

I did get to finally meet Peyton, who is quite a firecracker! She is the recipient of a lot of love from her three big brothers, and don't even get me started about how she has her mommy and daddy wrapped around those still-pudgy little fingers!

Peyton's arrival meant the end of the "R3SONS" custom license plate too. I could not believe how Kyler has grown and morphed from a boy into a young man. His changing voice kept catching my off guard! He was just 10 when I saw him last, and now he's this young teenager. Kamren is just a few months older than my son, and while he's grown taller, he still has the same sweet face I remember. Of course, Chase was only 4 the last time we hung out in the old neighborhood, and I wasn't prepared for how handsome he has become!

What I want to know is how these kids keep getting so much older when my friends and I just stay so young! *wink*

Seriously. He's killing me with those eyes! But don't let that serious look fool you... he is a complete joker and a ham. I just managed to snap this picture in between all his goofiness.

The light in the picture of Chase was the last glimpse we saw of the sun. The clouds rolled in. The sky opened up. The rain POURED down.

We waited under an overhang for the heaviest rain to pass, and then made a dash back to my van and their house.

Chase couldn't resist the puddle, despite being told to stay out, and I couldn't resist grabbing one last, quick pic.

Thanks, Kelly, for letting me photograph your beautiful family! We'll have to get together again for a full session the next time I'm in town.

abigail | newborn session

It's been a while since a new baby has joined our neighborhood, so we were all excited to welcome Abigail, but I think her big brother and sister were the most thrilled!

It doesn't matter how many newborns I see, I am always amazed at just how teeny, tiny they actually are. What an absolute miracle to have this brand new little person in the world!

I had so hoped for some sleepy newborn pictures for her parents, but she was wide awake and alert the entire time I was there. Seven days old and she did not want to miss one thing! She's going to keep her parents hopping...

I loved seeing how she was so connected to her big sister, Ava, and vice versa. As soon as I placed her in Ava's arms they could not keep their eyes off each other. It was like they were in their own private world.

Nicholas is such an energetic little boy, but he was completely gentle and relaxed with his new baby sister

Thank you for allowing me to document this special time for your family!

Matthew M. - Mooresville, NC Child Photographer

While traveling to visit my parents over summer vacation, I was blessed to have my best friend from childhood visiting her family during the same week! Since we moved to North Carolina and she moved to Indiana, our visits are few and far between. I couldn't resist taking some pictures of her vivacious, curious, handsome little boy.

She was apologetic that he wasn't "dressed up" for good photos, but he looked absolutely perfect to me. Exactly like the little boy he truly is. I could get lost in those gorgeous eyes! And don't even get me started on those pudgy little dimple-knuckled hands--those are some of my favorite baby bits... 

Her mom came down to play in the creek with us for a while too. I have so many memories of Miss Elaine (yup, I'm 41 years old and I still don't feel right calling her by just her first name!) being out in nature with us while we were growing up. She is a true farm girl, and so enjoys passing this love of nature on. I loved standing back and capturing some of their interactions and documenting the special relationship they share.

Valentine's Pictures - {Reunited}

I met my bestie, Steph, when we were both pregnant with our first children back in 1999. We were in the same Lamaze class, and our class had so much fun that we ended up having several reunions over the first few years of our babies lives. Steph, being the super organized, fabulous coordinator that she is, got the whole thing rolling with our first reunion about 6 weeks after the first baby was born. We discovered that we both had been doing scrapbooks for our babies, and started getting together fairly regularly in the evenings to work on them together.

And as our children grew, so did our friendship.

When our babies were just over a year old, we decided to do a Valentine's photo shoot together to make gifts for the dads. And of course we had to get some pictures of Ryan (mine) and Samantha (hers) together too! Because they loved playing together. And so a tradition began.

Each year we would get together just before, or on Valentine's Day and take pictures. The next year, Cameron (hers) joined our group. And I was VERY pregnant with Olivia and Katy the following year. And now we are five.

But then we moved. And timing just didn't work out for the next three years to be together at Valentine's. We were so excited when we realized that she and the kids would be traveling to visit us over Valentine's weekend this year!

We planned to get the kids all dressed up in red and white, and hoped that the weather would cooperate! I had just gotten my new 50mm lens and couldn't wait to give it a try.

There has been an old canoe abandoned by the lake in our neighborhood's park for about a year, and it made a perfect seating spot.

Steph and I are great complements to each other when it comes to taking pictures of our kids. She has a knack for photo styling and posing and getting them to smile (or act goofy...) while I stand back and fire away.

My focus fell a little soft on Cam--I used a bit too shallow setting for my depth of field. So glad that I tried this lens out for the first time on framily instead of a client! But I should mention how much I am loving this new lens overall. Look at that beautiful creamy bokeh (blurriness for you non-photog types) in the background! It is just so lovely and ethereal

I can't believe how old my boy has gotten. How have ten years gone by so quickly? And it just doesn't seem possible that he's gotten so much older when I haven't aged a bit! Okay, maybe a little bit.

See how Ry is smiling so nicely? This is so rare! But we always seem to get amazing pictures when he is totally relaxed and hanging with Sam. Their friendship has grown over the years too, and Steph and I may or may not have big plans. Or at least hopes. But we mostly just want them to both be happy. Honest! Livie is getting ready to totally crack up here, and Katy has that particular look because Steph is behind me with a HUGE branch and lifting up my hair. And possibly threatening to whack me upside the back of my head with it...

Ooops. We asked Katy to lean in a little closer. She's a very literal child, that one. And that beautiful bokeh! I think I'm in love with this lens.

Had to sneak in another one of my handsome little man. Loving those natural, relaxed, genuine smiles!

Sometime over the past 6 months or so, Cam suddenly grew up. Maybe it's the braces? I know his orthodontia has changed the shape of his face, but there's something in his eyes that looks so mature too. Or maybe it's because I got him in focus this time?

And when you put Sam and Cam together for a picture? Pure magic, I tell you! They are such pros thanks to a certain shutterbug mommy (I'm so jealous, Steph!).

By the way, have I mentioned how much I'm loving this new lens? Because it sure is loving these beautiful kids.

Will the Real Livie-lu Please Stand Up?

Everyone who meets Livie thinks that she is shy. They think that she is very quiet. And to be fair, that is the way she acts around people she doesn't know very well. It's also the way she acts at school, because the thought of getting in trouble for her behavior is not something she can handle.

It takes her a long time to show her true self to people, particularly adults. She needs to know a grown up for a while. Like years. And folks are always amazed when they get to meet the Livie we live with for the first time!

You see, she is a complete ray of sunshine in our home (except when she's not, and then she is rather whiney...). There is very little about her that is quiet.  And she has an amazing, dry sense of humor. She is forever making us laugh!

Oh, and she is nothing like her brother when the camera comes out... Then she really turns on the charm and begs me to take her picture! We always get such a kick out of looking back at outtakes from group photo sessions that she's a part of because her facial expression is so animated, and it changes in every. single. shot.

So while we're thankful that she is well-behaved at school. And it is probably a good thing that she is wary around strangers (even if she's known them for a year). We always look forward to the moment that she decides to introduce her true self.

Finding a Smile

I can not imagine what a challenge it must be for a somewhat shy child to have a professional photographer for a parent. I remember that I absolutely hated having my picture taken from the time that I was about nine years old. And that it didn't really improve until my braces finally came off after I turned sixteen.

When cameras were pointed in my direction, I'd hide behind my hands, hide behind furniture, quickly turn my back, or make a goofy face. I'm fairly certain that I drove my parents (and others) crazy with my unwillingness to be photographed. And now, unfortunately, there are very few good pictures of me at that age.

Of course, that was in the days of film. When it cost money to develop a roll of film, and you even had to pay for the bad ones!

Ryan isn't much different than I was at that age. He'll even hide behind a handful of pine needles!

Sometimes he hides behind his longish hair, and sometimes its behind his "too cool" attitude.

Perhaps if there had been digital cameras, there would have been more decent pictures of me (although with that l-o-n-g awkward phase I went through, this is still questionable!). I've found that at some point, after enough clicking, even Ryan's guard comes down and I begin to see his true, handsome self shining through.