catherine | newborn session

I was both thrilled and honored when my daughter's teacher contacted me about doing a newborn photo session for her new grand baby! As a shower gift, she gave her daughter a gift certificate for my Baby's First Year package. Each Tuesday when I would come in to volunteer in the classroom during March I'd get the "not yet" head shake, while her teacher waited excitedly to become a grandma.

Katy came home with the news on the 21st that Allison was being induced the next day! We scheduled her newborn session for the 26th, and I had the pleasure of meeting this beautiful family...

When I arrived, Catherine was sound asleep, and she stayed that way for nearly all 2 hours that I was there.

It was such a laidback newborn session. I was able to move her around and pose her without even a flicker of her eyes.

And with a mommy as beautiful as Allison, is it any wonder that Catherine is so gorgeous?

This is why it is so important to schedule a newborn session during those first 5 - 10 days! The baby is wonderfully sleepy and happy to curl up in little nests.

Jimmy was positively bursting with pride over his new little daughter, and was so attentive to both of the girls in his life.

Their two dogs were in crates right next to where I was taking pictures, but Catherine slept right on through their occasional whines and yips. And even when Jimmy let them out for a family photo, she kept on snoozing...

Dublin and Oakley were so happy to be a part of all the activity they'd been patiently observing.

Finally, after nearly two hours of pictures, she began to stir just a bit. This is one of my favorite photos from the entire session. It's not posed, it doesn't really show their faces, but it absolutely shows how a new baby is utterly absorbing... and how parents' focus changes completely with a new baby's arrival...

Hey! There are those little eyeballs that we haven't see all morning! I am so looking forward to watching Catherine grow and change over the next year. Thank you so much for trusting me to document this time.

brayden | newborn session

Amanda called me to schedule a newborn session when Brayden was just over a week old, and we scheduled it for a few days later to allow for her husband to be home for the session too.

Brayden was just 14 days new, and had just started a bit of a growth spurt! You can already see some bitty little rolls of chub starting to form.

We had to take a few more breaks than some newborn sessions because he was working hard to increase her milk supply. And there's a funny rule with babies: more input = more output... So we had a few more messes too!

It was amazing to see how connected he already was to his parents, and of course they were pretty smitten too. That bond is just indescribable.

His daddy has the largest hands I've ever seen!

It may have taken a little longer to get him to settle down, but once he fell asleep, he was out for the count.

After our newborn session, Amanda and Alonzo decided to upgrade to my Baby Plan, so we'll be able to watch Brayden grow over the next year! I am already looking forward to our four-month-old session...

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.

Heading for Home

There's a reason why Ryan is almost always the lead-off hitter.

Not only can he hit, or wait for the walk,

But once he gets on base, he is F.A.S.T.

And, yes, he made it all the way home. Again.

Girls Will Be...

girls. But in my world, being a girl means that the best way to pass an afternoon while your brother is playing baseball is by making mud pies, er, castles...