Family Portraits: Schedule yours today if you want the photos for the holidays.

Kari, a photographer here in Livingston, called me last Thursday asking to have her family photographs taken. She, like almost every other photographer I talk to, rarely have photos taken of their own family. I started taking our family portraits once a year several years ago and now try never to miss a year. Everyone changes so quickly and I LOVE seeing how we were as a family every year. Anyway, her husband Phil was home for a few days and she wanted to do something right away. So we scheduled the shoot for Monday in hopes of warm weather. When I left town for the shoot the thermometer read a bone chilling 19 degrees. I was a bit leery of doing the photos in the kind of weather that forces everyone to stay indoors. I was worried that their two young children would think the whole thing was miserable idea. Luckily I was wrong again! Although it was cold and there were moments that we retreated to the car to thaw out our fingers overall everyone had fun! Sledding brings out the best in all of us no matter what age! Colin, their 7 year old boy wanted to sled for the whole day. He would drag the sled up the hill, fly down and started the process all over again.

As I have said before I LOVE taking photographs for families. In this case Kari really wanted some photos of the whole family because Phil has been traveling a lot and she wanted the kids to see some photos around the house to keep him in their day to day lives. Both of our children have gone to school at Twin Pines Montessori and Maureen Bright, the owner, would ask each family to bring in a family photo for the school album. Whenever a child was missing someone in their family they would get out the photo album and feel a little better by seeing their family photo.

I LOVE these photos because I think they really capture the sweet relationship that Kari, Phil, Colin and Logan have with each other. They were playful and attentive to each others feelings. Nobody had much of an agenda except to have fun and to get some beautiful family photos.

Kari, thank you for asking me to take your family photographs. I am flattered that you asked me and happy to have spent some time with you and your family.

ENJOY!

Maxwell Family Portraits

Marian and Matt are some of my favorite people. They ask me to photograph their family every year so I get to enjoy watching their girls grow up and get to spend a little bit of time with them.
It was a bright sunny fall morning and I asked the girls to gather some leaves for me. When it was all over Avery found a leaf, wrapped some dirt in it, tied in a knot and gave it to me. I LOVE when kids find things in nature and create something out of whatever they find. Many years ago, before my husband and I were married, we decided to exchange found items. He found a ring box, put some dirt in and wrote the note "I love you more than anything on earth." It sits in my bedside table as one of my favorite gifts. Avery's leaf sits on the dashboard of my car. It reminds me of one of my favorite artists Andy Goldsworthy

Towards the end of the photo shoot I brought out a lollipop for the girls to share. They LOVED it.
I LOVE this photo of the girls laughing together....

and of Matt and the girls climbing on him.

At the very end Eden and Matt raced each other over the bridge.
Marian and Matt thank you for being such wonderful friends.