The best sessions involve lots of toddler laughs, being in a creek at sunset and blowing dandelions. So basically, everything about this session. Arianna is a little adventurer and just loved being by the creek. So obviouslyyyy, we had to end the session in the water. Can you even handle how cute this family is with each other?! Enjoy some of my favorites!
Colt + Amanda have always been the King and Queen of Personalized Portrait Sessions! Together they handcraft their own props, bring home-grown flowers + come with such creative ideas. I should have known this session wouldn’t be less than spectacular. 219 edited images later + this session has EVERYTHING! Extended family (shout out to Alyssa + Kevin whose wedding I will be shooting SO soon!), just the 3 of them + a celebration of Grace turning 2. Amanda baked donuts for Grace to have a Donut Smash! (She even sent a bunch home with me - which my boys devoured within days. They were delicious!) Grace, being the child of the coolest parents ever, definitely committed to making this session one-of-kind … by smashing her face in her donuts and giving the most hilarious faces! It’s just something you have to see for yourself. Enjoy a very cut down version of an incredible session! {Keep scrolling to see the Donut Smash!}
She's her daddy's sweetheart, Mama's lookalike + brothers' new best friend. I have been waiting and waiting and waitingggg to meet Ellie and she was just as sweet as I thought she would be. I've been photographing her family for years now and I have to admit, seeing her with her big brothers (who were just tots when I met them!) made my heart burst a little. Her daddy is totally wrapped around her tiny finger and her mama finally has her little girl to spoil! I have no doubt she will fit in + be well protected by that crazy awesome family of hers ;) Enjoy some favys!
Almost exactly a year ago the sweetest little girl made her way into this world. Grace is the epitome of spunk and beauty. This gal was born with the biggest smile - but she only shows it on her terms ;) The Seltzers are a family I have watched grow right in front of my camera - from their engagement session, wedding, maternity session and then Grace came around and made things just that much cuter. As always, I need to give props to her parents - her are full of patience and amazing ideas that I cannot even take credit for. This session had over 250 pictures. The reason for this is because her rents always works their butts off for these sessions - complete with homemade props (that I love them for than donating to me), one-of-a-kind private locations, fresh flowers straight from their garden, a big love for their little girl. Oh, they also have the cutest model pup that stole the show in a few of these shots.
Enjoy some of Grace’s Cake Smash session!
And just to make everyone feel extra nostalgic - Grace the day I met her :)
These are my kind of people. These three (and a half) are so dang sweet and caring with each other that it doesn't take much to create a perfect session like this. And if that's not enough to impress you, they also came equipped with super hero gear! At the end of our session it began to rain so what did we do? We hopped in the creek and got the most gorgeous Mama/daughter portraits. I think the world of this family and can't wait to meet the new little miss soon!
It’s been almost 2 years since I’ve seen this family and since then their little baby is now a sweet young lady and they added another squishy guy to the mix! To say I had the best time with them is an understatement. Confetti, bubbles, chocolate chip cookies, Frozen songs, lots and lots of balloons - I brought out all the stops for their session! I’m so glad I did because Camille and JP were photographic all stars. Photographing two under two isn’t always easy but just when I thought the kiddos had had enough, they would bust out their big beautiful smiles. I have to just mention that their Mama is also an all star - she managed to help throughout the whole session including blowing bubbles, fake sneezing, and making silly faces all while always holding a kiddo at the same time. Can you say Mom of the Year?! We managed baby portraits, 2 year portraits, sibling shots, and even some mommy and me shots. All in two hours!!! As always it was great catching up with this family - they are always a joy to work with. I made sure to get these edited today just so I could post this next sentence on their blog post…. Happy 2nd birthday, Camille!!! You are the smartest, most beautiful little girl! <3
Enjoy my favs!
I’m going to share a little secret with you. I never wanted to do Mommy and Me Mini Sessions. Around this time every year I get inquires by the boatloads asking if I will be doing Mommy and Me Minis and every year I just don’t have the time. Do you know what changed that? KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION.
That may sound silly but listen to where I am coming from - when you have your first baby, you feel like you have all the time in the world to cuddle that little pudgy guy or gal. The sleepless nights seem to last forever and you feel like you are going to spend the rest of eternity changing diapers. Sometimes you have another baby, and maybe another. Your life is full of sticky fingers, rough housing, snotty noses, bedtime routines, whining, and time outs. But you know those moments? The special ones that you tuck away in your heart? When your little ones first start telling you that they love you or when your toddler comes home from a playdate and says how much he missed you all day. Or when they want you to cuddle with them at bedtime and sing them a nursery rhyme.
It’s easy to get caught up in life being “Mom” instead of “Mommy”. Trust me, I know. But now that my four-year-old is going to be away from me next year for 6 hours, 5 days a week, I’m wishing I would have slowed down. I wish I would have played more and worked less. Maybe gone on more picnics or had more trips to Monkey Joe's. I wish I would have pictures of me doing the things I love with my kids - cuddling, dancing, playing, tickling, laughing - instead of always needing to be on the other side of the camera. I find myself being so jealous of the portraits I take of Mommies with their babies at sessions!
That’s why this year I knew I needed to set time aside for Mommy and Me Mini Sessions. Every Mommy, no matter what age, deserves special portraits with the ones she loved into being. April 17th I will be holding mini sessions at The Children’s Lake in Boiling Springs (if it is good weather) or at my studio at 6 E. Simpson Street, Mechanicsburg (if it is bad weather). Sessions will be 15-20 minutes long and for those of you have worked with me at mini sessions before know that I give a LOT of pictures. I encourage everyone to bring grandmothers, too! It did begin with them, after all;) Gift certificates are also available. Want to book your time slot? Click here
Here are two of my favorite pictures from this past year with my boys ... Thanks to my mom ;)
And this portrait from a few years ago is blown up big in my house! Four generations: my Nana, mom, me, and Greyson.
I met up with Gerry, Stacy + fam at Pinchot Park and it was a glorious day. It’s almost weird that a group of people - dog included - is so dang photogenic. I have the honor of photographing Gerry and Stacy’s nuptials next year and after their session I’m very aware that it is going to be a breeze. A hilarious dad, naturally beautiful fiancé, and three of the most loving, fun kiddos makes for the best session! Oh and some autumn color doesn’t hurt. Enjoy this session full of tender moments, crazy ideas, sunset, docks, and even some nuzzling - Gerry loved nuzzling. ;) These guys are just the absolute best!
Many, many years ago I went to the same church as this lovely family - Zach was in diapers and I knew Mr. Shanahan as "Mr. Keith" as he taught our Sunday School class. Fast forward 20 some years later and here I am! Their personal family photographer ;) Last year I had the funnest senior session with Zach and I had the privilege of photographing Tyler & Lindsay's first pregnancy/beautiful baby girl. Now I got to work with the whole gang! After a day full of Mini Sessions, I was pretty excited to see them because I knew it would be an easy/fun hour. And also becauseee I got to see that beautiful baby Miss Harper!!!! Look at her sticking out her tongue! Enjoy the Shanahan's autumn family session.. it's so die for!
Sooo I wouldn't say it was the best conditions for this session. It was drizzling here and there, humid & super dark. When I scrolled back through the images afterwards I was so relieved -- the weather might not have been perfect but this family sure was. There was so many cute moments between the kids and their parents and lots of playtime action shots. I absolutely love these guys and hope they are as thrilled with these as I am :) Enjoy!
