Busy season, Busy kiddos!

This time of year always seems to fly by!  I love that I get to meet up with families to catch up on what has been happening in their lives over the last year and I have been so blessed to have met so many of you already this busy season.  Not the least of which is this family-on-the-go.  We were mostly meeting to get some new portraits of this very active 2 year old boy who is growing way too fast!

It was one of those sessions where we just had to patiently wait for Mr. K to stop moving just long enough for me to focus on him and interact so that he could focus on me for just a split second.  Two happens to be my favorite age to enjoy children- crazy, I know!  But I just love how wonder-filled the world is through their eyes.  Every day is an adventure to be approached with gusto.  If only we could all keep that perspective, I think we would all be so much happier.

In my time with Mr. K, we took a few moments to include Mom and Big Sis in some images for some family love.

Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boys!

I loves these kids!  This session was a combo of 6 year old portraits of one of the brothers and then one of the 3 brothers together.  Every time I get together with any of all of these boys is an adventure and I so look forward to each and every moment.

The 6 year old:  Look at those eyes!  And let me tell you, HE KNOWS HOW TO USE THEM!  What a little flirt.  And that smile, yowza!

And then you put the brothers all together...  These boys really love each other and can't help but have a fun, even when Mom really wants one classic portrait.  Needless to say we had many outtakes {like on the right}.  I just love how the image on the left shows exactly how much family means to this trio.

Lovely little flowers

Isn't there something so {very} sweet about little girls admiring flowers?  I am so glad that this family was so flexible for Little Miss C's 2 year session.  We originally planned to meet in a park with mostly trees and grass.  On my way to the session I passed this beautiful garden that just captivated me.  I've been there before and past it many times but more often than not, the light is just too harsh.  This particular day had some scattered clouds and it was early enough in the day that we were able to find some great open shade.   Since it was just around the corner from where we were meeting I decided to ask about changing our location.  I am so glad they said 'yes'!  Their little beauty seemed so enchanted by the garden which was a perfect way to capture her for her second birthday!

A little Twinkie {Sweetness}...

Twins hold a special place in my heart {being a MOT, myself}.  When I have twins coming to have portraits made, I get pretty excited because I am all too familiar with the special bond they have, the way they communicate without words, and all the twinkie sweetness.  This little duo was certainly not short on any of that:

My little experiment

A few weeks ago I put out a call for some models to help me practice a new technique.  Rose & Emily's mom was quick to answer that call for them to be my test subjects {another pair of sisters that are VERY different when it comes to having their portraits made}.  Before I share their images let me explain what I was trying to do.  I recently got a battery for my studio lights so that I can take them outside with me.  Why would I want to do that, you ask?  On bright sunny days, there is light everywhere, right?  Right!  However, using that light to make portraits is not always ideal, especially when that light is high over head {we've all taken pics of our kids on sunny days and ended up with dark raccoon circles where their eyes should be}.  So from a business perspective, it just makes sense to not have tight limitations on the times of day I can schedule sessions- I want to be able to make beautiful portraits no matter the time of day or lighting conditions, this method will help me do that.  Now, I'm still getting the hang of it, not quite ready to bring my big soft box out for a full session.  But don't be surprised if at the end of your session, I ask if we can pull it out to play a little so that I can get more comfortable with it.  Still hoping to get together with more of the peeps who volunteered to be models, as well so be looking for more to show up on future posts.

So here they are, Rose & her little sister Emily.  They are such beauties!  Rose was so excited to be a model, Emily needed a {little} more encouragement and she was still pretty shy for me but I think that really made for some sweet images that will melt Mom's heart!  Mom is the owner/ designer of Puddin' Pies Children's boutique and she made the dresses that the girls wore for the session.  Be sure to check her out on Facebook at Puddin' Pies Clothing.

Adorable pair!

It is always amazing to me how siblings can be so very different from one another.  This little duo could not be more opposite!  One loves to have her portrait made:

Happy faces, staying right where I found the light, cooperatively sitting or standing.

The other, not even a little.  Bird watch?  sure.  Listen to MP3s?  absolutely.  Sort Crayons?  Why not.  Play peek-a-boo through a window with Dad?  That is big fun!  The trick is trying to make it seem like we are just doing things that she wants to do without her realizing that the camera is clicking away to catch that illusive grin.

She makes me work for it, but what I get is absolutely 100% genuine.  Love that crocked little smile!

Thanks for playing with me ladies!  You are growing up so fast!

Getting a little camping in...

The weather has finally started to dry out so I thought it was a perfect morning to mock up a camp site for Connor's 7th year session.  I am not much of a camper but this was a lot of fun.  Connor told me all about his new favorite video game, entomology, paleontology, and all the things he wants to study when he grows up.  I have had the great pleasure of getting to know him over the last few years, not only as his family's photographer, but also through his friendship with my girls.  This little guy has his sights set on some really cool stuff & I have no doubt that he'll accomplish anything he sets out to do.  Thanks for another great session!  I hope the rest of your summer break is tons of fun!

Full of smiles...

Meeting new people and going new places can bring on a lot of different feelings for different people.  Me- I love it, new experiences, new friends- bring it on!  But when I meet a shy little one like this beautiful babe, I am reminded that sometimes new places and faces can be just a bit scarey.  It takes care to ease them out of the safety of Mom's loving arms.  It takes time to let them trust that a good time is going to be had at JP Studio.  We started out just talking while she got a few more snuggles in before we moved to the floor to explore some props with Mom very close by and finally- the magic happened!  That smile just lit up the room and we played and laughed and we captured Miss K as her parents get to see her everyday.  Isn't she gorgeous?!?!

Spring is finally starting to show itself all around the CR area!  I am ready to take this show back outside and my schedule is starting to look pretty full already so I know everyone else is too.  If you haven't called already, be sure you do very soon for best availability for your next session.

Oh You Beautiful Doll!

I think I'll be finding feathers in the studio for weeks after this session {and I will giggle every time I pick one up because I will be remembering the laughs we shared}.  We had lots of fun with this little beauty and her big sister.  With 9 month olds, you just never know how hard you're going to have to work but this little Miss was keeping that smile on her face.  What a sweetie!

Bring on the seasons!

A couple of years ago I had a client suggest putting together a package that included a session in each of the 4 seasons and since then I have been tossing the idea around.  What a great way to document a year in the life of your family!  You may remember my fall blog post of the family below.  I was {and still am} so in love with that session that I thought I would see if they would be interested in coming back to complete the 4 seasons session so that I could put together some products to go along with it.  I am so excited about their first two sessions that I am already planning their keepsake book and some wall portraits!  I can't wait to put together their spring and summer sessions in the coming months.  Thank you so much, for taking time out of your busy schedule to help me with some marketing and product planning, I hope you are enjoying the images as much as I am!

To start planning your family's 4 season session, just give me a call!  The great thing about it is that it is ALWAYS a great time to start.

Having his cake...

This little birthday boy was all smiles for his cake smash earlier this week.

Now that is a boy who enjoys his cake!

A little princess turns 1...

She was a little unsure about this whole Cake Smash thing but once she got a little taste of that frosting, she got into it.  Those big brown eyes will be so hard for Daddy to say "no" to someday.  She is just such a little doll.

At home...

This was a 2nd attempt with these little girls.  Big sister loves the camera and is always ready with a smile for me, little sister is a little more skeptical about what I'm up to.  We decided to try having me come to their home so that she would be, well, at home.  Sometimes the comfort of your own surroundings makes all the difference in the world!  We played in the back yard for maybe 20 minutes on a chilly morning.

We were done so fast, I had time for a cup of coffee and some chatter with these fun little people and their mom.  I enjoyed the morning immensely and I look forward to next time, especially that Miss M & I are great friends now.  Thank you for the coffee and fellowship, I always enjoy talking with all of you.

Shy and sweet...

Sometimes things just don't go the way we plan.  This little miss, didn't have the morning she hoped for when she met me at one of my favorite spots to mark her 3rd birthday.  She had just come down with a cold and a case of shyness.  When the tears started, I knew that we were not going to get the portraits her mom had hoped for.  This is all we got that morning:

Still, I love it.  This is what we all want to do for our little ones when they don't feel well.  I'm so glad I was there to capture this mother-child moment because this is truly what it is all about for us moms!

So we scheduled a 2nd attempt for when she would feel better and changed the location to her back yard where she would feel a bit less shy.  See that cute bench in the back ground above?  That was my hope for the session.  When I arrived at her house a week later, she told me she did not want to sit on my bench!  Point taken, I was no longer the planner for this session.  And sometimes that is just fine, sometimes the plan of a 3 year old is just the way to capture the real essence of who they are.

We still had some moments of shyness:

But most importantly we played!  And that is when this little beauty's personality really shined.

I love when little ones come 'play' with me and my camera!  It helps me hang on to my inner child just a bit, something that I think about a little more in the fall because that is when I lose just a little more of my youth each year.  Thank you Miss P & Mom for that little breath of fresh air and for keeping me on my toes!  Oh, and for the Chai and chat at the coffee shop too!

Love, love, love this session!

This is exactly what I wish for as a portrait of my own family!  It would be a dream come true for me to have everyone looking so nice and loving and making great connections with each other and the camera so that I could COVER my walls in BIG, beautiful portraits.  I love this location, I have been using it a lot lately and I was so sad to go there on Saturday to find they had mowed down this lovely grass.  At least I got to do this wonderful family's session there, what a great one to end on!

We were also there to mark Miss E's 10th month so here she is in all her cuteness!

I still have weekday evenings available if you'd like to get a session in with the fall colors that are starting to show.  Be sure to call soon for the best selection!

Catching up on some sneaks...

Whew!  What a busy couple of weeks!  I have had 4 seniors, one engagement and three families come see me in the last 10 days!  So, needless to say I need to get some sneak peeks up for everyone to see.

This lovely family was celebrating their little beauty's 2nd birthday.  She is full of love, giggles, sillies and sweetness.

How could she not be full of all that with a wonderful family like this?!?!?!

Happy Birthday 'P'!

Sunset Sweetie...

Photographing toddlers can be a challenge, especially the busy ones.  You might think that asking an 18 month old to be happy and ready for portraits at 6 in the evening and stay where the light is best in a big open meadow would be too much.  But this little love was amazing.  We just kind of stepped back and let her do her thing sniffing 'wildflowers', laughing at the dog running through the tall grass and whatever else caught her interest.  It didn't take much to make her flash those amazing blue eyes my way.

A couple pats for Rudy...

And a little love from Mama...

Thanks for meeting me out in the meadow so late in the day!  She did so great!

Capturing Hopes

I know I'm in good company with so many others who have a heart for children.  They are truly blessings, gifts to be cherished- every single one of them!  And my heart goes out to those whose circumstances are less than desirable.  If only we could scoop them all up and make life for them as it should be!

Last week a client contacted me to see if I would be available and willing to go to the YMCA camp in Boone, IA where the Children's Cancer Connection camp was going to be held for siblings of children affected by cancer this week.  A wonderful organization called Capturing Hopes enlists photographers to take pictures of each child at the camp as well as a couple other events they hold throughout the year.  The images taken are then printed and given to the families at no cost to them!  What an amazing gift for families going through such difficult times and who know just how valuable each and every moment with their kids is!  I was thrilled, honored and very excited to be given the opportunity to be a part of the wonderful things these organizations are doing to reach out to this community.

The kids at this camp are age 5-18 and many have been coming for several years (as one 10 year old informed me, "it wasn't his first rodeo"- what a hoot!).  All of them were so full of life, personality and beauty- such a joy to work with.  There were 6 total photographers on site to photograph around 150 kids.  Needless to say it was a busy and exhausting day, but oh so rewarding!  We got to work with each one for about 10-15 minutes, just long enough to produce 10-15 portraits of each.

I had such a good day and I feel so blessed by the experience.  I can only hope they will ask me back.  In the mean time, check out their websites- maybe you'll feel called to lend a hand in some way.  Pray for these families that either are dealing with childhood cancer now or have in the past.  And most importantly- give your own kiddos a big hug and give thanks for the blessings they bring to your life.