I love capturing families, but I’m a total softy when there are four sweet ones. I’m constantly reminded of my own precious blessings while I spend time with theirs. This awesome family was so much fun to work with- the kids were downright adorable and phenomenally well behaved, despite the monster sized mosquitoes that attempted to carry us away! Flexibility and patience played a huge key in making this a success and Katie, Luke, Sarah and Emma were up for the challenge. They went with the flow and charmed me with their toothless smiles and spunky personalities. Their mom had it right when she said in her email, “Let’s just have fun!” Fun, that’s exactly what a family session should be!

So, here’s a little sneak at our delightful time together!

I adore this first image because it speaks so directly to the relationship that these children have with their father. You can literally sense the love, adoration and respect they have for him by the way they circled around and snuggled up.

  How do you get this:

and this?

You let them do this first!

Be prepared for complete cuteness!

And, I always adore a picture or two of mom and dad! What a beautiful reminder to your children of the importance of commitment and unconditional love! Besides, how often do we as parents find ourselves in front of the camera?

My favorite! This is one of those I would have to blow up and hang so I’d see it every day! What a beautiful family.

Speaking of hanging up images, it’s that time of year when Christmas is knocking at the door and everyone is looking for the perfect gift. I frequently receive emails from families who would like to print images for their home or for relatives during this season. The tendency is to get quite a few 4×6 prints and to place them in a collage style frame. This year, I propose that we change our perspective and look at the images from your session as art. From experience, a large quantity of 4×6 images simply does not have the same impact as a few carefully selected prints in larger sizes. I thought this adorable family would be a great way to explore the possibility of thinking outside of the 4×6 box!

Take for example, a master bedroom. Rather than one frame with a collection of small images, imagine waking up to something that not only adds visual impact to your room, but tugs at your heart strings as well!

What about your dining room, the place your family gathers and your guests join you for scrumptious meals and lots of laughter? Nervous about one day changing the style of the room, stick with classic black and white images from your session.

How about some of your favorite images that show the character and personality of your family in an unexpected place, like the laundry room? Now that’s one way to get inspired in an unassuming room in your home!

You see big isn’t scary! Big makes an impact. Big makes your memories larger than life and leaves you reliving them each time you catch a glimpse. Take the plunge this year, go big. You’ll be so glad that you did!

Thanks Linsey and Brent for being such good sports and for sharing your family with me! It was an honor!

What better way to start off the morning than with three precious little girls? I couldn’t have been more delighted to capture this family during such an awesome time in their lives!

Eric, is the worship pastor at our church and let me tell you, the Lord has given him a wonderful gift of leading others to the throne in adoration of our Lord. If you’re looking for a place to come and praise, you need to join us one Sunday! His wife, Kristin has an amazing voice too- so it was no surprise that on this day, there were lots of songs being sung, dances and twirls!

We’ve actually been trying to coordinate a time to get together since they moved to the area and Naomi’s sweet arrival was the perfect reason to finally make it happen. The morning started off with a quick mini session with the big sisters.

Mary Grace was so much fun and really allowed her personality to shine through. There is nothing sweeter than capturing a child, being a child. How wonderful to be able to look back on this season of her life and remember her smile, her spunky attitude and her laugh!

Next, it was Abby ‘s turn to charm the camera! A fast paced 2 year old is so much fun to capture because in the middle of their running and constant movement, precious little moments like these can be frozen!

We paused for a snuggly family moment before Naomi stole the show!

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without an official welcome to the world Naomi Hope!! Here she is, at all of 6 days old. So sweet, cuddly and kissable! What a beautiful gift from God she is and how blessed she’ll be to grow up as a daughter in this incredible family!

Ah, the love of a big sister…

I can not get over the sweetness of this next image!

While Naomi’s bedroom decor was created with her in mind, this Moses basket has been passed down. Each sister has spent time sleeping and relaxing in it, so it seemed fitting to capture Naomi taking her turn.

And finally, what’s a newborn session without a little alone time with Mommy?

Years ago, when I was just a little kid, I was convinced God  sent me a birthday present 3 days late. She was this cute baby girl, with chubby cheeks and a bald head. She was adorable in every sense of the word and boy did I love her…my new cousin Sarah. Little did I know then what a gift she would be in my life. Just like my brother, for years I spent weekends hanging out and “watching her,” the responsibility of the oldest grandchild.  Then as time passed, the difference in age seemed to dissipate and we became more than cousins who shared relatives and sometimes birthday cakes- we became friends. Friends who talk about great dreams, who share hopes and prayers, who have lost sleep over guys and decisions and mostly homemade cupcakes; cousins who have so many memories perhaps, volumes of books could never contain them all.

Ever since I fell in love with my husband and saw how God orchestrated our story, I have been praying for that very same thing for Sarah. I’ve asked God to allow a man who follows hard after Him to come in and sweep her off her feet, to treat her as the precious gift that she is and to lead her with compassion and love as they serve Him side by side.  A few weeks ago, the answers to that prayer became so clear, when her boyfriend Jonathan extended an invitation for our family to be a part of a special engagement weekend.

My heart spilled over with excitement, particularly as I read his words, “I am absolutely blown away that God has seen fit to trust me with the awesome privilege of being a permanent part of Sarah’s life. She has truly impacted me like none other and I could not be more humbled by God’s goodness in blessing me with her.”

Geesh, I love this guy already!!

This weekend we traveled to Tallahassee for the surprise of Sarah’s life, a proposal and a sparkly diamond, to match the glimmer in her eyes when she speaks of this incredible man! Boy was she surprised! (More of those pics to come later)

Then in true Sarah fashion (remember, she’s often my second shooter at weddings), her and Jonathan got up early Sunday morning before church for a mini session to document their engagement weekend. Because she’s my cousin and because their love is so beautiful, I couldn’t help but to post a few of my favorites right away.

I can’t wait for all that is in store for these two! God is going to rock their socks off!

Congrats! Love you guys tons!

P.S. I know I’m biased, but these may be my favorite “engagement” pictures…EVER. Seriously. Early morning light + love= awesomeness!

I just love it when I have the opportunity to shoot families more than once and I especially love it when they become sweet friends.  Such it is with the Simpson family! They stole my heart around this time last year and as this session approached, I could barely contain my excitement. They are fabulous in front of the camera, their love for one another is easy to see and fun- man are they fun! Here are a few of my favorite images from our time together!

With shoes this great, how could I resist?

Mr. D brought along his skateboard. He’s got some serious style…and skills!

I had a few minutes with this handsome kid, while the rest of the gang took a breather. This has got to be my hands down favorite image of him! Seriously, he could model right?!

We headed out to find more beautiful grass and a little shade. Isn’t this just adorable, especially the way Miss. J is posing?

Look at those blue eyes. They will make many a heart swoon, but for now, just her Daddy’s!

In case you missed this sneak, it’s worth showing again! A precious moment indeed.

Jen brought along this fabulous blanket and despite the sun blaring down, we were determined to make good use of it. At first we had to resort to tummy time, which was super cute and showed off Miss J’s adorable dress…not to mention the perfect timing of a dragonfly! What are the odds?!

Then we found a great spot for this. LOVE it!

A few minutes with the incredible Mom and Dad, now you know where the kids get their great looks!

My favorite of the Mr. and Mrs. I adore it when couples are still so in love. What a wonderful example for their children!

We had just gotten nestled down in this position when I saw the little ones running from behind towards their mom and dad. I couldn’t resist sharing this image, as it speaks so much about the dynamics of a family.

Jen also brought along her childhood guitar. I can not get over the posing going on here. My goodness these kids are just so darn cute! And this of course was right before we discovered a snake nearby- cute and brave!

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet up with this super sweet family on a beautiful, yet slightly windy day, while they were vacationing. The beach was the perfect backdrop to capture some precious moments and the love they have for one another. Seriously, we were about the only ones there, which made shooting such a blast! Check out a few of my favorites!

Mr. C enjoyed the sand. I loved watching him sift it through his little fingers. It completely reminded me of my own boys doing the same exact thing.

We were trying to get a really great natural expression. The solution? Let him play with his grandfather! Look at that grin!

Ah, the sky was perfect and so is this adorable smile!

Love this picture.

This is another one of my favorites. Mr. C was really hamming it up and he had quite the audience cheering him on just a few feet back.

So handsome!

Love it when a family has a moment where they forget the camera is there!

Such a sweet couple- couldn’t let them escape without a few shots too!

As an alumni from F.S.U., there is simply a lot of orange and blue in this picture. But, let’s be honest… I love it! So I’m attaching a “Go Dolphins” theme with this one… we were at the beach, so it’s not a far stretch! 

Thank you Barrett’s for spending the afternoon with me and thank you to Beth as well for sending them my way. It was an honor to capture these sweet memories of your family.

Finally, if you haven’t heard about the Dream Calendar, please see below! We still need a good bit of sponsors before the project goes to press! If you own or know of a business or family that would be interested in helping us reach the goal, please respond in the comments or send me an email via the contact form on the blog. Thanks in advance!

Summer and I have several mutual friends, attended FSU during the same years and we’re even active in some of the same activities; but this was the first time we’d had the opportunity to meet in person. Summer’s husband actually gave her this session as a birthday gift! What an awesome guy huh?! What could be sweeter than celebrating the love of your family and capturing tender moments forever?

We met up early, EARLY Saturday morning when the lighting was gorgeous and it wasn’t terribly hot. Ok, the lighting was perfect, but scratch the last part! I thought we might melt. Despite the conditions, their sweet little kiddos were such troopers. I was serenaded by Aggie and Repp swooned me with his big blue eyes! Just see how cute they are for yourself!

I adore little R in this one! It shows that a family picture really can show some personality!

When I asked Miss A to stand with her brother, she responded in this way. I think my heart melted then and there. Doesn’t yours?

One word: Adorable.

Hello Mr. Blue Eyes!

Isn’t Aggie precious here?  She was getting a bit antsy (to be honest, we all were…remember it felt like it was 110 degrees!!), so I was able to take her aside for a few minutes… just us girls. It gave her brother some time to run off his energy and provided the perfect opportunity for her to shine. This is one of my favorite images from our little “girl time.” She’s precious! 

Can I say this again? Adorable!

I love the way Aggie  held her dress as she ran through the field… so girly. 

This one might be my favorite image from the entire day. I love the interaction, the emotion, the way Dad is sweetly looking at his beautiful family… and again, the light- the beautiful sunlight!

One stunning hubby and wife wouldn’t you say?

Siblings…plotting something? Maybe! 

Here are a few more shots from my “girl time” with Aggie!

Oh, and then there is this little handsome guy.

As a mom of 4, three of them being boys, this next image is perfect… priceless! Can’t you simply feel the joy of being 2 again?

Beautiful mom.

Oh, G family how you brightened my day with your songs, your smiles and your sweet love for one another. I pray these images have not only captured your commitment to your family, but that they will speak boldly of your love for one another many years down the road.  I can’t wait to work with you again…maybe sometime around March?!!

I’m always excited to receive an email from possible clients, but I was beyond thrilled when this request for a Heritage Session arrived! I had already had the honor of spending some time with this sweet family capturing the generations on Bobby’s side. Martha was now requesting some images of her grandmother at the young age of 88, her mother (who also happened to be my High School AP English teacher and one of my favorite educators of ALL time) and her girls Kate and Lizzie.

As I continued to read her email, I was captivated by the rich history of their family and the home where we would meet for our time together. Martha’s great grandfather built this home. There have been  5 generations on the same piece of land and 4 generations of women who have lived in this same house. Isn’t that amazing?

We had a wonderful time reminiscing about the past; and I soaked in all the stories they generously shared. I especially loved how Martha’s grandmother got the name “Gonsie.” (My sincerest apologies for the misspelling!)

The original deed for the land.

This is one of my favorite images from the day! I love “Gonsie’s” hands holding the picture of the home from days gone by!

I feel like this next one could be in Southern Living. The girls quietly playing in the garden, in front of this amazing home, rich with history and abundant memories speaks volumes.

Could it get any sweeter than this?

If you’ve ever wondered whether a Heritage Session is for you, I’ll just let this picture speak for itself.

We finished up with Martha, Bobby and their charming little girls.  Aren’t they such a gorgeous family?

Martha, thank you for inviting me to be a part of this wonderful morning with your precious family. The blessing was all mine!

Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

Psalm 119:111-112

This morning I had the pleasure of meeting up with a grandmother, her daughters and her sweet little grandchildren who were in town from out of state. Our session had a few unexpected twists and ended a little quicker than anticipated, so I just knew coming home that I would have to share a couple of sneaks right away to: 1) insure them that we captured some precious moments and 2) to put a smile on their faces and in their hearts.

Thank you for trusting me with these sweet little guys. I pray everyone is feeling lots better!

Now, be prepared for some serious cuteness!

Future heart-breakers!!

These next two are all about the eyes! My goodness these are some handsome kiddos!

Mr. L loves his mommy and I LOVE this image of their sweet snuggles!

Mr. L’s mommy is also expecting another little bundle of joy. We wanted to capture the “3″ of them together, but it’s not always easy getting a 2 year old to cooperate. As soon as the trucks came out though, we bought ourselves some more time.

It wasn’t long before Mr. L leaned over to use his mommy’s tummy as a road. How cute is this?

Giving his baby brother a little hug…

…and a little kiss too!

Adorable Mr. B and his mommy.

Look at that smile!

Mr. B loves his snuggles too!

Having 3 boys, this picture just makes my heart happy! Don’t you love the personality in this image? What a great way to end our session!

Don’t forget to leave some love, by posting a comment below!

Your statutes are my heritage forever;
they are the joy of my heart.
My heart is set on keeping your decrees
to the very end.

Psalm 119:111-112

———————————————

When Sharon contacted me about getting together with her extended relatives for a gigantic session I was so excited. I’ve known this family for many years and have treasured their friendships in ways that words could not even express. As we began working out the details of how to coordinate nearly 30 people, I started to think about the heritage of this family, their love for one another and their increasing love for the Lord. You just can’t help but to be inspired and motivated when you are in the presence of these individuals and so I wanted to make sure their images reflected their incredible bond. These pictures needed to be special, unique, memorable and full of personality- just like this awesome family.

Sharon had a fabulous idea: using their property – both pastures and orange groves as the backdrop. I loved everything about this idea and thus, the Heritage Session was born.

What makes the Heritage Session so special? The images are still captured on location, in a place of importance to your family. They quickly turn into treasured heirlooms and provide the opportunity to freeze in time this season of life with those you love the most. They are a gift that keeps giving! In fact, every year, during our annual beach vacation my family does this very same thing. Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents- the works…and while these images are often more posed than my typical style, they connect generations, focusing on relationships and the value of family.

What could be better?

So, take a look. Here are some of my favorite images from the Durrance Family’s Heritage Session.

Of course, I have to start with the kiddos and these black and white images take my breath away every time I look at them!

Certainly one of my faves of the day!

As is this one too! I love the way that big brother J.D. is touching his new brother’s head. You can feel the love dripping off of this image!

There is something so simple, but so breathtaking about this sibling shot!

Cousins dancing in the field. Love it too!

How adorable are these sisters?

I love the symbolism of the Great Grandmother to these little children sitting on the roots of this tree.

And I love how much she smiles!

Pure. Joy.

Some seriously special sisters. (Gorgeous too!)

Every year at the beach, my family does a cousin shot as well. We are super close, almost like siblings and adore one another. I think that’s why these images speak to my heart. I love the playful spirit of them, but more so, I think I appreciate how much of their love for one another shines through! 

You can’t be in an orange grove without peeling into at least one!

Miss A. was certainly enjoying her juicy treat! Look at those eyelashes! Geesh!

Of course, this post wouldn’t be complete without a true “heritage” shot! This one is hands down my favorite of this incredible family.

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

I had a great time with a super awesome family this morning. When I shot this image, I knew it had personality! Naturally, it became my pick for their super sneak peek. It’s proof that even mini-sessions are full of excitement! Lots more to come!

Thanks Mr. D and Miss L for such a fun time together!