I feel like I’ve been with this family forever. We have certainly shared a lot of memories together over the past several years and it was an honor to help celebrate the 1 year birthday of their baby girl. For tradition’s sake, we revisited the same place we did big brother’s one year session, and even did a little bit of photo re-creation. Funny enough, I think it was just as cold as it was last time we were there, lol. And don’t miss this shot of speedy as she crawled up the stairs and out of sight, over and over and over again ;-). Oh, I do adore her!

I am pretty certain you will recognize this gang from my blog over the years. Funny enough, a few days after we finished up THIS session, I got the cutest text from Tracy:

So, I guess that was a maternity session you just did.

Aughhhhhhhhhh! How incredibly exciting that they were going to add another to their photogenic and loving little brood. They are such amazing parents and it was so touching to see how little man’s big brother and sisters doted on him non-stop. LOVED this family pic HERE and this ONE is probably my fav from the session.

Thank you again, Tracy, for this wonderful honor. I could not be happier for you guys!

Funny story: way back in June I was in the airport trying to fly out to Charlotte for a workshop. Of course, my flight got cancelled and I was a bit vocal about it on Instagram. Next thing I know, this lovely blonde walks up to me and says, “Are  you Pinkle Toes?” WHAT??? She had been standing in another line ready to board when she saw my post on Instagram! How cool is that???? It was so neat to chat with her that day and I was really honored when she commissioned family portraits a little while later. Small world 😉

Words that come to mind when I think of this session: joy, giggles, motion, dance, childhood, beauty, love, wonder, curls, dimples, jump. Thank you guys so much for an incredible session! What an joy to get to work with you in your home!!! Lovin’ this mommy/daughter portrait HERE, too. And my absolute FAV HERE.

Kinda can’t believe I haven’t blogged this session from Virginia last fall either. Kinda been dying to share THIS IMAGE in particular and I think it’s pretty fitting for today. Kinda loved absolutely everything about this session. Kinda got pretty lucky that even though we played with the umbrellas, the weather cleared up and we didn’t actually *need* them. Kinda adored her kiddos. Kinda adored mom and dad as a couple. Kinda glad we got THIS, too ;-).

This session completely embodies why it is so awesome to have your family photo session in your own home! I love that we had the opportunity to capture them…in their environment…a place where they spend their time and play together and do things together as a family. These are the kinds of images their kids will look back on years to come and say, “I remember when my daddy would play blocks with me,” or “That was my favorite book my mommy would read to me over and over.” Lucky boys, indeed! (Oh, and here’s my fav in black and white).

I had a couple of clients who originally had sessions scheduled in Texas last year, both of them ended up in Virginia so I decided to make a trip back to my motherland to handle those sessions for them and of course, to show my kiddos where I grew up and visit with dear family.

I was a little worried when I saw my window of travel for this trip…it was late November and fall–my absolute FAVORITE season and one of the things I miss most about Virginia–would typically long be over by this time. Oh, no. What a fabulous surprise when we showed up to the most incredible weather and beautiful foliage my kids had ever seen. I think they could have played in the leaves for hours and hours. They absolutely LOVED it!!! And so did I. So much so, I can’t deny that we may have toyed around with the idea of moving to Virginia. Of course, with my little nieces on the way (both my sister and the girls are recovering well from the TTTS laser ablation, by the way!!!) we couldn’t *really* move away, but it was nice to fantasize.

Anyway, I realized that I haven’t blogged Karen’s session (who is a photographer in Maryland, herself!) and that’s sad because I REALLY LOVED it! Her family was a blast and those girls made the session so much fun. And Karen’s smile…is that not the most contagious smile you’ve ever seen? I felt very lucky to get to work in such amazing fall colors with perfect shooting weather on the grounds of the National Cathedral that day! It was actually our second visit to the landmark…we ended up going there are first day in D.C. not knowing that we would be shooting there later. I thought my kids would find it a little boring, but we were all quite surprised that everyone was excited to go back! Beautiful building, amazing gardens, and a perfect experience all around! Thank you so much, Karen, for trusting me with this job and I truly did have an incredible evening with you guys!

Not me, not me. But gosh, I can imagine how I would feel if I were picking up my family and moving to a new city in a new state and leaving behind this amazing city we call home. We managed to squeeze this session in literally days before their big move and I loved how they wanted to capture the funky Austin vibe with their family photo session. I hope they’re staying bundled up all the way up north (even though we *are* in the middle of an Ice Apocalypse here in Austin right now, LOL. Hey…did you see my song?) and I hope I get to see them when they *must* come back down to visit family someday 😉

Another one of my family lifestyle photo sessions (in Austin) last year. I felt like I could relate so much to the mommy of this family: super busy, two energetic boys, a sweet baby girl to complete the picture, and just plain, all-around quirky family fun (see what I mean?). I love that you can see mom’s joy with her amazing life in every one of these images!

I know I will want to update you on the past few weeks and I have a LOT of blogging to catch up on, huh? But like my daughter says when I ask her how to eat an elephant, “…just one bite at a time.”

So, let me begin with this family…my last family photo session of 2013, as a matter of fact. These boys couldn’t have been any sweeter or more fun to hang with

I will be posting many more images from the last part of 2013 over the next few days, so stay tuned to the blog.  I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday break and that your 2014 is off to a great start.

In spite of what my daughter might have everyone at her preschool believing, it was NOT to photograph Michelle Obama ;-). But it was close ;-). A looooong time ago, I had a session scheduled here in TX for none other than Rachel Brenke–author and The Law Tog. Right before we were scheduled to do her session, she found out she was expecting, so we decided to wait a little bit and make it a maternity session. Fast forward a few months after that and it turns out, she had to move to NoVa! Amazingly, we were able to work it out so that I could come up there (during busy season, even) and I’m sooooooo glad we worked it out.

She coordinated her session so beautifully…not surprising since she’s a photographer. And I can’t even believe we were able to get all four of her children in the same frame! This precious baby boy is fitting in quite nicely with his family and he is obviously very loved. It was amazing how he was equally alert and sleepy. He made me look like I had planned it that way ;-).

Now, I hesitate to post the next series of images because Rachel *might* kill me, but I’m just gonna go with it. I present to you, the many faces of Rachel Brenke:

Hmmmmm. Even when she’s making a silly face, she’s still adorable. Now how does she manage that????

And on that note, I leave you all to have a Happy Happy Happy Thanksgiving! I’m not going to dwell on all of the things that have gone wrong this year and instead, I will be more thankful than I’ve ever been in my life for my family, my friends, my health and their health.

XOXO,
Michele