I was beginning to wonder if this session was ever going to happen for us. You see, we already rescheduled twice because of rain and then wouldn’t you know it, in the wee hours of the morning of our third try, I got a call from this family 😉 and I ended up camping out at the hospital. My goal was to still hold their session that day, but we’d just move it to the afternoon. But as we all know, babies like to be born on their own schedule and I seriously didn’t think I would make it downtown that day. Somehow, it worked out, and as soon as I finished up the birth photos, I hoofed it down to them. I’m so thankful they were so patient and understanding that day! And I have to tell you, that baby girl sure made it super easy to have a wonderful session. They truly don’t come sweeter than her. Just look at those squishy cheeks and that hilarious duck face she makes. Sigh…

One thing that I try to stress over and over again in my professional photography workshops is to have a plan, but be willing to accept it when that plan has to totally go out the window. For this session, we had an amazing plan and Linsey, oh, Linsey worked so hard coming up with most ADORABLE campfire and s’more set up. The weather was perfection, the light was stunning, the outfits she put together were bright and happy, but when we first got together that night, I didn’t think anything would end up bright and happy. You can read all of the details in Linsey’s perfectly written blog post, but I’ll sum it up for you in four words: kids will be kids.

I’m going to let you in on a little secret: in my heart of hearts, I honestly did not think we were going to pull this session off. Bless them, they drove all the way in from the Houston area and Linsey was trying so hard to keep everyone happy and cheerful. We were getting desperate. Some lovely stranger at the park even ran to her car to get us a band-aid for the little guy when he fell. I think everyone at the park took pity on us that evening. When it was clear that it was hopeless, I finally took Linsey aside so we could re-evaluate our situation. I said, “We have to come up with a Plan B in case we can’t pull it together before the sun goes down. What are the three most important things to you that you want me to capture in this session?” She looked at me with her big beautiful eyes and said with complete and heartfelt conviction, “I need to look pretty. I need the kids to smile. I need our family interacting together.” Not too much to ask at all. We can do this. I know we can do this!

And wouldn’t you know it that as soon as we had decided to call it a night, miraculously, the kids rallied and we accomplished our goals for the evening: 1) Linsey looked BEAUTIFUL, even when she was surrounded by tears and chaos, 2) the kids DID smile, and 3) everyone came together and looked like they were having the time of their lives. Whew!!!! Thank you so much, Linsey, for hanging in there that evening and for not giving up on me ;-). I hope you can look back on these images and maybe have a little giggle to remember what we went through to get this. And in case you can’t remember:

P.S. You can check out Linsey’s beautiful photography HERE!

This had to have been one of the most natural, relaxed, easy-going families ever. And that always results in natural, relaxed, easy-going family portraits. I especially loved the last series with just the two of them. Their connection was tangible! And could those children be any more adorable?! I think we could have played all night in the creek! (Another fav HERE).

Last month, when we went to Houston for a little family time + a few photo sessions, the days leading up to our departure were dry as a bone. And then all of a sudden, much to my dismay, the storm clouds started rolling in over the Houston area :-(. Amanda and I were in touch the night before, trying to decide what our plan of action would be. I mean, if worse came to worse, I could do a family photo shoot in the rain, but really, who wants to deal with that???? I think the thing that was making me nervous is that I was going to be driving (before sunrise) about an hour from our hotel to a place I’d never been before with unpredictable weather and I was going to have to pull off a photo shoot, site unseen. There…the truth is out. I actually like to plan my sessions well in advance and try to eliminate as many variables as possible. I like to control the things I have control over so that I can handle the things I can’t control (like fussy kiddos or bad weather).

But this post is called the “good luck” session for a reason: we had really, really good luck!!! Watching the radar, there was literally rain and storms all around us. Sure it was a little dark when we got started, but here and there, the sun actually peeked out! But here’s what made this session most enjoyable: Amanda’s children!!! Typically, children of photographers have what we like to refer to as “Photographer Child Syndrome.” If you haven’t heard of it before, basically children w/ PCS turn into little ornery buggers whenever a camera comes near them (I give you exhibits A and B). Amanda’s kiddos, on the other hand, were perfect angels. I don’t know what they’re doing, but they have raised some loving, polite, respectful and joyful children and they should be very, very proud.

My personal fav is HERE!

So I looked up “cool” in the dictionary the other day and I happened to see THIS family ;-). Seriously, who else elects to have their family portraits taken inside the awesome office space of Google in Austin. These guys, that’s who. I could have stayed there all day and played with all of the fun stuff and the kids just LOVED being there. Lucky ducks. Oh, and did you see my absolute fav image I sneaked from this session? Oh, yes. Cool, indeed.

So this AWESOME reversible skirt came in from her Auntie Dee. Little girl has been begging me for WEEKS to do a photo shoot. We go to do the shoot today and she was totally not into it. Why is that, I ask you? PCS? [Photographer Child Syndrome] or just the makings of having a girl child?

I know it is said that “home is where the heart is” and that’s true…you can make almost any place into a home if you fill it with love and happy memories. But I also believe that some houses have a life and energy all their own. I understand the life-long connection some people will have with the places in which they grew up and so did she. And this is the main reason why I went to Houston last month…to capture their house…their home…the place where they brought home their first babies…and ALL of those memories tied so closely to those rooms before they move into their new house next year. I know she already appreciates the kind of value these kinds of photographs will have for her children, but I don’t think her kiddos will fully realize the significance of this particular session until they are off finding houses of their own years from now. I hope they do.

That last image has got to be one of my most fav mother/daughter moments ever. If it was of my daughter and I, it would totally be going up on my walls ;-). Two more session favs are HERE and HERE. And then one more fun thing below (it’s animated…might take a bit to load):

I think you all know by now I ADORE family photo sessions at home…especially when working with small children or larger groups of kiddos. It’s soooooo much easier for everyone. You tend to be more relaxed. You’re more comfortable. We can take more breaks if needed. Kiddos are in their own environment. But perhaps most importantly, you’ve captured where they lived and how they lived so that years from now, after they move away, they can always look back on these images and say, “Hey…I remember when I used to play with that toy.”

I met Brandi (a photographer!) last summer when she attended one of my professional photographer workshops. I knew I liked her right away and as I got to know her more, I realized she is quite the incredible mama! It was such an honor when she asked if I would photograph her family while I was in Houston this summer. Gosh, I was so impressed to see how they run their household first-hand (they are a GREAT team) and she just seems to bask in the glow of being a mommy, even when her youngest daughter decides to put on eyeliner just before the photo session. They have done a wonderful job cultivating these personalities and I can honestly say I loved every second of this session.

(Which ones are my favs from this session? Pretty much all of them, but to highlight, I love these ones HERE and HERE and HERE).

As I promised yesterday, here is the silver lining to all of those “clouds.” See, I told you she turned it around ;-). I just adore her mom’s sense of style. Always have.

Our photo sessions are always fun, always colorful, always an adventure and I’m going to tell on myself here…they’re always easy. They just seem to flow naturally…very organic and not forced and that’s what makes it so easy…even when it’s 150 degrees outside…even when someone is having a crying fit, it’s still easy because they both embrace parenthood with a GREAT sense of humor and a relaxed nature. I am pleased to say that I learned a new word at this session:

hangry

adj. han·gri·er, han·gri·est

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