I normally work with smaller immediate family units, but when this grandmother approached me about a photo session with her grandkids on their wildlife ranch, well, I just could not resist. Those boys are full of energy and having  a space like this to run and play must be like heaven on earth for them. My hopes were a little crushed when we couldn’t get close to the zebras, but the giraffes did NOT disappoint. They have such personalities and it was obvious that the kiddos enjoy their special time with them. While the afternoon started off very grey and overcast, I got to leave with a beautiful African Savana sunset, complete with giraffes and zebras and wildebeests in my rearview mirror. Wow. What an evening!

Oh, and I have to share this with you, too. I literally laughed out loud when I came across this in my files:

MWAH!!!!

ETA: Thank you so much to my friend Angela for showing me THIS commercial which pretty much sums up a day in the life of a photographer, complete with giraffes. LOLOLOL!

…are often those in your own backyard. I swear, it was like hanging with my own children at home, them begging me to go traipsing off into the woods with them while I’m in my flip-flops, showing me their favorite trees and forts they had fashioned with sticks and leaves. Wide open spaces. Good for the soul. (Doggies are also good for the soul.)

For the past three years, we’ve gotten together to do family portraits up right. Every session has been vastly different from the last, but every session has been equally fun, entertaining, and beautifully styled by Tracy (no surprise there since she is an amazing photographer herself ;-). I have to admit I get giddy each time she schedules her session because I know it’s going to be a beautiful collaboration. This is the most easy-going, most colorful, most loving, most fun-loving, most energetic, most dynamic family you will ever meet and I truly feel privileged to get to photograph them. Thank you, my friend.

If it looks like we did a lot at this family photo session, well, we did! How else do you keep a three-year-old happy and entertained?! It works out okay, though, because she and I both have about the same attention span ;-). I love that she pours her whole heart into everything that she does and doesn’t she fit the part of hot air balloon traveller so well? But my favorite image might just be this little moment shared between her and her mommy.

I can’t say it’s been terribly easy, but I can say it’s been incredibly therapeutic to get back to work today. And most importantly, working on images of joyful blessings and joyful people in a newborn session such as this one. Two more super duper favs HERE and please don’t miss this one HERE.

I know you must recognize this beautiful family by now as they are no strangers to the Pinkle Toes blog. I look forward to our session together each and every year when they drive in from New Mexico. Meg really wanted to do something in the wildflowers this year and oddly enough, I stumbled upon the perfect place just as my car broke down. I guess it was meant to be. Loved this little undiscovered spot. So much so, when Meg took our pictures :-), we came right back here. Can’t wait to see what Meg created for our family, too! Two more favs HERE and HERE.

Let’s travel back in time to a few years ago…when Mr. Man became “Husband of the Year 2010” with his Mother’s Day surprise to his wife. (I imagine I’ll *still* be talking about that years from now, btw ;-). When we had that photo session, they were a family of three and they lived in a completely different city. Fast forward a few years…mom is now a photographer herself and I even had the privilege of spending a couple of days with her sans kiddos at one of my professional photographer workshops earlier this year. My time with them in Dallas a few weeks ago just wrapped it all up for me in a pretty little bow. They now have a daughter and a new home in a new city and they are rocking parenthood like champs. I stayed waaaaay too long at this session, LOL, but it was only because we were having such a lovely time. Mom and Dad can DANCE and we cranked up the music so they could show off their moves. Baby boy still LOVES to read just as much as he did when I first met him, and little miss is just too sassy for words.

The last image there was a special repeat request from mom. We spent some time photographing big brother and the fam at the dining table when he was an only child and got some of my most favorite images from that session. I’m thrilled we revisited the table setting to document the changes!

[P.S. shared a sneak of her proof box HERE. I’m a little sad to let it go ;-(.]

It won’t be long before they are on to their next adventure as a family, but for now, this session was all about capturing the Texas-like environment before they move. In true Texas fashion, the weather started out pleasant enough, but as soon as the sun went down low enough so we could shoot by the water, wow, did we get chilly! But also in true Texas fashion, the kiddos were complete troopers and put up with the cold weather to let us even capture a few Texas wildflowers (some people call that yellow plant a weed, but I don’t care…it’s a pretty weed ;-). Thank you so much, Laura, for such a fun and relaxed session. Your children are trained well by your photography skills and I hope you enjoy these images of you and your beautiful family! {P.S. full family version of the sunset pic HERE}

We sure did have a lot of plans for our session, but Mother Nature had other ideas. What was supposed to be a lovely spring day, turned into a rather chilly and wiiiiiiiiiindy March afternoon. The wind made it sooo tough for us to hear one another and to keep the hair out of our faces (LOL), but it was quite perfect for the awesome wind chime collection mom had brought for her baby girl to play with.  And she sure looked like an angel in that lovely cream chiffon dress by the creek. I think I could have photographed her all day in that dress if the weather had been a bit more cooperative. This was a different side of L than what we’re all used to…she usually has boundless energy and a million things she needs to do. This particular afternoon, we were privileged to get to capture the sweet, clingy, lovey, “I don’t feel well and I just want to snuggle up with my mommy,” side of her. And I think that’s quite a lucky thing to be fortunate enough to get that on camera, too. [Another fav HERE].

I’m sorry to be blunt, but Gerber’s got nothing on this little beauty! She defines all things that are cute and adorable and snuggly and baby-like and she does it with the determination and grace and drive of a fighter. Her scar makes her even more beautiful than she already is and it was an honor to get to spend some time with her a few weeks ago. Personally, one of my most memorable and moving photo sessions ever. {Another fav HERE.}