I'm not going to lie, I have loved every session that I have done. Every one. There are always the full range of emotion inducing moments, moments that make me grin, make me cry, and make me crack up, moments that are so relatable. Moments that remind me that I am not the only one dealing with whatever recent hard time Milo might be having. Moments that remind me that I'm not the only one who is having whatever motherhood struggle I am having. Moments that remind me again and again, WE ARE ALL ON THE SAME JOURNEY. We are all having the same struggles and the same wins. That is what is amazing about watching these sessions. Even if you are never going to get one for yourself, watch my slideshows. See all the moments that other parents are having and see yourself in their struggles, but also in their triumphs. When you see that five year old looking up at their mom with so much love, please don't look at that picture and think that maybe they are a better parent than you. Your kids are looking at you like that too! We, the parents, me included, just don't see it during the hustle and bustle of our everyday. So even if you think you are never going to hire me, (but do!) please watch these slideshows and then remember to stop and notice every once in a while how much your kids are adoring you. Even if it's in between their complaining about not having MORE popsicles, as they are eating a popsicle! (What your kids don't do that? Just mine!?) 

I started this off by saying that I love every session, and I do. And I wonder if each new one becomes a new favorite, I'm not sure... But I LOVE this session so much. I loved being with this family and I loved watching them interact and I loved the boys facial expressions. OMG, I love the expressions. And seriously, the youngest, he was eating ice off the floor at one point, no hands. I LOVE what kids will do to get what they want. I love the Erin & Alex's love for each other. I love it all. I usually will say more about the family, but I want to let the pictures tell the story here. 

Omg, you guys, I loved this family and this session. I was so happy going through the images and had the hardest time narrowing down their images for their slideshow because I loved so many of them. The whole family made it easy to be there and for me to become engrossed in capturing their moments. When I first arrived at their house Shay was napping still so I got quite a bit of time with just Leora and Adi. Let me tell you, Adi is awesome. She is full of personality and seriously just a kid you want to hang out with. She is confident, funny, and herself without reservations. Exactly how all of us adults aspire to be!  Shay is a sweet baby boy who is so obviously madly in love with his mama. You can see how at ease and happy he is in her arms. This has been one of the great things for me to witness over and over again. Mamas your kiddos ADORE you, each of you, there is no exception. We (me included) get so caught up in what we are doing that we start to miss how they look at us and look TO us. I am here to give us a record of these moments. It is a purpose I am so happy to fulfill. 

Leora, you have some happy & fun kiddos. It was an honor to witness your family's love and your kiddos joy. Thank you for having me. xoxo

Toward the end of their session Dad came home and we quickly did some relaxed portraits. If you feel like you are really loving the idea of a documentary session, but keep thinking, "but I'd love just a couple of us all together", let me know and we can totally make that happen. Of course my favorites from this are still what some might call the "outtakes." I'm especially loving how mom and dad are looking at each other in the third one. <3

The first time I met Marisa I was a very new mom who was struggling greatly with breastfeeding. I was in tears with each and every feeding and I was reaching out everywhere I could think of for help because I was not ready to give up. Marisa saw my message and offered to come over that evening to help me. I remember being in shock. "You will come over now?!" Typing this brings tears to my eyes remembering about my struggle, but also her kindness and willingness to go the extra mile to help another mama. She made me promise not to clean or worry about the house and showed up that evening with her youngest (who is now the her middle daughter) in tow. She sat with me and helped me try and figure out why we might be having such a hard time. I will never forget her kindness and the kinship from a fellow mama I had never met. 

Fast forward almost five years and now I have been privileged enough to spend time with her and her three daughters capturing their moments. My impression of Marisa has always been that she parents with ease and is not easily rattled by her children. There is a calm to being in their house. She takes each moment with them in stride and you can see that she truly enjoys watching them each be and become who they are meant to be. Those are three lucky ladies to have a mama like Marisa.

Marisa, thank you for having me! I hope that I get to capture you and your three daughters as they continue to grow and become the amazing women that I know they will be. I also plan to come back and spend some time with you guys on that amazing property that you have ;) 

December 26, 2017. The day after Christmas and I'm not gonna lie, my kid had been in these pajamas for two days. Just take a look at the knees and you will see the evidence of many hours of him pushing around his new Ghostbuster car in that chimpanzee like "walk" that kids often do. How do they even do that for so long?! With one knee bent and up and one knee down on the ground their body leaning to that side with one hand on the ground, pulling themselves around. Anyway! Milo's little buddy and his mama, our friends, came down this day with a gift for Milo. A set of two of these masks that came with all the supplies to decorate them with stars and lightning bolts and glittery stickers. Needless to say, he loved them. He couldn't even wait to decorate them to try one on.

The second Milo put this mask on his whole demeanor transformed. He starting walking around slowly and thoughtfully. He didn't speak at all, and I'll be honest, my kids a talker. He slowly slithered up to Lucy and sat with her, and then quietly with Murphy. I would see him start thinking and then make a face and then another. He leapt from the couch to the ottoman and back again, stopping to carefully study himself in the mirror. I would have loved to be inside his head, to hear what scheme he was planning or what powers he was now imagining he had. I grabbed my camera and he was so in his own head, he didn't even pay attention to me. These photos are from that day. 

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Have you chosen a Christmas gift for your partner yet?

Are you struggling to figure out what you can possibly give to them that shows how much they mean to you?

I have the answer for you.

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Show them the beauty of your everyday life with a Moments of Motherhood or Day in the Life session.

Do you often find yourself running out on Christmas Eve, braving the cold and the crowds to try and figure out something your partner will love, only to end up buying something just for the sake of having something to give them? From the comfort of your couch, you can get them the gift that they will cherish forever. The gift that will show them that you really are paying attention, that you see and value all that they are to your family. 

This is a session that is easy, fun, enjoyable. Your session involves no posing, no planning, and the results are heirloom photographs that your family will love and look back on for generations. 

Not only will your partner love this, but this is the gift that keeps on giving because when your kids are grown they will have these pictures to look back on and reminisce about what their childhood felt like, the love, the laughs, the cool couch that is now considered vintage. They are going to love looking back and remembering with these photographs.

Get your partner in the picture. So often mom is the one taking the pictures and there are almost no family pictures that include her. Book her a Moments of Motherhood or a Day in the Life Session today and let her see how much she is valued, how much she is adored, how much all the little moments add up to the beauty that is her everyday.

Give her the gift of seeing herself and your love for her in your family pictures. 

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To make it even easier for you, on top of you not having to leave the couch, I have put together an all inclusive, limited time holiday package that includes:

-two hours documentation in your home or on location

-AND the high resolution digital files

SOLD OUT!

 

Quantities are limited. Sessions must be booked for January or February of 2018. Valid for weekday sessions only.

Available for purchase through December 31, 2017 or until the limited number of sessions are sold out. 

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