I had the wonderful opportunity to document an in-home session for this beautiful family in Dallas as they celebrated the arrival of their first son.
Stepping into their home, I was immediately greeted by a warm and loving atmosphere. Our time together unfolded naturally, capturing those genuine, unscripted moments that make in-home sessions so special. From showering their new baby brother with kisses and adoring looks to playfully jumping on beds and tickle attacks. One of their favorite daily routines is storytime with Dad, and I had the privilege of capturing that too.
It’s always an honor to watch a family grow over the years through my lens. I photographed this trio when their baby girl was just a couple of months old, and just like the last time, we had a blast together. We shot at two of my favorite Grapevine locations: Main Street and Rockledge Park. The Palace Arts Center made for a fun and colorful backdrop to begin our session, and just before sunset we moved to the rocky coastline of Rockledge to wander the cliffs and make some memories.
These laid-back, in-home family sessions are some of the most fun to photograph. It’s such a privilege to be invited into a client’s home to document the unique nuances of their family and those special moments that make up a childhood. This session was one for the books. From secret handshakes and daddy-daughter dances to imaginary under-the-sea excursions, these four allowed me to capture them as they truly are, forever freezing moments that their children will thumb through and cherish for a lifetime.
I knew from the moment I received their inquiry that I was going to have a great time photographing this family. They were looking for “a photographer that captures the in-between, genuine, non posed moments” and said “We see this in your work. We see your ability to capture life that jumps from the frame.” Their vision was perfectly aligned with what I strive to create: photographs that document the overwhelming love of family and fleeting smallness of a child.
Our session was at Rockledge Park on a particularly warm Fall evening. The cool, refreshing waves made for the perfect spot to splash around and document their love.
This vacation session in Turks and Caicos was magical! We spent an evening on the beach and swam around as the sun set over the clear blue water. The next morning we woke up early for a sunrise hike and found ourselves in a taxi in the pouring rain. Luckily, the weather let up just as we arrived at our destination, and we had a beautiful hike under cloudy skies with a refreshing drizzle of rain.
I love the portraits I was able to create for these two, vacation sessions are such a beautiful way to have your favorite memories preserved.
This session with Kate and her family in Ocean City is one of my favorites. Her family is so full of love and is growing - she told me after we shot that she was pregnant with her second little one at the time of our session! We spent an evening on the beach in Ocean City and created photographs I think they’ll treasure for a lifetime. Plus, how romantic are the photos of mom and dad at the end?!?
You're considering booking a session but then you hear that little voice:
"I'm waiting until I lose that 7 pounds... I want my bangs to grow past this awkward stage... My teeth aren't white enough... I really need to tone up first."
Sound familiar? I hear you. I don't always love everything about myself either. One day I might feel great, my hair is perfect, those jeans fit just right and I am on top of the world, but the next?
"How long has that wrinkle been there? .... Those extra pounds turned into the shadow of a second chin overnight! .... Is THAT what I look like from that angle?"
Those apps on your phone are flooded with photos of perfectly styled families, flawless hair, and glowing skin. It’s easy to get sucked into the comparison trap from time to time, to feel like your REAL and your RIGHT NOW aren’t worthy of documenting, simply because they don’t seem to measure up to the highlight reels you so often scroll through. You’re not alone, heck, I’ve been there myself. Negative self-talk happens, but what counts is learning to quiet that voice and show up as you are.
So, why then, while knowing all of this (and truly believing it), do I sometimes still feel that ping of self-doubt when I catch a glimpse of a snapshot where I don't look my best? Well, I really can't answer that, perhaps it’s because I'm human. Perhaps it's a hint of guilt for choosing to have that glass of Pinot Noir last night instead of hitting the gym (actually, strike that, I’ll never regret that decision). Maybe it’s because no matter what I believe and know to be true, the negative thoughts just linger sometimes. I love who I am and I appreciate the body I’ve been given, but sometimes it can still feel impossible not to carry the weight of what we’ve been taught to compare ourselves to.
See this photo? This was the result of an afternoon self-portrait session that came of me trying to take my own advice and get in front of the lens more often. When I downloaded the images I immediately flagged every one of them as “rejected,” planning to permanently delete them because I genuinely loathed the way that I looked. I’m not sure what distracted me that afternoon, but I’m glad that it did, because when I stepped away and returned I had a new perspective.
I didn’t look at this photo and see it as a thousand imperfections. I looked at this and I saw it for exactly what it is.
The feeling captured here is one of favorite feelings in the world. I am adored. I love another human being more than I ever thought it possible to love. That all natural I’m-about-to-bust-out-laughing face that I’m making while wrapped up in Sam's arms so accurately depicts the joy that I feel with him. I am so fiercely in love with this man and with the way that he loves me that I just want to shout it from the rooftops. If this is what that looks like, honestly, that's okay with me now. It's more than okay actually, it's incredible. Even if my eyes are squinty and my chin imperfect, my life is freaking beautiful. I am freaking beautiful, and I'm learning to show up just as I am.
Who you are at this very moment is enough. You are enough. Even if you don’t agree with that yet, learn to, because to be honest, who you are right now is who you are right now. Maybe you'll change a little in a few weeks, maybe you won't, but this is who you are in this moment. Stop deleting awesome snapshots of you and your partner or photos of you and your children because you wish you looked different. This is the version of you that your husband adores, the version that your children admire and that they’ll remember, so please, learn to love it too. Love this stage of your beautiful existence enough to preserve it, document it so that your children and the people who love you can hold on to these moments and find joy in them for years to come. Document it so that you can look back and see how beautiful this life truly is, how beautiful you are and always have been.
