I was so excited after photographing this beautiful girl when she was a baby, that I was asked to come back and shoot her and her cute baby brother. If I were to tell you that this was an easy photo shoot, I’d be a big liar.  2 year olds and 6 month olds have minds of their own…and on occasion they are not on the same page as each other or as their Mommy or their photographer. Individually shooting them actually was quite easy, I mean look at them…they are gorgeous and wonderful. But together? They wanted no part of cooperating at the same time…and after 2 tries where Mom and I both broke a sweat and stood on our heads and literally danced like crazy people to Justin Beiber, I realized that it was ok. I am always harping that my photography is real and not posed and I do all that I can to create images that are true to the core reflections of the people I shoot. And these little people, were independent, opinionated, beautiful, and completely typical of their ages….a perfectly posed portrait would not have been true to me, or to them, and as I went through the shoot to edit I realized that even more. I love these images…and I hope that Mom and Dad do too.  So here they are, blue eyed  beauties…that mom and I joked were “cry babies”. I appreciate them putting up with my dance moves and bribe attempts, and I hope that I get the chance to photograph them as they grow and change and go through new phases.

Below they are set to music that mom selected….and as I watch the slide show I totally forget Justin Beiber and see only the moments with 2 little ones that will pass way too fast.

This little man happens to belong to my “little” cousin. I call her that even though she is a grown woman. I can’t help it, there is a part of me that will always see her as that 10 year old little girl that came with me to “take your daughter to work day” and who had slumber parties with me at my first apartment. But she’s all grown up and married and a mama.

It was so fun to hang out with her and her new family and to photograph sweet Lorenzo and his amazing head of hair.

Love you guys!

I am always excited for every photo shoot, but this one was extra special. I’ve known Christina and Rob more or less forever, and I like many people watched as they struggled to start their family. They don’t know this, but I thought of them incredibly often, especially during our own issues with trying to have a second baby. Their story gave me perspective, and their honesty and grace was inspiring. They are an adorable couple that sacrificed a lot and  in the end this sometimes unfair world managed to turn itself right.

Thank you so much for having me into your home, and for letting me photograph your beautiful boys! Many more photos coming soon.

See? I told you he was a cutie patootie…if you haven’t seen them, do click on these cuties too. One of these days I’m going to get their cute dad in on the action too!!

I think it is not only because this baby is so beautiful (and she is) but because I’ve seen how completely knocked off of her feet in love this mom is with this girl. We just met, but I SO get where she is…I’ve been there. It is such a magical mix of overwhelmed and starstruck and grateful and sleep deprivation and joy and holy cow every minute. (Looking at the list I’m still most of these things now, but I do get to sleep). As I watched this I felt completely privileged to be welcomed into their home and trusted to capture this beautiful girl…just as she is right now.

sigh….so here is the beautiful Ava, set to music. (and I warned you you might need tissues)

Anyway…onto much cuter things….

I had so much fun with this little one… she is 4.5 months old and was so smiley and interested in everything that was going on. It is actually a great age because she was totally engaged but not quite mobile (even if she did seem to know some Pilates moves!!)  I love going to people’s homes and this home was so cute and had so many touches that I just loved thatI was totally inspired from the moment I walked into the door! Plus, I was totally inspired by her beautiful eyes and baby toes.

Many thanks to Stacey and her sweet girl for hanging out with me!

Isn’t she something? She was of course, awake the whole time (because babies don’t sleep when I have my camera out) but she was such a happy girl and lots of fun to photograph.

We also did a few shots with her handsome big brother!

Thank you Lisa for inviting me into your home. I’ll have your full gallery to you as soon as I can.

I promised a sneak peek on Sat night…and if I hit submit on this post in the next 20 minutes, I think I’ll still make it. So I won’t waste time with lots of chit chat. I know that Mom and Dad just want to get a look at some of the pics!

I was giddy when I heard that they were bringing this car…it is fabulous and the driver is pretty darn cute too….

I brought along my antique high chair and a cupcake to celebrate the big birthday…I thought we might get some smashing shots, but he was more of a mustache guy.

He was just so much fun to chase around…

Mom and Dad were lots of fun too…

and so obviously in love with each other and their adorable boy!

and I love this series…Luca kept dive bombing Daddy with kisses…so dang cute!

a couple of more faves…Thanks so much to Gina and Jason and Happy Birthday again to sweet Luca!

I was seriously giddy (once I got over my nerves) when mom told me that she had a guitar that was incredibly important to her Flamenco fanatic husband and a mantilla veil that had been her great grandmother’s in Cuba. “Something special to represent each of us” she told me. Like I said, nervous…but giddy.

I realize he looks perfectly sleepy in these shots, and he was for a couple of minutes (ha) but most of the time he looked like this….little man doesn’t want to miss any action!

We of course had to take some shots on the old scale. He was so mellow up there, I couldn’t believe it.

Ok…not totally mellow

I played around a bit with a new white blanket which was so much fun…

I was dying to get a photo of the darling cupie doll hair…

I absolutely love these next two shots. L-O-V-E ….

What you can’t see in any of these photos is that we also had a little audience…

Big brother who is 15 months old….and also quite the charmer.

Thank you Heidi, for sharing your boys…and thank you Jose for letting me put a naked baby on your other baby….