This was so fun! Although I love photographing all ages, I get to be a little lazy when working with “older” kids. Less chasing and bribing. They listen to instructions so well! The trade off is that it’s trickier to keep them from doing a “cheese” expression. I guess it’s because I get a lot of pensive shots, but it never fails that parents tell me their kids look SO grown up in their pictures.

I just wanted to take a minute to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year! We’ve had so much fun as a family this year as the kids get old enough to really appreciate the gingerbread houses, the hot cocoa, baking treats, and singing carols. It’s the best thing in the world for me to see how excited they are about their presents. I can’t wait to see them opened!

I hope you enjoy celebrating the birth of The Savior, and can’t wait to see what next year holds for all of us!

I had to post this of my little girl. My Kaiya Eve pettiskirts came in the mail and I just had to start playing. Side note to clients: I have a great stash of accessories you are welcome to use in your session. They include these pettiskirts, Baby Leggs, bows, hats, and headbands. For boys I have fewer goodies, but I do have hats for all ages.

I did a couple of mini-sessions for neighbors this Saturday. They were mostly for Christmas cards, but I got a few individual shots of the kids. They’re all beautiful kids and such nice families. I love that our neighborhood is a great setting for photos, with a pond and some really pretty common areas. But the most convenient thing for me as a photographer is that our back yard shares a fence with Huron Meadows Metropark. So the Smiths showed me how they hop the fence to get to the amazing landscape. I’m sure once these ice storms let up our family will get to know the park a lot better.

   I knew exactly what I wanted to do with Andrew’s pictures the moment his mom scheduled their session. Before the weather turned really bad I would see him outside playing football every day. He’s REALLY good at it!

   Seriously. Have you ever seen a 2 year old ride a scooter with two wheels?! And this daredevil does not take it slow on that thing. He cruises! I was a little tripped out by it. Nathan was the cutest little guy… not to be confused with my husband Nathan, who is the cutest BIG guy .

What can you say about Kennedy and Avery? Their pictures tell it all really. They’re both striking beauties. Their poor dad will have some major trouble when they get old enough to date.

   Even though Avery wasn’t in love with the whole photo shoot idea… okay, well I mean she pretty much hated it… I managed to get this shot of her gorgeous blue eyes.

   And lucky for everyone, here’s another picture of the sweetest little boy Owen. We had his family over for some serious bonding time last weekend. Three days together and yet the kids weren’t the only ones throwing tantrums when they had to go back to Lansing (eh-hem, sorry about that guys). I got an artistic whim one day when I saw him all snuggled up in his blue blanket.