This place brings back great, but frigid memories of when we got our own family pictures taken at this wonderful location by my friend Kelli Bramble.  It was December, raining, and freezing, but I was determined to get family pictures from someone with as much skill as her before she decided to leave us all in Michigan, and head back to Utah;)  Can you tell I kind of miss my dear bud?

Anyway, it was a treat to revisit this place, and to have a session with a beautiful family such as the Grants.  Some of these shots are up there for favorites of mine!  Just look how adorable their kids are!  Thanks for a great session!

I had the privilege of photographing Mason when he was 9 months old, and man oh man!  what a difference three months makes on the lives of little munchkins!  I made sure to have the right lens on for him because I knew he’d keep me on my toes…and he certainly lived up to my expectation!  He is just the cutest little man out there!  Happy 1st Birthday, Mason!!

Mason with his sweet blanket

I don’t care how repetitive I might seem by always doing these “leggy” shots, but I think they are so unique in their own way.  For instance, in my session with Norah, she’s gently playing with the flowers…with Mason, he was seriously being caught red-handed putting dirt in his mouth.   Love it.

One of my sweet friend’s birthday dinner is just around the corner, and I always try to give different gifts with each friend.  There is a group of about 9 girls who have met in different ways over the past year or so which has turned into the greatest mom’s group/playdate for our kids.  My son is always anxious to see them each week.  It’s even cuter now that he is finally calling them my their names, and not just, “eh.”  I happened to meet two of these wonderful friends at the local library last August, at the most random time of day (I swear it was somewhere around dinner time, or shortly thereafter) and all of our toddlers kept getting into each other’s toys and books.  We all got talking, and I knew in an instant that these moms were gems.  Such selfless people with extremely big hearts.  And that’s how I was introduced to our playgroup:)

Long story, sorry!  Norah, in everyway possible, is going to be a CEO of something someday.  She is strong-willed, determined, and loves to lead.  I think it is hilarious that her favorite toys are the ones you pull on a string and they waddle behind.  Ironic?? 

So, although I had to tell my friend a sliver of my idea, she won’t see any of these pictures until her birthday celebration on Saturday night.  I’ve been eyeing this little grassy/weedy knoll (which ended up giving me huge rashes up and down both legs.  Itchy!  But soooo worth it!) and it turned out to be the most beautiful place!  See for yourself!

There’s a reason why they call New York the “Empire State.”  I use to love telling people I was from the Empire State growing up.  It sounded so much cooler than the other state slogans out there:)  These are two shots I took on our walk over the Brooklyn Bridge.  The early morning fog was mesmerizing.  I love how in the first frame you feel like you have to tilt your head in both directions in order for it to feel “straight.”  All of the converging lines going in different directions are fantastic!  I think I might just find a home on my wall for a big blowup of this first one.

I get a little misty-eyed just looking at these.  Not for any particular reason other than this is my sweet little niece, Isabel, who I use to hold in my arms as an infant and sing her songs.   My,  How she has grown into this beautiful GIRL who in my mind, is growing up way too fast.  But with her growing, everything about her seems to just magnify; her kindness, her desire to always have fun, compassion, honesty, and selflessness.  Such is the characteristic of the oldest child:)

I’ve had the privilege of photographing so many little munchkins in their white attire, whether be for a First Communion or in the Mormon church, Baptism, which normally occurs at the age of 8.   There’s nothing more beautiful than seeing how innocent and beautiful they are in their white attire!

What can I say?  I’m sure I posted way too many pictures, but I’m just in love with my Isabel!