This is Life | Seattle Family Photographer

Anna and I had exchanged a handful of emails prior to their session, as I usually do with my new families. We had to reschedule a few times but finally our date came. It was a cloudy Seattle summer day, nothing out of the ordinary. When I read Anna's session form submission she explained that their oldest child came from adoption and that the is their fifth child as they have four biological children. It's not often that you hear of a family adopting a teenager so I was very excited to capture this very unique family.

When they hopped out of their van I couldn't believe the beauty before me. Each child dressed perfectly and mom and dad were also just as well clothed. But here is the thing... that isn't the beauty that you will see when you look at these photos. You won't see anything but instead feel. Feel their deep love and connection. They were so obviously deeply connected with each other. The respected each other, laughed, played, and snuggled. Really, the embodied what most families strive for, I think. There was an ease about them. Just simply comfortable with each other and so loving I can't even describe it. I felt honored to simply be in their presence. It was one of those sessions that left me feeling so fulfilled. Anna talked freely about the adoption of her daughter and it filled my heart to the brim with joy. It isn't my story to tell but I do encourage you to follow her journey on Instagram. Her name is cheerful_mama.  

Family photography should be a lot more than a perfect portrait. It should be an experience that results in photos that speak to who the family really is. I hope I was able to even just do the smallest bit of justice to this very special family. 

Bartsch | Seattle Family Photographer

This family. They mean so much to me. We met nearly 16 years ago when we all attended Seattle University. Brenda and I were in nursing school and Jonny was in Ultrasound school. It seems like yesterday we were cramming for an Anatomy & Physiology test. Little did we know what was in store for us. 

Brenda and Jonny just built their dream home. It was an absolute pleasure to capture them there. What makes this more special is that they built this house on the property that Brenda grew up on right on the Puget Sound. We took a few shots inside and then played on their gorgeous grounds. Family photography allows me to capture so much more than a portrait but rather to freeze moments in time to last a life time. I am so excited to share this session with you all. Enjoy! 

One Cloudy Day | Seattle Family Photographer

Hey friends! I am super excited to share this family with you all. The mother, Amy, and I have really had a chance to get to know each other this past year but I had yet to meet her family. I really looked forward to our session together as it had been on the books since this past November. Well, typical for spring in Seattle, we have had a good combo of sunny days and rainy days. We had to reschedule once because of the rain but went ahead with the session on the new date even though it was cloudy and a bit chilly. I find it interesting how the weather really sets the tone for a session. I know these boys are active and love to explore, like most boys, however the chilly weather made them turn into their comfort, their family and we ended up with a much more cuddly session. My guess is that had it been sunny they would have been much more rowdy.

Our session began a bit strange with Dad helping an old man who was lost in the parking lot. It made if very clear to me just how he is both kind and selfless. Then, we played, looked for crabs, threw some rocks, and they snuggled with the best of them. There were lots of hugs and kisses. Even though it was in fact chilly, I felt their warmth the whole time and I think these images speak to their bond and closeness.

I will admit…I take a lot of photos. Once, when I was still finding my way in photography, I would spend hours culling, trying to get down to that “magic” number that my peers were telling me that my galleries need not exceed. Well guess what? Who cares! I am a storyteller. Some single moments have 30 images and I am not ashamed of that and you shouldn’t be either. Be the artist you want to be. Take the photos you want to take. Your work will be richer and mean more to you and the families you photograph if you put your heart and soul into it. And if that means taking a million photos, then do it. So here is a sample of this family's huge gallery. I hope it warms your soul a little as it sure did mine.

Sunshine In Seattle | Seattle Family Photographer

Still catching up on blogging my Seattle fall family sessions. But, I just feel like I have so many stories to share so I plan to blog them all even if it takes me until this fall. :)

Most of my clients come from word of mouth but this mama found me on Pinterest. I find that so interesting. We met on a sunny fall evening, however it was a bit chilly. Like many of my family photography sessions, we wandered through the park finding beautiful light and lots of fun. Seattle has some of the most gorgeous locations in the world. And guess what? The sun shines here a lot! I never make families do anything but be with each other. I love finding the unique beauty in every family. These three children were some of the most respectful, well behaved children. I could just feel how close these siblings were. The whole family was quiet and peaceful. Their love for each other was so apparent. When the little one got cold, everyone joined in to snuggle her and make her feel comfortable. It was really cute. I loved how dad looked at his family with love and pride. I have a special place in my heart for mother and child images. I feel like even if the mother isn’t a professional photographer, she is typically the photographer of the family. I like to get as many images as I can just being her with her babies.

I always take a lot of photos and I never apologize for that. My images weave a story, a memory. A memory of our time together and this time in their life. I am not after that mantel piece, but rather a collection of images that speak to your family. So, here are a bunch of my favorites from their gallery. If you stop by here, please comment and let me know.

Fine Art School Portraits Seattle | Seattle Family Photographer

To say I wanted to blog one million photos would be an understatement. This preschool was full of beautiful children who each had so much personality. They were patient, friendly, and so much fun! I decided to include a color and black and white version of each of the kiddos who's parents signed my release. 

In the past four years I have photographed thousands of kiddos and each is unique. School photography can be so much more than a stiff and awkward photo. It can have life and meaning. Nothing pleases me more than hearing a parent say that I was able to capture the true personality of their kiddo. How do I do it? I simply let them be who they are. I don't ask them to put their hands in their pockets or sit a certain way. We just hang out for a few minutes and I snap away. 

While I am booked for schools with 500 or more kiddos, I am alway more than happy to take on more small schools. If you have questions, you can check out my SCHOOLS page. Most frequently asked questions about school photography in Seattle can be found there. I am willing to travel to the East Side and surrounding areas as well. 

I am excited to have my first every School Photography Workshop open for enrollment online. So much progress is boing made in the workshop. The students are knocking my socks off. 

Now enjoy these sweet faces. I had a huge smile on my face when I prepared this blog post. Seattle has some of the cutest kids in the world!