Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Dawson Family

Once upon a time, there was a little girl in my first grade classroom.  She was quiet, sweet and absolutely adorable.  Fast forward to 2012 and she is grown up, married and the mother of 3 adorable children!   My how time flies by quickly!!

My family photo session with the Dawson family was completely delightful.  It's hard for me to see my "former first grader" all grown up with a family of her own.  However, I am so proud of the amazing woman she has become... so mature and obviously a wonderful mother.  Both she and her husband were GREAT with the kids throughout the session!!  Wasn't it just the other day that I was in charge of HER?

We met at the park in Tiffin.  The kids were so funny.  They loved walking down a steep hill (and of course, wanted to go right back up).  They checked out everything and kept me on my toes because they were MOVING MOVING MOVING!   I always tell parents with small children that when I take family photos, you get REAL life.  That means, it probably won't look "picture perfect" (everyone looking, smiles perfect, bodies perfectly posed... etc.).  However, that isn't real life with 3 kids who are 5 and under.

After taking a variety of shots, we went "back up the hill" and headed for the playground.  I wanted to save this for last because I figure the kids are going to be harder to reign in once they see all those fun things to climb on.    ...and I was RIGHT.  As soon as we hit the playground, they were OFF and running.  We tried a few family photos but they were too busy to bother with those anymore!  The last photo below gives you an idea of what our playground time was like (but honestly, I LOVE that photo because it is so REAL and in the moment!!).  So, while the kids had a blast playing, I took some photos of mom and dad.  My favorite is the one where they are looking at each other and almost laughing!  It was wonderful to see my former student so happy with her husband!

I hope you enjoy looking at the photos of the Dawson family!










































Sunday, August 26, 2012

New camera, new lens... and Mollie!

Woo hoo!  I got a new camera and lens!!!!!!!!!  ... a Nikon D7000 with the 85mm lens.  So, of course, I called my "go to girl", Mollie!  Mollie is always willing to grab some outfits and drive around with me to various locations to pose for pictures (and sometimes I make her mom get in them too).  I'm so lucky to have a relaxed, beautiful and creative model.  While I have lots of ideas, so does Mollie.  So, we always have a lot of fun!   This time we even took her dog Bella along (isn't Bella ADORABLE?!! - we all think so).  

I am loving my new camera and lens... and of course, learning a lot too!  I hope you enjoy the gorgeous images of Mollie, her mom and Bella below!  Thanks for visiting!













































Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Dalton's Senior Pictures

I have known Dalton since he was a very little boy... he just happens to be my nephew!  He has grown up to be such an incredibly mature and somewhat serious young man.  I tease him at family functions because he is so calm and quiet.  I often have to coax a smile out of him.  So, when we scheduled his Senior picture session, I figured I'd have to "work hard" to get some REAL smiles and the serious pictures would be no problem.  Well, it turned out to be just the opposite!!  We couldn't get him to STOP smiling (or laughing), which was GREAT!!

I suggested we meet near the Huss St. bridge where it's easy to get down by the Sandusky River.  Normally, I can get some great shots by the edge of the river with the bridge in the background.  This day, however, we could basically walk out into the middle of the river!  The summer has been so dry that the river is incredibly low.  We had  a lot of fun walking around the dry river bed and getting some great photos.

Photographing Senior boys is so much fun!!  They basically wear whatever their moms suggest and pretty much go along with whatever I suggest during the session.  If Dalton was thinking "are we done yet?', I didn't know it.  Even when I suggested a few shots on the bridge (yes, traffic often comes by when I take pictures there), he was very agreeable.

It was a beautiful location and I think it was a great place to show Dalton's personality!

I have to thank Dalton's mom and sister for tagging along and helping with the session!  I am always grateful to have extra hands and eyes to assist during a session!!  We were joking that Dalton and his mom picked out his "outfits" the night before with very little effort.  His sister, on the other hand, would probably start planning her "wardrobe" a year in advance (complete with accessories, of course!).

It was truly a joy to photograph my nephew Dalton!  Thanks Dalton for doing everything I asked AND for acting like it was "fun".  I had a GREAT time... and just think, we get to do it again in the Fall!!