Words can't describe the love I have for this family.
I met Alexis more than seven years ago at just the right time. We had just moved to a new city. A new state. A new world. I was feeling completely lost and afraid when she showed up at my door. It wasn't by chance that she came into my home and my life at that time. She didn't waste time with the usual get-to-know-you small talk. She went straight to the punch. "How are you really doing?" she asked sincerely. I was inclined to just say fine. But I could tell that wasn't going to cut it with her. I talked. She listened. And a friendship began…one of those friendships that changes you forever.
And boy, have we have changed since then.
I've had three children. She's had three children.
They've moved twice. We've moved twice.
With the way I communicate (i.e., lousy), you might think our friendship wouldn't weather the distance. But she's good that way. She still calls at just the right time to say, "How are you really doing?" I love her for that.

We've talked about family photos for years, but the timing has never seemed to work out. Last week, the stars aligned and all was magical. It worked something like this:

In California on a Saturday
1:00 pm – We are sitting in her kitchen talking while she is cooking up a delicious pot of potato soup. Everyone is getting excited because we are going to the pumpkin patch in a little bit.
1:15 pm – I ask if she wants to attempt family photos before we head back to Arizona. It seems way too complicated but I can see her wheels turning.
1:30 pm – She asks Adam (husband) if he thinks they could make it work. I could see his wheels turning too but in the other direction. 🙂
1:45 pm – A decision has been made. Skip the pumpkin patch. We are going to make it happen! (But we only have 2 hours to do it)
2:00 pm – Alexis and I are on a mission to see what clothes we can pull together.
2:30 pm – Still throwing stuff together. Outfitting 8 people is tricky!
2:45 pm – Now where do we take the pictures? We are driving back to their house when we both glance over at a spot of evergreen trees and fields right by their home. We both let out an audible gasp! That's it!
3:00 pm – Kids dressed. Hair combed. Barely. Faces still a little sticky but that's ok.
3:10 pm – Her family piles out of their van while my family waits behind in ours. No need to have an extra 4 hoodlums running around.
3:10-4:00 pm – Pure heaven. This is why I love doing this. I can think of few things better than being with one of my favorite families in the whole world, documenting their family relationships and love for each other. I get all emotional just thinking about it. I love them. And it doesn't hurt that Jeff was behind me making them laugh and smile like he always does. I will just let you guess what kind of noises he was making. 🙂

Mission accomplished. And here are the treasures! By the way, I think it was more than serendipitous that Kate (cutie with the heart sweater on) ended up in the middle. That heart ties it all together perfectly.

here is a bit more of this lovely little family in which:

a) they are as wonderfully kind and genuine as they are beautiful

b) they tolerated my obnoxious animal sounds

c) and still laughed and thought i was funny. or crazy. one of the two!

i spent a little time with these girls (and their dad too) this past weekend. these shots are topping my list of favorites. positively gorgeous!

What a treat to start off the photo season with this bunch. Yummy fields of trees and sunflowers…and ants. But what I really loved was these two little ones in the last few shots. Twins. Man, they are cute! Complete with squeeze hugs & kisses that bordered on a choke hold, giggles, and whispered secrets. Love this family!

Christmas? Fall? Summer? Who knows when it's still a delightful 108 outside? 🙂

But if you are starting to have visions of sugar plums dancing in your head or even if you are not, it might be time to start planning for family photos.

This year I'm doing something different–mini sessions. I have a limited number of dates this year and I do expect to fill up quickly. Check out the details below and if you would like to get all your sugar plums in a row, give me a jingle!

gearing up for the season of family photos! looking forward to it.

stay tuned for more info.

each one of these little sweeties has some serious cuteness. i met them all on my visit to minnesota. something about the innocence and happiness of children that draws me in from behind the camera. love it. oh and i just might want that yellow chair. awesome isn't it?!

let me introduce you to a beautiful friend. i like this girl. a lot. she's a miracle worker.
there was a time when i would travel all the way from utah to arizona for one of her miracles.
and then there was another time when she worked a miracle in az so i could take it with me to california.
in short…she has a way of doing amazing things…with my hair.
whenever i talk about my hair, i feel kind of silly. but really it is a source of angst in my life. dumb. i know. so dumb. and trivial. but it still bugs me and probably always will.
only when she works a little magic on it, i am not bugged for a day or two. because she is good, my friends.
very good.
so when she asked me to photograph her and her niece together, i knew it was going to be good too.
two beautiful girls…and some beautiful hair. 🙂

you've probably noticed a little shake up happening around here.

i think i'm ready to feel official.

whatever that means.

truth is i just want a pretty place to house a few of my favorite photos.

and here it is. 🙂

this is definitely what i would call knocking it out of the park when it comes to an extended family portrait. the colors they chose? fabulously put together! just fabulous. (i think i would like to clone my family into their outfits.)

doesn't hurt that they are beautiful people either. 🙂