I started working on this set weeks in advance, creating a replica of the baby stroller/pod from the show with papier mache and my passable painting skills. I also created some fake "sand" out of pillow stuffing and paint in order to blend the planet of Tatooine background with our paper floor drop. Finally, I commissioned a friend who does some really cool 3D printing (details below) to create a replica of the Mandalorian's spaceship, the Razor Crest. It stayed in flight for most of the session but still remained a cute prop after it crash landed just before the bathtub photos... Spoiler alert: it's definitely in way better shape than the "real" Razor Crest.

Jonathan had so much fun as he smashed his cake, played with the stroller pod, and smeared icing over Mando's helmet. Luckily he quickly learned that the cake tasted better than the fake sand and dug in, eventually dumping his cake and getting his feet in the action before bath time. 

While we used the Mandalorian theme for the cake smash and bath tub clean up photos, we were sure to get some before and after photos of Jonathan including some classic shots of him in a cute blue and tan outfit and some fun shots with a Super Nintendo theme. And how perfectly it worked out that he had wild hair after his nice warm bubble bath for photos in his "Wild One" outfit! This little guy was so happy and agreeable for the entire session it was difficult to chose the final images but Mom and Dad will be documenting Jonathan's cake smash with a beautiful album they are sure to show his first girlfriend when they reach that milestone! Such a pleasure to work with, I can't wait to see this family again! 

Special thanks to Wayne Adams for his 3D Razor Crest print. Wayne is located in Aurora, CO and does commission work! 

As you can see from the images I've included, kids photos topped the list of favorites this year. I love the challenge of photographing children. And those that are parents can attest to the fact that there are definitely ages when children are way more challenging to photograph than others. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I am able to capture great shots during a child's early life. Whether it is during a family photo session, a cake smash, or annual portraits, when I get those shots that parents can't believe I was able to capture, I'm thrilled. 

I think everyone knows I love cake smash sessions and this Western-themed session was so much fun to plan and shoot. This little guy had the best smiles. And how can you not laugh at his shenanigans?
 

This little guys was just shy of two years old when I photographed him during a family session and he was full of energy and personality. Picking up rocks and exploring nature, he had no time to stop for photos. Needless to say, he gave me a run for my money! But I pulled out all the stops (coming home with pants that were wet up to my knees and hay in my hair) and got some great images of him and his family. And this shot! How can you not just melt when you see this face?

While all the other images that made the list were kids, I just had to include this image. Back in January, before the world got crazy, I took engagement photos for some friends while we were vacationing together near Zion National Park. I loved the images from this session so much, it was difficult to pick just one image for this list. We had lots of shots that focused closely on this gorgeous couple but I just love the epic scenery and the carefree interaction we captured in this one. It's an image that truly deserves to be showcased as artwork in their home... if they ever give up their nomadic RV lifestyle of course!
 

One of my creative sessions captured this beauty in a replica of Norman Rockwell's "Girl at a Mirror". While the actual session was short, the set up for this was quite detailed as I tried to replicate everything as closely as possible while still giving it a personal touch. Interested in comparing it to the original? Take a look at the blog post! I think it turned out perfectly!

Newborn sessions were definitely a challenge this year and to be quite honest with you, I did very few. These sessions are several hours and they are done inside my studio that is pretty warm to keep babies comfy and sleepy. So as much as I love photographing newborns, I was quite hesitant this year. Not only was I cautious about Covid, but I knew these sessions would take a toll on me. Roasting was an understatement as I got a workout with a mask on and the heater going in the middle of summer. No need for hot yoga! In addition, because of Covid we waited until it seemed a little safer for this "newborn" who was three months old when I captured his photos. With the ideal age to photograph a newborn being 7-14 days, you know I had my work cut out for me. But the photos turned out beautifully and I'm so proud of them. 

Separation anxiety is quite common for one year old kiddos and when we did some classic portraits as part of this little one's cake smash session with her twin brother she did not want to leave Mom. So I went to my go-to set up of having Mom lay on the floor and had her sit on Mom's stomach. If I hadn't told you, you'd never know, right? And while she didn't crack a smile, I love this serious look. It reminds me of those old-time photos my grandmother had hanging in little oval frames... when nobody smiled for photos. An instant classic! 

I photographed this paint splatter themed cake smash session for a family who had previously had newborn images taken with me and it was so much fun to work with them again this year. This little guy was just adorable and this expression just cracks me up! 

I love it when a child shows their personality... and this little one was fiery! She seesawed back and forth between silly and excited to strong and defiant. Exactly how a two year old should be! We captured a lot of great photos during her session but I'm pretty sure this is a favorite for me... and for Mom! 

I love this shot so much! I normally capture Mom and baby in this pose and while I did that for this session I just had to include it as one of the poses with big brother. Mom was unable to get newborn photos with him when he was little so it was especially important to capture these two together. It's simple, it's stunning, and I love it. 

Of course my favorite photo of the year is going to be of my daughter... I'm biased and I should be! I love seeing a vision come to fruition and while it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, I truly love this composite image of her that is now on a canvas in her room. She is such a fan of wolves and it was exactly what she needed to complete her room makeover this year! I have a list of photo ideas for her and this was one of them. I definitely need to check a few of these off the list in 2021! 

 

Which image is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know. Have a Happy New Year! See you in 2021!
 

The day of the session it snowed lightly all day and stopped not long before our session, giving it the perfect touch for holiday photos! Their beautiful golden retriever, Rocket, made an appearance for a few photos and we made things a little more festive with some steamy mugs of hot chocolate and antlers for Rocket. I love how these turned out and can't wait to do some more snowy photo sessions! 

Interested in family photos? Contact me today for your personalized session!  

I grabbed a few shots before needing to get dinner on the table and although I definitely wanted to get a bit of her outfit in an image for the photo with Santa, my favorite shot is the closeup. I sometimes forget how much I love these shots that I have captured in the past for high-school seniors and I'm glad I didn't this time. I know I'm biased but I love this little face! 

This truck was in the perfect setting on their property for holiday portraits, set against pine trees in the snow that lingered on the ground thanks to the shady location. Chatting with Chris before the session, I learned that this wasn't just any truck on their property, it is the truck he inherited from his grandfather so it has very special meaning to the family! 

We captured images of the entire family as well as some shots of the kids and some couples photos while the kids played amongst the trees. Despite the very cold temperatures this entire family was so easy to work with and the kiddos not only gave me some great smiles but also some funny faces to show off their personality, which I love. I'm so happy I was able to capture these special photos for the family and can't wait to work with them again! 

Interested in family photos? Contact me today to discuss your custom portrait session! 

Use your digital download image for holiday cards, social media posts, or prints. 

Want your image turned into a beautiful heirloom quality canvas, print, or ornament to display in your home each Christmas?  I'm also happy to provide this service (additional fees apply) for my clients. 

Interested in portraits for you little one? Contact me today to discuss a customized session! 

Interested in family photos? Contact me today to discuss a personalized session! 

I'll definitely be adding one of these to the collection of mounted prints I display on an easel in our home... now to decide which one! Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment at the end of this blog post and help me decide! 

Interested in a unique, custom photo session for your little one(s)? Contact me today for details! 

I got the idea for the farm theme after I picked up a miniature cowboy hat for a cake smash session. I thought... how cute would these little guys be wearing a miniature hat? Our neighbor friends happened to have this amazing little John Deere tractor toy that they kindly let me borrow and I picked up a miniature hay bale from Lowes before heading out to my favorite photo spot with my daughter to act as an assistant. 

Of course as a brand ambassador for Great Divide Brewing Co, I had to grab a couple shots with an appropriate beer and my favorite shot is Copper chewing on some hay next to a can of Colette, a farmhouse ale, that was perfect for this session. 

Contact me today to discuss professional headshots for all your business needs!

Now when you are with an animal as fierce as a wolf, you have to be fierce yourself, so the perfect outfit was necessary. I immediately envisioned a post-apocalyptic warrior type outfit and bought all the components necessary for it, complete with a sword. With her hair wild and messy, we headed out to one of my favorite wooded photography spots. We shot at a couple different spots but when we were about to head home I decided I wanted a few photos by a huge tree that is half dead. Almost at the car, my daughter begrudgingly trudged over for a few more shots and I'm glad she did. I think it was the perfect spot for the photo with the wolf and while I intended to just create one photo image, I ended up with some cool shots of her alone that I thought were keepers. While the wolf shot will be on a unique hanging canvas in her room, all of these images will go into her annual photo album. 

Interested in a themed photo session? I love planning and creating unique sessions.

Contact me today to see what we can create together! 

I'm so pleased that despite a few "hurdles" we needed to overcome for this session, we captured some beautiful images. You see, I normally photograph newborns when they are about a week old because they very sleepy and super "squishy" for posing, but as I mentioned Kian was already 3 months old when I photographed him. In addition, health and safety was a huge consideration so the session length was limited. And with a warm room temperature to keep Kian as cozy as possible, I had to take a couple quick breaks outside to cool down since I wore a mask (as did everyone when they weren't being photographed) for the session. While I did concentrate mostly on wrapped shots, you wouldn't be able to tell from the photos that this session was different from other newborn sessions. And the nice thing about a session this "late" was the great smiles and awake shots I photographed as well as the fact that Mom had a little bit longer to bounce back to her pre-pregnancy figure. As you can see she has been working hard and looked fantastic when she arrived at the studio. Because of that I did a little variation on image I normally take with Moms, capturing more of a full body shot. I am so pleased with all the images. Kian and his parents were a dream to work with and I'm happy they will have these newborn images and a beautiful album to treasure for a lifetime! 

Interested in a newborn session for your little one? It's not too late! Contact me today to discuss a custom session. 

When Ansel's Mom requested a painting theme for this session, ideas immediately started popping into my head. I envisioned one element being a canvas that Ansel actually painted himself, so I dropped off a canvas and some paint for Ansel and got to work creating some custom props, including a backdrop. On the day of the session, Ansel showed up with his masterpiece (he may be the next Picasso!) and the perfect cake. 

Ansel was a dream for his newborn photos, but he seemed a little more skeptical about this session. That's not uncommon at this age because kiddos can be a little anxious about being away from Mom... even if she is in sight! But after some coaxing, playing, and being silly in the studio, he warmed up to sitting on his own and we ended up with some great photos. As you will see, the cake portion of the session was definitely a hit but Mom, Dad, and I all love the bathtub photos too! No doubt they will reappear sometime in his teenage years so Mom and Dad can have a little fun with them!

Interested in a custom cake smash session for your little one? Contact me today to discuss what we can create together!

I'll admit I didn't know what to expect from them because during our consultation these two were a bit quiet and reserved... but it didn't take long for them to come out of their shell when we started capturing their images. In fact, Chase was quite the character as he goofed around and brought out lots of genuine smiles and maybe a couple of eye rolls from Bethany... all in good fun of course! She was such a good sport and even posed for a shot while nibbling a bit of hay with him. They seemed to truly have a good time together as you can see from the images, and I enjoyed hanging out with them and capturing these fun moments. These are the types of clients that make my job so much fun! 

Interested in capturing some memories with your significant other?

Contact me today to discuss the perfect session! 

For Wyatt's session Mom wanted a rustic mountain theme, which was very different from big brother Liam's construction themed cake smash session I photographed back in 2018. I tend to gravitate towards rustic elements so I was excited to get to work building a custom set that I think turned out perfectly for this family. I quickly got into the garage with my saw and cut some plywood, then painted blue and gray caps of snow as well as a matching number one. I pulled out my Christmas bins for some greenery, miniature evergreen trees, and a rustic garland, grabbed a lantern from our living room and a crate from my stash of props in the studio and put it all together with a wooden cake plate. When Mom showed up with a simple, beautiful cake and this little cutie, everything was complete!

As always I captured some simple timeless "before photos" in addition to photographing the main event and finished up with some playtime in the bath tub. 

Contact me today to discuss a custom cake smash session to celebrate your little one's first birthday! 

While the one to one ratio of the original photo was likely appropriate for the Saturday Evening Post publication, I recreated the image in an 8x10 (below) ratio that is more appropriate for framing today, while still allowing for both image sizes to contain all the elements of the original. 

The Back Story:

The additional time at home that many had due to COVID19 Stay at Home orders prompted a string of recreations of famous paintings. Some of these image recreations were very true to the original while some used fun elements for the situation, including toilet paper and disinfectant. You can see some of the recreations on this Twisted Sifter post. Even school art teachers jumped on this trend which I found out about when my daughter's art teacher sent out an assignment to recreate a Norman Rockwell image. I saw some classmates images that were super cute and funny.... think The Music Man, and was immediately excited to do this as a photographer with time on my hands! I created the image for my daughter (below) in my home studio and posted it on social media which led to being contacted to recreate it for my client after Stay at Home orders were lifted. 

While the original image of my daughter was a pretty good recreation of the painting, it was a quick capture and definitely less exact than the recreation above. For example, she sat on a low table instead of a smaller wooden bench. The image dimensions and cropping were not the same. And since my daughter doesn't like dolls, a bear had to serve a a stand in. I also think she has more of a miserable face than a face of contemplation and sadness as planned... but that's typical for my daughter, asking "are we done yet" in between shots for this project. Kids are way less cooperative for their own parents it seems, but I'm still thrilled I captured this image of her.

Contact me today to discuss a personalized first birthday session for your little one! 

I ordered a bunny from Amazon, pulled a dress from her closet, and put up a pink backdrop I had in the studio. After getting the bunny (who sat in our garage quarantine for a few days), I set up for a quick photo session with her. During the session she even ended up sitting on the bunny's lap at one point but made up for squishing him with lots of hugs and snuggles. It was a fun time for her and she got to keep the cuddly bunny after the session. I not only got some photos of her with the "Easter Bunny" but some spring photos to show how much she is growing up! 

If you are interested in capturing photos of your little ones when the dust settles from the Covid19 pandemic, contact me today! 

Recently I was contacted by the nicest couple who asked me to photograph their upcoming newborn shower including the Godh Bharai ceremony. This is the Indian celebration conducted during the 7^th month of pregnancy to welcome the unborn baby into the family. In Hindi, the words God Bharai literally mean to fill the lap with abundance and blessings.  In addition to this ceremony, additional fun activities that are typically a part of Western showers, included a cake cutting and games that had everyone laughing hysterically.

I was happy to capture images of the shower, as well as lots of photos with family and friends and a few quick outdoor shots of the proud Mom and Dad to be. Congratulations to these expectant parents on the pending arrival of baby boy!

Contact me today to discuss your photography needs!

Congratulations to Mom, Dad, and big brother on the new addition to your family!

Interested in newborn photos that suit your families needs?
Contact me today to discuss your customized session! 

Interested in newborn photos? Contact me today to discuss your customized session! 
 

During the session it took a few minutes for little Michael to warm up but soon he was full of giggles and splashes! He made the cutest little faces and I'm so glad I was able to capture his mischievous little looks that really show his personality. I'm excited to be delivering a beautiful album of favorite images and a canvas for Dad's office soon! 

Interested in a cake smash and splash session to celebrate your little one's first birthday? Contact me today to discuss your custom session! 

Contact me today to discuss a personalized smash and splash session for your little one! 

Interested in a custom cake smash session for your little one? Contact me today for more information! 

Please note: While I really wanted to capture these images, my first consideration was safety and avoiding a choking hazard. Mom ensured me that while her daughter loves playing with her food, she isn't exactly a fan of eating it, which made her perfect for this. Despite Mom's reassurance, I was sure to have both Mom and an assistant standing close by to monitor the session. If you are photographing children of this age, please remember to put safety first. 

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For the Labor Day weekend we headed out to Collegiate Peaks campground outside Buena Vista. During our stay, my daughter insisted we go explore the little creek by our campsite. Of course I brought a beer and my camera along and snapped a couple shots. But I have to give credit to my daughter for this one. This location was her idea and it was perfect. Photographer in the making? Maybe so! 
October 2019 - 4
Part of the camping trip I spent testing out my new hammock while some of it was spent exploring some Buena Vista, Leadville, and Fairplay. While in the South Park area of Fairplay I noticed these hops growing along a wall and had to stop for a photo opportunity. 
November 201-9 - 1 November 2019 - 2
A bit later in September I set off on an epic adventure... and the last of my camping excursions for the year. I traveled with a group of friends to spend three days and two nights tackling the infamous Rubicon Trail with my Jeep! This 22 mile trail is where the Jeep Rubicon gets it's name and part of the trail is used as a testing ground by Jeep and many aftermarket Jeep product companies. And while there are lots of trails in California, this one is really a must do for a serious off-road adventurer. Not only are there tough obstacles, but the scenery is beautiful! During the 16 hour drive from Colorado, I stopped at both the Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats for some photo opportunities (and a bit of racing on the salt flats)! 

October 2019 - 3
Some epic views and gorgeous lily pad ponds were great spots for beer photos while on the Rubicon Trail. 

November 2019 - 3b October 2019 - 5 November 2019 - 3a

And of course there were some obligatory photos with the Jeeps in our group. 
At the end of the trail we celebrated with lunch and amazing views!

When you finish the trail and run into some rangers what do you do? Ask them if you can take beer photos with their vehicle of course!

September 2019 - 4 October 2019 - 4 (Empty Beer? Scary!)

When I returned home from California fall was definitely upon us! The sunflowers my daughter and I had grown from seed in our raised planter this year were blooming and ready to be used for some beautiful bouquets. I used this bouquet for a fall photo session with her, and afterward a can of Colette provided the perfect "vase". And of course I had to get creative with some Halloween images. Pulling the wings off my daughter's favorite bat did not go over well, but they got sewn back on and she finally forgave me :) And I tested my skills of pumpkin carving... I've learned my limits because that definitely does not look like the cut out of a beer mug like it was supposed to! 
 

October 201 9 - 1 November 2019 - 5

Color inspired me for the photo of the Mexican Yeti Stout (which is definitely one of my favorites), during a fall Jeeping trip over Red Cone pass. And of course the Colette gave me the opportunity to show off my fall dining room decor! 

October 2019 - 2B October 2019 -1

Fun events like the Great American Beer Festival and a beertography Meetup were opportunities for a few images. 

October 2019 - 2A November 2019 - 1

And when I had the opportunity to pick up some whiskey barrels that were used to age Great Divide's famous Yeti stout, not only did I get a couple photos, I also made lots of fun Christmas gifts and a couple items for our own home (see one of those below) after breaking them down and getting creative. 

December 2019 - 2 December 2019 - 3 December 2019 - 6

An early December trip to Philly, Vermont, and New Hampshire resulted in a few photos with iconic locations... Pat's King of Steaks (and a go to for me whenever I'm in the area), the Dartmouth College campus (Animal House!), and one of the many covered bridges in New England. 

December 2019 - 1 November 2019 - 2 November 2019 - 4

Finally, some cold weather and holiday decor were the inspiration for my final images of the year! 

Thanks to Great Divide for my beer supply as well as lots of fun events! And of course a special thanks to all my models, friends and family who humor me while I take time out of our adventures to snap these images. 

These two are always up for anything and their nomadic lifestyle is a true adventure. Although they call the Denver area their home, they have been traveling the country in their motorhome for more than two years. Living in such a small space for that long is truly a testament to their relationship... I'm not sure many couples could do it. So when I heard that Josh had proposed to Ally I honestly thought, i'ts about time :) 

Their engagement story was no less of an adventure as Josh popped the question in the perfection location. While skipping rocks on the shores of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Josh happened to find the perfect "rock". He had someone there to take photos and a family celebration waiting in the wings unbeknownst to Ally. 

For their engagement photos, it was only fitting to photograph them at another epic location. So while they were vacationing with my family and some other friends in Utah, we set out to Zion National Park for an afternoon of hiking and photos. We captured images at the top of the Canyon Overlook Trail and some scenery along the Virgin River for some spectacular backdrops as well as some more intimate photos of the couple. 

I couldn't be happier for this fun-loving couple and wish them a lifetime of happiness and adventure!

NUMBER TEN: 
There's just something about a new big brother and his excitement that you can't help but love. I've worked with this family for many years and I love watching their family grow. This past year I photographed maternity and newborn sessions for them and it was awesome to hear that big brother was saying my name as they pulled up to the studio!

NUMBER NINE
I really enjoy working with seniors and while it's always difficult to narrow down my favorite image, I have a new love for these closely framed shots that really showcase their beauty and personality. See more images from this session, including some perfect for her yearbook, here. 

NUMBER EIGHT
This little cutie visited me in the studio for newborn images last year and returned for his cake smash and splash birthday session in June. Mom and Dad chose a Rockies theme and I loved coming up with a custom session to capture this milestone and create another beautiful album for their collection!

NUMBER SEVEN
I had such a fun time photographing my beautiful friend and fellow photographer this past November. We got together to take each others headshots at Red Rocks Park which provides great backgrounds no matter what time of year. This wild brush that turns yellow in the fall provided a stunning setting for a few shots and this image was among my favorites for this session. I'm excited she will be featuring many of the images for her branding and social media content! 

NUMBER SIX
It's not often that I have the opportunity to photograph twins and this session was especially fun because it was the twins of a good friend. While we had lots of great shots from this session, this aviator themed image is definitely my favorite. Admittedly, it was a bit of work, but it was well worth it to capture this photo for Mom, who is a pilot. We also captured an aviator themed image at their sitter session and while this one is featured on canvas in their home, both will be in the album documenting their first year! 

Newborn Twins Posed in Aviator Theme

NUMBER FIVE
Here is the beautiful Mom of those cute kids in photograph ten. This dress was just gorgeous on her and it was difficult to decide between this image and one with her smiling older son that we captured during the session.  

NUMBER FOUR 
Of course my daughter has to make it into my Top 10 each year! She's cute and I'm biased! This year we did lots of sessions together including a spring session in the studio, a summer Coca Cola themed session, a fall sunflower session, and Christmas images in the studio. We had a blast together during this session, possibly because she got to drink her first Coca Cola and she was full of energy! Hmmm.... I wonder why. I've showcased this image in our home as one of the mounted prints I rotate by season. 

NUMBER THREE
This wonderful family came to me for portraits because they had never had professional photos taken and said it was time! I'm so glad they did I because we had a fantastic session and they now have some beautiful canvases hanging in their home. I loved everything about this image... the background, the foreground, the well coordinated outfits, the adorable kids, the genuine smiles. What's not to love?

NUMBER TWO
Six week olds are a bit more challenging to photograph than newborns at the one or two week mark, but this gorgeous little one made it well worth it. So many beautiful images from her session but this one is just sooo sweet and is definitely being featured prominently in this family's home in both an album and one of the canvases in the nursery!  

NUMBER ONE
Cute, cute, cute is all I can say about this little guy with a little felted teddy, miniature bed and those cute little pants. We got several shots in this set up but this one with his dangling leg is definitely my favorite and my number one photo of this year! It's one of the many images that was included in this family's beautiful newborn album. 

Contact me to book your 2020 newborn, maternity, child, or family session! 

I met Kelly when I hired her to photograph my daughter's birthday party, something I try to do every year so I can enjoy the festivities and still get great photos for an album. I liked her right away and we stayed in touch, meeting up for drinks and dinner and talking for hours. Our headshot session was no different as afterwards we stopped by a neighborhood watering hole for some great food and conversation.

I'll admit, I'm always a bit nervous when I photograph other photographers and their families but Kelly is easy going (just one of the reasons she is such an awesome wedding photographer) and we were soon just hanging out again, chatting and experimenting with our images.

We spent most of our time down by a little bridge that had some beautiful brush... perfect for bringing out the yellow in Kelly's outfit. We chatted and played around with poses a bit longer than planned. Despite this, we still had time for a short walk to a different spot where the red rocks were still visible despite the sinking sun. The rusty colored background was another perfect setting for photos and I'm so glad we didn't skip this stop.

It was fun to do a bit of experimenting with no pressure and we are definitely going to make it a habit!
Thanks Kelly for such a fun "session"! Can't wait for the next one!

Happy Holidays to Everyone! May Your Images be Merry and Bright and Your Christmases Be White! 

And I just have to include this beautiful shot of Mom almost a year ago before these littles arrived. 

Charlotte was a bit particular about the positions she wanted to be in, which is pretty typical of a newborn at six weeks, and while we kept her wrapped and cozy for most of her images featured in pink for Mom's requested girly images, we still had the opportunity to capture some images with a travel theme and a scale photo, at Dad's request, as well as a Christmas image since it is so close to the holidays!

I just love how little Charlotte's images turned out and I can't wait to deliver a beautiful album, canvases, prints and gift items to this wonderful family. It was such a pleasure working with them and I'm looking forward to seeing Charlotte and the rest of the family in the studio for her first birthday cake smash and splash session next year!

Album, Prints, and Canvas Images

Wishing her the best for an amazing senior year and everything that follows!

Interested in senior photos? Contact me today to discuss your personalized session and available products! 

Interested in senior photos? Contact me today to discuss your personalized session and available products! 
 

I'm sure many of you have seen photos taken in sunflower fields and I myself have always wanted to do a session like this but found it is way more difficult than you might think. Not only do these amazing flowers have a short bloom time, the greatest problem is finding a field that allows the public (and photographers) to wander through these rows of sunlight on a stem. Most of these fields are private property and trespassing is strictly enforced (even though you may not see no trespassing signs). It's understandable because those gorgeous sunflowers are very fragile and damaging them is financially detrimental to these hard working farmers. With that in mind, this year my daughter and I decided to grow our own little sunflower field. While not a large field of flowers, we planted enough seeds in our raised garden early this year to yield some beautiful bouquets. 

With the short bloom time and our crazy schedules I had very little time for a sunflower session with her. So late one afternoon I borrowed a dress from my studio that I use for princess sessions, cut some flowers for a bouquet and headed out to a small park about a mile from our house. With storm clouds rolling in (as well as a Girl Scout meeting to get to), we had a short opportunity to grab some photos. While my daughter is very used to being behind the camera, she is not always the most cooperative model despite the finished images everyone sees... and this session was a reminder. The pending storm made for hurried conditions. The wind forced us to do a quick hairstyle change. The sunlight was too bright for her despite the cloudy conditions. There were bugs, "pokey" grasses, a small snake (harmless and thankfully unnoticed by her), and of course "prickly" sunflower stems she was determined not to touch. Needless to say, things did not start well but I was determined and 8 minutes ended up being all I needed to grab a few shots I think are keepers. If you think your little one(s) are difficult to photograph, you are not alone. Just know it is worth the effort (and sometimes pain) to have photos of them that will last a lifetime.   

Interest in capturing images of your little one? Contact me today to discuss a personalized session! 

This is the fourth year I have photographed these awesome kids and it is so great to catch up with them and watch them grow up! Every year I make sure to change things up a big with the location and props to ensure they have unique photos. This year I used a simple set up but wanted the personalization of them writing their own names on a chalkboard I picked up. A few apples and a cool stool I had in the studio finished out the prop selection and we headed to 17 Mile House Farm Park for a quick session just after school started. While we took themed back to school photos we also captured some classic portraits in the fields. 

Best wishes to these kiddos for a fun and productive school year! 

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Occasionally you come across an opportunity that was made for you and that's what happened to me early this summer. I was talking with a friend and learned she is an Ambassador for Great Divide Brewing. After chatting about it for a while I knew it was something I wanted to do. Why? It incorporated three things that I love... adventure, photography, and great beer!

It's goes without saying that I'm passionate about photography. I love creating images that are unique and memorable for my clients and I get so much satisfaction knowing their photos are hanging in their home where they can enjoy them everyday. I avidly take photos of my own daughter and I love capturing landscape and nature photos, some of which are featured in galleries. But this new venture allowed me the opportunity to do some creative and fun work on my own time.

Those who know me know that I am frequently off on an adventure, whether it's exploring a new location or taking part in some adrenaline filled experience... I rock climb, hike, camp and have been know to fish (although I don't catch too much). I like getting off the beaten path and I drive a modified Jeep that allows me to travel to locations most can't... where I find old mines, beautiful lakes and pristine waterfalls. I like watersports... tubing, white water rafting, and waterskiing.  And I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie who has been skydiving, bungee jumping, spelunking, and rappeling. 

As for beer I'll admit that before I moved to Colorado I was more of a wine fan. We lived in Virginia's Loudoun County wine country where our home was within 5 miles of 5 wineries. But after moving to the land of amazing craft beer, things can change quickly. I started dabbling in wheat beers, found I love porters, and even like a nice low key sour or a citrus-y IPA. 

Now Great Divide Ambassadors have a very simple task... take great photos of their beer incorporated with journeys and adventures. So obviously this is is a perfect fit for me. Below are some of the images I captured for Great Divide on my summer adventures (June, July, and August). Stay tuned to see what photo opportunities the colder months afford. 

June 2019 - 1 June 2019 - 2

When I heard Medano Creek at Great Sand Dunes National Monument was running at epic levels I had to take my husband and our daughter down for some beach time, Colorado style. We took a picnic and some beach chairs, a tube for her to cruise down the river, and of course my camera. What's more refreshing than some snow melt and a couple cold brews on a hot day? 

June 2019 - 3

The view of the Collegiate Peaks from Buena Vista is stunning and the perfect spot to relax with a brew... and take a photo of course.

July 2019 - 8 July 2019 - 7

While many times I have a vision for the images I'm planning on taking, occasionally an opportunity just presents itself. While vacationing in Buena Vista I spotted these tractors and knew I had to photograph Great Divide's Colette (a saison that pays homage to Belgian farm workers) with it's depiction of a female farmhand holding a pitchfork on the can.  And while grabbing some pizza with family at High Mountain Pies in Leadville, I noticed Colette was on the menu, so I grabbed one for this shot with their signature pizza... the Crocodile. 

June 2019 - 4

Beer and camping go hand in hand and, so....

July 2019 - 4

I've been know to get my Jeep up on three wheels more frequently than I would like... which is why I named it "Tipsy". Of course now the name can definitely hold a double meaning, although never while driving... I enjoyed this beer when we got home from our Jeep outing.

I had an the idea for this shot from the very beginning and just had to create the opportunity to get up on three wheels while I had the time for a photograph. Normally when I'm on three wheels it's WAY more precarious and I want to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. LOL.

And can I just say how much I love the can on the Heyday... a girl in a Jeep with her hair blowing in the wind. Thank you Great Divide! I feel like it was made for me... although it should have been a four door ;)

July 2019 - 2 July 2019 - 6 July 2019 - 5
Great Divide's Lager came out just before the 4th of July and this can was perfect for some shots with red, white, and blue! 

June 2019 - 6

While rafting the Arkansas this year the water was at epic levels. Unfortunately this made it difficult to beach at our take-out, despite our guide's best efforts. It was a valiant try that led to her swimming before we could land at a take-out a bit further down river. As some of you may know when a guide swims they buy the beer for all the other guides that night, so I thought it was only fitting to help her out with the beer supply.

June 2019 - 7

It takes a strong beer to hold up a falling mine so I think Great Divide's 25th Anniversary Big Yeti was the perfect beer for this shot at 13.5% ABV. Actually the Allie Belle Mine has been falling for many years and every year I'm shocked to see that it is still standing. If you are ever near St Elmo, Colorado you can drive right past this mine on the way to the old Hancock town site. This shot was more difficult than I imagined... getting the angle right was tough and I ended up laying in a big puddle of mud to do it... not the first time I've ever done that for a photo though.

July 2019 - 5 July 2019 - 6

If you live in Colorado you may have heard of Rails and Ales... many of the scenic railways have an annual journey that couples gorgeous views with great local beers. 

June 2019 - 5

This growler of Great Divide's Maple Pecan Yeti was perfect for an afternoon by the Arkansas River. This is probably one of my favorite beers to date... unfortunately it was brewed in limited distribution for Great Divide's 25th Anniversary Party. Please bring this one back soon!!! 

June 2019 - 10 June 2019 - 9 June 2019 - 12 June 2019 - 8

Speaking of the 25th anniversary party, I had the pleasure of helping out at this event and had such a great time! Checking guests in and patrolling for empty beer cans and cups might not sound exciting, but I loved making the rounds and chatting with all the guests. And of course, I got to drink some great beer while doing so! 

July 2019 - 1 July 20119 - 10 (Chuggin' Chipmnunk)

Apparently even chipmunks love a cold Colette! LOL

Actually this is another concept shot I had in mind from the beginning. Every year while Jeeping out in the Collegiate Peaks area we stop at the chipmunk pile in the "ghost" town of St Elmo. Here you can buy a bag of sunflower seeds from the general store and feed these cute little critters. My daughter loves it and it has become an annual tradition. So this year I took a can of Colette and enticed a few to pose. I mean, who doesn't love a Chuggin' Chipmunk?  

July 2019 - 8 (Yeti Hunting) July 2019 - 9 (A Perfect Fit)

The Yeti hunting shot was another concept I had and I just needed to find the right location, while the shot on the left was spur of the moment while on a hiking trail near Steamboat Springs, Co. 

August 2019 - 5   July 2019 - 7 Sometimes something as simple as can color inspires me. As much as I'm out on hiking trails, it was difficult not to photograph the Titan more... I just love how it looks with lots of greenery around it. And Great Divide's Lager was a perfect match for this yummy treat... 

August 2019 - 1 (Not Like the Other)

One of these things is not like the others... While hiking with friends who are expert mushroom hunters (don't eat wild mushrooms unless you know exactly what you are doing!) I got this idea. We brought the mushrooms back to camp and before cooking them up for dinner, I set them up in a line with a Big Yeti and took this shot.

Sometimes when I know a hike is going to be difficult or I just want to pack light, I only take one beer to photograph. And because I really love photographing a beer that "fits" in the surroundings I'm sometimes kicking my self when an opportunity for a photograph happens and I feel a different beer would have been a better choice. Not with this photo! While hiking in Aspen we discovered some Ice Caves we didn't know would be in our travels. So photographing the Hazy with "Fresh, COLD, Friends" was perfect sandwiched between two pieces of ice that were still melting in this cave in mid-August! You have to love the diversity of Colorado's nature!

  August 2019 - 6

While on a trip to Glenwood Springs, my friend John took us out fly fishing. I didn't know if we would catch anything but I had a back-up plan with a net and some empty cans I had been saving. John actually caught one while I got one on the line but lost it before bringing it to shore. Despite that, it was an awesome afternoon on the river! 

I took a photo of Lizard Lake years ago to add to my landscape photography collection and on a trip back to the location, just outside Marble, I decided to add beer. See the beerless image, entitled "Lazy Lizard" on my  landscape photography page (image 18)! 

It's not always possible to photograph beer with people, but when I'm traveling with friends I always take advantage of it. It's easy when I bribe them with free beer :) 

Of course sometimes I ask random strangers to be beer models. You can't be shy about it and luckily I've never been turned down!  

August 2019 - 2

Waterfalls are definitely plentiful here in Colorado and make it into my images frequently. The image on the left is Adrenaline Falls just outside of Durango and the image on the right is Devils Punchbowl located just outside Aspen. 

Katie's 9th Birthday Party

Katie's 9th Birthday Party Katie's 9th Birthday Party

Katie's 9th Birthday Party Katie's 9th Birthday Party

While not exactly an adventure, I couldn't leave out images from our daughter's end of summer birthday bash. We had a variety of Great Divide beer for adults at the party and had fun creating these shots.
(Photo credit - Kelly Vann Calaway Photography). 

So after all the adventures and all the beer this summer, what was my favorite?

For beer?

I'd have to say the Roadie, Grapefruit Radler... an easy drinking summer beer with a little tartness and the Maple Pecan Yeti, an imperial stout which was available in limited quantities for Great Divide's 25th Anniversary party. 

For adventure?

Definitely the trip to Great Sand Dunes with our daughter. It was such a unique and amazing experience to be there with Medano Creek was running at full flow. It's an amazing ecosystem that is absolutely one of a kind and should be experienced at least once. And it was so fun to watch our daughter have such a blast tubing in the creek! When it comes down to it, that's the ultimate adventure! 

Thanks for stopping by the blog. May your beer be cold and your adventures be epic! And don't forget to revisit the blog to see my my fall beer adventures later this year! 

Special thanks to all my beer holders... Ainslee, Jen, Jenny, John, Julia, Kayla, Kim, Laurel, Mark, Tera, Tiffany, and of course all the Great Divide 25th Anniversary Party guests! 

And of course, thank you Great Divide for this fun opportunity and lots of great beer! 

With a name befitting of a photographer's son, Ansel was perfect for his session even when he decided he'd had enough sleep and was going to check out the studio. Of course we took advantage of this for a wide awake shot. We captured so many great images in this session it's difficult for me to chose a favorite! I just love him posed on the little bed, holding a felted teddy, with his head perched on his hands, swaddled up nice and cozy on a comfy gray blanket, and of course those shots with Mom! 

Feel free to congratulate Mom and Dad and let them know which one is your favorite image in the comment section below! 

Interested in a personalized newborn session? It's never to early to start planning! Contact me today to discuss how we can capture beautiful images of your little one and how to best to display them in your home! 

Contact me today to schedule a complimentary, no obligation consultation for a newborn session.  
 

Felted Teddy - Enchanted Baybee Designs

Miniature Metal Bed - Honey and Me

Contact me today to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can capture your familiy's memories!  

While Katie is always pretty good during her photo sessions it was apparent she did not want this one to end, despite her initial reluctance. I'm pretty sure it's because this was her first taste of Coke and obviously she liked it! She kept picking out additional spots to take photos and tried out different poses while sipping her soda and chewing on her straw (Do all kids do this? LOL). We had a super fun time together and she must have had a bit of energy from the soda because she wanted me to take pictures while she was running. Of course I was happy to oblige. 

This location turned out to be the perfect setting with an old white house with a porch and a path down to the treeline with fields along the way. With the barn and tractor equipment, some of the photos took on more of a farm feel than a Coca Cola but I love how they all turned out! 

Interested in themed portraits? Contact me today to discuss a customized session! 

Which image is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section below! 

Contact me today to discuss a customized session for your little one or family! 

Contact me today to schedule a no obligation consultation to discuss your senior portrait session! 

Contact me today to schedule a no obligation consultation to discuss your senior portrait session! 
 

Contact me today for more information on senior portrait sessions. 

This time around, the family asked for something a little rustic and mentioned a camping theme. So when Mom told me she had crocheted a buffalo plaid blanket for their new little one I got a vision of just what to do. I had the perfect little buffalo plaid romper made for the session and set up a little camper scene. And as I normally do, I planned some neutral toned set-ups with a classic, but rustic look. We captured some family images and of course sibling shots during the session as well as some beautiful shots with Mom. 

Finally, I knew I had to put Wyatt in this set-up not only because it's one of my favorites, but also because big brother was photographed in the same little chair. See his photo here! 

I can't wait to watch both Wyatt and Liam grow and I'm already excited about a cake smash session for Wyatt when he turns one... maybe a camping theme??? Stay tuned! 

Interested in a newborn session for your little one? Contact me today! 

Interested in a family session in the perfect setting? Contact me today to discuss family portrait location options! 

So when Joel and Alexis contacted me this year for their son Callahan's first birthday photos I was thrilled but I must say, a bit surprised. I photographed their little one as a newborn, but I knew they had moved out of state on a big adventure. Luckily, they were coming back to town to visit family and have a birthday party for little Callahan and they wanted to get some cake smash photos during their trip. So I got to work creating a Colorado Rockies baseball theme for them as they said it was one of the things they were still passionate about after moving out of state and wanted that to be the birthday theme. I had such a great time catching up with them and capturing this little cutie and his amazing smile!

Go Callahan and Go Rockies! 
 

Interested in a smash and splash session for your little one's birthday? Contact me today for details! 

These days you can create gift registries for your new little one from a multitude of websites and stores, so why should newborn photography be any different? The gift of portraits is one that expectant parents will cherish long after their bundle of joy has outgrown yet another cute outfit or toy! This is why I now offer a photography registry service for my clients! Portraits, whether they are of your newborn, yourself, or your family are sure to be cherished forever and I am happy to provide not only beautiful images, but high-quality heirloom artwork such as wall art, albums and prints that can be passed down throughout the generations. And now friends and family can contribute! 

How It Works:

The gift registry is a complimentary service offered to all newborn clients (registries for other types of sessions are available upon request). Each client has their own unique registry page with personalized URL that allows friends and family to purchase gift certificates in various denominations. Loved ones can chose to have the gift certificate sent to them so they can hand deliver at the shower, hospital, or another convenient time or have the gift certificate sent directly to the recipient. In addition, I will provide beautiful mini baby registry cards to be included in shower invitations or to hand out as needed.

Purchasing a gift certificate can be done online and only takes a few minutes. For those clients scheduling multiple session for baby's first year, the registry can be kept active so that family and friends can contribute for your little ones first birthday.

Client Steps:

Simply book your session by paying your retainer fee and let me know that you would like a registry. Then send one of your favorite photos via email (or I can chose one if you have had a previous session with me) and I will create your personalized registry.

If you are having a shower I will send you (or your shower hostess) registry cards to send out with your shower invitations. I'll also email you with a link to your registry so that you may share the information with friends and family. 

After your session, bring the gift certificates to your reveal and ordering appointment and apply them to your product purchase. Unused gift certificate amounts can be used for future sessions. 

Gift Giver Steps: 

Visit the online gift registry and chose the dollar amount you would like to gift. Certificates are available in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $300, $400, and $500. Then chose whether you would like to have the gift certificate sent to the recipient or sent directly to you so that you may personally deliver it at the shower, hospital, etc. Then click purchase! It's that simple. Payments are made via Paypal, however if you don't have an account, just click on Pay by Credit Card and you can make a payment as a guest. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Remember gift certificates also make wonderful first birthday gifts for those fun smash and splash sessions!
 

View a sample registry page that will be personalized for each client.  
 

Accompanied by her husband and little one, we headed out to 17 Mile House Farm Park for some Spring photos. We captured some casual family shots as well as some gorgeous images of Mom in this beautiful maternity gown I have from Silk Fairies. And of course I had to give big brother his moment in the spotlight to show off his cute little smile! Just look how happy he is with Mom! Can I just say... Heart! Melting! 

Contact me today for more information about newborn, maternity, and family photography sessions and please feel free to leave a comment below and congratulate this adorable family! 

As these girls grow and accomplish their goals, they rise through the ranks to the next level... Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, Junior to Cadette, Cadette to Senior, and Senior to Ambassador. Part of Girl Scout tradition is holding a "bridging" ceremony for troops as they transition to the next level as a way for troops to celebrate and honor their accomplishments. One of the ceremonial elements for this troop, which my daughter is a part of, is a ceremonial walk across a bridge wearing their current uniform and then receiving their new uniform. This year, as they bridged from Brownie to Junior, our girls and our troop leaders wanted to capture these memories and I was happy to help. Congratulations Troop 67285 on becoming Junior Girl Scouts and thank you to our amazing troop leaders and assistants for everything they do! 

Subscribe to the blog to view upcoming posts of all the seniors from this session! 

Contact me to discuss a fun senior session to capture your personality as you head into your senior year! 

High School Senior Portrait Photography - Denver Colorado High School Senior Portrait Photography - Denver Colorado

High School Senior Portrait Photography - Parker Colorado High School Senior Portrait Photography - Parker Colorado High School Senior Portrait Photography - Aurora Colorado High School Senior Portrait Photography - Aurora Colorado

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Contact me today to book your senior portrait session! 
 

She had a great time trying out different poses and even threw on one of the headbands I have for my princess sessions. I can't believe how fast she is growing up and I'm so glad to capture her becoming a big girl!  

Leave a comment below and let me know which photo is your favorite! 

Interested in a portrait session for your little one? Contact me today for more information! 

Interested in a session or multiple sessions to document your little one growing up? Contact me today for information on a custom package! 

Here is this handsome guy at about a week, 6 months, and one year. Oh how time flies and these little ones change! 

Contact me today to schedule your session! 
 

Contact me today to discuss your customized maternity session! 

Denver Maternity Image Close Up Denver Pregnancy Photo Skyline

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Denver Maternity Photo - Sitting Down Denver Maternity Photo - City Park

Newborn Twins Posed in Aviator Theme

Newborn Baby Girl Posed with Heart Newborn Twins Posed on Miniature Bunkbeds Newborn Baby Boy in Sleeper Cap Posed with Heart

Newborn Boy and Girl Twins
Newborn Baby Girl in Pink

Newborn Baby Girl Smiling in Pink Newborn Baby Girl Wrapped with Pink Headband

Newborn Baby Girl with Pink Blanket

Newborn Twins Wrapped in Cream

Newborn Baby Boy Posed in Miniature Chair Newborn Baby Boy in Brown Hat Posed on Chair

Newborn Baby Boy Wrapped in Green

Newborn Baby Boy in Cream Romper and Hat Wrapped Newborn Baby Boy Smiling

Newborn Twins with Parents

Which image is your favorite? Comment below and let me know!

Click here to see more newborn images! 

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I'm so happy you clicked to get a glimpse of where the magic happens!

CONTACT ME to schedule your in-person tour of the studio! 

Donna Young Photography studio welcome sign.

 I have had a dedicated studio for two years and I love it! It is ideal for client consultations, reveal/ordering appointments, and of course photo sessions! I typically use the studio for all my newborn, sitter, and first birthday smash and splash sessions. This allows me to take advantage of state of the art lighting, newborn posers, props and of course all those adorable hats, wraps, and headbands!  

Comfortable couch for clients to relax. Sitting area includes a microwave, refrigerator, and coffee maker for clients.

The sitting area of the studio is where I hold my consultations as well as reveal and ordering appointments. Here clients can relax with refreshments while we plan a customized session, view their images, and discuss which heirloom products are ideal for their home and family. For client convenience there is a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker... and of course, a comfortable couch. More than one new Mom and Dad has caught a few zzz's here while I photograph their newborn. The studio is also equipped with a full bathroom that is not only convenient for clients, but is an ideal place for filing up those miniature bathtubs for smash and splash sessions!

Client consultation, viewing, ordering and sitting area with heirloom products such as canvas & wood wall art, albums and specialty items on display.

Studio sitting area. Full bathroom in studio for client convenience.  
During newborn sessions I can quickly access outfits, headbands, hats, props and backdrops.

Newborn rompers for boys and girls photo sessions.

Selection of hats for newborn baby boys and girls. Blankets, furs, and quilts for newborn photography sessions.

Pink wraps and headbands for newborn baby girl photo sessions. Large selection of wraps for newborn boys and girls. Pretty purple wraps and headbands for newborns
 

Large selection of props and backgrounds for newborn, child, sitter, and cake smash photo sessions. Flokatis and fur for newborn posing Large selection of sake Stands for first birthday smash and splash photography sessions.

Three different areas are available for capturing images. One is a dedicated area for posing newborns, the second is a large area ideal for cake smash sessions, newborn prop shots and family images with newborns and the third is a flexible space I use when I want to have a quick transition between multiple set-ups.

  Posing are for newborn photos complete with professional lighting.

Large Posing Area for Family Photos with Newborns, Cake Smash Sessions and Prop Shots Third area for specialized photography sessions and themes

 Want to learn more about the studio, custom sessions, and heirloom products I offer?
Contact me today to set up a convenient time to chat! 

Let me know what you think about the studio! Leave a comment below!!!

As I reflect on 2018, I have also chosen a few of my favorite images from this past year because... who doesn't love a top ten list! 

I hope you all had a wonderful year and I wish you all the best in 2019. Let's capture some memories!

NUMBER TEN		What an adorable kiddo! He looks so grown up sporting those glasses. Of course they were really only on his face for about two seconds. Fortunately that is just enough time to capture a cute photo like this. One reason I love this photo is because it was taken in one of the same set-ups I used to photographed him as a newborn and I love comparing the difference of a year. See his newborn photo in the same chair here!
NUMBER NINE		While I had lots of favorite images from this family session, I love this one of Mom and Dad! So often we are focused on our children but parents need some time in the spotlight too. I love the depth of this one and how their happiness shines through!
NUMBER EIGHT		This is one of my favorite newborn wrapping methods, the potato sack, and babies love it. I love how versatile it is as you can move little ones to a variety of different set-ups (a bucket, a basket, a bed) while they sleep peacefully. I chose a rustic metal bucket for this sweet guy since Mom and Dad have grey tones in their home. You can see more from his session here. And oh those dimples!!!
NUMBER SEVEN		I love how this sheer dress and the beautiful light passing through it shows off this beautiful Mom's bump while being very classic and tasteful.
NUMBER SIX		Of course our own family Christmas card had to make the list. I love coming up with a holiday card every year since it gives me the freedom to be creative and experimental. See how I created it in this blog post and stay tuned for next year's creation (I already have a couple of ideas)!
NUMBER FIVE		Just in time for Christmas, this gorgeous mom-to-be visited the studio for some images to document her twin bump and we got to be a bit festive with this holiday background.
NUMBER FOUR		Well isn't this just the cutest kid you've ever seen? Okay, okay... I'm biased. She's ours! I have to admit that I neglected photos of her in the beginning of the year, which is unusual for me, but I did come through with a fall session as well as some beautiful Princess Christmas images.
NUMBER THREE		Another one of my favorite newborn poses... "bum up". While this was just one great image from her session, I love how this showcases all the little features of a newborn in a simple, classic pose.
NUMBER TWO		I captured so many beautiful images of this six week old that I love! But I just love the colors in this one and oh my... those cheeks!
NUMBER ONE		I now use this pose for all my newborn sessions including this one, because it is so sweet and Mom and baby look so beautiful together. Mom's love it, Dad's love it and I love it. I had so many beautiful images using this pose this year it was difficult to decide on just one for the top ten!

Contact me to book your 2019 newborn, maternity, child, or family session! 

Of course, this year I just had to do something equally as creative. Those who know me know I'm a bit competitive... even with myself. That competitiveness helps me grow as a photographer as I figure out new ways to create images, practice Photoshop techniques, and think creatively. This year it prompted me to try to outdo myself on our holiday image! Now being creative doesn't mean I'm above checking out Pinterest for ideas every once in a while and ultimately this is where I came up with the general image idea. But I definitely put my own spin on it! 

After deciding on the concept, I set out to gather everything I needed for the image. Originally I purchased some buffalo plaid print PJs on Amazon. It was easy to find something for everyone to wear since this print is very popular this year. But a few hours later I walked into TJ Maxx and saw some kids PJs that said "Dear Santa, Define Good" and PJs for me that said, "Dear Santa, Bring Me WINE" and I knew these would be perfect! So I quickly cancelled my Amazon order and bought these as well as some coordinating PJs for my husband. I returned to Amazon to find coordinating wrapping paper, ribbon, and Santa ornaments for the tree that matched my daughter's PJs. On to the liquor store to pick up some wine, which of course also needed to coordinate. Ugly Sweater Red? Perfect!!! I grabbed the Christmas tree we put in our daughter's room and an antique workbox I bought ages ago. Finally, I pulled down the seamless paper I have in the studio to use as the background and grabbed a panel I use for flooring. 

With everything set-up, we donned our PJs and I set up my camera on a tripod. I focused on my husband, jumped into the picture and had our daughter press the shutter button... several times. As expected, giving up the element of control when I'm on the other side of the camera is a bit difficult for me as I can't see how everything looks. Ultimately this is why we ended up doing this twice (wine was a good bribe for my husband) and I Photoshopped the left two images you see below together to achieve the look I wanted... including the angle of my face. Let's admit it... some angles are just not flattering! 

After these two images were merged, and I did a wee bit of Photoshopping to my waist (it was just after Thanksgiving... who wouldn't?), I realized I needed to capture another image. While my studio is great for capturing a closeup of an entire family, it's not quite large enough for full length family images, especially when one family member is not grouped closely to the others. With more space needed on the left side to place our daughter "on the wall" I pulled out another floor panel and took a photo of the "extended" set-up (above right). As you may notice, this image was taken at a different angle. This is because the family photo was taken from the stairway to the studio in order to get further back and ultimately I couldn't move to the left for the additional shot. Again, with a little Photoshop magic I was able to modify how the angle looked as well as extend the tan background.   

Finally it was time for the most important family member's close-up! I got our daughter dressed and ready to go. Then I told her I was going to tape her to the floor. Her response? "Ummm... I am NOT doing that!" LOL. Of course she then happily complied and told me she deserved ice cream. 

I rolled the paper used for our background down so it would cover the floor and then positioned her on the paper. I took some test shots and re-positioned her several times because I knew the angle of the lighting needed to be consistent for everyone in the image to make it look realistic. Once I settled on her position I taped her arms and legs. I also tried to position her hair so it looked like it was hanging and pulled her PJs to the side for the same reason. Of course with a squirming 8 year old this was not the easiest thing to do. Ultimately I did a bit more Photoshop work on her hair for the final image. 

Capturing the image was a bit awkward and I'm pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my lower back. LOL. If you take a look at the photo on the left you will see a ladder. I was standing on that ladder to take that picture. Standing, leaning significantly, bracing myself against the ceiling and holding my camera out while I shot on live mode. This setting on my Canon 5d Mark iii's allowed me to see the image on my camera's LCD screen and focus while my camera was at arms length... and while I rarely use this feature, it was great to have for this capture. 

After the image was taken it was back to Photoshop to add our daughter into our image. Because the lighting wasn't exactly the same, this took a bit of work to make the image look seamless. After that was done I realized something was missing. She just looked a bit too happy to be "tapped to a wall" so I decided she needed a bit of tape on her mouth. Back down to the studio we went and I took another picture of her with the tape. I then took just the tape portion of her faced and over-layed it on the image and carefully blended it together. Finally I added text about having a peaceful holiday to pull it all together and the image was complete! I had it made into an ornament for our tree and because my husband laughs every time he sees it I'm planning on putting it on canvas so I can hang it up every Christmas. 

What will I do next year to top this? I've already got some ideas! SUBSCRIBE to my RSS feed below to ensure you don't miss it. 

Let me know what you think of this image (and the process) by leaving a comment! 

Interested in capturing some unique images of your family? Contact me today to discuss your own personalized photo session! 

PS - No wine or children were harmed during the creation of this images... well, maybe some wine ;)

Contact me today for more information about family photo sessions! 

Contact me today for more information about family, newborn, maternity and children's photography! 

Off we went to a little park in the Denver Tech Center where we found plenty of great spots to play and pose for photos... although she really only has one pose. You can probably guess her "signature pose" from these images, but she has fun with it and I can't complain as she says "Mommy, take a photo of me here... and here". LOL. When I told her I was also scouting the location for an upcoming family session, she pointed out lots of great spots and definitely recommended photos in front of the lake. She's such a little helper. She also had a great time chasing the local wildlife and eventually tromping through the stream in her boots. What can I say? Kids will be kids!

Contact me today to discuss your personalized newborn session! 

Contact me today for more information about family, child, newborn, and maternity photo sessions! 

I hold a limited number of mini-sessions each year... back-to-school, Christmas, and Easter.

Contact me today for more information! 

Contact me today to book your customized photo session or for additional information! 
 

Little Jacob is as sweet as can be and was a rock star for his newborn session... even when he was wide awake and ready to check out the world around him. Congratulations Patty and Chad on your new addition!!!

Interested in a newborn session? Contact me today to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation! 

Felted Bear: Enchanted Baybee Designs

Teal Drop Fabric: Roses and Ruffles

Tan Mohair Hat: LeAnge

Antique Trough: The Emporium

We captured some classic poses using a grey palette to match the colors in the family home and added some accents of blue here and there. Knowing the nursery was a fox theme, I picked up a felted fox for a few of the photos that will match the decor and look great hanging on the nursery wall. We also captured a great family photo and some shots of Callahan with his gorgeous Mom... definitely some of my favorites!

Congratulations Joel and Alexis on your handsome baby boy! It was a pleasure having you all in the studio! 

a

Interested in newborn photos? Contact me today to schedule your complimentary, obligation-free consultation so we can discuss the perfect custom session for you and your little one. 

Little baby Jasmine is the newest addition to Sierra family and her Mom is one of my closest friends. I photographed both of Jasmine's older brothers when they were born and even though we now live more than 1700 miles apart, I had to photograph this sweet baby girl! So I packed up my camera equipment, lighting, space heater, posing pillows, props, wraps, headbands, and a change of clothes (LOL) and jumped on a plane!

While I normally photograph newborns exclusively in my studio to ensure optimal conditions, I couldn't be happier about how this session turned out. And of course it was great to catch up with a dear friend and spend time with her family including her new little one. Below are some highlights of our photos session. 

One of my favorite poses... I just love seeing those little baby back wrinkles! 

Mom is looking absolutely gorgeous! 

Pinks and grays were used throughout the session for a cohesive look that not only makes the images look great side by side, but also coordinates with the family's home. 

"Paupau" was visiting while I was there for the session and she stepped in for a few photos. 

Jasmine's nursery is a grey bunny theme so we had to get a shot in this little outfit! 

Congratulations on your beautiful new baby girl!!! 

Even the 16x24 image on the left feels lost over a large couch while the 30x40 image on the right is more appropriately sized for the room.

There are three main considerations when choosing a size for your images. Room size, viewing distance, and subject face size. Is your room a small 8'x8' office or a grand family room that is 20' deep? How far away will you be viewing the image? How large will the subjects faces look at a distance? Will you be able to see their expressions? Thankfully, these factors all work hand in hand making these considerations easy to address with the appropriate tools and guidance. You simply need to hang portraits that are appropriate for the size of your room, and subsequently the furniture. This will ensure faces are at minimum size that they can be seen at various viewing distances and the portraits don't get lost in the room. In looking at the overall wall space dimensions your artwork should take up two-thirds to three-fourths of the area.

You should also consider the orientation of the wall you are placing your portrait on. Tall, narrow walls lend themselves to images in a vertical, portrait orientation, while horizontal wall spaces, such as over a couch work best with landscape-oriented artwork. Of course if you are using gallery (or grouping) of photos, you only need to consider the orientation of the outside edge of the entire gallery.   

A gallery of images also works well in large spaces and provides flexibility in selecting different image orientations.

Splitting an image in two is also a unique option for some images. 

Because it is sometimes difficult to visual what any particular size image would look like in your ideal space, make sure you measure the space before you make a decision on size. I also recommend using something like painters tape to mark the outline on a wall and then take a few steps back to see how it looks.  While there are standard sizes such as 16x20, 20x24, 24x36 and 30x40, custom sizes are also available and may be more appropriate depending on the amount of space you have, coupled with how each size will crop your image (more on how cropping will affect your image in a future blog post). 

To make this entire process easier, I have the ability to show my clients their images in different sizes in both stock rooms AND in their own personal space. That's right, with a simple photo taken on a cellphone of your ideal space, combined with a measurement of something in the room, I can show you what your images would look like in any room of your home in different sizes, taking the guess work out of everything! 

Multiple stock images including bedrooms, living areas, offices, hallways, and entryways make it easy to visualize photo size even without your own room image. 

A gallery of two 16x24's with a 30x30 vice a 30x40 

If you are interested in having family photos as well as professional design service for home, please contact me for a free consultation! 

Liam and his Construction Birthday Photo SessionLiam and his Construction Birthday Photo Session Liam's First Birthday Portrait Liam's First Birthday Portrait

Little Liam's first interaction with the cake seemed to go well. 

Liam testing out the consistency of icing at his first birthday cake smash session. Liam testing out the consistency of icing at his first birthday cake smash session. First Cake Interaction at a Birthday Smash Cake Sessionirst Cake Interaction at a Birthday Smash Cake Session

But soon it was clear that he was not exactly wild about cake... as you can see from the extent of the cake damage (or rather lack thereof) below. 

Extent of Cake "Damage" during our photo session. Extent of Cake "Damage" during our photo session. Liam and his First Birthday Cake Liam and his First Birthday Cake

It happens! Some kids love digging into their cake and others don't really care for it. But splash sessions are a different story! I will admit, we were a bit worried at the start of his bath, as Liam seemed to dislike it as much as the cake. But after a few minutes he warmed up to it and had a blast. 

Splashing in the bathSplashing in the bath Liam hanging out in his bath after his cake smash photos. Liam hanging out in his bath after his cake smash photos.

While drying off we had a little more fun playing with rubber duckies. Liam couldn't seem to find the one on his head for a while. But I sent him home with one so he could practice his ducky finding skills.  

Liam searches for the rubber ducky on his head after his first birthday splash photos. Liam searches for the rubber ducky on his head after his first birthday splash photos. All dried off after a splash session All dried off after a splash session

Thanks for stopping by the studio and celebrating your first birthday with me Liam! 

Interested in a Smash and Splash Session? Contact me to discuss your customized session! 

One of my favorite images to capture for newborns who return to the studio at 3, 6, 9, and/or 12 months is in a prop I used for their newborn session. Whether it is a bowl or a crate, a newborn bed, etc. It's such a fun way to document how much they have grown! 

When I had this little cutie back in the studio for a cake smash session, I just had to photograph him in the custom chair I posed him in during his newborn session! I can't tell you how much I love this image and the comparison of him in the chair at one week and one year. 

I had the pleasure of photographing the little one below several times throughout his first year with a first year session package. I used the crate from his newborn session at six months and at one year. He barely fit back into it at six months and we didn't even try for his one year photo but we still incorporated it into the photo to show how much he has grown! 

Think this is a fun idea? Leave a comment! 

Custom Chair and Table: Gorecki Lucas Handcrafted
Crocheted Pants and Hat: KB Handcrafted
Backdrop: HSD Backdrops

Headbands: Pinkytinks and Girlologie
Drop and Wrap: Roses and Ruffles
Felted Hearts: Enchanted Baybee Designs

Creating beautiful images is a passion of mine and if you book a photography session, capturing these moments is obviously important to you. You took the time to have photos of yourself or your family taken, you probably spent time choosing outfits, you may have coordinated with extended family members to find the perfect time and location, or you fought off the sleepiness of being a new parent to come to the studio and have images taken when your new addition was sleepy and squishy! But you selected and received your digital images and your family and friends still aren't enjoying them. It's unfortunate, yet so common because of a variety of reasons... and I want to eliminate those reasons.  That's why I now offer finished art work for my photography clients. I want to ensure your beautiful images are presentation ready when you receive them so you can enjoy them immediately.

Heritage Walnut Folio Box - Finished Photography Product

 The 8x10 Heritage Folio Box Beautifully Displays and Stores Up to 20 Matted or Mounted Prints
and is a Great Way to "Collect" Images From Multiple Sessions. 

I understand the reasons clients aren't enjoying their images. Many find it difficult to find the time to sit down and order prints, canvases and albums. It's no wonder. Most of us are busy with work and family and the countless other responsibilities we juggle. Even if you get a few minutes to sit down and take on this task, chances are you don't know where to begin... how do you want to display your images, what products are available, what is the best size for display, where is the best place to purchase, how do you know you what suppliers have quality products? This is a bit overwhelming, which leads many to put it off... indefinitely. 

  Wooden Folding Trio - Finished Photography Product  

This Wooden Tri-Fold Trio is a Unique Way to Display a Selection of Your Images on a Table or Shelf and is Available in Two Sizes. 

There are also things many clients don't consider. Did you know that some mats will yellow over time or that images should not be placed directly against glass (without a mat or spacers) because they will eventually adhere to the glass? How will certain crops (aspect ratios) affect what is contained in your finished image? Did you know that you can have images mounted beautifully on wood? Have you heard of deckled prints? What type of finish do you need on your canvas so that it is not easily susceptible to scratching and corner damage? Do you know the most appropriate image size for over your couch? 

Framed Torn Trio Print - Finished Photography Product Framed Torn Print Details - Finished Photography Product

This Torn Edge Framed Print is Offered as a Trio or Single Image.

Round Wooden Wall Print - Finished Photography Product Metal Print - Finished Photography Product Canvas Print - Finished Photography Product

Wall Art Options Include Wood (left), Stand Out Metal (middle), Canvas (right), and Framed Prints (not pictured).

Chances are you can't answer most of these questions because it's just not your field of expertise. This is why I'm here to help! As a photographer offering finished art, I'm not just the expert on how to capture and edit your photos, but also how to showcase them. I've spent hours and hours researching products online, ordering samples from dozens of professional labs (and discarding many of them because they just weren't up to par), and attending virtual and in-person trade shows. This is time consuming (and expensive) and just not feasible for clients to do themselves. And there's nothing worse than taking the time to order something and being disappointed in the quality when you receive it. If it's that shirt on Amazon you can probably return it for a full refund but when it comes to images of your family that will not be the case. In addition, most of the products I offer are not even available to the general public. Most professional labs only allow photographers with verified credentials to order and these labs tend to have the highest quality, not to mention the most unique and amazing products. 

  Table Products - Finished Photography Product Acrylic Block - Finished Photography Product

Additional Table Display Options Include the Classic Folio Box, Mounted Prints, and Acrylic Blocks. 

My service (in addition to pre-session consults) includes sitting down with my clients after their session to preview their images and help them select the images and products that work best for them and their lifestyle. This is a relaxed, no-obligation session because I don't believe in having a minimum order for products and I offer a la carte items to ensure clients purchase only what they truly love. After selection I take care of ordering all products, inspecting them for quality, and personally delivering them to to your home where you can begin to enjoy them immediately. I'm please to offer a variety of products to meet my clients personal style including albums, folio boxes, framed prints, canvas, metal, and wood products. I also offer products suitable as gifts for family and friends and digital images for your archives. 

You are encouraged to visit the studio to take a look at the amazing products I offer and discuss full pricing or you are welcome to contact me for some general price guidelines. 

The time you spend waiting to meet your new little one may seem endless or it may speed by but regardless, you'll want to cherish it forever. A maternity photo shoot will help you capture the anticipation of exciting times to come as well as your adorable baby bump! You'll look back on these photos for years to come, so it's important to choose great outfits. What you wear for photos may be challenging any time, but even moreso for a maternity session, so here are some helpful tips on what to wear as well as a look at some of the gowns I provide clients for use during maternity sessions.

1. Choose clothing that will accentuate your bump: Wear a form fitting dress or top. Anything with a waistband that sits above your bump gives you the waist you're missing due to pregnancy. If you are wearing something more flowing, poses using your hands to accentuate your belly can be done. You can also add a scarf or belt to help do this. 

2. Dress for the weather and season: You may want to be more cozy during fall and winter months with stylish boots, jeans, and sweaters while in the summer you may choose something more light and bright. The seasons will also give you a great starting point for picking out what colors of clothing you will wear for your photos. Look to the colors of the seasons and the variety of landscapes each month offers you. For example, during fall there will be plenty of bright autumn leaves and during the winter there may be snow.

3. Consider the location of the session. Will you be in a meadow or surrounded by trees? Or will you be standing on marble steps surrounded by pillars? This will help determine how casual or formal your clothing selection is. 

4. Avoid trendy outfits: Give your photos a timeless feel with clothing that won't go out of style. Solids are a great idea however if you have a pattern you love and want to wear, ensure that others having photos taken are not wearing something that will clash. Keep in mind patterns can be very distracting and you want the focus to be on your baby belly. 

5. Keep accessories to a minimum: Photos should be focused on you and your bump so either keep jewelry and accessories simple or use them to accentuate your bump. A belt or scarf above your bump will help if your outfit does not have a high waistline. 

6. Choose a couple of outfits for a variety of looks. Select a couple of different styles for your maternity session. I always encourage my clients to wear a casual outfit and then change into a dress. Long or mid-length maxi dresses are a great option that is comfortable and also may cover up anything you feel are "problem" areas during pregnancy. If you keep a great shape during your pregnancy, a form fitting dress works well. 

7. Select appropriate colors: Look at the colors in your home. You may want to consider colors that would compliment your walls and decor if you are planning on hanging large photos in your home. Think about colors you like. These are your photos so make sure that you love the colors you wear. Also consider your complexion... does white make you washed out? Keep in mind the location of the shoot and the background colors. For example, mint might look great on a beach but may not look as nice with fall leaves in the background. 

8. Undergarmets: I recommend wearing skin tone undergarmets and wearing (or bringing) a strapless bra. Many of the maternity gowns I provide are off the shoulder and photograph much better without having to pull bra straps down (which sometime creates unnecessary bulges). Some of my gowns are light in color (and some are a bit sheer) so it's important not wear something underneath that will be seen through the dress. 

9. Shoes: Shoes are something that are often overlooked during photo sessions. You'll want to appropriately coordinate shoes with what you are wearing and be mindful that they will likely be seen in many of the photos. I recommend wearing stylish but comfortable shoes. I don't know too many pregnant women who want to walk around in heels and for most of my photos sessions we will do a little bit of walking to get from spot to spot. If you are brave enough to bring heels to your session, I recommend also bringing some comfortable slip-ons or flip flops to wear in between locations. Most of the dresses I provide reach the ground and your shoes will be covered so I recommend something low profile and comfortable. At times, it may be appropriate for you to go without shoes once we get to a location and start photographing. 

10. Find Inspiration Online: There is a lot of great inspiration on the Internet for photos... including maternity photos. Search Pinterest for color palette boards or maternity clothing ideas. 

You may already have a great dress, or you many want to rent one from somewhere like Rent the Runway or Borrow For your Bump but you can always opt to wear one or two gowns I have on hand. I realize purchasing (and even renting) a maternity gown for photos can be quite expensive with some costing hundreds of dollars, so I have a collection of maternity gowns chosen specifically for client use during photo sessions as part of my service. Below are SOME of the gowns I have available... and I'm always adding more! 

This blue dress has a beautiful halter top feature that can be tied in a variety of ways. 
The mustard-colored skirt has a matching tie and goes well with this white lace top with a halter top lining. 
This maroon dress has a full skirt and is ground length. 

Mom-to-Be in a split front white maternity gown.A beautiful Mom in a split front maternity gown taken on a bridge over Cherry Creek.      Summer Maternity Photo in White GownA summer maternity session captures Mom in a beautiful white flowing gown amidst a woodsy background.

From the designer Sew Trendy, this white dress is a fitted tube style at the top while the bottom is flowing and a bit sheer. It has a split front but can also be photographed with the split brought together, depending on what you prefer. 

Fall Maternity Session Next to Cherry CreekFall colors and a wooded setting make a perfect background for a maternity session in a white lace gown.  

This white dress on the left is lace with a built-in underlayer. There is a small ruffle at the bottom for added detail. It can be worn alone or paired with a ribbon to accentuate your baby bump and add a bit of color. The white dress on the right is flowing and when photographed at the right angle can provide a dramatic silhouette of your baby bump while still being tastefully covered. 

Winter Maternity PhotoA winter maternity session captures a snowy setting and a beautiful Mom-to-be in a dramatic blue gown.

The black and the blue dresses above are the exact same style. They have small trains, a "v" wrap bodice and elastic fitting at the shoulders. Moms tell me they are also made from a very comfortable material. 

Winter Maternity PhotoAn expectant Mom photographed in a beautiful dramatic gown in a snowy setting.

The above dress is a bit fitted from the waist to just above the knee, has beautiful bell sleeves and an extended train. 

This beautiful flowing gown looks amazing on any expectant Mom. 

I also have additional gowns in my studio in a variety of colors just waiting for the perfect model! If you are in the Aurora / Parker / Denver area and expecting, please contact me to discuss options for your customized photo session! 

Most of my dresses will fit a range of sizes as they have some stretch to them. If you are one of those lucky mommas who has a small shape even during pregnancy, larger dresses can be pinned or clipped in the back if a dress is a bit loose. 

After we finished, I asked Angie and Kris if they had any special requests for their upcoming newborn session. Angie's answer? I'd love something that says "U.S." Ohhh... I love it! And I definitely have a few ideas for their upcoming session. Until then, here are a few of my favorites from our wintery maternity session. 

I'm very excited about my plans for 2018 but before I bid adieu to 2017, here are my favorite photos for the year. It was difficult to narrow it down this year... I had so many favorites! 

While visiting from California, this family of four got together with other family members in the local area to have some photos taken all together. I've taken lots of "extended" family photos this year, especially around the holidays, but this was one of my favorite sessions. They were a fun-loving group and so happy to finally have photos of everyone together. While I loved many of the images from this session, this image with a family of four along the fence was at the top of my list. 

It's difficult to take a bad photo of this beautiful girl but I'm going to take a little credit :) 
This was shot in the Georgetown neighborhood of D.C. on a trip back to the area for some photo sessions and visits with friends. The light early in the morning was gorgeous and Georgetown has a ton of great spots for photos. We got so many great shots during this session but this one has to be my favorite!

I'll admit, I'm a bit partial to newborn poses
that incorporate military items to
honor Mom or Dad's service.
(I'm a bit patriotic and I served in the Air Force.) 
I was so pleased about the way this photo turned
out and I'm sure it's one this family will treasure!
More images from this little guy's session can be seen here.

(NOTE: I am pleased to offer a 10% discount to
active duty military members as well
as teachers, firefighters and police officers!)

1 - Edited

As I delve into taking more maternity photos I have started offering the use of maternity gowns to my clients and this one from Sew Trendy was perfect for this gorgeous momma (more images from her session here). The setting and lighting were perfect and I was so happy to capture this special quiet time before baby arrived!

What can I say? This sweet little boy! This chair! This set-up! I have started focusing on simpler poses and set-ups for my newborns (see more images from his session here) but I still love to get one image that's a little bit unique. I love this one!  

Black and white photos are so classic and timeless.
This image was a new pose for me and
I love how it incorporates Dad in the image.
It turned out to be a little piece of art. 
See more of this little one's images here. 

I don't think I need to say much
about this one. Just... sweet, sweet, sweet!

I just love this image of this little guy...
who doesn't love some baby chunk? 
I've photographed him since before he was born
(announcement and maternity photos for Mom),
as well as newborn, sitter, and first birthday cake smash photos.  
Can't wait to watch this little one continue to grow up!