Well, little miss C has to be the most alert, awake, content little 10-day old I’ve ever come across.  She was wide awake for many hours–and while I was perfectly happy to take beautiful lifestyle photos during this time (I love awake newborn photos), the sleepy shots are just as beautiful and timeless.  So we waited.  We walked.  We shushed.  We rocked.  Baby C?  Wide awake. What eventually worked was turning the TV on quite loudly to a raucous boxing match.  No joke.  She passed out and we finally were able to get some good sleeping shots too.

Again, I ramble too much.  I again want to say how much I absolutely love lifestyle photos with newborns–the love they capture between parents and their new baby is priceless.

This maternity session was at the most gorgeous location I’ve had the opportunity to shoot to date.  Mom & Dad are both avid horse riders, so she suggested having the session at the farm where their horses are boarded.  And Oh. My. Goodness.  I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a more beautiful farm–the barn was meticulously maintained, beautiful yellow flower fields, a pond, lovely warm spring light….and, you guessed it, their gorgeous show horses.  This was supposed to be a mini-maternity session, but let’s just say I have a lot more photos than a standard mini session offers!

Also, Mom & Dad are some of the most genuine, down-to-Earth people I’ve met in a long time.  It’s been a pleasure working with them–we just finished their beautiful daughter’s newborn session this past Saturday.  Anyway, enough talking from me, enjoy the photos!

Love the yellow flowers. <3

This was taken on the unfinished second floor of an old barn used to old antiques.  I love how it turned out!

Simply gorgeous.

Her horse is her first “baby.”  So sweet!

And I have so many awesome photos like the ones below–I think they are the cutest couple EVER.  I get a big smile on my face every time I look at these.

 And oh my heavens–she is one GORGEOUS baby girl.  She looks like a perfect little doll.  I couldn’t get over it!

She was also wide awake for the first half of the session.  I’ve learned to love these awake times–while I of course make sure to get lots of peaceful, curled-up, sleepy shots that everyone loves, photos that capture those beautiful new eyes as they take in this big new world are just as breathtaking.  We were able to get some great shots of beautiful Siena wide awake.  I absolutely love them and I know mom & dad do too.

I’m sure I’m about to post way too many pictures…enjoy!

I’m totally loving using the natural setting of the home for family pictures–so natural and peaceful.

So, Grandma made this quilt for her new granddaughter.  And could this picture BE any cuter?  Seriously??

Wide awake, and in deep thought.  Love it.

LOVE.

And some of my favorite sleepy shots now.  Such a gorgeous child.

These pictures are some of my favorite newborn pictures EVER.  This was a beautiful sunny nook in the back of the house, with awesome vintage yellow chairs.  Even better?  The blanket is mama’s baby blanket, and the table was in dad’s baby pictures too.  Just. Perfect.

LOVE!

I tend to like things simple with newborn photographs.  I’m of the opinion that beautiful babies don’t need a lot of props to make a gorgeous photograph–they are most beautiful in their own skin.  Too much “fluff” is distracting–when I look at a photo of a newborn, I want to see a beautiful baby, sweet and simple.  Mom and Dad shared that sentiment with me which I was delighted to hear.

I love this one–you can already feel the connection between a mama and her baby girl!

Happy Girl!

Baby’s Great-Grandmother made this blanket for her–a tradition in the family.  I love that we got one of her smiling with it!

Love these classic shots

One of my new FAVORITE newborn photos.

 Her nursery was amazing!

And the proud new parents–so much joy in their faces!

 So, I was totally thrilled do do this maternity session for this GORGEOUS mama.  Beautiful belly, beautiful skin, beautiful eyes–she has it all.  I’m behind on blogging, so I’ve actually already had the pleasure of photographing her newborn baby girl (I hope to get 3 blog entries up while my baby is sleeping!  Wish me luck!).

So, for all of the pregnant women out there who may be reading this blog, I would really encourage you to think twice about having maternity photos taken.  Believe me, not only will you miss that big round belly, you’ll start to forget what it looked like.  Capturing the beauty of pregnancy is a gift to yourself you will cherish forever!

At the request of the beautiful mama here, I’m only going to share a few photos.  But, I love each and every one so very much.

One of my favorite maternity photos to date–she wore this dress on their honeymoon, and I love the soft light and beautiful blue backdrop from the nursery walls.

Cutest. Couple. Ever.  They’ve known each other since middle school!

I love how sweet mama looks here!

….And, a perfect, beautiful, baby belly.

I also had a special place in my heart for sweet baby Z, because she was only about 5 1/2 pounds when I came to take her photographs.  She reminded me SO much (in terms of size) of our now 15-month old son when he finally came home from 6 long weeks in the NICU at 5lbs 12ozs.  So it was such a joy to snuggle this sweet baby girl, she was a dream to photograph, AND has been blessed with an awesome family.

I love this one of baby & Mama

See, smiles!  You can see how tiny she is in her Daddy’s hands.

Smooshy baby faces make me happy!

Just because I love these two pictures together

I can’t tell you how much I love the fact that Big Brother is wearing his super-cool bug rain boots with his pom-pom.  This, to me, has “family” written all over it, in the truest sense of the word!

And, super-cool Big Brother was also super-sweet with his new baby sister. <3

Thanks for having me into your home for this wonderful portrait session B Family!  I had an awesome time!

Momma had a belly cast made while pregnant, and her baby blanket.  I think this is one of my favorite newborn pictures ever!

Such a sweetheart!

I love when I can capture a baby smile!

SO much personality already!

She’s already got the pout going strong…I think Daddy will be in trouble one day.

Love these…

Happy Easter to everyone, have a blessed day!

Their youngest daughter Juliana battled a rare form of bone cancer several years ago, which had gone into remission until last month.  You’d never know from her bright smiley face and sweet, bubbly countenance in these images that she’s currently undergoing chemotherapy again to fight this cancer back into submission.  I know they will appreciate ALL prayers that you can offer up on her behalf.  I can assure you there is no one more deserving.

I could not have been more honored to photograph this family.  It was a dreary, cold day, but everyone was in great spirits and we had a wonderful time.  They’ve inspired me in a profound way, but more to come on that at a later date.  Here are some of my favorites from the day.

Beautiful sisters, Lindsay & Juliana…I can’t get enough of this photo!

All the kids–with the lovely cherry blossom tree!  Love it!

I think R was a little camera, shy…but seriously, isn’t she gorgeous!?

I asked them to pose for the cover of a super awesomely cool magazine.  I think they did a super awesome job.

The fam!  Eye-contact+smiles from 8 different people = Miracle!

Sweet little Juliana, she was so proud that she had picked a flower for her daddy!

I love these pictures, and couldn’t pick one.  Seriously, have you ever seen 6 siblings do nothing but laugh together?

Mom and Dad, you guys rock.

Future models of America.

I have many more, but I’ll stop here!  Thanks for looking…my first “official” blog entry!!

You talkin’ to me????