Nephew Jameson

Baby Jameson was born April 17th, 3+ weeks early.  After a week in the NICU for some careful watching, he was able to go home.  After the issues with his older brother, everyone was very worried on how Jameson would do but he surprised everyone.  Shoot, my son was further in term and did worse!

Shortly after he came home, I was able to get a photo shoot done.  I have a long way to go in Newborn photography.  It is not my specialty at this moment!  But I did get some beautiful images nonetheless.

My favorite

I love this one too

This one just cracks me up!  

Babies, Babies, Everywhere Babies

Our family loves to grow by magnitudes all at the same time!  It's pretty funny actually.

In 2005, my parents gained a son-in-law and a grandson within a month of each other.  I got married and my brother had the first baby of the family, my nephew.  Can't believe he will be turning 6 in November!

In 2007, they gained a daughter-in-law and 2 granddaughters.  My brother got married, and they had my niece and I had my daughter.  The girls are 6 weeks apart.  

In 2008, my cousin had his first baby, a little girl.  My best friend had her first baby as well, a little girl - that is best friends with my daughter.

In 2010, my cousin had his second baby, a little boy.  I had my son - in December, so he is now 4.5 months.

In 2011, we are up to 2 new babies already!  My brother had his third and my best friend had her second, another girl.

So in 5 and a half years, we have added 9 babies to the family and we have had 5 marriages since 2004.

It still cracks me up on how fast we have grown, Christmas dinners are now a strategic war plan on how to fit all these people at a dining room table, sadly but luckily not all of us can make it every year which helps the strategy planning.  9 babies, 1 Great Grandma, and 16 adults!  

Easter on the Jersey Shore

This year we were here on the Jersey Shore.  It was a fairly quiet day, with a small hunt for eggs around the house with my daughter.  Spent a little time at my brother's with his family, and an old friend in town came for a visit and to trim my nephew's hair.  The afternoon was spent on the deck enjoying the super warm weather (Finally!!) with my grandma and editing pics.  Topped off with a yummy prime rib dinner and 2 hours of folding laundry - yes I was that behind!!

I love that one!

We had a lot of fun this weekend, including splashing in puddles and dying eggs.

Sweet and Cute!

My last mini-session of the day consisted of two sisters.  Both are just so sweet and just adorable! And all that beautiful hair made for some fun! They were natural models in front of the camera, it was such a joy shooting them.

The contrasting colors of the matching jackets was just perfect!

OMG! This photo blows my mind.  I LOVE it!  Those hats!!  The perfect pose and smiles!

Wardrobe change!  It was awesome that their mom brought props and extra clothes to change it up!

If they don't get this one in a large print and hang it on their wall, I might just have to.

Thank you Sherri for the chance to step into your world for a little while 

Future Model and Future Heartbreaker

I was very lucky to shoot a dear friend's two girls today.  This shoot was so fun and full of high energy! Two sisters with very different personalities, and getting to enter their world for a half hour was a total blast!  I would so tag along on all their family outings and vacations just for the laughs! Thank you Karyn for that half hour of fun!

The Future Super Model having some fun and letting loose

And the Future Heartbreaker - that is if the boys can ever possibly keep up! 

Wrangled in 4 Kids

Wrangling in four kids is a huge undertaking!  And totally WORTH it!  This morning I had the chance to do a mini photo session with my niece and nephew and their two cousins.  When I can get them to sit for half a second, something magical happens.

Chasing them down to the gazebo for our session.

I think this one above might just be my favorite.

I still have so many more to edit, but just wanted to a little something from our romp in the sun! Goodbye winter! 

Two Sweet Cousins

Today, I got to photograph two sweet cousins.  Little Lauren is a repeat customer, I shot her late last year for some fairly newborn/holiday photos.  Tomorrow is her christening, and special photos were needed to capture her amazing dress that was handmade from her mom's wedding dress.  Her aunt and cousin were in town for this special event and graciously allowed me into their world for a short time.

Sweet Caeley was bribed into this shot with her brand new fairy wings, tutu, and wands. Beautiful and ever so kind sisters and future BFF cousins.

I love this shot and so happy Jill caved and got in front of the camera :)

Those amazing eyes!

And that stunning dress!

Just A Girl and Her Hoodie

My daughter is obsessed with her hoodies.  I'm not sure she would even consider wearing a jacket without one.  Course she calls them her hats, but that's okay.  She is only 3, yet such a little diva.

She has so many of her father's traits, it blows my mind.

My favorite is this one above.

Growth

Today as I sat outside and enjoyed the first real nice weather in FOREVER with my daughter (and alone time with her which is rare these days), I realized as I was taking pictures of her that I was basically re-shooting a previous day with her.

It was 11 months ago (almost to the day!) that I sat outside my mom's house and took these similar images. She was wearing the same pink hoodie (her daddy bought a 4T when she was 2!), and we had bubbles (though this time they sucked and didn't work).

I thought I would do a little comparison to see how I have grown as a photographer, and how much she has grown!

2010:

2011:

2010:

2011:

Best of 2010

2010 was a great year for me personally and professionally.

  

The first great professional achievement was the upgrading of my camera body.  I went from the Canon EOS xsi Rebel to the Canon EOS 50D.  

I had my first sibling portrait session, and here is a favorite from that shoot.

Thank you Lisa for the opportunity.

I had a very unexpected personal surprise - the news of a new addition to our family, just 6 weeks after being told we had less then 10% chance of getting pregnant with donor egg ivf - well that doc was WRONG!  And to add humor to all this, we gave him the middle name of Chance.

I had 2 family mini-sessions from my giveaways, thank you Kim and Vanessa for entering and allowing me to be a part of your lives for a short time.

I was blessed to take some newborn photos of my cousin's newest addition, along with family shots for them.  Thank you Jon & Kerry!

I did a holiday shoot for 2 adorable little boys, thank you Jill for letting me have this honor.

And Blake and Jaime, so many thanks for letting me get my hands on baby Lauren. She is precious, and looking forward to our upcoming shoot.

And many thanks to my niece and nephew for tolerating the constant camera in their faces every time I see you.

And to my newly acquired extended family.  USMC strong.  Louise, Brandy, and Benita - you make Cali tolerable (outside of you, Kimmie!) and made life on base housing awesome.  Looking forward to coming back, though we will be missing you loads Louise.