Fall Family Minis | Northwest Arkansas Family Photographer

I'm so excited to see what sort of amazing fall color we are going to have this year,
aren't you? 

It's going to be gorgeous.

And if Autumn is just around the corner, that means Fall Family Mini-Sessions!

There are three different options this year, perfect for all needs and budgets.

S'mores | Northwest Arkansas Lifestyle Family Photographer

When Alicia and I were brainstorming about locations for

their fall family session,

I suggested that we use their own backyard.

They had recently built their house, it is gorgeous,

and they have an amazing backyard.

I also said suggested that we do a 2-part session. 

The first part being a traditional fall family session and

the second part being more lifestyle, capturing them doing

something that they love to do.

I knew that Steve had

spent many hours making a cozy little area at the

edge of their property for gatherings, complete with a fire pit,

so s'mores seemed like the perfect thing to do!

They worked so hard on that fire. 

Poor Steve only ending up with one s'more

because his family ate them all as he fought to keep it alive.

Her quick little hand kept sneaking bits of chocolate.

She adores the camera.

She would light up whenever she realized I had it pointed at her.

Photobombing sisters are the best!!!

I love how she is looking at her oldest, her only boy.

This one is growing up so fast.  She is just a wee bit older than my oldest daughter.

She is such a sweet girl.

I love this one.

Together and enjoying the evening.

And chocolate.

:)

My Family! | Northwest Arkansas Family Photographer

  You often hear about photographers' families getting the shaft when it comes to having their own portraits taken.  I'm so guilty of this myself.  Our first real family photos with a hired photographer was back in 2012.  I LOVED it.  I'll have to share some of those photos on here soon, too, because they were so amazing. 

One thing I do force ask my family to do often is take group photos using my trusty tripod.  As a result, we have tons of family portraits over the years.  Some of them are casual, some are dressier, and sometimes you can tell that one or two of the kiddos are just SO OVER it, but I don't care.  I have yearly photos of my entire family and that is all that matters to me.  ;) 

I had been telling everyone that yesterday was going to be family photo day for a long time.  I prepped outfits and gave several warnings that it was going to be an early morning since we were taking photos at sunrise.  Even though I got a lot of resistance, the results are a handful of photos I adore.

And yes, one of us is not smiling, but that is pretty much a standard thing for her when we try to get her to go with the flow, so it is very fitting!  :) 

PS, be on the look out for some new posts really soon as I post all the awesomeness
from the fall busy season!

Life at Seven Months | Northwest Arkansas Lifestyle Photographer

I love little babies. 
And I love little babies at this stage.
The just starting to crawl stage.
Super cute, not too fast,
and just so curious about everything.
Put that together with the fact that this beauty's momma is
one of my really good friends and you
have what I consider the perfect session.
♥

I spent a morning with them and just documented how their day unfolded.
After wake-up changes.
Cuddles.
Play time.
Eating.
I love these types of sessions. 
Lifestyle/storytelling whatever you want to call it,
it just speaks to me.

And baby (finally) makes three | Northwest Arkansas Family Photographer

I love a story with a happy ending. 

They had been wanting a baby for over a decade before they finally had this little adorable sweetie. 
She is one of the cutest babies that I've ever seen and certainly one of the happiest!  Seriously, that little grin with her tongue sticking out makes me giggle every time I see it.  Sooo cute!








She was just starting to sit up, but since this session, she's really mastered it.  Yay!!



You know I love getting a few shots of just mom and dad during family sessions!!






She's thinking, "Hey, crazy lady.  What's that big black thing in front of your face??"



Yeah, I think she is well loved, don't you?  :)



I love new families. :)

Throw Back Thursday | Northwest Arkansas Photographer

It's Thursday and I'm jumping on the Throwback Thursday bandwagon!  I'm throwing it alllll the way back to the long ago time of the beginning of March. ;)

We decided to make a weekend trip to Dallas to hit Ikea (our first trip!!) and go to the Dallas World Aquarium.    
John and I hadn't been to the Aquarium in almost ten years when our oldest daughter was a baby, so it was really great to watch the girls experience it. 

It was a pretty sweet day. 

Here are just a handful of all the photos.  I decided that I wouldn't torture you with the hundreds of photos I took, but if you ever come to my house, I may show you their pages in my Project Life albums.  ;)

I think I know a couple of guys who would kill for that mustache.

    
     I didn't think I was going to get a photo of this guy.  He was a busy little thing and wouldn't be still.

    

    
This sloth was so cool.  They have him out in the open with no cage with his little trees.  You can get right under him.  He had his head tucked under his arm for most of the time we watched him, but he did look up just for a moment.  :)



   Is it just me or does this frog look like he is plotting something??

   
Hands down, the jelly fish are always my favorite when we visit an aquarium.  I love them so much.

      
   The girls loved them, too.      

       

       
It was a really packed day and everyone seemed to want to hang out in the shark tunnel.  I don't blame them.  It's kind of awe inspiring to see all the creatures swimming all around you. 

  
Looove this.

        

Ugly little guy, yeah?




   Of course, no trip is complete without a silly bathroom selfie, right?  Even if the reflection does make it look like my kid is licking a faucet. 


   

helllllooooooo | Northwest Arkansas Family Photographer

Yes, yes, it has been quiet around here.
I got into a bit of a busy spell around the first of the year.
Family and business life left me with very little time to blog the way I wanted to,
so I just let it slip onto the back burner with a promise I'd be back at some point.

I'm actually in the process of making a new blog.
I've had this little baby since 2009.
That's a lot of growth and change for a person.
I'm not really the same photographer that I was back then
and  since I want something that reflects that,
I decided to start from scratch.
I can't wait to finish it and be able to share!

For now, however, I'd love to show off some of the family sessions that I've
done recently that I never blogged.

I loooove these guys. I've photographed their wedding, baby pictures of their daughter, and shot fun family sessions. They recently bought a house and land to fulfill a dream of starting a little farm. They had just completed their chicken coop around the time we shot this session, so I had to include a shot of a chicken! :)

Ooh, this family. The mom was my middle daughter's preschool teacher
and will forever shape the way she sees the world. I was absolutely delighted
when she asked if I would take photos of her family. They are such lovely, kind people.

Oh, THIS family was HILARIOUS! Those little boys made me laugh so hard and work, work, work to get these images.
I also love that this session was a surprise present for the grandma. :)

Families growing up can be so bittersweet. This family wanted a family session before one of the sons went off to college out of state. We braved the hottest day I shot over the summer (as well as the most humid) in order to capture these. I also fell in some mud and almost did the splits!

And finally, I'd like to share this family. They are so sweet and kind and love each other so, so much.

Thanks for getting a little caught up with me!  Soon I'll blog about some of the engagement and couple
sessions I've been doing!