A new little fresh baby around the holidays the ultimate Christmas gift. Coming from a religious background, newborn babies around that time of year pull at my heartstrings in a special kind of way. This little one was born a few days ahead of schedule (Christmas Day), and actually interrupted the decorating of their Christmas tree! When I got to their home, the top half of the tree had lights, and the bottom half was bare. It was a happy reminder of reality, the chaos, and the re-prioritized joy that a new life brings.

This spring marks 10 years (ten?! really?!) since I first met Lizzie, Buffalo-native, dreamer, romantic who never stops inspiring me to seek beauty, be true, and love fiercely.

BONUS TIP:
Erin was about 3 months pregnant in these photos, which was not the original “plan”, and let me know ahead of time that she was expecting. These photos are a great example of how, through simple posing and styling, you can either maximize or hide any curves or pregnancy.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, friends! 

Despite setbacks and cancellations we got most of the gang into the photo this year right before Christmas…

I realized two things: I needed to show off motherhood to the world as the beautiful, powerful role that it is, and I needed to give families the incredible, gorgeous studio portraits they deserved. Why can’t your family photo look like the Kardashians? Why can’t you look like that, too? What makes them so special, while you have to be stressed and go to a field outside at sunset in the cold? Did someone tell you that? Did someone say, “Well, you’ll never be a model“? Did someone say, “Just go with the so-and-so photographer, they’re more your style“? Did someone say, “That doesn’t look good on your body type, you should get this instead“? Did someone say, “Don’t be extra“? Did someone say, “Stop showing off“? 

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I could photograph women of this age ALL. YEAR. LONG. You women who have lived life and wear it on your skin with pride… let me photograph you, please? You have the je ne sais quoi that a bleached-blond, size-00, 18-year old can never have. You have an sexiness combined with subtlety that is impossible to put into words, but oh-so-beautiful to photograph.

Preparing for a family portrait is not for the faint of heart. If you done it even once, you know this. It’s not as easy as it looks, is it? Especially if you, mom, or dad, are the ones with the nice camera on a tripod with a timer, trying to get everyone to look AT THE SAME TIME!? HOW HARD CAN IT BE, RIGHT?

Malachi and Jerusha came over to help with some light tests and I’m loving this Ralph-Lauren, but kind-of-old-hollywood-inspired photographs.

Twenty five people = Four families = One portrait.

More family photos after the jump! —>