Watch Your Step

My first photo session of 2016 was a really fun maternity/extended family shoot.  Kayla's cousin had gifted them the session, both for Kayla and her parents.  Photographing families, I can do that in my sleep.  Honestly maternity photography is another ball game.

Frankly your last month of pregnancy is the absolute last time in your life you want someone with a camera in your face.  But the pressure can be intense to document the time "for posterity" as Kayla put it.  But really, when your body has been taken over by another life form and not even taking a deep breath feels easy, it's not hard to just say "oh well" and walk away from that.

But I'm really glad women are able to get over that hurdle and do the maternity pictures anyway.  Because it's all about to change.  Never again will it be just the two of you, you and this man who thinks he loves you now but he's about to realize he had no idea how much he loved you.

And you, mama-to-be, you're on the cusp of change as well.  You're going to become even more amazing, even more compassionate, even more than you ever thought you could be.

Watch your step.  The next one is a doozy.

Hartley Family Photographs

A not so long time ago, a beautiful maiden met her match in a faraway kingdom called Idaho. While her family long maintained that no one would be good enough for this fair maiden, the dashing knight somehow convinced them that he was worthy of her brains, her smiles, and even her love. Which, of course, brought us to this....

 

 

And you can only go for so long with all of that, and you end up with a little of this....

 

Enter grad school, finals, homework, internship interviews, and oh yeah, a brand new baby. Throw in some adjustment to life as a stay at home mom in the dead of winter, minus a husband who's just grinding away at that degree. Luckily summer time always comes in this kingdom. And with it, a completion of coursework and an easy summer waiting for that final internship to start.

 

A family has begun. They've passed trials already and are stronger and more resilient because of it. Soon, the fair maiden and her knight will look back and think "We were so young! We had no idea what we were doing!" Yet, they will be proud of all they've accomplished together and the incredible family they have created.

 

 

And so it begins; Their Story.

Gwynnie

She just moved here, with her little family.  New to Arizona, new house, new neighborhood, new baby any day.  Add a wild and crazy toddler to the mix, just for fun.  She knew about lifestyle photography from her home back in California.  She loved it and called it photojournalism.  We decided to try a lifestyle shoot, just hanging out with the family in the new house and taking a walk in the new neighborhood. 

She said it easy and fun.  No clothing to coordinate, no location to scout.  Of course a few posed pictures because everyone needs a stunner.  But mostly just a whole lot of fun. 

Oh, and she looks like Paltrow.  Yeah, it's a hard life.  :)