Over the summer, I had the honor of mentoring this fabulous photographer (and she’s gorgeous too I might add!) and so I must say, it is a lot of fun photographing kids who are used to a camera! This little guy was so happy, and my camera loves him, as does his mommy’s. I know all too well what it is like to be behind the pictures and not in them so I made sure to capture lots of mom and her birthday boy so that he can forever see just how much his mommy loves him.

Another great thing about sessions with people who know photography is that they know what to bring… check out this piano!! One of my new favorite images ever:

…tied with this one… how am I supposed to pick between the two?

Summertime at the Orchard is just magical. I haven’t shot there in months so going back was like falling in love all over again. I just love it there and hands down, it is my favorite location to photograph in (did I mention that my husband’s family members own it and take the utmost care of it?). It is a special place. I know how to find the light there and that’s the beauty of photographing somewhere that you are familiar with.


I always try to start out getting the “perfect photo where everyone is looking” so that relatives don’t ask, “did any of them turn out? you know, where you’re all looking at the camera?” Sometimes I get it on the first take, sometimes I don’t. This was my first click.


And all you have to do to get natural \, happy expressions out of parents is to tell them to look at their child. Really, it is that simple.