2-8, Outdoor Maternity Session

I had the continuation of a two-part maternity session earlier in the week.  The first session was in the studio with the mommy-to-be and the second part was an outdoor session with the couple.  It was definitely one of those, "I get paid for this?!" moments.  This couple is so cute and so fun (and not to mention so photogenic)!  We laughed and laughed as we captured this special time.  Little baby girl made her presence known with womb acrobatics.  She already loves the camera!  (Will she follow into her mommy's modeling footsteps?!)  Mommy and Daddy got their wish for a snowy session, and I got my wish for an above-freezing day.  (Pretty lucky considering the crazy weather we've had here this winter.)  What an amazing family of three this will be.  (And, I'm fairly certain she's going to be the cutest little thing ever....)  Good luck, little family, as you welcome your precious one into this world!  I'll be thinking of you and eagerly awaiting my chance to meet this special little one!  Thank you also for letting me share part of this special time with you.

1-23, Maternity Model

I can't tell you how pleased I was with this maternity session.  I had new lighting equipment and had reworked my studio space to utilize it in a different orientation.  Those factors plus a glowing mommy-to-be were the perfect combination for a fabulous session.  I had 30+ beautiful images for my client, but these are the only ones suitable for all audiences.  I'm coming to realize that I love maternity sessions.  The hope, excitement and anticipation is present in every image I capture.  We all can't wait to meet this baby!

2-3, After the Snow

What is the point where the excitement for the snow storm diminishes?  Somewhere between 12-16 inches of accumulation.  That's the precise moment when the excitement turns to a sense of complete overwhelm as you ponder how you'll have the strength to shovel it all off your driveway.  It's a humbling moment as you realize the kids think it's great fun and you look at it as a giant chore.  That is why, when the kids did go back to school, I forced myself out into the frigid cold for a post-storm photography walk.  Well, I actually took two walks (and for those of you who know me well, you'll know that anything less than 45 degrees is not my idea of walking weather).  The first walk was after the brief overnight storm that dropped a few inches.  The remaining photos are from the second walk after the big snowfall.  Honestly, as beautiful as it was falling, I was a little disappointed at the lack of awesomeness once the storm had cleared.  Well, maybe that's because at that point I was just 'over' it.... over the continuous shoveling, over the cold and over the thought that it's only just now February and summer is far, far off.  Anyway, it still makes for an interesting comparison from the pre-storm photos to the during and after ones.  And for those of you currently living in warm climates, think of me.  I'm most definitely thinking of you!!

After the first snowfall....

After the big snowfall....

1-30, Blue Jays

Just prior to the post about my walk with the approaching snow storm, I crouched in my backyard and took 75 photos of the blue jays enjoying the fresh peanuts we'd just put out.... for the squirrels.  I don't think the poor squirrels got any (yes, I DID just say 'poor squirrels') because the blue jays were too busy fighting over them.  I was enjoying the balmy weather and they were enjoying the tasty treat.  Here are some of my favorite images from this little wildlife session.  I really enjoy watching these birds in our backyard-- despite the few times I've seen them behaving horribly towards some of the other types that frequent our yard as well.  (Really, I have to block those images out of my mind they were so barbaric.....)  But, based on pure beauty, these birds are my favorite.