6-30, St. Ignatius, Montana

We recently went on a 3.5 week, 3800 mile family road trip.  I couldn't wait for the scenic opportunities that awaited me and my cameras.  These first photos were taken at the St. Ignatius Mission with my Nikon D3100.  It's the 'carry around' camera we bought to take to China two years ago.  The other photos were taken from a viewing area near the Bison Range and from a path in the Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge with my Nikon D300 and Tamron 70-200mm lens.  I have to say that I'm pleased with the results of both camera/lens sets.  It doesn't hurt to have a place as photogenic as Montana to test them out, either!

The St. Ignatius Mission 

The Bison Range Viewing Area

Ninepipe Wildlife Refuge

6-24, Beautiful Baby Girl

I love taking pictures of cute babies (who doesn't, right?).  It's even better when the cute baby is a family member-- and one you haven't met yet!  This adorable little girl is my cousin's baby.  (I remember when my cousin was the cute baby and she looked a whole lot like this!)  I enjoyed every minute of this pre-planned, long distance photo session in my hometown during a recent vacation.  It's not often I get to work with family and meet a new member!  How precious she is!!

The little, red wagon is a perfect prop for a session in Montana!

'Grandma' doesn't look like a grandma, but baby girl definitely knows her special role.

The only thing that would have made this photo even better would have been to have mom included.  I love the generation expanse of this image:  Baby, Grandma and Great-Grandma.

This image was made especially for her Grandpa (who taught my little boy to crawl at that age!).    Surely I can dig up a picture of my uncle demonstrating to my son how it's done.  I have no doubt this was repeated for baby girl!

It's all smiles when she's with her mom......

...... and dad.  What a beautiful, happy family!!

6-14, OT / Model / Author

We were fortunate to meet Britt last year, and our paths have crossed in several ways since then.  Through different avenues, she has been both of our kids' Occupational Therapist (think sensory functioning).  Though we saw her weekly, it seems like we were always learning new things about her.  "Oh, you're an author?  I didn't know that!', "Oh, you were a model?  I didn't know that!" And so the conversations went.  Getting back into photography, I couldn't let the opportunity to photograph a model pass me by.  And needing a new photo for her books and website, Britt was a willing participant.  A win/win for us both!  Britt was as beautiful as ever when we met for our shoot, but these days she has an extra twinkle in her eyes.  She has all these amazing things going on in her life, and now she's a glowing new bride as well.  Thank you, Britt, for all you've done for our family. And thank you also, for sharing your knowledge from the other side of the camera!  You're simply amazing!  We wish you all the best, both personally AND professionally!

'What do a Montana girl and Alabama girl have in common?  We're both easily amused by cows!'
These two were cracking us up.  They followed us along the fence line.  Apparently, they wanted their day to shine, too......
or maybe just to be fed!  LOL.....

Britt will be writing a book about yoga for kids with disabilities, so we took the time to work a few yoga poses into the session.

Namaste!

If you would like to learn more about Britt's professional work, please visit her website:

http://www.sensoryparenting.com/

6-3, .....is that a smile?!

There is nothing like being able to photograph your kids over time and watch as they grow and change.    I coerced our son into working with me Sunday afternoon for an impromptu photo session. I wanted to experiment outside with the available backdrops, reflector and fill-light.  I'm not sure where his normally disgruntled behavior was this day, but thankfully it was taking a break.  I'd say the height of his enjoying this activity passed about ten years ago when I first started taking photography courses through the New York Institute of Photography.  Anyway, as I was editing these photos I realized that he's changing.  His face looks different.  His smile's a little different, too.  He's a preteen now, and these photos reveal to me a glimpse of the young man he's about to become.  Has it really been ten years since the only way I could get him to sit in one place long enough to take his picture was to offer him a lollipop?  (Ironically, that may be a trick I'll need for our 3-year old....)  I love that these photos are all smiles instead of frowns.  And the funniest one, the last one, should have been a video instead of a still.  He had a whole 'skit' drawn on his hand.....and it was actually funny.  What a boy he is!

6-3, "Baby Carter"

For anyone who has tried to talk to our Emalie on the phone, you know that she can be hard to understand.  However, she is a whole lot easier to understand than she was a year ago thanks to the help of her speech therapist, Jessica.  Prior to our first meeting with Jessica, I urged her to bring her new baby along to Emalie's session at our house and not worry about finding alternative childcare for that week.  It was one of those rare summer weekdays when our whole family was home.  Jessica began to acquaint herself with Emalie while we all passed around 'baby Carter'.  (Ok, I admit, I was a baby hog, but so what?!).  Now, almost 18 months later, Emalie has 'graduated' from her speech therapy (she aged out at 3 and will begin speech therapy in preschool at the beginning of the next school year) and 'baby Carter' isn't so 'baby' anymore!  Jessica has been a wonderful about supplying tips and ideas for my new photography business (let's just say I have given her the title of "Advisor".....didn't you know that, Jessica?!).    She has even gone so far as offering up her own child for my services.  After months of talking about it, we were finally able to get together for a session this week.  The circumstances were not ideal (both of my kids were home and quite distracting), but I think we all made the best of it.  (Photo session/play date.....same/same.)  Carter was probably relieved to get home and have all eyes off  him for awhile (yes, 18 months later and we were still fighting over the 'baby'....).  Thank you, Jessica, for a fun morning spent together.  Happy 18-month birthday to Carter!  I hope these pictures were able to capture him, as you see him, at this age.  What a cutie!