ALBUMS!

I just started offering albums!  They are so yummy and sexy and beautiful and....well, I like them a lot.  Below is the price sheet for either option : photo album or modern album.  Both represent all the things I love about the world of paper, ink and some imagination.

Nothing is sweeter than expecting your second child...

Our dear friends were expecting their second child when they asked me to photograph their family before his arrival.  We have almost everything is common - our eldest daughters are 2 months apart in age, she is a full-time stay at home mother like me and our hubbies are die-hard Democrats.  You could say that we have lots to compare and we understand what it is like to raise children in the city in small homes.  We have enjoyed conversations about dealing with preschoolers, creating extra storage space and going on city adventures together.  But one thing about our life in the city is different - the lake.  And not just any lake - but the most beautiful lake Seattlites treasure from all directions.  Lake Union.  It was pretty easy to think of a good location to take photographs for this session.  Living on a houseboat comes with a step-outside-my-door-into-the-lake kind of advantage and I enjoyed photographing this family in their natural surroundings.  Ahhh...the lake.

Photographing a second-time mom is so amazing.  You would think first-time moms would be the icing on the cake, but it is the mothers that have already endured the sleepless nights, the spit-up on the shirt and the cuddles, kisses and cries which warm my heart.  Parenting is a lot of work and is emotionally trying.  But these mothers know what they are getting into and do it all over again because the rewards of being a parent outweighs the negative.  Their beautiful anticipation and excitement radiates off of them spreading the contagious 'maybe I want another baby' to people like me.  As for now, I enjoy my restful nights.

Where was I?  Oh just dangling off the ledge on my stomach - anything for a good angle.

To date - one of my favorite family photos.  It had to be all by itself.

Maternity : A Woman's Experience With Nature

My wonderful neighbors, Paul and Tarah, are expecting their first child any day now.  The anticipation has taken over our neighborhood.  We all look forward to welcoming a new neighbor into our community; our neighborhood family. 

Maternity is a women's most intimate experience with nature and after experiencing it twice myself, I know Tarah will look back at these photos and see the strength, endurance and sweetness that comes with carrying a child.  For me, nothing represents strength, endurance and sweetness better than plants so I took Tarah up to Volunteer Park's Conservatory for some 'woman and nature' at its best.  Tarah looks amazing and I can't wait to hold that sweet little baby girl.

Our other neighbor is a jewelry designer and handmade a gold chain anklet for Tarah and her baby girl.  The baby chain connects to Tarah's larger chain, but is removable for when baby is old enough to wear it.  What a precious mother-daughter gift.  Check out her jewelry work at http://www.karazidesign.com/

I think it is great when parent's put personal touches in a nursery.  Tarah's dad drew the sweet Winnie the Pooh scene and Paul and Tarah's mom painting the dresser/diaper changer adding an octopus to the front.  How cute!

My daughters are obsessed with Tarah's belly.  Nora told me the baby is her "sister neighbor" and Natalie says "night-night baby" before going to sleep every night.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy FIRST Mother's Day to all first-time expecting mothers! 

And a Happy Mother's Day to all the women who have stayed up through the night with a sick kid, patiently watched their child learn to put on their own shoes, ran to the grocery store to then realize you have spit-up on your shirt and to discover dinosaurs and Cheerios in your purse, but more importantly, to the women who have been blessed with slobbery kisses and little giggles in their home. 

The work is tough; the rewards are a delight. 
Motherhood is a life adventure worth experiencing.  Celebrate your day!

Baby Makes Four : Myrtle Edwards and Olympic Sculpture Park

Ahhhh...we are finally getting a bit of sunshine in the northwest.  I have had a busy week and blogging about this session is one more ray of sunshine to my day.  I titled it 'Baby Makes Four' because this Capitol Hill expecting couple represents many couples in the metro-Seattle area.  When I spoke to them on the phone, they said they would like maternity photos including their doggie.  Like many with furry children, I understood that their next baby will make it a household of four.  They all had a glow anticipating the new arrival and even the doggie would sniff at the baby belly every now and then to make sure everything was okay.  This baby (expected any day now) will be well loved by two amazing, funny people and have a furry big brother to play with and get lots of wet kisses.

 The doggie checks up on how the baby is doing....and then needs some chasing.

 You know its love when you see two people in a park dancing to no music.

How beautilful is this belly - look forward to seeing the baby pics!

Samantha, Ryan and Baby on Board

Pregnant women are known for 'glowing;' the brightness of their face reflecting their excitment and joy of having a child.  But I have found that many fathers 'glow' as well and when you have a mother and father glowing, you have Samantha and Ryan.  Their baby girl arrived in January - congratulations!

anticipating an addition...

I didn't know how to categorize this post- maternity, couples, family- so I did all three.  This couple is expecting their second child 9 years after their first.  The beautiful mother is not a first-time mom, but there was something in her eyes where the anticipation was as if this was her first.  And maybe time does that- renews first feelings.  So as this was considered a maternity session- I left photographing an expecting family, an expecting couple and an expecting mother and her beautiful belly.  It was so much fun!  The arrival of a baby is anticipated by the whole family and everyone should be photographed.  Family enjoys sharing in every milestone together- even if one member needs to carry the extra belly by themself.  I couldn't believe this expecting mom- she is 8 months along and sported high heels.  I was impressed.  Congrats family!