This is my friend Katie and her family and extended family. We were reunited at a 10 year high school reunion social gathering for old friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. Some came from back east, one from Europe and some from down the street where they still live with rent from their parents.

It was really fun to see how she has not changed AT ALL- still tall and beautiful- very Southern California like. I say let her have two more kiddos and then we can talk!Moving on… she let me know that they wanted to set up a family session with me and I was thrilled. Not so thrilled about the 6 hour drive… so we met up at Lake Tahoe where they were having her husband’s family reunion.

So Steve, the baby and I piled into his ‘67 Chevy (fire fighter red of course!) and headed up. It was a beautiful drive over the mountains in Amador County! And wouldn’t you know it, that very weekend was Hot August Nights! So we fit right in with the truck.

Katie had scouted for a great field for us to shoot in and we had a great, relaxed time. I really enjoyed the kids! There was Katie’s little girl, and the twin boy cousins! And they looked totally different! One blue eyed and one brown! It was a kick. Steve and Mav went for a walk and found a small stream and played around in the water. We spotted them from above.

I think that these pictures turned out great and Katie will love them. But as it seems this summer, happiness is tied with sorrow for me and those I know.  Just a few days after returning home, Katie’s step father passed away. Please remember their family in your prayers today. Katie’s mother in particular.

As you see this happy smiling family, remember to hug your little ones tonight and call your mum and dad to let them know you love them. Katie made the most of her last visits with her step-dad I am sure. Let’s all do the same.

Katie- I am thrilled to show you these. I know you have sorrow now, I hope this little peak brings some joy to your day.

It’s baby galor in Amador County! It must be our Jackson water! I hope you like seeing newborns on the blog because that’s what you are going to get for awhile!

Remember this amazing maternity session? And their family session for last fall? Well I was suppose to have a link to the birth session but I was out of town doing this session, when Mr. A decided to come a week over due. I didn’t cry about it… to much. I was so looking forward to this birth! That is THREE that I have missed! You can see all  their newborn sessions though- here, here, and well you are looking at number three!

Well on to this yummy baby boy! This is baby number four in this family and the third boy! Oh Mama! You will be running after them for sometime I think! If you know this Mommy, you know she is kind, compassionate and patient to a fault. The perfect mother to raise sweet and confident men! And don’t forget sweet big sister. She is in the middle of the three boys… she will unfortunately never get a date.

This baby slept, and slept, and slept and slept!! I couldn’t believe it. My rule is 10 days and younger but after this amazingly wonderful and peaceful session I might have a 6 day rule!He was only four days! And so tiny and perfect. He was curled and wrinkly and peely still! I have to say that I love nothing more really love doing newborn sessions. It is my passion and my art.

I hope you love these little sneak peeks Mama. (she was facebooking me 10 hour after the session to see them!)

This is my stunning sister in law, Shannon. She will be giving birth to my nephew or niece (my girls are adamant that it is a girl!) in a little over 3 weeks. I can not tell you how excited I am. I am almost crazy.

Yes, I am one of those Aunties!! I have three kids of my own, but this is my baby brother’s baby. I can not WAIT! I had the privilege to visit them last weekend to do her maternity pictures. You will not believe how lovely she is. She made every picture to perfect. Seriously. I don’t know how on earth I will narrow all 511 shots down!! So far I have 105 that I LOVE!

Maternity pictures in Jackson, CA where I live are easy enough. I was in new territory on this session for sure down in Southern California. But we figured it out fast- we broke into the old train station in Old Town Moorpark off High Street. It was funny. And dirty. But mostly funny.

As you can see, she is all belly. Don’t you just hate love to see such a beautiful pregnant woman? Who doesn’t even look pregnant from behind? Sure you do.So I will be gone for a few months weeks  when this baby comes! I will need to schedule some sessions in Ventura County! Don’t miss me to much Jackson- I have quite a few newborn sessions this fall! One tomorrow morning!

Until then- here is my Shannon and Taylor’s baby!

This is my dear dear friend Ashley. I was thinking how to describe this session and was coming up a little blank. See I’ve known Ash since first grade. We went to school together for over 15 years- First grade through college where we both attended The Master’s College. She was in my wedding. And I fully plan on being in hers (hint hint).

Ashley is a constant in my life. Always there when I need her and honestly I’m not sure I have every had an argument with her. We live far from each other but she is Auntie Ashley all the same to my children. My husband loves her, my family loves her, I love her. This is a love letter to her.. LOL.

A-N-Y-W-A-Y-S… This session came about after some sad times. Almost two years ago, Ashley’s dad Pastor Glen, went home to heaven very suddenly. He was a funny, gentle and wonderful husband and father. He could throw a joke out faster than my kids throw fits. (and that’s no joke)

This session was done to establish what is today: A mother and her daughters and son in law. It was a little touchy and sensitive to shoot, but we laughed a lot. Especially when they all got nailed with a wave that I knew was coming…
I can say that this family is special and sweet and will always be that way for me.

I hope this is what you were looking for and fills your hearts with joy when you see the love you have for each other.

Really quick session yesterday with the Izz*Kidz! Really sweet and respectful bunch. We laughed tons, mostly when the ‘girlfriend’ word was mentioned to the 9 year old boy!

I wish all sessions where as easy and FULL of great shots like this one was. Mommy I have no idea how you will pick just a few!

Hope you love them and I am excited for fall mini-sessions with you!

(yes folks- start planning those Christmas pics!!!)

Had such a magical time tonight! The lighting was perfect, the belly was perfect, the mother was perfect… the locus not so perfect but we lived!

I was stunned when I pulled these pics up. They were perfect right out of the camera! I feel so lucky to have spent this evening with L tonight.

She is everything motherly-earthly-fresh-goddess is she not? Goddess!

I can’t wait to be there to photograph his birth in a couple weeks! Come on Baby Aaron!

So I get request for weddings. Annndd I say no.  I can’t handle the pressure! Nothing about being responsible for someone’s one day of true perfectness appeals to me! Lenses stop working, memory chips die… cameras get stupid for no reason all the time. Ask any wedding photographer who has been in business for a half a second and you will see that is all true.

And I just don’t want it to be my fault if you have no pictures from your wedding! So when my brother in law asked me to shoot his wedding my response was:

” Why don’t we call this guy? He is an actual wedding photographer.”

Actually I said OK. Really. I did.

And below is a little peak at a child photographer playing the part of wedding photographer for a day. (notice the pics of the children??)

I hope Greg and Tiff love this photos. I cried laughed a lot as I took them!

We took a extended vacation last month and things are getting back to normal! So I though I’d open the blog up with a BANG newborn session here in Jackon!

Check out this cutie pie! She is baby number 5 for this sweet family that I have gotten to know over the years. I love their mother dearly! She was there when Courtney was born- she is a Labor Delivery Nurse at our local hospital, Sutter Amador.

Miss B. here did NOT want to sleep. She was only concerned with eating. So we waited. And laughed, and waited some more. Eventually we got some great stuff. This little newborn girl will never be put down. With four other siblings to take care of her why should she?

Hope you love the pics Jen!

I got to go all the way up past Volcano for this session! It was so pretty up there! I rarely get to go that high and forgot what a wonderful view it is!

This adorable little man is so happy! He really LOVED the bath and his Nana! He is totally laughing at her in so many of these pictures.

That’s what I need at all my sessions- A Nana in my pocket!

His Mama was so calm and collected with him. She didn’t break a sweat and saw to his every need without fail.

She is obviously a natural mother! Can’t wait for the fall when we can do a family mini session! Hope you love these as much as I do!

Had to reschedule this for rain a couple times but FINALLY got it done! Baby T is a flirt! He was happy even though we kept him up for h-o-u-r-s!

Plus Dad found this GREAT field for us the day before. Dad is a firefighter and mom a Realtor.

Baby definitely makes three in this happy family!

Thank you for a wonderful time.

If you need a Realtor Kristina  is your girl! Check out her site HERE.