Homegrown Photography » Your Homegrown Stories

I can’t tell you how much fun this session was. We just went on a walk with the dogs and (for me at least) it was a nice relaxing stroll. I love seeing the different ways families relate and finding the different bonds and special quirks families have and you know… It’s the same with our four legged babies.  And the “outtakes” from this session are hysterical!

I should do a “outtake” post every so often! Of course not any of the ones where moms are giving THE look at dad or any of dad showing how he’s REALLY feeling about the two hour long session!

I’m kidding! I never get those! 😉 I do however will post sassy teen pics. You can tell them that too! 😉

My first thought was, “All the better to eat you with my dear.”

Then I felt bad. Its more like “All the better to kiss you with my dear!”

“I like to give kiss too!” she says!!

Best friends.

That face! Those ears! The smile! Isn’t she a doll?

Please know I love animals and I’m all about involving your whole family! Unless it’s a spider. I don’t do spiders.

I can’t believe I have shoots I haven’t blogged.  I even have an elusive wedding to blog. I keep crying every time I try. I also don’t want people to think I do weddings… I don’t. OH THE STRESS!

Anyhow! I’ve known this sweet family for a long time now. I’ve seen these kids grow from being shorter then me, to taller then me. Not that being taller then me is THAT big of a feat… I digress. I do however love these people and all of the quirky fun they bring to my life.

They are-for the most part-an active family who like to hike and explore so going to Rockville park sounded like a great idea!

Key word… SOUNDED.

“It’s not far! Just one more hill!”

They can’t count.

AND as we are walking they are shedding scarfs and sweaters and I end up wearing them! It was rough. 😉

Celeste may be the only normal one of the group.

One of Janies BFF’s since birth!

Don’t ask.

It really was funny!

Monika? Were you giving him a wedgie? 😉

Aren’t they adorable and sweet?

And then there is reality.;)

Again… Don’t ask. 😉

My goodness! Aren’t they SO grown up? Where does the time go? I’ve been photographing this family on and off for YEARS! When we first met, our children were so small! Antonio was a skinny little guy, Mary Rose and Nana were two-ish, Brady and J.C. were 5ish… and that was all the kids I had at the time! Tamara first knew me as a frazzled mother of two. Now, I’m a crazy mother of 5. 🙂 I used to drive Nana to preschool when Tamara worked in the boys classrooms . Mary Rose and Nana would talk and talk in the back of my van. I had no idea what they were saying, but they would just chat away! I wish I had those conversations recorded. And then Nana would sing! OH MY! It was wonderful! I’m pretty sure she knew all the words to Gwen Staffani’s,  Hollaback Girl and would SING it loud and proud!

Honestly, I was a tad nervous. The day was lovely, and I love shooting in the fall! You never know about the light and sessions are full of hunting perfect, warm and magical light.

I had not see the kids in a while and they have grown up so much… I soon realized they were the same goofs only bigger.

Only the same tricks to get them to smile didn’t work. 😉

It is always the shots where they let their guards down that I love the best!

She’s gonna kill me.

These two… Right below… my very fav.

Oh… this one too!

I can’t pick! Thankfully, I don’t have to. 😉

 

Perfection!

Thats some good math skillz. Right? Its photographer math…

or not.

I knew the first time I met with Chrissy and her sweet girl I’d adore them. And then when I met the rest of the family… I was in love. 😉

What you see is what you get. I was giggling the whole time. The kids were such fun lively little humans with ideas ready to share.

Most of the time I ask mom or dad if they have a shot they REALLY REALLY want me to capture.

For example: Maggie always plays with my hair, I’d like a picture with maggie playing with my hair.

And more often then not, I also ask the kids if they have ideas.

Really, it’s to get the kids to loosen up relax and play with me a bit. Not all the time do those pictures make it into the final cut. My goal is to get them to play and have fun.

To let the kids know I care about them and what they think.

Well, I didn’t have to ask these kiddos. They had ideas and were ready to share!

It made my job super fun!

As we were heading back we noticed a lady running her horses and stopped to watch… Much to this little three year olds dismay we had to leave.

Being a horse girl myself, I felt her pain.

There was a little lip quiver and then a deep sigh… she knew whining wasn’t going to make things better.

And in that very moment…

We heard the lady call us,

“Do you wan to pet him? He’s friendly!”

My eyes got misty. I’m not going to lie.

Perfection.