Everyone has a "why" or two for why they do what they do. For me one of my big why's is my dad. This guy was behind a camera all the time growing up...and he always had the newest camera tech. He always had a laugh and a helping hand ready for his friends and family. November 30, 2001 was the last day I ever spoke to my dad, he passed unexpectedly the next day. Suddenly all I had of my dad were the memories of an adolescent girl, and the pictures he left behind. Those pictures are some the most precious thing in the world to me. Just looking at his face helps me hear his voice in my memory clearer, and looking at the pictures he took of me reminds me just how much he loved me. I communicate my love to my daughter in the same way even now- she and I have an awesome time playing dress up and doing photoshoots together.

So that's one of my big "why's." Because life is short, and we're not guaranteed tomorrow, and because every time I pick up my camera I'm reminded of my dad's prolific collection of cameras that were always pointed at me. Providing people with images of their favorite humans that will hang on their walls for years to come is something that is very meaningful to me. I know just how important a single picture can be to a person, and I consider it an honor and a great responsibility to create those special images of your most important people <3  

 Where on earth is this year going?! I can't believe Thanksgiving has passed (hope everyone had a good one!) and that we're creeping up on Xmas fast! And this sweet little fairy princess just welcomed a shiny new baby brother a couple weeks ago!!  

This session was so much fun- we caught the very tail end of the warm weather and were able to do her fairy photos outdoors at the Denver Botanic Gardens! It got a little chilly as the sun went down- and I spotted some goosebumps on her little arms when I was editing- but man she was a little modeling champ! I love the personality that always comes out once you get a little girl all dressed up- I have yet to have one not warm up to the camera once their imagination starts to take over...it's a process that never stops being fun to watch - and man does this little one have the best personality...and her curls are just perfection <3

This sweet girl was outfitted from my client wardrobe and styled by yours truly- something I include in all of my sessions!

Off shoulder dress: Luna Luna Perlina Pearl Tulle Dress
Shoulder cut out dress: Nellystella Vanessa Dress
Fairy wings: Hello Faerie

'Tis the season to shoot indoors...(fa la lala laaa lala la la) Now that our temperatures are dropping (and oh man are they...maybe we'll have a real winter this year?) most of my work moves indoors...something about goosebumps and blue lips just isn't cute in portraits haha! 

My studio had a full renovation over the summer (I'll have a future post dedicated to it!) and it's all ready to make some magic this season. I have a pile of holiday crowns, an assortment of beautiful shawls, boleros and capelets, and fistfuls of glitter all waiting to make some timeless holiday portraits of your littles! These images make great gifts for grandparents (and moms! ...I see you guy whose wife forwarded this post haha!) 

Through December 31 I will be running my studio holiday sessions for $175 which includes 5 images from your session, access to my client wardrobe, and full styling!

Get in touch asap to reserve your spot- and I can't wait to see you all of your beautiful babies over the coming months!

This little bright eyed sweetheart is the daughter of another talented photographer- Kenesha Facello. After a bit of a long day of assisting for me, and some extremely uncooperative weather, we got her little princess in for some fairy shots. 
This little girl is the pinnacle of why I love photographing toddlers- their natural curiosity and easy joy always make for a fun session (as long as we can keep away from a meltdown haha!) Every smile in this session is genuine, and mostly aimed at her mama- which to me always makes the sweetest smiles. 
Thanks for the assist friend! Can't wait to get your little munchkin in front of my glass again!

I love it when I get an opportunity to take a session to a full on fairy tale place- having free reign really lets my creativity flow. This little girl's mama always sets me loose with her- and after 3.5 years working with her we have a pretty good flow together! We started first in the studio with some slightly more standard photos- which you will have to wait for, then headed out to an area I knew would translate beautifully into a fairy wonderland. My little nymph and I left her mama in the parking lot with her new baby brother and made some magic together.  

Her beautiful pink dress was created by CoralieBeatrix - it moved so beautifully, I'm so glad I could add it to my collection!

It's no secret that I loooove my photoshop...it's like having real magic at my fingertips. Compositing (combining multiple images into a single image) is one of my favorite things to play with in photoshop. It takes a long time to become skilled at compositing as it requires many components to make an image believable, and it's definitely a skill I'm still practicing- but I thought it would be fun to show off some of my favorites today! The final image on this post took me about 14 hours to complete...but I mean- what else are you gonna do when Game of Thrones takes off two years? 

Oh sweet niece of mine- it feels like only a week ago that I held your newborn cousin in my arms while anxiously awaiting news of your arrival, and only yesterday the two of you were sharing a bathtub and running around in diapers. You made a rough entrance, but man you've taken the world on full force ever since. Happy Birthday sweet princess <3

It feels so early this year- but guys- the leaves are totally changing! 
The colors we get in the fall are so incredible, it's definitely one of my favorites times of year to shoot! Especially since it's usually fairly temperate in Colorado when the leaves change...growing up in Seattle if the leaves were colorful the ground was wet haha. 

Here's a few of my favorites of my princess from last fall. I'm leaving for Italy for 9 days on Sunday (!) so my fall shooting window will be a little slim- be sure to get in touch soon if you love these golden tones the way I do!

This was an amazing and very relaxed session. We got super lucky with PERFECT light that just made these sweet little girls glow. These girls are so cute together, little sis LOVES her big sis....I could barely get her on her own to photograph her- she just wanted to follow her big sister everywhere!  The girls loved playing dress up and got plenty of 'awwww's as we explored.

My style of shooting is pretty different when I work with toddlers...the only one of these images that was posed is the final one with both girls together- otherwise this was an evening of us wandering the Denver Botanic Gardens, encouraging the girls to explore and play, and capturing them in their natural state. In this age range I will try to get their interest in the area that I want them to stand in, but mostly I'm just running around trying to keep their face in frame haha! Working with the little littles is always unpredictable but really I LOVE these sessions- they keep me sharp.

Have I mentioned lately that I love what I do? Being a children's photographer is the best thing ever- so thank you to all my incredible clients who trust me to capture this fleeting time in their babies lives <3

Have a toddler you're afraid to let loose on an unsuspecting photographer? I'm your girl!

Every mother knows that motherhood does not come without a price- whether the price be our sleep, our sanity, our privacy, our old sense of identity- or yes, even our hair. This gorgeous mama has spent 8 years growing this gorgeous head of hair and has THE most beautiful dreadlocks- which her gorgeous nursing baby spent the last year slowly wearing bits and pieces away until the ends began thinning in places. So before her mama went to cut off inches of her lovely hard earned hair, she wanted one more photo session with her amazing baby. Motherhood is beautiful in the most unusual way sometimes.

It was a beautiful evening with this family- and I mean, come ON- this family is just STUNNING all around. Watching them laugh and play together just warmed my heart, and that little girl is just the sweetest ever!

What was your biggest sacrifice after becoming a parent?