Just a year old...

How is it the end of August already?

You can catch a glimpse of this summer's shoots (that have already been posted) over on Facebook...and half a dozen more to come both here and there!

Loved meeting this family and spending some time in our crazy warm summer days...celebrated Evan's first birthday with a shoot with his parents, grandparents, and sweet cousin! 

He is one lucky little man to have so many who love him dearly!  :)

A few of my favorites from the shoot...cannot wait to share the rest with them! 

My most very favorite moment as a photographer. Ever.

Did you know that November is National Adoption Month in the United States?  Now you do!

It's no coincidence of the timing of one of my most favorite moments as a photographer...and I just had to share.

A while back, I was asked if I could shoot some "updated photos" for a very special couple who were looking to adopt a baby.  Being an adopted child, I was thrilled to help.  And as a graphic designer, overjoyed to be able to help layout the 'preview album' for prospective birthmoms to look through...to help them get to know this amazing couple.  They selected photos of their life and I laid it out for them to help tell the story of who they are and why they would be great parents.

I'm thrilled to share that in less than two months, they will be welcoming a sweet little boy into their family!

When they met the birthmom of their son, they asked her what helped her make the decision that they were "THE" parents.  She handed  them the album, turned to the last page, and said, "This image.  I can see you walking along, hand in hand, with your child."

I give you the image above from the last page of their album, taken on our farm, by two of the world's best parents-to-be.  I can't begin to describe how happy my heart is to be able to be part of this journey and to be able to capture it as a photographer.  

And I cannot wait to welcome this little one as well...with tears, open arms, and of course, my lens.  ♥ ♥ ♥

Sweet Evelyn at One Year

How can Miss Evelyn be a year old already?  It seriously feels like it was just yesterday that we were shooting her mama's beautiful maternity images.  To celebrate her one year, we shot down at Pt. Defiance and the Rose Garden. 

To Evelyn's signature plan, her parents added the maternity shoot + an 18 month shoot, so her Signature album will be extended to add in the finest from each shoot.  I can't wait to pull it all together -- I just have to wait 6 more months!

A few of my favorites...be prepared to be captivated by her blue eyes!

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Looking back at how she's grown...

• In the womb
• As a newborn
• At three months
• At six months 
• At nine months

The Wee Ones: Gracie and Graham

The first shoot back following maternity leave.  Time was of the essence as he was scheduled to deploy to the middle east a few short days later...and we pulled it off!

We spent an hour on the farm with their two beautiful wee ones before he left.  One of the things I adore about where I live is that because we have the lower fields without trees, you'd never know we were shooting on a Christmas tree farm!  You can capture some fabulous northwest images with dozens of different backdrops and beautiful light.

I LOVE coming back to shooting with a family like this. I'm so grateful for the chance to be able to shoot them together before he left! 

A few of my favorites from the afternoon...

Loved shooting Gracie and Graham. How can you not adore these little smiles?!?

The 2010 Shoot to Fight Cancer Winner: The Callon Family

When the Callons once last year's Shoot to Fight Cancer, I knew it would be an adventure.  Becky and Dave have four grown boys, and it would be the chance to capture *everyone* together...even the next (third) generation of Callon.

We shot down at St. Martin's University, which holds a very special place in the Callon family's heart.   It was the perfect combination of images to capture family with the outtakes that make this family who they are.  :)

I loved the images that Becky selected to have enlarged to the 16x20 gallery wraps.  One of the whole gang, and one of the guys together.  There's a few images of how they turned out a the bottom.

A few of my favorites from the shoot...











Little Joey, hanging "on his own" with the guys.





One of the images selected for the gallery wrap.  You can see a bit of the texture in the wrap.  I love that the image extends all the way through the sides + top + bottom.  You can see in the photo beneath how it truly 'wraps' all the way around.  :)







And all the guys together.




So excited to see who wins this year...and what images they select for their own gallery wraps!

Want to have a chance at winning the 2011 Shoot to Fight Cancer?  The deadline is coming up quickly...this Saturday, April 30th!  All the details are here!  :)

Ariana & Gibson

These little ones are growing up so quickly...it feels like just yesterday I was shooting Ariana as a five-day-old!  Ariana is turning 4 and Gibson is turning 2...time just flies by.

They are hilarious together, and this image of them sitting by the river just makes my heart happy.  How peaceful!

A few of my favorites from last weekend's shoot...

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To see how they've grown...

Ariana at five days • May 2007
...at three months • August 2007
...at six months • November 2007
...at nine months • January 2008
...at one year • April 2008
Ariana at two years, Gibson as a newborn • May 2009
Ariana at two and a quarter years, Gibson at three months • August 2009
Ariana at two and a half, Gibson at six months • October 2009
Ariana at two and three quarter years, Gibson at nine months • January 2010
Ariana at three, Gibson at one • May 2010 

Sweet Macy and her sisters

Perfect little Macy Faye was welcomed into this world by her parents and her two big sisters...who are also Finian Road Signature babies.  :)  Always a fun shoot when I get to see "little sisters" become "big sisters"!  And especially fun that this was my last newborn before my own newborn is due in a few short days!

I've shot the oldest, Siri, since she was 3 months old, and she just celebrated her 5th birthday.  Such a blessing to be part of their world!

A few of my very favorites of all the girls, Siri, Elise, and now Macy.

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How awesome is it to see these girls grow up together?

Siri at three months • July 2006
Siri at six months • October 2006
Siri at nine months • January 2007
Siri at one year • April 2007
Siri at a year and a half • October 2007
Siri at two years • April 2008

Elise as a newborn, Siri at 2 1/4 years • July 2008
Elise at three months, Siri at 2 1/2 years • November 2008
Elise at nine months, Siri at 3 years • March 2009
Elise at one year, Siri at 3 1/2 years • July 2009 
Elise at  21 months, Siri at 4 years • March 2010

Squishy faces and spunky giggles

This sweet little squishy face is captured at his six month shoot...with his two-year-old sister along for the ride!  Loving this shoot from the Woodland Creek Park in Lacey...with the lake in the background and the sweet playground to finish things off. 

As my own family prepares to grow to four with two little ones underfoot...I love seeing how other fams with two wee ones pull it off.  Lots of flexibility + a great sense of humor seem to be the ticket!  :)

A few of my favorites from last week's shoot...