Have I ever mentioned that I absolutely love photographing newborns?

They are more challenging to photograph than a lot of my subjects:

• they often need to eat,
• or have their diaper changed,
• the room needs to be kept so warm that I’m generally sweating,
• I’ve been pooped and peed on so many times that I now pack at least 3 shirts to change into, just in case…
• and they are tiny, little humans who you need to treat carefully and with respect for their needs and more importantly their safety.

But in spite of the challenges, they are truly my favorites. I am touched every single time by their newness, their innocence, and what an absolute miracle they are. I remember when my son was born, my OB (who was the oldest doctor in the practice and had delivered thousands of babies) remarked that he is amazed every single time and counted himself blessed to be in the presence of one of God’s miracles at each delivery. That’s pretty much how I feel about photographing these little ones!

Nicholas was a little older than most of my newborns, just a little over 2 weeks old, and he was a BIG little guy! Okay, that’s a little contradictory, but you know what I mean. He had also gotten used to s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g out, so those curled up types of poses just weren’t working for him.

Can you believe all that hair?! His big sister and his momma have the same gorgeous, thick, dark hair.

During our session, he was an absolute angel with only a few peeps when he woke up to be fed.

During one of his awake times, we brought his enthusiastic big sister upstairs for a few pictures with her new little brother. Amanda is only 2 years old, and she was utterly fascinated by her new baby. Her parents were a bit nervous about trying to have her hold him, so when she flopped herself down next to him, I just went with that!

While mom was taking care of feeding Nicholas and freshening up his diaper, I got to chat for a bit with Amanda. She is such a doll!

Just a few more little bits of delicious newborness:

I was so struck by his sweet little ears! Love that fine fuzz on his face…

I think this picture of Nicholas’ hand, nesting in his mom’s, nesting in his dad’s is one of my favorites from this session. I love seeing just how tiny these newborns are, and comparing them with their parents makes for a great contrast.

Thank you for the honor of documenting this time for the newest member of your family!

I love getting to watch my Little Sprouts babies grow during their first year–it is amazing how quickly they change! I got together with the O family for our 3rd session just before Christmas. Catherine has become a little ham! She is curious, and smiley, and mobile.

I so love photographing this family because while they like some posed-type pictures, their preference, like mine, is for what is described by some people as “lifestyle” photos, and by others as “camera unaware.” These are the types of photographs to which I refer when I say that “real life happens between the poses.” These are the pictures that capture your family interacting with each other in an authentic way. In my personal experience, these are the types of photos that when we look at them in the future bring back a true wealth of memories. And isn’t that why we take photographs?

I have to say that I am a lucky girl in that I get to work with so many amazing people. But sometimes I get really lucky and meet someone who I just click with immediately. Lori was one of those people. Maybe it was because we are both moms to twins? Or share the same hair stylist? Or maybe it is that we seem to have a similar sense of humor. Regardless of the reason, from the first time I talked with her on the phone to the time that we actually met for her session, I felt like she was someone I could hang out with and share a glass of wine!

We decided to take pictures at Davis General Store between Huntersville and Charlotte because it had some interesting architecture and was located along some dead railroad tracks. Pictures along railroad tracks seem to be quite popular, but can  be dangerous (not to mention illegal), unless the tracks are no longer in use. Her kids had a great time coming up with places they wanted to pose, so I just went with the flow and snapped away.

When we arrived, Lori asked me what I thought of having the kids tie her up on the railroad tracks for her Christmas card photo! How unique is that?!

Her card featured the following picture along with a note that read: “Dear Santa, We can explain!” Now do you see why I think this woman is fun?! I love that creativity and sense of humor.

Lori’s daughter was the fashionista who coordinated the styles for our session. They started off in those gorgeous chocolatey browns, and then used my mobile dressing room (aka: my mini van, Bessie) for a quick change into some lovely charcoals. I think this 11-year-old has better fashion sense than I do! She definitely had an eye for color.

We finished up our time together with her friend, Gary (also known as the supplier of the rope for our railroad picture!).

Thank you for such an enjoyable, relaxed morning! I can’t wait to get together again!

Welcome to my new blog/website! I know that it doesn’t look much different from my other one, but the bells and whistles behind the scenes that make it easier for me to communicate are AWESOME! I’ve been working on migrating to this site for the past month or so (typical Anne move–pick the absolute busiest time of the year both for my job and my family to change platforms–what was I thinking?). But what better time to launch a new website presence than at the beginning of a brand new year?!

I have a bunch of sessions from November and December to share now that Holiday cards have been sent and gifts have been given and I don’t have to worry about spoiling any surprises. I’ll be working to get those on the blog over the next week while also preparing for a trip to Atlanta to test the waters as a corporate event photographer!

Also, be sure to check out the “How Much” page (under Details) to see some changes in pricing when you decide to purchase digital images (hint: you’ll get a great deal on all prints ordered through me!)

I’m looking forward to another fabulous year with all of my clients, and if I haven’t met you yet, I can’t wait to get to know you!

I don’t know about you, but I’m not really keen on getting my picture taken. Maybe that’s one of the reasons I ended up behind the lens: to decrease my chances of being in front of it!

I think a lot of people feel a little insecure about having family pictures made. There are always tons of excuses:
“I need to lose some weight first!”
“I don’t know what we’ll wear.”
“Let’s just do pictures of the kids.”
“I don’t really like those fake smiles.”
And those are just *MY* excuses!

Which is why I feel so honored when a family comes to me to have a full family session. I know just how hard it can be to take that step to even schedule the session, let alone pick out what to wear, and then convince everyone else in the family to cooperate!

When AnnMarie contacted me to schedule her family’s session, I knew it would be a special one. She has a great attention to detail, and her kids are a lot of fun. When we were chatting about what they should wear, I suggested she check out my Pinterest board with family photo color palette ideas and wardrobe suggestions. She decided to go with a classic gray, black and white palette with denim, and boy did she knock it out of the park! This family does not look “matchy,” but no one can deny they go together!

We decided to head down to Jetton Park on Lake Norman since it offers such a wide variety of environments to take pictures. We started off around this great climbing tree to try to take advantage of the little bit of fall foliage that was starting to show its colors. After a little bit of discussion between the kids over who would get to use my yellow chair, it was decided that E would get to stand on it for the group picture, but G would get to sit in it for pictures with his dad.

I love this picture! I took one where everyone was looking at the camera with great expressions, but this one? Where they’re all sort of joking with each other, and laughing, and being a family? This is the one that speaks to my heart.

There’s a gorgeous covered walkway at the park, complete with fabulous, aged sliding doors, not to mention a gorgeous, architecturally interesting opening. I couldn’t resist grouping the guys together for a little fun. G was such a ham! Things started off a little stiff, but then I asked him to show me his best “super model” pose. Oh man! He just RAN with that one! He started striking pose after pose, and cracking himself (and all of us!) up at the same time.

For good measure, we popped over to the swing for a few small groupings. And yes, I got an amazing picture of E and J laughing into the camera, but this one? With her little impish smile directed up to his big brother, pre-teen face (he was trying SO hard to be serious here)? This is the one that gave me a glimpse into their relationship. She looks up to him and adores him, and even though he thinks he may be too cool to show blatant affection, he can’t resist her. Sigh.

We had some more fun with the swings, and then walked over to the “beach” where there used to be Lake (the water is so low right now) for a few more family group pictures.

Next, it was time for a “family line-up” along those amazing doors. Want to know which one has the stinkiest feet? Well, I’ll never tell!

And then, I decided to get artsy…

Be afraid. Be very afraid!

I explained what I was envisioning for these last few shots: C and AnnMarie having a sweet kiss while autumn leaves gently fell around them.

Sounds romantic, right?

So the kids gather up armfuls of leaves, mom and dad have a little kiss, and….

WHAP!

A huge clump of leaves and pine needles smacks them right in the face!

I swear I had asked the kids to throw the leaves UP into the air to fall OVER their parents, not to throw them AT their parents. But kids will be kids, eh?

Once again, we all dissolved in laughter as we tried again (and again, and again, and again…) to get the image I had envisioned.

And just look at those love birds! After over 16 years of marriage, they’ve still got it.

Thank you so much for letting me into your lives!

Four of the photographs I cherish the most are the four-generation pictures I have for my children while their great-grandparents were still living. It is so important to take those pictures when you have the chance! I know that these pictures showing the links of our family will be treasured by my kids some day too.One of my baby plan families scheduled time for a four generation photo session before their daughter’s 4-month-old session. We got together at Allison’s mom’s gorgeous home on Lake Norman to take the photos.

First, the girls. It is so cool how you can see the family resemblance in these beauties!

Then we let some of the guys join the fun…

I think that Catherine has the same color of eyes as her great-grandma!

Kim (Catherine’s grandma), saved this dress from her childhood. You just don’t see this dotted swiss fabric used anymore, which is such a shame! Catherine was way more interested in checking out her toes than looking at me though…

Allison’s dad had been painting when I arrived, so had to get cleaned up to be in the pictures. This is my favorite picture of all of the direct members of the four generations. I hope that they will cherish this picture some day as much as I do mine.

My friend, Allyson, wanted a special gift to give to her brother and his wife for their new baby. She wanted something that would be memorable, and more enduring than just a new outfit, or a piece of baby equipment. So she purchased a newborn photo session!

I was so honored that she chose me to be the photographer (she has several other talented photographers as friends). But even more, I was struck by what a meaningful gift she chose. Many new parents don’t realize how quickly their newborn changes, and scheduling a newborn photo session is the last thing they are thinking of while trying to navigate the challenges of bringing home a new baby. I know that I didn’t think of doing photos of my babies until they were closer to a month old because I was nervous about taking them out to a portrait studio when they were so young. The photos that are captured during a newborn session will be something that parents will be able to treasure for the rest of their lives.

I got to meet Reese for his photo session when he was 12 days new. He was still such a sleepy little guy, but was already starting to want to stretch out a bit more!

He did NOT want to keep his legs curled up in the little nest.

He was starting his 2-week-old growth spurt, so we had to take a little snack break, but it hardly took any time at all for him to slip back into that newborn milk coma!

I am forever amazed at what a newborn will sleep through! I can remember tiptoeing around with my son for fear of waking him up. But once they are in that deep sleep, you can move them all over the place!

When I was visiting my parents the week before this session, I raided some of my mom’s antiques. With a house like theirs, there is no need to go to antique stores! I couldn’t wait to try putting a baby in this old wooden bucket. It was a looking a little rough when I first brought it home, but after three applications of orange oil, the rich wood is just gorgeous! And when you curl a bitty baby inside, it’s just too cute.

His momma says that he almost always had his one little arm up by his head when he was still in her belly. I love how he put it up there for her to remember that forever in this picture.

There is something about a tiny baby in his daddy’s arms that always melts my heart. I don’t know if it’s because the dad’s just seem so tender with them, or if it’s because the baby just looks that much teensier…

Thank you for allowing me into your home, Candice and Eric! I can’t wait to see the pictures you ordered once you have them hanging in your gorgeous home!

I was so glad to finally get to shoot this family’s session! We’ve been talking about it for almost a year, and trying to pin down a date for nearly six months! Let me tell ya, this is one busy family!

We met at 7 a.m. at Jetton Park in Huntersville since the sun rises so early during the summer. The morning was beautiful, but that lovely NC humidity was already pretty strong, even that early.

We got started with some gorgeous, glowy light on the beachy area. I love the way Marc is looking at Johane in this picture! You can just see that he is totally smitten.

Julia was playing at the edge of the lake while I was snapping the pictures of her parents, and I couldn’t resist catching her unawares.

I tend to prefer less “camera aware” pictures, but this one is still one of my favorites from the session. As Julia gets ready for middle school, and all that that entails, it is lovely to capture this mother/daughter connection as it stands at the end of elementary school.

Marc was so affectionate with his wife and his daughter, and every time I turned around I’d catch little moments like these. Just makes me happy.

This is another one of my favorites. Who can’t help but smile on a swing?

And here’s the winner for the family portrait! I can’t wait to see how it looks on the 16×20 canvas that they printed it on.

Oh, and Marc and Johane? You better hang on to your hats, because this girl is a stunner. Seriously, just beautiful. (And does anyone else see the resemblence with a certain Glee star?)

Thank you for the chance to spend a great morning with you all!

Jen and I have been talking for a few months trying to get our calendars to mesh for a family session, and I think it was worth the wait! What a gorgeous family! The clothes that Jen picked were so classic and timeless, the weather was warm but with a gentle breeze, and the light? Oh, the light was just perfect. That wonderful, glowy, golden time of the day that we photographers like to call “the golden hour.”

We met at Stutts Marina which gave us lots of places to put together family poses, but also a great place for the kids to play and be themselves. There was a family of mallard ducks that particularly caught the kids’ imagination!

Henry, Maddie and Eva were such a delight to work with, each with such different personalities. Henry is all boy, and loved chasing the ducks, picking up rocks and then throwing them in the lake, and did a great job of corralling his little sisters. Maddie is a very girly girl who at first preferred her sister’s ruffles and bows until I pointed out that her little sister’s outfit wasn’t nearly as good for twirling as hers! And Eva? Well, she’s one! And she has places to go, things to see, and no time to be sitting still for pictures, thank you very much!

We had a lot of fun together and I hope that I captured your family’s dynamic the way you live it!

Kelly’s mom has been asking for a current picture for several years now (apparently the one from college is a little out-of-date?), so she decided to surprise her with some new portraits this summer.

After running behind toddlers, making goofy faces and noises for babies, and soothing newborns, it was a refreshing change to photograph someone who is not only open to instruction, but is also absolutely beautiful!

She wanted her photos to reflect her new lake-front lifestyle, so we headed to Stutts Marina which offers beautiful views of the lake, docks, and ginormous old trees.

Kelly was so natural in front of my camera, and even laughed at my stupid jokes (which tend to be geared for the elementary-age set…).

I hope that she enjoyed herself enough to not wait so long before getting new pictures taken! Girls as pretty as her should be in front of a camera all the time!