This is Anika.
When she’s not busy being an artist…
I’m pretty sure she wants to be a supermodel.
She couldn’t get enough of me taking her picture. And check out this couture pose (executed completely on her own with no coaching):
Again, expertly showing off the garment. She would make any designer proud.
This is Amit.
He really wasn’t interested at all in having his picture taken.
He’d rather be behind the camera. I get that, Amit. Trust me.
So together I think they make a great team!
Category: families & kids
-
Anika & Amit
-
Sam’s Bar Mitzvah
Jessica invited me to shoot Sam’s Bar Mitzvah with her earlier this month, and it was a really special treat for me since I had never been to one before. And the reception was especially fun in that it almost felt sort of like one of the spectacular parties on MTV’s Sweet 16, with a huge room decked-out in rollerblade and soccer-related decorations, a DJ and dance crew to keep the party going on the dance floor all night long, and TONS of friends in attendance. The big difference from the MTV show though is that Sam and his friends are totally genuinely nice, really well-behaved kids. I had worked with Jessica at Sam’s aunt and uncle’s wedding this summer, so it was neat to see the family again. Sam is such a cool kid, and he totally shined during the rehearsal before the ceremony.
His family was so proud.
And he was so very deserving of such a fun reception.
Chris and his crew from Unique Dreams did an amazing job of keeping the dance floor full of energy. As a side note for this next image, I have never seen so many people doing “the sprinkler” in one room.
They did some really creative games as well as some traditional ones. How low can you go?
I seriously wanted to put my camera down and join in on the fun! Okay, maybe not for the limbo, but definitely for the dancing. It was such a fun day. Mazel Tov to Sam!
-
Lisa & Dan
Lisa and Dan are the super adorable couple that I got to spend time with yesterday. They just recently celebrated their one-year anniversary and wanted to have some updated portraits done. So we hung out for a little while on a really perfect fall day at the park. And when I say we hung out “for a little while,” I mean I tried my hardest to get Dan through this painlessly and quickly so he could get to go back home and enjoy Football Sunday. He was such a good sport, and was all smiles – how could he not be? Lisa is so cute and funny (and obviously gorgeous), and he clearly adores her.
Lisa and Dan: Thanks so much for spending the afternoon with me yesterday! I had a great time getting to know you, and I hope you enjoy these!
-
Casey & Lawson
Of all my friends, Casey holds the record for the one I’ve known and kept in touch with the longest. She and I met and hit it off right away in Texas when we were in middle school. Our friendship was solidly formed over a common inclination for getting the giggles, a mutual love for a certain boy band, and gossip about pretty much anything found in Bop magazine. And even though we’ve both moved all over the place since then, we’ve remained dear friends. We even ended up living in the same state together again when she moved out here to Virginia. Alas, she’s moving again, but before she left she was able to visit last night with her baby Lawson, who makes me understand what it means to want to just squeeze and pinch someone’s little face all the live-long day. He also makes me realize what an insane amount of energy it takes to keep up with a 12 month-old. I have been dying to get him in front of my camera for months now, and finally had the chance, and whew! He wore me out. I slept so well last night! Casey explained to me what a challenge it is to photograph Lawson, and I admit to thinking gosh…he’s little and only started walking just recently, how fast can he be?
Yeah. He’s fast.
I chased and chased, and managed to snap a few shots when he’d topple over, or find something that held his interest for ten seconds. Meet Lawson and Casey (who looks amazing):
Lawson is such a typical boy…it only took him a few minutes to get into the dirt and bark:
This pause in action lasted, oh, about 30 seconds:
That’s not a Photoshop trick, my friends, those are Lawson’s true baby blues:
I think Casey was keeping his interest for this one…
And then I managed to make a few interesting animal noises to catch his interest in this one. I usually like to let the kiddos do their own thing and I just work around them, but I can be pretty entertaining, too I think. I have no shame whatsoever in making a complete fool out of myself to get a shot. (Yeah, there was some droolage going on in this next one…it’s hard work getting new teeth!)
Oh that face! Those cheeks!
Casey, I’m going to miss you! I hope we get to visit each other often, and I already can’t wait to photograph your little munchkin again. Best of luck to you with the move and everything, and I know we’ll talk soon. Love to you both!
-
“Yep, Three Boys!” (and a Girl)
Today I visited with and photographed a fun family of six! Ethan and Aaron greeted me at the door, and we were joined shortly thereafter in the living room by Connor. Dad went upstairs to help Mom get new baby Kathryn dressed and ready to go. I’m constantly in awe of parents in general, and while I don’t have first-hand experience, I know that having three little boys must keep Kim and Jason very busy, so I stood in the room just thinking to myself, wow…three boys! I know for certain that I didn’t say it out loud, but as if he was channeling his mind-reading super powers or maybe he could just read my astonishment, Ethan grinned and said, “yep, three boys!” Hilarious!
Just a few quick favorites (don’t worry Kim, we did end up with some nice group shots!):
I had asked them to make their best silly face just for fun on that one. And in this next image, I asked if anyone could see themselves in my lens:
Look how adorably sweet they are with their new baby sister:
The gorgeous parents of those adorable boys and brand new baby Kathryn (I can’t even believe Kim just had a baby – she looks amazing!):
And now to feature sweet little Kathryn!
I’d like to think she’s smiling because she’s enjoying our portrait session…
Teeny tiny three-week old toes! Feet only as long as Dad’s thumb. So cute!
I hope you guys had as much fun as I did, and I hope you had a great time at Chuck E. Cheese afterwards! Thanks for hanging out with me, and thanks for bearing the heat and humidity…I think it was worth it! (Note: this completes item #62 – Photograph a newborn on my 101 in 1001 list!)