JFP photo blog

Good Times { Issaquah Family Photographer }

So I meant to post these, the continuation of Friday's post, yesterday, but the day got away from me...not surprising for the day before school starts, I guess.

Anyway, these guys had a great idea.  To celebrate some birthdays, grandma decided photos were in order.  And not just any old photos....fun photos!  You know, rolling down a grassy hill kind of photos.  Let me tell you, this is one fun grandma!

I mean, it's not every grandma who will get her knees just as dirty as the three year olds!  And can I just say how much I LOVE the shot of the girls getting ready to lay some kissing on her....talk about joy!

 

There were also some quiet, cuddly, book reading moments....and if you a regular here at the blog you know how I feel about reading, right?  

 

LOVE this shot....

 

The birthday girls.  Makes me want to have some photos with my mom...hint, hint mom.

 

Guess who we let crash our girl party....though only for a little while....

 

 

Yup...dad....and guess who has him wrapped around their little fingers?

 

I love when you can tell just how much they still really like each other....that part is the number one most critical defense mechanism to surviving the early years with twins...

 

Here's my take on life with twins....

 

Hold on tight to the one you love as your life goes whizzing around you.

 

The family that laughs together.

  We have a shot of them almost exactly like this from when the girls are almost 2, I think?  Now they are almost 4!  I can't believe how fast time goes.  (I know, I know, that makes me sound so old...but it's true...and I am getting upthere you know...went to my 20th high school reunion this last weekend, oh my!)  That's not even my favorite family shot...I'm saving that one for their holiday card!

 

First day of school photos tomorrow (or soonish, anyway) and a big happy first day of NO school to my mom!!

Joy is....

rolling down a grassy hill with your sister.

 

And this is what it looks like at the bottom....

 

 

These girls were moving so fast I was having to trap them between my feet at the bottom of the hill just to get a shot off.  You can bet there were a bunch of blurry ones...I even had to do a little creative cropping to get my shoe out of the first one.  But, since my measure of session success is based on how sweaty I am at the end....this one was a winner!  More photos on Monday....

Happy last weekend of summer!  Sunshine please?

 

  

Anticipation { Issaquah Maternity Photographer }

This weekend I had the chance to photograph one of the cutest bellies around...lucky me!  (Luckier still...I am going to get to see them again several times this year to document their newest addition's first year!)  We had been making plans to meet at a local park (hence the location scouting from before) and all week long I had been cursing the weather.  I mean, when you schedule photos for the end of August, you shouldn't have to worry about lack of light and a freezing cold subject...you should maybe worry about too much light and sweltering heat, right?  Well, these guys must have a lucky charm somewhere because I woke up to beautiful, clear skies and it was only slightly cool.  Perfect.  But that's nothing compared to this belly....here are a few of my favorites, though this session tempted me to post them all!

 

She is absolutely adorable and completely glowing...AND she still has skinny, fit arms.  (I am green with envy.)

 

 

 

We even got to take some photos with the rest of the family....

 

Proud big brother.

 

See how tiny her bump is?  His hand practically covers the whole thing!

 

Giving me his serious look. 

"Ummm, why are bothering me when I am having a snuggle with my mama?"

 

A cute grin while we were playing at the park.

 

Thanks for such a great morning! 

 

 

Scouts

So last week I dragged my middle kiddo and one of her B.F.F.s out with me to scout a new location for some upcoming photos.  It also happened to be at a park, so I could get away with calling it a park playdate!  Obviously I brought along my camera for some test shots, thinking that it would just be that, some test shots.  Well, I actually really love some of what we ended up with so all you lucky people now get to see how cute these girlies are...

Hello sparkly eyes and youthful, glowing skin!

 

 

I love the way her hair glows in the sunlight!

 

A little different processing....

 

 

These ladies came straight from a grueling morning of soccer camp but were absolute dreams to hang out with and photograph...thanks girlies!  More soon as we have an "official" shoot planned with the complete trifecta of BFFs and their new matching shirts...just waiting for the sunshine to come back out!

 

Happy Friday!!
 

'11 Senior { Seattle Senior Photographer }

I got to spend a fun morning with this guy last week, taking a few photos to document his senior year.  Here are a bunch of my favorites....

  He was such a good sport as I'm guessing that having his photo taken at that hour of the morning was not high on his list of things to do.  He took a photography class last year (film!) and is looking forward to taking the digital one this year.  Such cool stuff you can do in high school now!  Anyway, I really enjoyed chatting with him about all that kind of stuff. 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your senior year!   

Guitar Hero { Seattle Child Photographer }

This little guy is 2 and a half.  I know you all know what that means.  When we were outside he was busy.  I mean, of course.  There were rocks for Pete's sake and water to throw them into and a wagon to push.  And hilariously enough, his favorite outdoor distraction were the 4 teenage girls that were having their photos taken down by the pond too.  I think he might have preferred photos with them to ones with his family....I mean who can blame him.  These girls were cuties.  Anyway, a few more favorites....

The fearless leader.

 

Cute little family unit.  

And then we wandered back to the studio for a few shots.  Apparently this little guy is INTO guitars.  So guess what the first thing he found at our house was??

 

How sweet and serious is he?  Oh man, I think he could have played guitar all day long....and you know what that means for me??  Yup, a stationary toddler!  Woohoo! 

 

His sweet, ginormous brown eyes.  How do you say no to that face?

 

The quintessential toddler grin. 

 I LOVE that face and try to get at least one shot of it from every small person I meet!  Love his particularly for the squinchy eyes...just exactly how my sister used to do it!  

 

Awwwww....a quiet snuggle with his blue.

I had a ton of fun with you guys and will get you more photos soon! 

Cuteness Overload { Seattle Child Photographer }

There's something kind of intimidating about photographing another photographer's family....though in this case the intimidation factor is heavily outweighed by the absolute fun-ness & cuteness of these guys. And it doesn't hurt that we've done this before a time or two!  A family session with a one year old and a dog, a maternity session with a one and half year old, a newborn session with said toddler and a new baby, a photo playdate in the middle, and now that baby is one.  Have I ever told you how much I love seeing families grow?  So here are a few of my favorites, though, to be truthful, this doesn't even come close to giving you the whole story of our morning fun.....

The happy birthday girl!

 

 

All mama photographers need to be in a few photos with their babies and I just love this one...oh, and the one with dad isn't too bad either though I know this mom has already taken about 7,000 of these two together!

 

Hello cuteness!

 

I love these kind of shots for a little size perspective.  I figure mom and dad are pretty much going to stay this height forever, so when she is older she will be able to see just how tiny she used to be!  I love how kids are so amazed by how tiny they used to be and by how much they have grown. 

 

(Newsflash:  I just decided right now that I am just going to have to do a separate post with big brother's photos tomorrow...I just can't narrow it down!)

 

We did venture inside for a few shots and a fabulous outfit change...so cute!

 

Ack...I just realized what time it is and I have to go wake up all the children so we can go to the dentist....doesn't that sound like fun?  

 So, just one more...and not only do I LOVE this photo but I am super proud of myself for getting at while I was holding an adorable, though slightly wiggly one year old!

 

So stinkin' cute!

Big brother will be coming your way tomorrow....stay tuned!

  
 

 

 

Alphabetical

We love a good alphabet book around here.  In fact, we are a little literacy crazy around here...avid, lifelong readers is what I'm after!  If you are like minded you need to check out this awesome blog, Letter Soup!  It is FULL of all kinds of fun & fabulous ways to incorporate literacy in your everyday activities and around your house. With that in mind, I have challenged all three kids to come up with an alphabet book this summer.  So far we've got the photos taken for one (Animals, A-Z) and a pretty good idea for the second (Food, A-Z).  The third is likely to be more challenging and the way the summer is flying by, might end up being just another one of my fabulous ideas.  I thought I should show you a few shots of one of our already done books.  We've done this more than once and it is a fun way to get the kids involved in the vacation photo taking and also get those vacation photos in a book, quickly and easily.  I used Blurb to print this one...it's the 8x8 soft back version...about $15, I think, and pretty easy to layout.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

It Had To Be You

Yesterday my parents celebrated FORTY TWO years of marriage.  Congratulations you guys! 

We have started commemorating my parents' anniversary by attempting photos with their grandchildren.  This year was no different, except for the fact that it was cold and super windy...not ideal.  But they are all so darn cute it just doesn't really matter.  A few favorites....

 

 

 

See what I mean about windy?

 

 

 

And then, because the boys have "opposite" shoes and you know how I feel about shoe photos....

 

What a silly little goofball!  

Sweet Cheeks { Issaquah Child Photographer }

I love this little guy!  I have known him since he was just a wee little embryo and now he is TWO and a big brother to boot.  He came to visit last week and we had a chance to goof around in the backyard....and I just happened to have my camera with, fancy that!  Here are a few of my favorites....

 

Squeak!  Isn't he adorable?

 

I was a little worried about the challenges of shooting a speedy little man in the blazing sun...it can be a technical challenge when you are moving slowly, never mind when you are racing around.  Luckily it all turned out alright...the worst that happened was that I was a sweaty mess by the end! 

 

I absolutely adore the combination of the awesome shirt, jeans and cons...especially a little dirt on his knees!  Does it get any more 2 year old than that?

 

Cute, cute, cute!

 

And these ones are mainly for me...a little on the artsy side....

  

I'm not exactly sure what it is that I love so much about that one.  Perhaps something about a quiet, still moment in the life of a two year old boy??   But I do know it just makes me want to grab him and snuggle him. 

 

Some serious pout action.