When Damien and Amaya’s mom told me about her idea to do photos outside…in the cold, I admit I was a little skeptical. All I could think about is how miserable the kids would be and how frozen my fingers would be. While the frozen finger part was TRUE, the kids weren’t miserable at all. In fact, I’m pretty sure they enjoyed themselves as they ditched their coats and ran through the empty park on the coldest day of the year. (OK it was only 9 days into the new year.)

They lasted quite a while out there too. When we went inside to do studio photos, mom’s only request was to capture her kids in their natural state-talking and texting on the phone!

I really enjoyed this shoot and the kids were awesome! I’m looking forward to more shoots with them.

As promised, here are more awesome portraits from the Bryant family’ s photo

shoot. I really had a fantastic time and I loved the way the weather cooperated just in time for our shoot. (There was a monsoon just days prior.) My favorite part was when we went outside and the family dressed in jewel tones. They were so much fun and willing to just relax and enjoy each other’s company. Thank you!!! You guys rock!

I had a fantastic time shooting these photos and I couldn’t resist posting one tonight.

More to come soon!

I met Jason when we were both working for Urbanite a few years ago. When he and Anita moved to South Beach, the office was sad, but I knew I would have an awesome place to visit soon enough. I felt honored when they asked me to take photos to celebrate their new addition.

Try as you might, you will NOT find a cuter, more in love couple than Jason and Anita! Watching them all happy and cuddly warmed my heart during my entire stay in Miami.

They met when they were in high school in California, and have spent the last several years travelling the globe and sharing exciting adventures together. Now life has presented them with the biggest adventure ever, becoming parents.

In just a few weeks, they will bring home the most adorable baby named… (OK, I promised I wouldn’t spill the beans on that one.) I know this baby will grow up to be an awesome, creative and adventurous kid. His parents will make sure of it.

I met the most adorable family ever on a warm afternoon in October. The setting was perfect, the sun was shining and the clouds were gorgeous. The whole family had on adorable color-coordinated outfits; The girls in pink & green (my sorority colors!) and the boys were in blue.

I think there was a nervous excitement about the photo session. The two little Gillis’s had an especially skeptical eye on me during the shoot. In my typical manner, I started with the large family group shot just to get everybody comfortable in front of the lens. Then I let them run loose! There was running and jumping and even a little golf. Teresa (the mom with the mostest) kept apologizing for the dirty knees and hands the kids got while running around. Little did she know that my favorite part of any photoshoot is when the kids get dirty. A lil’ dirt lets me know they’re having fun.

I knew it was a success when I got the little ones to smile and I got hugs all around when the sun set and the shoot ended.

I just wanted to take a moment to wish Happy Mother’s Day to all of those hard-working moms, Godmoms and fairy godmoms out there.

Here are three compilations that I’ve put together from recent shoots in celebration of mothers and their first-borns.

Enjoy! 

This was  little GiGi’s first official photoshoot. 

Barbara with her oldest son, Paxxon.

My great-niece Jourdan Noelle is so cute I can hardly stand it!

Felice came to have her family photos taken with her pint-sized twins and her mom. The twins have such distinct personalities and had no problem posing for the camera. We took a ton of great photos, but I thought the black and white process captured the beauty in their eyes.   Comments are welcomed!

We lucked out and shot a maternity session outdoors in February! Once we discovered that my favorite place to shoot was closed for repairs, we found a beautiful site not too far away. See if you can guess where we were.

Here is my new little buddy Sebastian, a few days after Christmas. He loves trains, grilled cheese sandwiches and his fancy new tricycle! Please leave a comment if you think he’s as adorable as I think he is!

Here is my great niece, Jourdan-3 days after she was born. Look how well she’s taken to the camera already!

She’s all smiles and warm fuzzies. If you like the photos, please leave me a comment!