And I just knew, with all of our preparation and consults, that this would be an absolutely wonderful session.  I LOVE planning out session details with clients and I had a feeling this would be an amazingly beautiful session.

And I was right!!!!

We met on a late Sunday afternoon.  It was a perfect day.  It was warm and the sun was shining.  And their little girl was such a doll and quite the pistol.  She had me in stitches the entire time.  Especially when we were about 5 minutes into the session and she announced “I’m done!”.

I think you will have to agree that this was definitely a perfect session with a gorgeous family!!!!!

Thank you all so much!!!!  It was such a pleasure meeting and working with you all!!!

Until next time!!  XOXO!

We held the session at baby E’s home.  She actually lives on a sheep farm!  How perfect is that? We were also so incredibly lucky to actually have a one week old lamb willing to join us for a few pictures!  To top it all off, it was a beautiful and warm spring morning and sweet E was [mostly] full of smiles.  We even ended the session with a good old fashioned cake smash which was a rip-roaring success!!

And now, onto the photos!!  There were too many I absolutely LOVED!

These next two shot of E and her mom I just adore!!!!!  Love me some honest-to-goodness Mama-love!!!!

And if this the most perfect depiction of a little girl celebrating a Happy Birthday…I don’t want what is!

And lastly an outtake that I just love….what happens when Mommy walks away for 1.2 seconds….

Thank you so much Leo and Joe!!!  I love you all and can’t wait until next time!!!!

XOXO!!!!

Yes, there is a difference.

It definitely is important to know how to create a photograph that is technically pleasing.  It should be in focus, properly exposed, has correct color balance,  flattering lighting, good composition and a pleasing, non-cluttered background etc etc.

But a portrait goes beyond that.  A portrait is much more than just a good photograph.  A portrait draws the viewer in, captures a moment and provides a glimpse into the subject’s personality.  You look at a portrait, and you see a story.

I had the pleasure of taking 2 year pictures for my sister in law.  Dear sweet Baby D has never been one to enjoy time in front my camera (LOL!).  I guess that crazy big, black box just mystified him and turned me into someone he wasn’t quite sure he should trust.

This time, I thought, let’s try something a little different.  Let’s take our time, let’s let D be D.  No poses, no forced backdrops, no “CHEESE”y smiles.  Instead, let’s play, let’s explore and let’s just have fun.

And it worked!

The first 1/2 hour or so, D got quite reserved and unsure as soon as I picked up my camera.  So I put down my camera and just chatted with my SIL and let him play.  And after a bit, he started to forget about my “black box” and let me take some shots without too much concern.  And I even got some honestly sweet SMILES!

I loved so many of these photos.  I loved capturing D’s expressions as he looked for “fishies” under the bridge.

I got a kick out of watching him find sticks and squeal with joy as he threw them in the creek.

I loved watching him intently study his matchbox cars and then dig them into the dirt.

I thought it was so sweet as he studied Thomas the Train chanting “Cinders and Ashes” over. And over.  And over…..(I guess it is a Thomas thing, with only little girls, I am not up on Thomas lingo.)

Here is a sampling of our session.  We spent about 2 hrs at the park.  And yes, much of the time was spent chatting and letting D do his thing. And here and there I stopped to snap a few moments.

But that turned about to be EXACTLY the perfect recipe for some absolutely adorable photos that (hopefully) lean a bit more towards being a portrait than just a photograph.  I see a little boy who is in awe of the world around him.  I see a boy who loves fishies and cars and trucks and trains and sticks and DIRT and puddles and, well – LIFE!

I will start with my absolute favorite of the day – LOVE everything about this photo!!!!!  Especially the truck and train in his dirty little fist!

Until next time!!  XOXO!!!!!

Makenzie’s big brother was a very special little one to me as he was my first newborn shoot – over 2 1/2 years ago!!!!  Big brother Chase was SUCH an easy newborn to photograph.  I think I have to credit much of my love of newborn photography to getting such a wonderful first client!!!  And his little – and oh-so-adorable sister?  She was just as sweet and easy!!  She rarely fussed and she slept most of the session.  You can’t ask for much more than that!

Makenzie’s session was a few weeks before Christmas, and grandma wanted to get some nice Christmas shots. We also got a few  shots of the very happy family.  What a wonderful morning!!!!  I just love my job!!!!

Onto the pictures!!!

Thank you all so much!!  I just loved getting the opportunity to meet and photograph your newest little one!!!!!

And if you or someone you know is having a baby soon – check out my winter newborn promotion!!!!

Until next time!!!  XOXO!!!

Yes, usually my blog post for a session occurs [way too many] months after the actual session.  But in an attempt to get things back on track,  I am going to try to start blogging each session RIGHT after I finish editing the session.  So my blogging is definitely not going to be in chronological order of sessions.  Oh well, I guess it is my blog and I can make my own rules!  Right?

This family is originally from the Oil City area, but now live in Pittsburgh.  They still have a cottage by the river though and they really wanted to get some fun family photos in a place that has lots of meaning to them.  And, interestingly enough, not only do they love this area because of their river cottage, but also because it was where they got married!!!!  How sweet is that?????

We had to reschedule this session due to weather, and BOY did we luck out with a new date!  It was a gorgeous Sunday morning.  Not to hot, not too cold, JUST right.

This family really wanted lots of fun and candid shots.  And we got LOTS.  In fact, I had so many fun shots I really had a hard time narrowing my final picks down.  I ended up with a few more than usual!

Here are some of my [many]  favorites of the day.  What an amazingly cute family!!!!  So sweet, and I loved them with all their very different personalities – from the beautiful teenager, the cute and oh-so-sweet pre-teen, the rough-housing boy and the crazy and adorable ” baby” sister!  I know sometimes mom and dad get frustrated when the kids don’t seem to be cooperating, but to be honest, I love when I can capture photos that capture exactly who the kids are right now.  No worries!

Now, onto the photos!!!!!

Thank you all so much!!!!  It was SUCH a pleasure spending a Sunday morning with you all!!!!

Until next time!!!  XOXOXO!!!!

Well, what can I say about the “G” family?  They were adorable, sweet and just oh-so-amazing!!!!  Mom and Dad definitely have their hands full with twin one year olds – Lily and Max -  and a three year old – Isabel!.  But these parents are definitely doing something right!  I have to admit, I was a little nervous about the session – I have three kids myself and I know how crazy those ages are!  But these kids were amazing.  The session was actually EASY!!!  And I had so much fun with them!!!

We started the session outdoors.  It was a beautiful day and we found some perfect open shade!  I just love these shots – especially the ones showing the interactions between the family!!!!

We then went indoors for a few shots….

And then got ready for “The Cake Smash”!!!  This cake smash was absolutely HILARIOUS!!!   I honestly was laughing out loud just watching Lily acting like the perfect little lady taking her dainty little bites, while Max just started immediately demolishing his cake.

But soon it was all over and the two munchkins eventually made their way to their bath.  I just absolutely LOVE the path of frosting to the bathroom!!!!

Thank you all so much!!  It was such a pleasure working with you!!!!

All of Meredith’s family was so kind and fun to work with. I took photos all throughout their home – including the bathroom! -  and we ended the session with some photos at a nearby park.

Here are just a few of my favorites – it was so hard to choose!!!!  I just loved them all!!!!!

Thank you all so much!  It was such a pleasure working with you!!!!

What a wonderful month of April it was.  Well, yes, other than the fact that it rained about 99.99% of the month.  And the fact that many of us were considering stocking up on supplies to start building our arks.  But as they say “April showers bring May flowers”.  And the rain finally did stop and wasn’t May really was an insanely gorgeous month?  My flowers never looked more amazing than they did this season.

This April was also the first time I offered “Mommy and Me” mini sessions.  I know, as a mom, how few pictures I am actually in.  So, in honor of the upcoming Mother’s Day, and in an attempt to encourage more moms to stop making excuses and jump in FRONT of the camera for a change, I set up a day dedicated just to moms and their little (or bigger!) ones.

I was a little nervous after I scheduled the day, as the weather was just so cold and rainy all month and I thought for sure we would be rained out.  And due to a few scheduling difficulties, I ended up scheduling the mini sessions on four separate days.  Interestingly enough…..those four separate days of sessions all ended up being during the few short hours of beautiful weather we actually had in April!!!!  Coincidence?   I would like to think it was the “luck of Irene”, but most likely not.

I had such a great time with all the moms and their little ones.  I had some moms with little ones, some with bigger ones and even one group with 3 generations of moms!!!  I enjoyed meeting everyone and loved all the amazing “mommy and me” moments that I was able to capture.  Now I need to heed my own advice get out from behind my camera!!

Onto some of the many beautiful pictures!!!!

Thank you all so much!!!!!  And yes, I will (God willing) be doing this again next year!

This photo was from a session I did almost 2 years ago.  There were four kiddos ages 2 and younger.  Grandma wanted a photo of all the grandkids while they were visiting from out of town.  The only time everyone was going to be available was a couple hours one early evening.    And it was November, so it was cold and dark so our only option were indoor photos.  However, the home was a gorgeous old Victorian (swoon) so it definitely had lots of beautiful backdrops.

However, as you can expect, trying to get four little ones to sit still for ONE photo together is almost impossible.  I got lots of individual shots.  And finally at the end, we made a last ditch effort to corral all the munchkins together on a couch.  It was pretty like trying to keep a pile of puppies in a box.  You get one in, and two jump out.  But we did get ONE photo of all kiddos together.  And grandma was just thrilled.

I just LOVE this outtake.  I think it just sums up the evening of craziness!  Too funny!!!!!

]]> http://irenesmithphotography.com/blog/2011/04/from-the-archives-franklin-pennsylvania-child-photographer/feed/ 1 http://irenesmithphotography.com/blog/2011/03/baby-d-is-one-franklin-pa-child-photographer/ http://irenesmithphotography.com/blog/2011/03/baby-d-is-one-franklin-pa-child-photographer/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:42:04 +0000 irenesmi http://irenesmithphotography.com/blog/?p=667 Yes, I still have sessions from the fall to blog, but I had to sneak Baby D in sooner rather than later.  This little cutie-patooti is near and dear to our hearts as he is my nephew!  And his cousins – my girls – absolutely adore him.  He is one lucky little boy as he has a plethora of family that adores him.

Anyway, since he is part of the family, I get to claim all rights for photographic milestones!!  Whoo HOO!!  So far, I have been able to get newborn pictures, six month pictures, and now [believe it or not] the munchkin is ONE!

Since Baby D’s birthday is in late December, getting nice outdoor photos is usually not that easy.  I brought along my seamless paper so we could have a mix of backdrops since most of our shooting would be indoors.  And, although it was a bit cold and snowy, it was a beautiful day, so we even got outdoors for a bit!

With kids that are mobile, yet still very young, I like to bring lots of props/toys etc. to help keep the little piglets interested (and still) for long enough to snap a few pictures.  On this day we used bubbles, balloons, toys, books, a sled, a dog and even [to celebrate the birthday] some cake!  And, believe me, we needed it all!  He is such a sweet, happy and oh-so-active little boy!!!!

Thanks guys!!!!  See you soon!!!