things i love.

Recently, my friend Erin told me that she's trying to write down something that she's thankful for each day. To me, this sounds like such a wonderful idea. I imagine that the first days would be really easy because I would quickly write down all the big stuff... but I suspect that the really great stuff would come later. In the little things. The small moments that would have passed me by had I not taken the time to be thankful for them. After Erin told me that she did this, I wanted to start doing it for myself. And so, today, I'm going to begin (sort of). Since it's Valentine's Day, I'm actually going to write out ten (simple) things that I love. I think the list would be pretty close to the things that I'm thankful for, so I'm going with it!

I love...
1. the way that Maggie used the word "familiar" incorrectly in at least five sentences today.
2. Caleb's bed-head.
3. the way Maggie keeps saying, "and you know what?" when she wants to keep talking.
4. the way that Caleb loves to walk toward Maggie, fall on her, and give her a hug while they both laugh hysterically.
5. the way that Caleb loves to look at books and find the words that he's familiar with.
6. the weather we had earlier today. Seriously? Amazing.
7. the way that both Maggie and Caleb started yelling when they heard the doorknob turn this afternoon because they knew it meant that Tim was home.
8. Chinese food. Instead of cooking.
9. the way that everyone gets soaked at bathtime.
10. Maggie saying, "Mom? I love you" numerous times throughout the day... especially when I really need to hear it.

January.

So, I've decided to continue posting about my family each month. But this year, I'm going to allow myself to just post a photo that I love without feeling pressure to get a family photo. (I'm hoping that will happen at least once this year!) Also, I'm going to be ok with the fact that some months might have a very short post. I think those two things will make it a whole lot easier for me! :)

-- I was a little bummed about turning 30 last month for many reasons... one of them being that I am pregnant and just don't feel well a lot of the time. But Tim made it such a special day for me. He sent me on a scavenger hunt that included an afternoon reading at Borders, a McDonald's ice-cream cone, a manicure, a new outfit and hairstyle (courtesy of my sister-in-law), and a surprise party at my favorite restaurant/bar here in Warrenton. It was perfect. I was completely surprised. And I didn't feel sick all day! Tim's pretty awesome.

-- Maggie is convinced that she's getting a baby sister in August. When I asked her why she was so certain, she told me that Dora has both a baby brother and a baby sister. I love the logic of a three-year-old.

-- Caleb has learned several new words this past month! My favorites are definitely "ball", "oo oo ah ah" (which means monkey), and "sauce" (applesauce).

-- We had one good snow, and it was so fun to see Maggie and Caleb enjoy playing in it. (At this point, I'm definitely ready for Spring, but I'll go ahead and reflect on why we loved the snow last month.) Caleb actually really enjoyed crawling around in it and cried when we took him inside. And it was so much fun watching the two of them go sledding together! Cute, cute, cute.

-- Caleb can walk up to seven steps, but most of the time he refuses to do it.

-- Caleb got his first haircut! He had been sporting a major mullet for about a month before it was cut, so we knew it was time. Unfortunately, Caleb was a lot more nervous than Maggie was during her first haircut, so I ended up holding him most of the time and could only take a few photos. But he does look pretty adorable!

-- Maggie's new favorite past-time is acting out episodes of The Backyardigans. We all are asked to participate, and her favorite episodes always involve dancing.

I'm hoping that the weather will be MUCH WARMER the next time I post. Keep your fingers crossed! :)

Bride's Choice Award 2011!

A big THANK YOU to all the couples who voted for KGP! For the third year in a row, we were honored with a Bride's Choice Award!

"baby's first year" | the process

After Maggie was born, I couldn't believe how quickly she changed with every month! It was bitter-sweet to watch her grow so quickly, and I am definitely thankful that I have plenty of photos from her first twelve months. I don't think I really appreciated the importance of capturing a baby's first year until then, but now it's one of my favorite things to photograph!

Even though I won't be photographing many babies this year, I thought I'd share a little about the way that I organize a "Baby's First Year" series. When I started doing them, I would set up five or six sessions, and I've realized that scheduling four sessions is usually perfect. Here's how I break it down:

Parents have their choice of these two session options:
A-- Maternity, Newborn, Six-Months, One Year
B-- Newborn, Four-Months, Eight-Months, One Year

Of course, families are welcome to add an extra session or two, but I've found that this is a great starting point. And the way that this is divided usually ensures that the baby will have reached a new milestone that is fun to photograph. Here are the things that I look for in each shoot:

1. Maternity

This one is easy! I absolutely love capturing a mom-to-be in all her pregnant beauty. If possible, I will schedule these sessions at sunset and let the lighting add to the beauty of the subject.

2. Newborn

While I love to capture special moments with the family as they hold and cuddle the new baby, I also have a few specific things that I try to get. For a newborn, I always try capture at least one photo of the baby asleep. This is the easiest time to photograph a sleeping baby, so I try to take advantage of that! I also try to get a few close-ups of the baby's tiny hands and feet.

3. Four-Months (or Six-Months)

At this age, along with capturing family interactions, I try to get a good shot of the baby pushing up from the floor. This is a fun milestone, and such a sweet angle! It's especially great if you can find a nice plain surface. Hardwood is always beautiful! (As an aside: I can't believe Caleb was ever so small!)

4. Eight-Months (or Six-Months)

At this age, I can usually get a good shot of the baby sitting up. Sometimes, babies still can't sit up for very long, but my shutter is pretty quick. :) (You'll notice that I included the six-month session twice. When families do a six-month shoot, the baby can usually do one or both of these milestones.)

5. One Year

And finally, for the one year session, I try to get a nice shot of the baby standing up. Some babies can walk at a year, and some can't. (Neither of my kids could!) But one thing that most babies can do is stand up while holding onto something. A great prop to use for this is a small colorful chair.

Of course, all babies are different, and following these guidelines might not work for every family. I think one of the most important things about being a baby and family photographer is being able to adapt to each new child and meet them where they are. But, for the most part, it has really helped me to think about my sessions this way. If you're reading and you'd like to start doing these sessions, I hope you found this helpful!

The Knot and Washingtonian's Bride & Groom!

For the second year in a row, I was thrilled to be named a recommended vendor through Washingtonian's Bride & Groom Magazine as well as a Best of Weddings Pick through The Knot! Thank you to everyone who voted!