This next family was so much fun to work with. These girls were so full of life and love for their family. Lots of giggles that just make you laugh right along w/ them. This was their first time doing family photos and I hope they love all the images.

The fall weather is here & I am starting to wonder if there will be anymore dry days to shoot ahead. But I guess I should be grateful for the incredible weather we had for most of October. We weren't sure weather would hold out for this shoot but were pleasantly surprised that it was a dry (although grey morning...the beautiful sunny days hadn't arrived yet). I last photographed this family when their oldest was on the verge of walking...now she has a brother & they are both on the run, laughing the whole way!

The last time I photographed this next family I think I was about to move away from Seattle to the SW. That seems like forever ago and I was touched that they remembered me and were excited to have me photograph their girls so many years later. The girls have grown and changed so much but the parents still look exactly the same (seriously I was so surprised that I felt like it had just been a few yrs since I had seen them, they hadn't changed at all...they are doing something right!). My favorite image is actually of the two of them together. It is a simple picture but what I love about it is how at ease they were with each other and how happy they were to be together. Okay, their girls are pretty cute too!

Less than 2 weeks ago this family's world was turned upside down and has been shaken to their core. I am a believer in the power of positive thoughts and so I am sharing their story here hoping all of you can send them your positive thoughts and prayers during their journey to heal their beautiful daughter.

I met little Georgia in May as they came to donate to Soulumination. She put on quite a show for us. We were all so excited because these pictures were the first of her sitting up unsupported without toppling over. She is a stunning little girl that is full of so much life and after following her parents' blog these past few weeks, it is obvious that her shining spirit comes from their gusto for life and their love for her.

This is the second time I have been lucky enough to photograph this family and throughout my time with them I was constantly reminded of when I was little with my sister. I was the youngest of two, a little rougher, tougher and sillier and my sister was more mature & smarter (only smarter because she was older, I am sure!). We laughed a lot together and then we pushed each others buttons. I enjoyed lots of laughter w/ these two and didn't get one glimpse of button pushing (must not happen with these two...I am sure of it, right Shirley). Great girls, great family, hopefully they will think these are great pictures!!

I think it is fitting to bookend the El Paso shoots with Grace. We had a great time running throughout her house which is a photographer's dream to shoot in. It is so obvious where she gets her beauty from...

My El Paso visit always signifies the start of my whirlwind fall season. I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year. I LOVE shooting so many great families, I LOVE shooting in the fall (except for the constant threat of rain), I love trying to meet the crazy challenge of a zillion balls in the air but I also dread the demand making sure I catch the balls before they come crashing down & bury me. I won't lie...it is never an easy time around my house the last quarter of the year & I promise myself next year I will handle it a little better. The jury is still out if this year is going to be any different than the past.

I share this because I am so sorry to say this next family experienced a little bit of a ball drop on my end. I sat at one location for a half hour wondering where they were...they sat at the location we had discussed for that same time frame. My stomach sunk when I realized my oversight. If you have been a longtime reader of this blog you know how much I cannot stand being 3 minutes late so imagine how I felt when I realized I had completely missed the shoot! I had another sitting scheduled to follow theirs so I said it would be best to reschedule but then we decided to take advantage of the BEAUTIFUL day and shoot for 20 minutes and then get back together for a full shoot. I LOVED meeting this family. I am sure I would have loved them regardless but their understanding was amazing and then their my brief shoot w/ them was even better! The love and laughter they share with each is so apparent. It was such a pleasure getting to meet them and photograph their family. I am so excited to share these pictures with them and I want to thank them for their patience with me and giving me the opportunity to capture the love that they share!