Great weather continues to hold. This next family waited a half hour for me to arrive (I cannot stand being late so when I learned that I had the wrong time on my calendar my stomach just dropped) which is probably every parent's nightmare. It's hard enough getting your family dressed, ready and geared up for pictures. Having to wait for the photographer to arrive could understandably send some families over the edge. Their mom Janiel has been a great client of mine so I was fortunate that she knew this was not my standard mode of operation. And once we got started Clair & Ian just lite up.

I'm not sure Clair's parents will like the hands on her face but I love her look here. Very sweet.

The gorgeous fall weather has arrived. The leaves are beginning to change, the air is crisp and the intermittent rains have come too. It wasn't looking promising for many of my sittings but out of nowhere the sun came out in full force and I have been loving every minute.

The Westra family is as beautiful as the weather and equally as nice. We had a great time by the water.

Today I am finishing up the last of my El Paso families. It has been a little overwhelming to work through so many images but all the ecstatic feedback I have been receiving from the families has kept me going.
When I first met the Schatzman family their son was just 2 months old and slept through the entire sitting.

A year later is was wide awake, full of smiles and on the move.

And his sister was as cute and sassy as the first time I met her.

She picked out her own outfit for the sitting and I LOVED the tutu. I think she looks so sweet and innocent in this next image.

She was my little assistant getting her brother to smile.

I was able to squeeze the Lemaster family in at the end of the day and left wishing I could bundle up the personalities of their kids. Most 5 year old boys run in the opposite direction of their sisters so my seeing the affection in these next few pictures was the best.

And last but not least...the Segall family. The twins had had a rough day leading up to our shoot but like the first time I photographed this family their mom and dad were mellow and just went w/ the flow, tears and all hoping to get just a couple keepers.

With a huge group effort by their mom and dad and 2 sets of grandparents smiles emerged that made it all worth it.

This next picture makes me think that this little one will have a great career on Saturday Night Live one day...he just has that little comedian, devilish look that just sucks you in.

Thank you to all my El Paso families. Your enthusiasm and glowing admiration for my work is a great gift that keeps me excited about what I do. I am looking forward to El Paso in 2007!

I am almost finished with my El Paso families but wanted to make sure my Seattle families don't end up feeling neglected. So here is the first since my return.
This spot is getting to be my most requested location. It is really beautiful and always fun to introduce people who have lived in Seattle for years to a new special spot. Andrea & Erick were wonderful first time clients. Very laid back and obviously head over heels in love w/ their little guy Griffin.

I have to admit driving up to the home of this next family I was a little concerned. It was Sunday morning and I had been going hard for the past two days and already finished another family that morning. I was starting to drag and I knew I was going to have my work cut out for me given that I would be photographing a 7, 5 and twin 3 yr olds. But an hour later I was walking out their front door thinking that it was probably the best sitting I had had the entire weekend. W/ that many sets of eyes you just hope you can get a few shots w/ everyone's eyes open and maybe looking in the same general direction. This family was so incredible not only did they have eyes open in almost every picture, they looked forward and even smiled!!! And the dog was on board too!!

These kids are just so cute. I wanted to package up their little personalities and carry them everywhere w/ me.

Mom and dad both get smothered w/ love...

I started photographing the Gulbas family a year and a half ago when their youngest was born. These 3 boys have always been a joy to photograph.

And memorable too.


That image gets more comments than any other image I have ever taken. I've never met a person that doesn't smile when the realized that it isn't "just" a feet picture.
These three boys are so adorable!