This year’s trip was a bit bitter sweet for Becky’s family as her husband Greg is getting ready to deploy for Afghanistan for a year.  It was their last family vacation for a while, and I was so honored that Becky asked me to capture their family for some photos for Greg to take with him.

First we started on little Ian at my house.  The light in my guest room is AMAZING, and little Ian was happy to play with me while mom needed to do some work.  Yes, this is what I do when I babysit!!

There are about 20 more looking just as cute, but this post is about the family, so I’ll continue there.  Although I would really like to show you all dang 20 because they are so adorable!!

Later that afternoon we headed to the beach – when we got there (literally, like right when we got there) a ton of fog rolled in so I didn’t get to play around with the sun like I wanted to.  That being said, an overcast sky is like a huge lightbox, so it worked out with Becky’s oldest running me all over the beach!  I got her sitting still at one point though!

Shouldn’t every little girl have a picture like this with her dad?  I think so…

I love this one, I hope you guys do too…

I’m always so amazed by the humble nature of these men and women that voluntarily serve for our country.  It’s second nature to them – a calling that only a few hear and answer to.  It’s just what they feel they have to do.  In a strange way, it completes them.  It just impresses the heck out of me and I hope Greg knows how much I think of him and what he’s doing.  Lots of love and luck to you, Greg and God Bless!

As my husband and I are a few months from our ten year anniversary, Marg and Shep (he’s Scott, but he’ll always be just Shep to me – and Uncle Shep as he’s now known) are getting closer too and they asked me to take some 10th anniversary photos to replace the wedding photos on their walls.  Apparently they’ve grown older or something?  Strange, because I look exactly the same as I did 10 years ago.  Righhhht.

So, being the good friend I am, I put these up straight away on my blog to embarrass them.  Ahhh, friendship.

Also, I had to do this before sending them to her, because I know she’ll find something wrong with about 90% of them.

She doesn’t like this picture.  I mean, really.  Sorry bud, it’s one of my favorites and you look amazing.

My favorite of the day.  Last shot before we left the place we sort of were trespassing on.  Sort of…

Thank you for being such wonderful friends for ten years, you are amazing!  Happy Anniversary!!!

Before I left – a new little man arrived for one of my clients.  This family was so handsome, and their house was so perfect to shoot at!

Here are a few previews for Megan (who is getting her gallery tomorrow, so it’s not such a preview, lol!)

After taking some newborn shots, big brother wanted to pose the same way…  so cute!!

the beautiful family all together.  Well, sort of.  He is 18 months!  Little Mr. Go Places. 

Look at this smile!!!

and one of my favorites for the day…

So a few months ago when she asked me to do her maternity pictures I was floored.  Honored.  Thrilled.  Terrified!

Another photographer asking you to photograph them is such a privilege.   Made me feel so validated and happy!  Thank you Melissa for allowing me to photograph such an important time!

Here are a few from the urban session we did.  So much fun and her kiddos are just angels.

I haven’t had a chance to go through them all, but this is my first round of love.

This is my favorite of the day!  Too cute a family, right?

She had this shirt made for our session.  Photogs everywhere are going to be calling Melissa!

I love this!

This big red sculpture was just begging for some love…

I can’t decide if this is too odd (she does look like she’s floating!) but it’s kind of cool to me!

This is so her.  I love ya girl!!!!  Thank you SOOOO much! xoxoxoxo

Had such a great time with this family.  I’ve seriously been so blessed with consistently amazing and cool clients and these guys were no exception!  Especially a margarita after our session was over – I mean, really – what’s better than that???

I loved that they were up for anything.  This was shot in their backyard and it just had perfect light at every turn – I love when that surprises me!

We’ll start with my favorite of the day.  One of the last shots – typical!  I love EVERYTHING about it – the holding hand, the yellow clothes, the sunshine peaking out the trees…  love.

My favorite shot of the day.  Wait, I said that already.  I can have two right?  She was so beautiful and her eyes are just incredible!!

And her little brother’s weren’t too shabby either…  Look at these things!  {swoon}

Ok, I’ll give your some color so you can see what I’m all gaga about…

Love this apple shot!!  Apparently she eats too a day, so it’s pretty appropriate to capture her personality!I had such a lovely time!  Thank you so much for being fun as anything and the yummy margarita!!

I’ve known Mia since she was little – she is my best friend’s cousin so I’ve watched her grow up into a stunning young woman. I have been thinking about getting into High School senior photography and so when Mia’s mom asked me to photograph her I basically jumped up and down like Tom Cruise on Oprah. Seriously, wait til you see her…

I had to trick Mia into doing this… if her mom had told her she wanted me to take her picture she never would have gone along with it… so I sort of told a little fib and said she was doing me a favor. Being the sweet girl she is, she went along with it and was a total trooper. She knows the truth now, and even though she wasn’t thrilled initially, I think she *sort* of ‘fessed up that she had a good time and I am hoping and praying (and kind of sweating) that she will like these!!

So here is Mia Dawn. She gets lots of previews because I had to tell her a fib and I feel bad.

I wanted to try a bunch of different locations, the beach was her favorite…  (oh, and she likes the one on the right because she looked tall.  hee hee)  I’m kind of digging these Jcrew inspired sea glass colors if I do say so myself)

Really, how freaking pretty is she????

I told her these wouldn’t be corny.  Hmm, maybe they are but they make me happy, ok?

Love this blue wall I found!!

Thank you Mia for letting me take your picture.  And no, you’re not awkward silly.  Told ya so.

Custom portrait photography is much different than your average simple studio session.  I love looking for unique locations, helping style your clothes and make you feel like VIP’s for a couple of hours.  It also means I’m yours for a while – completely accessible by email, phone, skype, facebook, you name it!

This session is a good example of what you’ll get from an on location session. I totally understand why people love sessions at their house, but there is something to be said about a different location!  I love that this session was completely organic and this family is a happy one!  Hope you like it!

One of my blog readers, Eileen van Hoek, nominated her friend Annette Russo with a beautiful letter.  Annette – an inspiring woman who should get supermom of the year award!  After her own battle with Lymphoma, Annette and Anthony got news no parents ever should ever have to – their only daughter had been diagnosed with Leukemia.  Samantha is in her second year of chemotherapy, and is finishing up in November 2010.  Expect a party.  BIG.

Samantha (or Sam to her mom’s chagrin), is one of those 13 year olds going on 30.  She is as strong as her mom, beautiful inside and out, and just as sweet as can be.  I’d really encourage you to take a look at her blog, written updates by Annette, to see all they are going through and how much this family stands together.  They are truly amazing.

Samantha’s BLOG

Meeting them, you would never know what they are going through.  I tried to keep our session as casual as possible so it would be fun and the kids would look back on it as a good day.

Here are some of my favorite images Russo family.  It was an amazing honor to photograph you all!!

My favorite of the day – Nicholas didn’t really want to take another picture, but to his credit he did it for Sam because when I told her my idea she thought it would be fun.  It was!  (well, to me anyway!)

Beautiful mom and dad – I really wanted to get them laughing and had to make them do a bunch of ridiculous things…  still got my laughing shot even though I had to embarrass them!

The cool, collected and incredible Samantha.  She wanted this tree shot, so we took it!

and another cause she’s just too pretty and cute.

Noah and his very cool hair.

Oldest Nicholas and youngest Alex.

And we can’t forget Buddy too!!

Thank you so much for being fun, cool, strong, sweet, polite and charming.  It was a pleasure working with all of you!

So you take an adorable one year old, mix with a mom who’s not afraid to walk through fields in three inch heels – this is my kind of family!  I had so much fun that I took way too many pictures and am having a heck of a time picking favorites.  These three stood out already though -so I’ll share them with ya.

First, there is nothing better than a hug and nothing more pure than a hug from a child.  This one just kills me.  I know, I say that a lot.  They all do though!  He’s just doll-like perfect looking here and photoshop had nothing to do with it.  Just amazing!

I have this image with a straight face too, but I just love the pout with his mom and dad kissing above.  LOVE.  They were so cute too – some couples force the kiss when you tell them too  – not them, they were all smiles!

And then, could he be any more beautiful?  Really now.

Elizabeth, thank you so much for a great afternoon this weekend.  I loved every minute of it!

We started this session at the beach, and it didn’t quite go as planned.  Apparently, our little friend (as cute and sweet and adorable as he was) was just not in a beach kind of mood.  Got a couple of cute shots like this -

but unfortunately, most of the beach shots looked like this.  (you all know I love me at least one crying shot – this one killed me!)

After a trip back to his house we decided to plop him in the pachysandra (I had to look up the spelling on that one) and back came the bowl!  He was in a MUCH better mood by that point!

It was so great meeting you Allison!  Thanks for the beautiful tour of Rowayton!