The Hartzells at Boulder Creek
This is my kind of shoot–a sweet summer morning along the Boulder creek. Just a blanket, one toy and the good Earth for props. Simple. Perfect.
Dave’s Retirement Party
The biggest perk to not shooting weddings is all the parties, festivals, camping trips, concerts, etc I get to attend. It’s been too long since I had the energy to bring my camera along to a family function, but I was fired up to photograph my father-in-law’s retirement party. I knew it would be a riot. Congrats, Dave. Time to play!
The Rauchways
Teddy is going to build a rocket ship and change the world. Rosie is going to change the world with her heart and empathy. I can’t wait to see what baby Wesley is going to do… Something amazing with parents like Cleo and John. I simply adore this family.
Baby Asher
I love that my clients want me to photograph their babies, not as little dolls propped up on a stack of towels or in a basket surrounded by rose petals, but in their arms where a newborn baby should be. Thank you Hartung’s!
Little Lucia
Sweet ittle Lucia is 9 months old–Seriously one of my favorite ages. I wish they could all stay 9 months for about 6 months. So precious…
The Harrison’s
I can’t believe little Natalie is already 6 months…Â Love this little gal!
Megan, Dylan and Baby Owen
If there were a strong case for me to continue shooting weddings, it would be to cross paths and form friendships with people like Megan and Dylan. I have been so fortunate over the last 12 years to make so many friends and meet some incredible people through that gig. But Megan and Dylan are the rare, once in a million kind of couple who came into my life at a time that must have been divined.
When Megan reached out and told me that they were expecting, I just smiled and nodded. Yes. If anybody should bring a baby into this world, it should be Megan and Dylan. What wonderful parents they are and are going to continue to be. Owen will always be surrounded by love and warmth and fun–not to mention good music and (when he’s 21) good beer. (Dylan has started brewing his own beer which is pretty freaking incredible).
I hope to spend many evenings this summer listening to live music and drinking good brews with Megan and Dylan while our babies rumble on a blanket. And we will just take it all in together–this journey called parenthood–the transitions, the growing pains, the peace and the abounding love that our little ones have brought to the table. While weddings were once where I was in my life, I am now enjoying documenting the next chapter in my client’s lives and am intoxicated with the sweet, simple moments that come with being a parent. I am so happy that I have found people like Megan and Dylan who get to travel down this road with me.
Megan and Dylan, I love you guys and am so blessed to be able to call you my friends and fellow parents. Owen–you are one lucky little dude. P.S. I want to eat your cheeks.
The Woodruffs on their farm
This is the second shoot of a series of three of this sweet little family. Bill contacted me about 18 months ago asking me to come document life with his little girls, Olivia and Sophia. No sit and say cheese–just honest, real captures of life in the day of the Woodruff’s. This shoot was done with both film and digital. You can see the difference. Can you tell which medium I love most?
The Bryson’s
One of my favorite family sessions, EVER…
Denver Family Maternity
There is something about being pregnant while having children that just tugs at your heartstrings. When I was pregnant with Sylvie, I was flooded with different emotions and wondered how I could possibly bring forth a new life into what seemed an already perfect little family. I struggled with guilt. How could I possibly love Sylvie as much as I loved Ramona and would Ramona still know I love her when Sylvie came? Of course now I know that these things just happen organically. I love Sylvie just as much as Ramona and Ramona does know that I love her as I always have. But things do change. And guilt is still there–all the time. I think that’s part of being a mama. I loved this shoot because I loved the connection that unfolded in front of my camera between Stacie and her daughter. It made my heart throb a little.
The Quinns–featuring the expected “Kiki-Money”
I am so grateful that Aubrey and Kirk called me about 4 years ago asking me to photograph their pregnancy with baby, Jones. I fell in love with them instantly and have since then added this family to my list of very close friends. Aubrey and Kirk are my hero parents. The way they parent Jones, and still manage to get in a dozen concerts a year (sometimes with Jones) and throw back beers regularly… they make parenting look so fun. And there is never a dull moment with this family, so I’m not surprised that Jones has come up with the name “Kiki Money” for his new baby sister who will be arriving in March. Georgia will be her proper name, but I have a feeling Kiki Money may stick.
It isn’t work shooting families like these. I’m just so lucky to have clients like the Quinns who make my work feel like a mere extension of my breath.
The Solot’s at Chautauqua Park in Boulder
There are some clients that I just “click” with. No pun intended. I just show up, maybe throw them together on a couch or on a picnic table, etc and then I just watch it all unfold and click away. I don’t have to jump up and down or wave my arms. I don’t have to pull tricks out of my sleeve to get a smile. The Solot’s are this family. They are chaotic harmony, if you will–playful, vivacious, like a litter of puppies each with his/her very own unique and strong personality. Put them together and they simply make the perfect picture, without me having to do a thing. I love these clients. I love these shoots.
Sarah and Zoe
This was one of my favorite shoots that I have EVER done. In the 12 years as a professional, I’ve never done a “Mother-Daugher” shoot. This session with Sarah and Zoe melted my stone cold heart.  It made me crave images like this with my girls. What a precious gift Sarah has given Zoe–and herself. I hope that some of you mothers out there are reading this and it sparks the inspiration to do a similar thing with your daughter. I know it’s a cliche–but it’s true. Time flies… capture it.
On a technical note, this session was shot digitally. I’ve been shooting 90 percent of my work with film this year. The maternity session posted before this one was also shot at the same location and at the same time of day, but with film. Sometimes people want to know the different. Here is a visual reference. Quite different. Both lovely.
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