A Little Prince and his Princesses in Waiting (Pullman Colfax Palouse Family Photographer)

Such beautiful children.  Such a beautiful orchard.  Can you tell it broke into a raging thunderstorm two thirds of the way into the shoot?  Well.  That's just the sort of luck we've been having these days.  But wow!  These kids pulled it off fantastically.  I suppose it doesn't hurt that each and every one of these children could make a very profitable living modelling for The Gap.  Good work guys!

Three is Company (Pullman, Colfax, Palouse Family Photographer)

"Can you do a sepia version of the photos?"

"Why, yes!  Yes I can!"

Hanging out with this family was pure joy.  We did the shoot on one of the first sunny days after a very long bout of rain, wind and cold.  The garden was beautiful and fresh, and the children were delighted to be outside.  I was delighted to be asked to photograph them and now I am delighted with the results. 



Real Life.  Real Moments.  Real Connections.

My goal as a photographer has always been to capture the natural interactions between people who love each other.  I love how these kids made that so easy for me. 

Thanks for this great opportunity!

Little Kellen (Whitman County Family Photographer)

This little boy reminds me so much of my son when he came home (almost 7 years ago), probably because of his thick blond hair.  Have you ever seen such thick blond hair on a baby, I ask you?  This baby, luckily, does not have a wicked case of torticollis (like my son did) .  Yes, my little guy was quite the crooked fellow.  I am happy that this little guy can just  snuggle sweetly with his Momma and never worry about such a thing as fixing a crooked neck.

These sweet tender moments pass so quickly. 

My boy is 7 years old now, and I swear I was snuggling him up like this just last week. 

Tick tock, tick tock.

What a sweet treasure.

Adoption Adoption Adoption! (Whitman County Family Photographer)

I spy with my little eye...

Two adoptees (only one is a child in this photo)

Two Birth Moms

One Adoptive Mom

One regular Mom

Two Biological children

and....

(the only thing that really matters...)

A lot of love.

With freezing cold temperatures, rain and wind, a sick little girl, and cold baby and a last minute location change... well... let's just say that the shots from this shoot are a miracle!  I'm so glad things turned out, as this was a rare opportunity for all of these people to be together, an opportunity that I was honored to photograph. 

The Church Librarian

I usually photograph young families.  Children.  Babies.  People new to the business of living.

I recently had the honor of photographing Nadene, who just happens to be one of my favorite people.  Ever.

Nadene is an adoption pioneer.  Forty-two years ago, after raising six children (the youngest was 10 years old), Nadene was inspired to adopt a little Native American baby who desperately needed a home... back when that sort of thing "just wasn't done."  I never tire of hearing Nadene's story, her longing for this child, the undeniable feeling of love and commitment to bring the baby into their home, the feeling that this was 'meant to be'. 

I know this feeling.  I have been guided to each of my adopted children with similar intensity, commitment, similar conviction that they were meant for me and I for them.

Nadene now has a quiver of 7children, their spouses, 27 grand children and 26 great grand children.  She hand makes them each a personalized birthday card every year.  She tends to her not-so-little flock with great care, much prayer and similar commitment and drive that brought her youngest child home to her arms.

I learn a lot from this spunky church librarian.  I make it a point to stop in there every Sunday to grab a pen or a book or whatever. There is always a kind word to be found when Nadene is around.  And some great vintage jewelry to marvel over.

Location Location Location

What's a Natural Light Photographer to do in the middle of the bleak grey cold endless winter?

Why scout for new photo locations, of course!  I found some great new locations to use when things warm up a bit.  I can't wait to find some willing subjects to try it out.

But for now, here is one of my favorite tried and true locations for a family photo shoot... The Perkins House, Colfax, WA.

This has, in the past years, been one of my favorite locations. It's close. beautiful public gardens, they do not charge to photograph there (I've checked and the caretakers are always very kind and welcoming... they have also offered many times to teach me about flower gardening in exchange for a few hours of help in the gardens. As my Littles are a little big older now, I am seriously considering taking them up on the offer). 

But I digress.

Yes. The Perkins House has afforded me many lovely family portrait sessions, and I imagine I will continue to photograph there as time goes on.

It was fun to scout around the county for new places and to actually find some very promising ones.  I can't wait for Spring to Spring, for grasses to green and for temperatures to go up so I can explore new locations with new faces.

Last of the Littles - Whitman County Newborn Photographer

My time in Utah, the land of perpetual babies, is over.  I can't believe the great opportunities that presented themselves to me in the form of brand spankin new babies just waiting to be photographed!  There is no shortage of babies in that state, this is a fact.  My last trip to Target (peace be upon that glorious store) yielded pregnant lady sightings in the double hands... like 7 or 8 of them. In the same store!  At the same time!

It was so very nice to get the amount of practice that I did during my short stay in the Beehive State.  Thank you, dear people, who let me hum and haw and try to work my way through a newborn photo session with your wee ones.

This little man, however, is the Last of the Littles for a while...

Due to time constraints, diapers, nursing and all manner of newborn-typical delays, I ended up with no more than 35 minutes total to shoot.  If I had not been leaving the state just days after our time together I would have certainly rescheduled for another chance.  But it was nice to see how much I could get done in a short time. 

Note to self:  Be prepared to spend three hours minimum at a newborn shoot, and don't be surprised if you have to return to get the shots you want.

I'm confident now that I can do a newborn shoot well, in fact, I think from now on I will feel very comfortable charging the full session fee for a newborn package (gasp).  I'm not saying this is my specialty.  Oh no.  Lots of work.  Lots of planning.  Lots of sweat. but they really are sweet, aren't they?  And what  a blessing to capture their newness before it disappears (all too quickly).

Thank you, dear Utahns, for being so good at what you do!  Such beautiful little babies come of all that multiplying and replenishing... A+ I say.  A+ indeed.