mini-session sunday

snuggle :: the boyer-gorton family

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Three cheers for clients I get to grow with! I first met this sweet family when their daughter, Hazel was just a tiny newborn and we did a Life With A Newborn session at their house. Now they're awaiting the arrival of another little one. We used a snuggle session as an excuse for a few belly shots, though I have to say a snuggle session with a toddler ends up being way more active than snuggly. ;) Still, I'm loving these images and I'm very much looking forward to joining them at their home for another Life With A Newborn session before the summer is through! 

snuggle :: the burdettes

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My family and I traveled to Pittsburgh to visit extended family. While I was there, I got to connect with a sweet family that lives just a few blocks from my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, and who go to the same Church. In fact, years ago, last time we visited Pittsburgh, I have a faint but lovely memory of them praying over us after the church service, over some wounds in our hearts that were still very fresh and raw. It's that kind of sensitivity and kindness that characterizes Nick and Lauren and the family they've created. 

Three lively kids, all with strong Irish names, sat in a tangle together on the couch with their parents, looking at books and inserting funny faces and random requests for high fives. I can't tell you how many times the tops of their little heads were affectionately kissed by their loving folks. 

And in the tiny sliver of time that is a Snuggle Session (I offered these temporarily during my travels), we made these images. I hope they'll be treasures in the family treasure box for a long time. 

snuggle :: the stobs

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When a respiratory illness prevented the Stobs from coming to my recent Snuggle Sessions event, we rescheduled it for a week later, and moved the location to their own home. They spent some time reading, tickling, snuggling, jumping, kissing, and looking out windows... all from their couch and their daughter's floor bed. :)  

It doesn't take much to make a good picture: just 2 or more people who love each other, a bit of light from an uncovered window, and a comfortable place to relax and play while a skilled photographer snaps away. All those ingredients were present here. I couldn't be more pleased with the feel of these simple but love-full images of this really lovely family.

If you're in Grand Rapids, and would like family photos done like this in your own home, I'm temporarily extending the offer of a private, in-home Snuggle Session through the end of this month (while supplies last). $150 gets you 15 minutes and 15 or more edited images (downloadable and with copyright permissions). Reach out!

snuggle :: the sessions

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Instead of the more usual outdoors-at-a-park mini-sessions this winter I ran a little series of cuddly, indoor mini-sessions on a couch or bed and called them The Snuggle Sessions!

Though the weather that day turned out to be the least wintery of any of the days before or after it, rendering the promised fire and hot chocolate less desirable, these cozy sessions still had such a great feel to them. I love seeing all these lovely families enjoying one another with such affection and playfulness, and I really like the results! 

Stay tuned tomorrow for one more Snuggle Session feature, along with a special and very limited time offer. 

snuggle :: the sissons

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one of my recent rather impulsive ideas was indoor mini-sessions on a couch or bed in an otherwise empty room on a cold winter day. with hot chocolate and a roaring fire nearby. because is this not preferable to being outside in the frigid cold in your possibly not-very-cute winter gear?! yes, i think so. 

i needed someone to demo this idea, however, so i could show you all what i was envisioning. so i recruited these cuties to come over and test drive the concept. they rocked it. 

if you want a snuggle session for yourself, the tickets are on sale NOW.

here are the sissons, snuggled up -- complete with slippers, mugs, and blankets! 

mini-sessions :: richmond park

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Before you get to these sweet little highlights from fall mini-sessions, I want to draw your attention a rad give-away I'm running now until October 14th. It's for a short family photojournalism session. Entering requires a fun little creative exercise. You can see more about the give-away HERE. You'll need to click on the box that says "ENTER" and it will take you to the FB post that outlines the steps required to enter. 

Now onto mini-sessions... :)

Families are the best. Spending time following around six of them in a single afternoon is such a fun adventure! Each one has it's own unique culture, it's inside jokes and quirky little ways of connecting. And all of them are so special.

You guys, your family is special. Keep at the work of building your best life together, loving one another well, and playing.

I know mini-sessions are a hot ticket (they sold out SO FAST), and I've had lots of inquiries about whether or not I'll be offering them again this fall. The answer is no; at the earliest I'll offer spring mini-sessions. 

In the meantime, I have limited availability for family photojournalism sessions and have added two variations to that, so head over here to read more about that. And as long as I'm updating you on availability, I have availability to take one birth in each of these months in 2016: february, april, may, june, and july. Smile Sessions are on hold indefinitely.