Aside from my own children's, this was hands down the most special newborn session I have been able to photograph to date. Let me tell you why...

My longest-time friend is Kelly's younger sister, Kerry. Just one year older than us though––and the sweetest older sister alive!––Kelly was never too cool to play with us. I have memories from when the three of us were single-digits-old of piling up every pillow and blanket we could find so we could practice our aerial cartwheels and handsprings. Mine looked nothing like aerials or handsprings. Kerry's attempts were commendable. But Kelly? That girl was a natural born gymnast. And all the while as she flew through the air of my basement gracefully and I jumped on pillows like a clumsy toddler, she cheered Kerry and me on with a confident kind of encouragement that made me actually believe I could do it and a grin that made even my utter failure leave me smiling right back!...

Cream of the crop, these two.

Jon and Maegen are in a league of their own, but the thing that puts them there in the first place is the fact that they never set out to be in a league of their own.

Everything about these two is excellent. Top notch. Beautiful. Successful. You name it. They're incredible! The kind of incredible that could make a person jealous. But you know what? It doesn't. It's virtually impossible to feel anything of the sort towards Jon and Maegen. Because this pair...

Having met the Smith family not too long ago when I got to do a family/maternity session for them, I was SO looking forward to this one! Arika and Mike are the most laid-back and kind couple, and their precious toddler, Catherine, reminds me of Shirley Temple with her curls, her spunk and her irresistible sweetness. And now sweet baby Claire has been added to the family and she could not be a more perfect addition! Watching her adoring parents and big sister dote on her all morning melted my heart. And holding her and those adorable little round cheeks of hers had me wanting to stay all day!...

Warning: these girls are about to steal your heart!

Just one look at these sweet little faces and they had me wrapped around their finger. But it wasn't only those smiles that had me hooked. (Though they did!) It was the tender way they loved each other, their friendly and cheery greeting to me, and the way they utterly adored their parents. A couple of hours spent around a family is enough to get a small window into who they are and how they operate. It is one of my favorite parts about when I get to photograph families, because getting to truly know people brings me so much life and joy.

I had been looking forward to this session for months! When Leah first got in touch with me last December and told me that she and Matt absolutely had to have me as their wedding photographer, I already couldn't wait for their engagement session! After months of corresponding with Leah over the phone and email, it was such a treat to finally hug her in person and see for myself the magic between these two...