family
The Carolinas are notorious for feeling like summer when the calendar says it’s fall. The good news is it doesn’t have to feel like fall to look like fall. Just grab a pumpkin spice latte, put on some deep jewel tones like this family, and think cool thoughts! I have found some beautiful little spots to photograph families with hints of Fall foliage and pine. Take a look at this sweet family and their little ones on the move!
What do you love most about a Carolina Fall?
While it may not always feel like it here in Charlotte, it’s beginning to look like Fall!. The trees are lush, leaves are beginning to turn and fall underfoot—it’s beautiful!
Speaking of beautiful, can you even handle this family? I have been photographing them from the NICU to milestones and family portraits. They styled their family perfectly for fall family portraits with deep, warmer tones and hints of denim. I love that they’re coordinated, and not too matchy matchy.
What really makes these photos are the radiant smiles and the easygoing energy of these four. Not everyone is super comfortable in front of the camera, but there’s so much beauty in normal, minimally posed family moments. From little kisses to children exploring their surroundings, I love to photograph the essence of a family instead of a cookie cutter posed snapshot that may or may not resemble their true spirit.
Enjoy and capture each season, and print your pictures because time is a thief, y’all!
Our first annual fall apple picking trip did not disappoint. Sky Top Orchard is nestled just above Flat Rock, North Carolina. The property is HUGE and so are the crowds, but we managed to sneak in right at opening. When we left, the cars were parked and in line for over a mile away from the entrance. We were glad to wake up a little early instead of sitting for hours with a 2 year old!
Here is a little glimpse into a tradition I hope to continue in the years to come! I forgot to photograph the BEST two parts of our apple adventure… the apple cider donuts and the apple cannon!!
Sky Top’s donuts are the most delicious donuts I’ve ever tasted and I have been dreaming about them ever since! I love anything with cinnamon sugar, so of course I had to try a few - or a dozen. Our other favorite part of the day was the apple cannon. It is new this year and I got a few photos on my phone, but didn’t get out the big camera because was a popular attraction with a lot of people around. We got a basket of 20 apples to shoot out of the cannon, and I was the only one out of the three of us to hit a target and earn an extra apple to shoot. Girl power!
We are into traditions that we can share with Evan, and this is one fall experience that I’d love to repeat next year. There is so much to do at the orchard, which makes Sky Top a perfect day trip with a toddler. What a fun way to kick off fall!
Just as his parents were preparing for his baby shower, Tristin surprised them with a speedy arrival much earlier than they had anticipated. Since he was about 10 weeks early, he earned himself a stay in the NICU to do some more growing and to develop a few more skills before leaving the hospital and heading home. Since his NICU admission he has proven to be quite a little fighter and is making great strides in his development—no longer needing an IV and breathing mostly without support. The snuggles and skin-to-skin time are surely helping both Tristin and parents to adjust and to thrive. Just look at those smiles!
“I found out I was pregnant when I was 5 weeks (in June). I had just graduated from the University of South Carolina and just received a job here in Charlotte at Charlotte Latin School. I was terrified and had no clue what I was going to do. I had no other choice but to make the most of my situation and my pregnancy. Fast forward to December, I was preparing for my baby shower to be on December 7th. On December 1st, at about 3:30 am, I began having sharp pains in my stomach. I honestly thought I had food poisoning from Thanksgiving. I could not sleep and was in excruciating pain. I finally decided to go to the hospital around 7 because I hadn’t felt a lot of movement along with my stomach pain. I got there and they told me I was 4 cm dilated. They gave me medicine to stop it, however, the meds did not work. Next thing you know, they told me I was 7-8 cm dilated and my baby was coming right then. My boyfriend and I looked at each other and didn’t know what to do. Tristin Joshua Lewis was born on 12/1/19 at 9:16 am. He weighed 3 pounds 4 ounces. All I could do was cry because he was so small. He was transported to Novant Presbyterian right after he was born. He is now 3 pounds 6.7 ounces. He is breathing on his own (room air trials) for 18 hours of the day. He had is picc line removed and he is done with all fluids he was receiving. He is a fighter! He’s doing everything he’s supposed to be doing and I couldn’t be more proud of my little trooper. Being a young parent is not easy. Being a parent already is not easy, but I wouldn’t trade this feeling for the world. Tristin lights up my world and never fails to put a smile on my face. He is my SONshine! Babies are blessings. I am beyond thankful to have Tristin in my life!”
Josephine snoozed through her dreamy newborn session. She mirrored the peaceful demeanor of her lovely parents. I adore accessorizing little girls with dainty headbands. With sweet little newborns, it doesn’t take much accessorizing to create a beautiful feminine photograph. Also, as you can see swaddling babies does not have to limit access to their sweet fingers and toes—those are some of the best parts of newborn photos!
What are your favorite accessories for little girls?
And then there were four—four girls, that is. Mallory is the newest addition to this crew of little ladies. I adore this family. It’s been a blessing to photograph all four of these girls and to capture each of their individual personalities. I know I am in for a fun time when they book a session, and I really appreciate how they trust my vision for each of their sessions. I must add—it is such a treat when I see that they’ve printed and displayed my images all around their home! Mallory’s youngest older sister did a Baby Plan with me, so I’ve been able to photograph each one of these girls in her milestone photos. There’s something so special about getting to know families through photographing them over time.
Look at how well these girls love their newest little sister!
If you know me, you’ve probably figured out that I’m far from traditional! I love to stray outside the lines of what’s normal and comfortable. So it’s no surprise that I enjoyed this Easter holiday despite the strangeness of this pandemic!
Easter weekend was filled with family time with just the three of us. Evan did his first Easter egg hunt and ate way too many M&Ms and Skittles! He loved searching for his eggs. He just put them in a little bucket from one of my baby showers from before he was born. Why, you ask? Well, because his Easter basket was already packed and ready to put out on Easter morning. Do people still put out an empty basket on Easter Eve to have the Easter Bunny fill it? Well we didn’t stick with that tradition - oops!
That evening, we put 5 carrots out on the porch for the Easter Bunny. Evan was a little disappointed because he thought the bunny was actually going to be out there right when he opened the door! We explained that he would come in the night and he seemed to be satisfied with that response. The next morning, he ran to the front door to see how many carrots were left. Surprisingly, there was only one!
On Easter morning, we read Easter books and watched church online (thanks David Chadwick and Moments of Hope Church!) Evan doesn’t quite understand what watching church means, especially since he doesn’t watch a ton of television. He’s used to seeing other children so watching people sing songs was pretty fun to him. He really enjoyed the music but he got restless during the sermon.
We had pizza for lunch and hung out around the house the rest of the day. That night, we blew up an air mattress and put it in the den to watch a movie. Evan sat through the entire thing! We watched Monster’s Inc on Disney+ and were both hoping he’d fall asleep…but that definitely did not happen! I was thrilled that he was able to watch the whole movie, though!
While we thoroughly enjoyed our out of the ordinary Easter, we are ready to see our friends and family again!
Here’s a little video of our Easter weekend!
Penelope’s parents are not strangers to parenting, but they knew even before her birth that Penelope would need some extra special care upon her arrival. Her mom and dad are currently balancing care for their other children with time with Penelope in the NICU. Between daily life at home and commuting to and from the hospital, life can really fly by. Being a photographer herself, Penelope’s mother wanted to capture her daughter’s feisty personality during her NICU stay, so she welcomed a NICU session for her sweet little lady. Bundled up next to her very first octopus, here is a glimpse into the NICU journey of this little fighter and her loving parents as well as a note from her mother about Penelope’s diagnoses and how she made her grand entrance into her family of five.
We found out we were expecting and were going to do a water birth until all these unexpected things kept coming up. [There were] multiple doctor appointments with fetal medicine and cardiology. We first found out our little girl would be born with cleft—once we got settled in knowing that, we had a cardiologist appointment and we found out she had hole in [her] heart in two different spots. So being scared we put it in God's hands. We knew He could work miracles. Pregnancy was going pretty smooth other than that until 25 weeks my water ruptured and I had to rush to ER and they had to stop labor. They were able to keep baby in another week but then a turn for the worst her heart started to decel. We had to deliver 12/19/19 and she came out crying and doing great on just CPAP. Two kids at home…and traveling everyday to Charlotte to make sure I'm with my sweet Penelope too it's crazy and a roller coaster, but God is amazing and He works miracles.
You all might remember Erika from her stunning indoor maternity photos. She and her husband are now parents to baby boy James! Upon arriving at her home for the session I was awestruck by the decor—Erika knows a thing or two about design. This made my job so easy! Lifestyle photographs can be much more diverse when every room in the house is styled and clutter-free. With that being said, please don’t feel any pressure to make your home just so before I come—the transition to motherhood can be trying! This mama just has a special gift, and I was able to capture that in these photos. All I really need is a space with one good window for lighting to get the best photographs of your and your new addition!
More beautiful than their stunning home is this family, just full of joy. Even baby James gave me some sweet smiles to capture. With mom and dad in neutrals and denim and James swaddled in neutral, textured blankets, I was able to really capture some of their first, special family moments without any distractions.
There is something so special about the home to which you bring your brand new little baby, and as much as I enjoy studio sessions, I really love capturing families in their element. What do you prefer—studio or lifestyle session?
There are so many options when it comes to booking a photography session. Some things that factor into your choices are timing, finances, weather, utilization of the images. The list goes on. One great opportunity for both photographers and families is booking mini sessions. There are a number of reasons to choose to book a mini session, but below are three main reasons many families choose to book this particular type of session.
Mini sessions can be a great opportunity to try on your photographer for fit without a huge commitment. You want to ensure you and the photographer are comfortable with one another—if not, the discomfort can lead to images that aren’t of great quality photos that simply don’t feel genuine.
Once you’ve determined the relationship between yourself and your photographer, you will want to examine your budget. If finances are a little tight but you really want to prioritize photos, you can book a mini session, which is typically a less expensive option. Photographers tend to book back-to-back sessions in order to accomodate more families on a particular day. The session will be shorter (around 15 to 30 minutes) and usually does not allow for outfit changes. So they are quick and painless!
Finally, sometimes you’re just not looking for an abundance of images. You may even have a very specific image (e.g., special announcement, Christmas card, pregnancy announcement) that you are looking to capture and you don’t need a gallery of 100+ images. These special situations lend themselves perfectly to mini sessions because they usually yield fewer images in the final gallery.
This sweet girl definitely made the most of her mini session! What kinds of mini sessions would you like to see from me this year?! I have a few ideas in mind but I want to hear from you!
Charlotte, North Carolina has been upping their art game over the past decade! I love seeing new murals popping up around the city… and of course I love it even more if it’s easy to get to and as beautiful as Evelyn Henson’s Confetti Hearts Wall in South End - and it doesn’t hurt when it’s beside Jeni’s!
I had blast photographing families, couples, and children last year for my first annual Valentine’s Heart Wall portraits! I couldn’t let this year go by without taking the opportunity to have new families strike a pose in front of this wall.
Evan was my first subject and he didn’t disappoint! I got some cute smiles and he had fun standing on the red box! Each year, I try to keep these sessions simple, without a lot of props. I don’t want to distract from the heart wall’s fun colors and design, or from you!
Comment below and tell me your favorite images from this year’s sessions!
Confetti Hearts Wall
1930 Camden Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203
Caroline was born premature and spent a bit of time in the NICU. Her onesie is an ode to the incredible NICU nurses she met along the way. Caroline’s parents definitely have a magic touch and managed to take a temperature, change her diaper, and pose for some sweet family photos, all without waking the baby! She did give them the sweetest smirk though!
Look how tiny she looks in her daddy’s hands! She’s already got her parents wrapped around her little preemie fingers—and toes!
A trip to see Santa is such a quintessential childhood experience; the visit brings such joy to little ones and their families. While Santa is pure magic for kids, there are so many factors of visiting Santa in a mall or larger setting that can make the experience less than ideal for families.
A private Santa portrait provides a special, individualized experience for each and every child. Families can plan around nap times and other activities and skip the long lines in order to enjoy a moment of togetherness and to soak in the holiday spirit.
Not only are the little ones able to see Santa; they are also able to visit with his better half—Mrs. Claus! This is an experience that is not offered very frequently, and it really brings the entire Santa experience to life.
Private sessions also allow for all kinds of special considerations. For example, a private setting can be more manageable for children with sensory processing challenges. Also, for children with weakened immune systems (like all of those sweet preemies I photograph) the private settings create a cleaner environment with fewer chances to leave Santa with any unwanted ‘gifts’. Even children on home ventilators are welcome, as I am comfortable working with all kinds of medical equipment.
My private Santa sessions begins with coffee, hot chocolate, and some sweet holiday treats. The aroma of WoodWick’s Frasier Fir candle fills my home studio, and creates a relaxing space for families to dwell while the children craft their wish lists. When Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive, the little ones can jump right up—the shy littles are allowed plenty of time to warm up before sharing their wish list. All of these factors add up to create relaxed, authentic photographs for each family.
Below is a sneak peek of a few 2019 private sessions with Santa and Mrs. Claus! Tell me in the comments why you would choose a private Santa session over a visit to the mall! I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
‘When I found out I was expecting I was…in shock!’
Immaleigha’s mother was surprised by her pregnancy and had quite the bumpy road to Immaleigha’s premature arrival.
‘I was very scared but prayed my way through it all and baby girl is here…Life since birth feels great. Mommy mode instantly kicked in. I can’t believe I have a baby girl. What I always wanted’
While she had all that she’d always wanted, it was hard for Immaleigha’s mother to leave the hospital without her sweet baby girl. While in the NICU she gained some wonderful wisdom on life with a baby in intensive care: ‘I would tell other moms and dads to remain humble keep their faith, it is not over!’ Pictures of Immaleigha have helped her mother to cope with this experience. She loves being able to look back at photos to remind herself of her baby’s progress when the NICU journey feels challenging.
“I would tell other moms and dads to remain humble keep their faith, it is not over!”
Immaleigha might be tiny, but she is not lacking in accessories. Dressed in floral, adorned in bows, and she is even flaunting the tinyest purse! While the pregnancy and her early arrival may have been a surprise, these doting parents are clearly so in love with their little lady.
Can you imagine your family running through a lush green field of brightly colored sunflowers? If not, scroll through this beautiful session to see the magical images we made together. These mini sessions are perfect for toddlers or little ones… They only last up to 15 minutes, which is about the max that you can get out of kids this age! They are just too curious and busy to sit still for long periods of time.
Find yourself daydreaming about your family out in the sunflower field? Meet me in Fort Mill, South Carolina next week! Head over to the store to book your spot on my calendar. Very limited spaces so don’t wait.
Just a few favorites from this year’s Peach Blossom Mini sessions! These took place at a peach orchard in Fort Mill, South Carolina - the perfect location for dreamy spring photos. This was my first year out in the orchards and I was not disappointed! Everyone loved the beautiful pink blooms and the kids all had fun running around between the trees. Children love a location like this because they can go explore and I love locations like this because it allows for some fun candid photos. What are your favorite images below?
What a fun start to 2019! Since I am slowing down a bit this year to spend time with Evan, I decided to offer Valentine’s Day mini sessions this year. I thought about offering various mini sessions throughout the year because I can choose the dates, which gives me a little more flexibility in my schedule. I have never offered mini sessions, but these were a complete success!
The reason these turned out so cute is thanks to Evelyn Henson! I don’t even remember where I saw her Confetti Hearts Wall for the first time, but I knew at that moment that I had to chose it as the backdrop for Valentine’s sessions. It is a 40ft wall with beautiful colorful hearts and phrases, and it was finished just in time for this event! I would love to see more public art like this around Charlotte, so make sure you follow Evelyn, visit the mural, and tag #confettiheartswall. The more excited we get about these, the more likely they are to start popping up around our communities.
I have so many favorites from each session that I wanted to share, so it was very hard to narrow it down. These sessions made for some fun family photos, mother-daughter photos, and sibling photos! Take a look at my favorites from each session below, and comment with your favorite!
“I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” - Ben Folds
“I may not say much when I am with you, but all of me loves you all the time.” - Richard Nixon
“To love another person is to see the face of God.” - Les Miserables
“A hundred hearts would be too few. To carry all my love for you.”
“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." - Maya Angelou
"I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow."
“There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.” - George Sand
“Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.” - Trent Shelton
I met up with this sweet family of three in the park in Ballantyne, North Carolina. Looking at these photos, you’d never know that we were in the middle of a corporate park. This has been one of my favorite locations for a few years now, and I’m so glad I found it. It’s beautiful, convenient, and has so many great settings within a relatively small space. Once the leaves start changing, it’s the ideal place for a fall family session!
This family styled their session perfectly for the fall weather, even though the leaves haven’t truly started changing. The navy and blue palette is the perfect combination for this fun outdoor family session. Everyone looked comfortable and casual, and we had a great time making these beautiful images together. The lighting was perfect and I couldn’t have asked for a better family to photograph!
These family portraits are some you don't want to miss! If you've been following me for even a minute, you've probably seen sweet Brooklyn. She's the sweetest little red head who is now turning blonder by the moment, and growing up right before our eyes!
The McKees are sweet friends of mine, and I'm so appreciative for their continued support of my business, and that they have chose to grow with me as their family grows. I work with Amy at the hospital before she had Brooklyn and we were fast friends. She's the sweetest, most genuine person. I'm so glad to call her my friend! Not only is she a great friend, she's so patient with Brooklyn, and she's a wonderful NICU nurse.
These family portraits were taken at one of my new favorite locations for a family session. It's located in Ballantyne, so it's not too far outside of Charlotte. The McKees are always willing to drive to great locations to create beautiful images like these. We hit the park at the PERFECT time of day for lighting - that golden hour, though!
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for a sweet little [big] announcement!
Meet this sweet family of 4! I was so grateful for the opportunity to photograph this family again this year. I met Ashley in nursing school and later found out that we were both from the same hometown! She allowed me to photograph her family last year at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill, South Carolina. This year I met up with them at Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina when I was in town visiting a friend. Their boys have grown so much - a lot can happen in a year! Take a look at this beautiful family and make sure to check out the surroundings. This park is the perfect location for a fall family session!
