I have tried to sit down and write this post about 6 times already.  I am not stumped for words, quite the opposite.  There is so much I want to tell you about this family and why they touch my heart.  Something about it gets me all emotional.  And I know you don’t want to hear me sobbing or anything, so I have decided that I am going to just share just two of the things that I loved the most about this family & this shoot and try to leave the computer screen dry.

Sonya.  She has the thickest southern accent you have ever heard and the warmest personality and kindest demeanor’s of anyone you will ever meet.  Seriously.  I am pretty sure the saying “sweet as pie” was written about her.  She even brought my daughter a Christmas gift to give to me at the end of the shoot.   Enough said, right?  She is the best.

I had the pleasure of doing a photo shoot about a year ago with this family and was  SO touched when Sonya called me again to capture images her and Chance (as a present for her husband Jason who is serving overseas).  The first time we did a shoot I remember hearing the concern in her voice as Sonya told me that they had done photo sessions in studios, but hadn’t been successful at catching Chance’s sweet smile on camera.   (And he DOES have the sweetest smile.)  I am so happy to share that we got it again this time with the help of a park, a balloon, and the love of his tender mama.  We captured Chance’s smile, and his laugh, and all of the adorable little man that he is.

And now….drum roll please….

I am so excited to share this next series of images with you! Everything about it makes me smile.  I actually got a little choked up while I was putting it together cause I kept thinking about how this is my dream for photo shoots.  Catching the “real” moments.  Don’t get me wrong, I pose my daughter and take her picture all the time, and I LOVE those ones.  But I think there is something incredibly magical about just letting your kids be a kid and LAUGHING with them.  Letting the milk come out of your nose with them.  For me, it is in those moments with my daughter that nothing else in the world matters and I feel overwhelming joy.  THAT is what I dream about capturing for families.  The real, love and laughter filled moments.  And I was especially elated to capture this with Sonya and Chance.   A sweet moment, captured in a way that you could feel the laughter and fun coming through the image, so that although he is miles away Jason could feel like he is there.   I am in LOVE with these.

Sonya, thank you for going along with my idea and letting me get your little guy all sugared up!  Merry Christmas to you all!