Little Mr. J | 2 year session

We planned Mr. J's 2 year session about 6 months in advance. His sweet mom and I talked a few times about location and clothes and other ideas for his session, getting it all planned out. And sometimes, when you think you're prepared and on top of things, all in control, nature has a way of making you realize that you are not in control at all. Mother Nature, in particular, was having a good knee-slapping howl of laughter at our expense. Our session got rained out and rescheduled THREE times! Mr. J's mom and I did all we could do - laugh. And we were repaid with this gorgeous night. This is one sweet group of people that I sincerely hope I get to work with again. Mr. J was a busy little birthday boy who reminded me very much of my own. And  his sisters were so engaging and wonderful with him, I just loved watching them together. Happy Birthday, J! I hope all that rain brought you lots of luck in the form of presents ;)

Why my relationship with Pinterest is a love/hate one | Personal

I love pinterest, it gives me lots of great ideas & inspiration. Whether it's photography related, cooking, decorating, activities with the kids, there's a lot to get excited about. And put on my to-do list. Which leads to why I hate pinterest. I get all these big ideas that I can't seem to find the time to follow through on, leading me to feel like an inadequate slacker! Well, not today! I just finished a pinterest project! Yay, me!

Here's my collage of our year (2011, I'm behind, people!), and on my to-do list for every year to come is to make a new one! I'm going to frame it and hang it on the awesome wall collage that's in the works. Which is to say, it's a big idea in my head that's on my to-do list ;) These are mostly snapshots, they are imperfect, but they represent so many special times in our family, I know I'll smile every time I look at it!

And if you are interested in creating one for yourself, here is the pin that inspired this project!

The Tanguay Family | Dracut, MA Family Photographer

I knew this was going to be a fun session. This family came prepared,with bubbles, super-hero capes, family quilts, all kinds of fun stuff. They were dressed adorably (check out that paisley dress, which this Mama made for her beautiful daughter!), and I happen to know them, they are a very sweet gang and these kids have the greatest outgoing personalities. There was not a dull moment - and I loved it!

Help for a fellow photographer

I am blessed. I am in good health. I have two healthy boys, and another on the way. I am thankful each and every day for this. When my oldest son, now 5, was just over one year old, I found a tumor on my hip. I'd had abnormal bloodwork in the past as well as pre-cancerous cells. The doctors didn't seem concerned, but sent me through a whole rigmarole of testing to be sure. It took a few months before I was told definitively that I was fine. Being the worry-wart that I am, as soon as I heard the ugly tumor word, combined with my past, I was as good as gone. I can remember vividly, leaning against the fridge, watching my son play on the kitchen floor, and just crying over the notion of him losing his mother. Crying over the thought of him not remembering me. Dramatic? Yes. But I tell you, I have never been so scared. Today I learned of another fellow photographer who did not get the fortunate news that I did. Jen Burgess Thompson has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and is fighting for her life. I just watched this video of her with her sons, and cried all over again, it stirred up all the fears I once had for myself, but this time for her and her family. Jen is going to the Mayo Clinic to participate in a clinical trial, but it costs a whopping $63,000 dollars. Please consider donating by participating in this deal offered by prophotodeals.com, and share with your friends. To learn more about Jen and hear her story, you can visit her blog. If you are not a photographer and the above deal does not appeal to you, there is a donation page on her blog, as well. Let's help Jen through this trial, and pray that she too soon gets some good news, so she can officially eff cancer and continue to be here for her two beautiful boys. Thanks for taking the time!

Laney | 2 year session | Tewksbury, MA child photographer

Beautiful Miss Laney and her parents came to see me for her 2 year portraits. I was really looking forward to this session, the location is beautiful and photographing a pretty little girl in a pretty little dress there was such fun. Laney was less excited for our session, but she ended up having some fun, too. She really loved when I pretended to fall on the ground (at 6 monhts pregnant, this was a site, I'm sure), and ended up getting her parents in on the faux-fall action as well! 

There were some frogs in a well that were very... um... active. Yes, I guess that's how you could say it. We were all rather intrigued, but especially Laney! 

I just adore the light in her curls in this one!

And these last two just make me giggle. Do you think she was done with me? Yeah, I think so, too! :) 

Zach | 9 month session | North Andover baby photographer

Okay, after this session I can safely say that 9 months is my favorite age to photograph! Zach laughed at my silly faces and peek-a-boo playing, and he couldn't run away from me! But this boy is so sweet and happy, I am inclined to think he will be this way at every session, every age. He is just a little love and I was having so much fun, I didn't want this session to end. I have had the joy of photographing Zach throughout his first year. I can't believe we'll be celebrating his first birthday soon!

10/52 | Round

We celebrated our son's 5th birthday this week. It is amazing how fast that snuck up on us! So, on Sunday while I was scanning the house, trying to decide what to photograph for my "round" theme, I noticed the birthday banner hanging in the kitchen. I decided to use the opportunity to get a birthday photo of my little man. Because I let him set up train tracks on my backdrop/set-up, he was totally on board, or, er, on track I suppose! But the one I ended up choosing to share was this one, I just love his big happy face. We were having  good little laugh for ourselves here. I needed him just a little higher than he was sitting on the floor and a little lower than sitting on the crate I originally started with. So I pulled  a couple of books off the shelf for him to sit on. He was sitting on Harry Potter and pretending to "toot" on him. What can I say? A little potty humor goes a long way in this house!

Happy Birthday to my sweet boy, who has held up his promise that even though he's a big 5 year old, he will still cuddle with Mommy every day.