Family photos can be fun, I promise! It’s always a process of feeling out everyone’s moods and not being too controlling. Yes, we definitely want to get the posed, camera-aware portraits, but how we get there is key and we can get so many fun and natural captures along the way. Letting kids have some say in how we spend the time will make them feel like they are a part of this experience and not just props. If the experience ends up genuinely being fun, that will show. As always, parents, release yourself from the urge to point at me, look at your children, and instruct them to look at me and smile…just enjoy the moment and let me do the rest. ;)
Kansas State Capitol Dome Tour in Topeka
The Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, Kansas was one of the best spur-of-the-moment adventures. A whim while passing through town ended up being an inspiring and kismet experience as the Dome Tour was beginning right as we walked in the door. The climb has 296 historic, winding steps that lead up and around the internal dome and then along the inner dome. It can be a little scary! The total height is 306 feet, 17 feet taller than the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The historical murals and the ornate copper details throughout add even more awe.
Artistic Mountain Dance Maternity in Boulder, Colorado
This was an inspiring session. B is a dancer, so I wanted to be open to whatever she was feeling during this time in her life and attempt to offer some form of visual translation and narrative. The act of growing a human in her body sparked a connection between her and the earth, along with a fleeting feeling in regards to identity as it evolved.
I gave no instruction on wardrobe, except to basically follow your heart. I know there are the typical suggestions of the white button up shirt+jeans or the flowy dress, but sometimes I really love just letting people show up as they are; It opens the door to true authenticity right down to the day and moment. All that to say, I absolutely love this blazer look. B said she had been wearing this thing throughout most of the pregnancy, so I can only imagine it felt like a comfort blanket or shield and part of this era.
We started off by this area of boulders and rocks surrounded by trees, just following where we were drawn to first. The rocks were a grounding element to start off with and the shapes were lovely to work around.
This seemed like such an awkward angle and composition in the moment, but I made myself go there anyway. It ended up being a favorite of both of ours.
There are a lot of black and white images here. The color was rich and warm, but something about this set and all of the gestural moments really warranted being black and white.
I brought some fabric along to potentially play around with. I love a flowy fabric in the right hands; I think it can offer itself up as a metaphorical tool and a strong visual element.
The rain sprinkling and mostly holding off for us was starting to roll in stronger, so it was time to go. Before that happened, we had just enough time to get some wider shots in this vast/open landscape. It was the perfect ending to a beautiful experience.
Relaxed at-home Mom & Me
I went over to my friend D’s house late morning for a relaxed at-home photo session with no pre-conceived expectations. I went in with an open mind and heart, leading with my presence instead of the camera, open to what would present itself before me. Just hanging out, catching up and grabbing images along the way sort of feel. Here is a sampling of that session…I really had to edit down for this post!
Normally, I’d be obsessive about wrist hair ties and couch clutter, but letting all of that go in the moment and embracing reality made this one of my favorite (and first) shots of the session. This is also when I was finishing my coffee and saying hellos.
She especially wanted some breast feeding shots, so I wanted to capture some additional angles and details showing that special connection.
I love a good black and white. I’ll always include the color version too though.
I asked, “What do you guys normally do?” and she mentioned that they like to sit on the porch and watch people, cars and trucks go by, so we did that.
The day was so nice that we decided to touch some grass…
…And get a blanket and relax.
I am trying to get more shots that don’t include the baby or child’s face, but still show the moment, emotion and connection. More people are opting to not include their child’s face on social media and the internet, but they may still want to post some beautiful photos of their family to share.
This was such a lovely session. It was relaxed, candid and authentic. I think as the years go by, this approach to family photography can really bring back the feeling of the earlier years as opposed to just seeing what everyone looked like at that time. Embracing the real moment, letting go of ‘imperfection’ and certainly not stressing out over making kids look at the camera and smile. Just relax, hang out, enjoy the experience and the moment, and let me do the rest.
Snowy Mountain Engagement
This is the best kind of engagement or couples photoshoot—making an adventure out of it. M+D ended up having so much fun to the point where it was more like a fun date instead of a photo session. A perfect afternoon, cinematically documenting love and friendship, telling the story in a candid, yet epic way. It’s such a good feeling.
Elusive Colorado Snow
It’s been a record breaking winter for Colorado with Spring and Summer temperatures and no snow. It’s been bittersweet to enjoy the warmth and sun, but worrisome knowing how this will affect the land as a whole throughout the year. The one day I had plans for a shoot, the temperature plummeted and snow miraculously fell from the sky. At first it seemed inconvenient, but sometimes the universe has a much better plan and you have to accept it and adapt. The sky shifted on whims, the sun and snow seeming to play in the sky. The rolling hills dappled in warm light were visible one moment, then the next, enveloped in a white hazy cloud. I had to take as many landscape photos as possible and was even blessed enough to witness some deer living their best lives.
I’ll make a separate post with photos from this shoot next!
Relaxed Environmental Headshots
I recently made some quick portraits for my architect friend Aaron in his loft in St. Louis, and I mean quick—classic Aaron always having somewhere to be! I’ve been really into the work of Phil Sharp lately and wanted to approach it that way instead of the classic studio/strobe approach, so I brought in my ochre colored hand-painted canvas backdrop from Gravity Backdrops and used mostly natural light for these with a little bit of constant rim lighting. I knew ahead of time I wanted to shoot in his loft to incorporate a little bit of the background, because that’s the beauty of shooting with these backdrops.
Blossoms of Light at Denver Botanic Gardens
The Blossoms of Light 40th annual birthday bash celebration at Denver Botanic Gardens was pretty special since it fell on the night of the first significant snow fall of the winter. With the fresh blankets of snow on everything mixed with the colorful illuminations, it was truly a magical experience. I brought my star filter and also a fun little tilt shift lens (AstrHori 50mm 1.4 tilt lens) to get these effects.
Heirloom Glass Jewelry
If you’ve ever broken a special family heirloom dish or glassware and wondered if anyone out there could make it into custom jewelry, there is, and her name is Virginia Fox aka Orana Design. She works with Polish pottery, porcelain, china, and all sorts of vintage glasses like uranium and carnival glass. In addition to everyday jewelry like earrings, smaller necklaces and bracelets, she crafts extravagant statement necklaces that are suited for a wedding, gala, fancy art gallery events, or a queen doing queen things, etc.
Visit her Etsy Shop, Website and Instagram.
Studio Branding Shoot
I love working with other small businesses on their branding and website photography needs and this shoot was especially fun. Meet Sienna, the owner and creator of Sleepy Marmot Designs. She makes custom bike frame bags, including the designs, right here in Boulder, Colorado. The bright yellow backdrop was the perfect color to make all of the vibrant colors/patterns pop. If you need a bike frame bag, definitely check out Sleepy Marmot Designs and follow her on Instagram.
So I moved to Boulder, Colorado...
In 2025, I decided to start all over again, pack up my things and my two cats, sell my tiny house in St. Louis, Missouri and move to Boulder, Colorado. Being a freelance photographer is a process. It takes years to build up a business, gain trust and grow a network. It seems crazy to move cities once becoming established somewhere in that context, but life is too short, and so, I take the leap. I’m terrified of failure, driven to succeed, excited about the new things to come, places to see, people to meet and all of the limits I’ll eventually surpass.
Here are some beautiful places I’ve seen so far:
Painted Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan, Colorado
Bighorn Sheep at Waterton Canyon, Colorado
Devil’s Head Lookout in Sedalia, Colorado
Rainbow Lake Trail in Nederland, Colorado
Crater Lake Trail in Nederland, Colorado
Eldorado Canyon, Eastern Section