At Home with Abby+Matt // Rochester, NY Family Session

This was a wonderful reunion for us with Abby and Matt, whom we first photographed in 2009 when they were just dating! Abby was my beloved coworker when we were both elementary school teachers. Her classroom was connected to mine and she was my go-to if I needed anything. She was a fabulous teacher and all the kids loved her, and I loved her too! Then I did a major career change and quit teaching, and she became my lovely model along with her incredibly nice boyfriend Matt. And ::SUPER LIFE FAST-FORWARD MONTAGE:: they are now married with two kids and have relocated up to Rochester, New York! And WE were gonna be in Rochester and they found out and we had a lovely chance to see each other again and to work with their adorable kiddos! Olivia is the oldest clocking in at 3 years, and Amara is the youngest at 3 months. Olivia enjoys her sparkly light-up Crocs, covering her mom in a barrage of pillows and then jumping on her, and reading books with her dad. Amara enjoys sleeping, eating, sleeping, eating, eating, and eating. They are CUTE KIDS!! who have FABULOUS PARENTS who enjoy hanging out with each other and making things fun for their children (not surprising as Abby was such a great teacher, and Matt is one of the kindest and friendliest people on the earth).

Together we hung out in Olivia’s room (where she, like many CSP child-clients before her, discovered to her delight that she was somehow, for an unknown, mysterious reason, suddenly allowed to jump on the bed without being reprimanded and took full advantage), and their light-filled living room before heading over a near-and-dear park in their neighborhood. Olivia went down the same slide repeatedly and showed off her mad soccer skillz with a giant rubber ball (that at one point was stolen by a 2-year-old playground thief and I had to show some strong muscle to get it back), and Amara and her mom hung out on a blanket. We had a lovely sunny afternoon with none of that NC humidity that we were all accustomed to living down here, and it was so nice to see our friends again. <3

At Home with Brad and Johanna // A Family Session

On this shoot the six-year-old son developed a hand-written Star Wars test to present to Geoff before we got to the house. If Geoff were to fail it, we were to be kicked out of the house before the session began. There were a few questions designed to stump, but thankfully Geoff passed with flying colors and we were able to document this awesome family of four. :) So meet Brad and Johanna, and their kids Laurel and Sam! We love Brad and Johanna, but I fear that we had way too much in common with their kids (Goonies? Yes! Star Wars? Heck yes! Indiana Jones? You guys rule! Legos with extra Yoda heads and Chewie torsos?! Alright!!). At one point it was determined that Geoff (who wore his Star Wars shirt for the occasion) would make the best babysitter ever. We gave them a few pointers (namely that they need to watch Back to the Future and Phineas and Ferb) but overall we have to say that these are terrifically well-rounded kids who are solidly in touch with their late 1970s, 1980s trivia despite being born a solid 30 years later. We’re impressed. 

So we hung out with these guys at their awesome lake house where they showed us their Star Wars legos, played violin and cello for us (they are awesome!), introduced us to Yamslam, and showed us around their super cool fishing dock on the lake. In return, we piled all four of them into a hammock and hoped we wouldn’t need to use our liability insurance. We laughed, we cried, Carolyn got hit in the head with a whiffle ball. Brad and Johanna introduced us to the concept of mail-order bacon, and then we went home. We had a fantastic time hanging out with these four amazing and talented family members… and we rest well at night now knowing that somewhere out there exists a family that still plays baseball, board games, and instruments. They fish, have fires, and at the end of a long day, they all sit down and cuddle up with some nice early 80s Harrison Ford.

Raleigh Portrait Photographer: Baby Damiano

A tiny post about a tiny session with a tiny one month boy. :) He is beautiful and definitely inherited the modeling skills of his Aunt Valerie and cousins. ;) Welcome to the world, Little Damiano! It was an honor to photograph you in your first month of life. Thank you to the Duran family for inviting me back into their home and being so supportive and wonderful to me, as always. :) You guys are the best.

Congratulations and well wishes to the beautiful new family. :D He is gorrrgeous!! And someday his girlfriend will love these… but I know you don’t want to think about that now. ;) Hahaha. Thank you again, Ghia and Damiano Sr.! I had a wonderful time hanging out with you at the house and meeting your precious new boy. :) You all make such a sweet family.