Ohh, it was so wonderful to see these folks again! They’re the first in a long string of client reunions I’ve recently had and it makes me so happy. Sarah and Tim were married back in 2015 in Duke Forest and, after living in DC for a few years, they recently returned to Raleigh. And now they have the distinct pleasure of being the parents to the ADORABLE toddler Theo! So it was my mission to document them together as a family hanging around the newly renovated Moore Square. The new Moore Square is SO nice, especially when you have a Theo who loves to run, run, and then run some more (shortly before losing his shoes, which he did a lot). We spent most of the time catching him, cuddling with him until he would no longer tolerate it, then chasing after him again. When he’s not running, he loves busses, playing peek-a-boo near the Marbles balls, books, and animals of all kinds (there was a lot of high-pitched squealing when I presented him with a bat sticker and he seemed like he was working on subtly coercing his parents into adopting either a cat or a dog by saying the words a lot). He is an extremely happy-go-lucky toddler. Sarah and Tim hit the jackpot with Theo, and likewise Theo with Sarah and Tim. So glad I could see these great people again!
Team Emmerika have been our clients for such a long time now (since 2013!) and it’s been so wonderful seeing them grow. We knew them when they were living in an apartment with one cat whom Emmanuel was very allergic to but loved nonetheless. He was a homeless cat they rescued and took care of and his name is Lobo. Now, you should know that Erika and Emmanuel are very doting people. If they like you, you will know, and be a great recipient of their love (and snacks). So even though Emmanuel was allergic to Lobo, they took him in and cleaned him up and loved him fiercely. Then they bought a house! Then, with an adjustment of allergy medications probably?, they adopted two additional cats. THEN they adopted a puppy! THEN they adopted another puppy! And now Lobo lives with 2 other cats, 2 dogs, and one baby (not a cat!) named Felix. And I’m glad, because no one has more love to give away than Erika and Emmanuel… and every single dependent creature who lives with them has the BEST life. Plus, I am extra glad they had a baby because LOOK AT HOW CUTE FELIX IS. IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. LOOK AT HIS TINY CORDUROY PANTS. AND HIS LIL FACE. AND THE SIDE EYE HE OCCASIONALLY GIVES HIS PARENTS. I want to squeeze him and steal him and never let him grow up and out of those tiny corduroy pants. The cutest, handsomest gentleman who likes to give me high-fives and talk about cats. He is loved by many and will do great things. His name is Felix but he is not a cat.
P.S. Thank you to Quail Ridge Books, a favorite stomping ground of Erika and Emmanuel, for letting us take some pictures inside your store! P.P.S. Thank you to Helen, who is always such a big help on shoots and a wonderful grandma to Felix!
This beloved family of mine! Well, technically they aren’t my own family, but they are my clients and they have taught us how to make some of the best cocktails we know how to make, so they’re basically family. There was also a brief mention of them possibly inserting Geoff into the background of their Christmas card with the intention of telling people that they recently adopted a 36 year-old software engineer. Maybe next year. You guys remember these folks from our million past sessions with them (go look at that link if you want to reverse time and see Laurel and Sam when they were SO LITTLE – I can feel myself embarrassing them as we speak). We love them and adore them. They went through a lot of heartache last year after losing their beloved Frenchie named Frank, but after a while they decided it was time to add a new Frenchie to the mix, and they recently adopted Simon. Simon is a little ball of sturdy muscle and cuteness. He just turned one, so they threw him a little party. He was mildly impressed. We were much more thrilled than he was to see him wear a birthday hat.
