Newborn sessions are always full of heart warming moments. But add a brand new big sister and the moments double, triple, quadruple in quantity!! It was a non-stop smoosh fest at Vivian’s newborn sesh. And I take my hat off and bow down to mommy and daddy. Not only were they brand new parents again, but they were smack-dab in the middle of a move. (Not kidding…I came over to their new house the day after the movers left!!!) They were so calm and roll-with-the-punches that you couldn’t help absorb that mentality while being around them. I would have been having a melt down and checking myself into the nearest mental facility. But not these troopers! (Had to help that Mimi was there for a visit too! Mimi’s are the best!)

Enjoy the love, beauty and all around gorgeousness that we captured on this afternoon together.

Big sister Gracie is a pro at holding her baby sis. Look at the confidence in this little girl!!! I love Vivian’s little hand tucked under Grace’s arm. Swooon!!

Baby Vivian, you are a BEAUTY!!!!

Grace. That HAIR!!!! I’m jelly, sister!!! Can’t wait to shoot your senior portraits! (Getting ahead of myself, I know.)

HEART EXPLOSIONS!!!!! This has to be one of my favorite family portraits EV-AH!!!! I don’t know about you, but I see this as a huge canvas. HUGE!

I love me some good, old fashion, emotional black and white images. Especially with a dash of grain. Gorg!!!

Gracie gives the best “noses”.

This photo was Melissa’s idea and I loved it! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it when my clients come up with ideas at the session!! I can easily see this becoming a family tradition each year…watch the feeties grow!!!

Congratulations big sister Gracie on your sweet new baby sister and your brand new house!!! Your family is so precious and I look forward to watching you grow up in front of my camera!! xoxo

I find it hard to believe that Drew and I have been married for 10 months tomorrow. I find it even harder to believe that our one year anniversary will be here in a blink of an eye. And the HARDEST thing to believe is that I haven’t hung one wedding picture yet!!!! AHHH!! What is wrong with me?!? I really need to practice what I preach. I’m always telling clients that you don’t want to be one of those people that keep your beautiful, ethereal, heirloom images locked away on your hard drive where no one can see them. Share!! And I don’t mean on Facebook! Dramatic? Yes. Correct? Yes. And by all means, please share on Facebook…but don’t only share on Facebook.

So in the next two months, my goal is…wedding picture re-vamp. I’m purchasing new frames. I’m scouting out tired walls in our house that need a face lift. I’m going all out to remind ourselves just how elated, over-joyed and spoiled we were one year ago by displaying these gorgeous images through out the house. My favorite part about waiting is that I’m revisiting these images with fresh eyes. Pictures that maybe didn’t strike a cord initially are appealing to me in a whole new way. It may be the same for you as your children grow. Or as your Seniors move on. Revisit those pictures that I took over a year ago…or maybe even just a few months ago. Maybe a photo that wasn’t your favorite will speak to you differently now that time has passed you by (rather quickly I’m sure.) Maybe I captured a photo of your young daughter making a funny face that turned out to be her signature pose, but now she’s too cool for it. Or your son playing with his favorite toy car that he’d be mortified to get out in front of his friends now. You may surprise yourself and find your living room wall getting a fresh portrait make over as well.

For now, let’s start with a slideshow of the images from our Rehearsal Dinner. I haven’t shared these yet and I know these will knock your socks off. Drew and I were lucky to literally have two receptions. My mother-in-law went all out for our RD. It was GORGeous!! We had so many wonderful family members make the trip up that we had to have our dinner in a banquet hall at the Grand Haven Community Center to accommodate everyone.

I was a pretty calm bride the week of my wedding. (Minus my quick trip to Urgent Care for a stress related matter. Another post for another day.) However on the day of our RD, all hell broke loose. The weather didn’t co-operate. I cried if someone looked at me wrong. (Literally I had to put my make up on twice that night and I had tear streaks in my spray tan.) We had timing issues at our church. Buuuuuut, as always, everything worked out in the end. It was impossible not to walk into this center that Jo Lynn had literally transformed into an elegant dinner party, and not forget about all of your problems. I can’t thank her and Rich enough for your efforts, love and support. It was a wonderful kick off to our weekend! Enjoy the show!