It's all about the LIGHT.......

Soooo....I was in Branson a month or so ago for a very quick little family vacation. While I was there, I did some multi-tasking and I took my niece's 6 month pictures (see the post below). I had absolutely no plans to do anything else besides Clara's 6 months shoot. But I will tell you every time I walked past this hallway corridor at the Hotel, I had to stop and take in this beautiful light. I had 3 adorable girls who were dying to ride themselves a luggage rack...so this mini shoot was born.

The purpose of posting this is so many people out there get so wrapped up in location. They want park like settings (I am personally a fan of urban) and I understand the need or desire for green grass or flowery back grounds. But at the end of the day the people are who make the pictures, not the green grass. What is even more important is light, I can shoot anywhere...just give me beautiful light. The light at certain times of the day makes such a huge impact on the quality and look of your images. A mid day shoot in shade will work, but nothing compares to the "golden hour" of light. These images were taken about 6:30 at a Hotel corridor and they are some of my favorite images...the individuals of the girls are simply gorgeous and you are drawn to the subject, not the fact that they are leaning against a grey stone wall of a hotel.

So my soap box for the day is to "think outside of the box"...be daring with your locations, trust your photographer when they suggest something different. And most of all....get out there and capture some images at that golden hour and you won't be disappointed. :)



Lots of Family Love

I love multi-generational shoots. Don't get me wrong, they are the "easiest" shoots...but to me they are one of the most special. Capturing pictures like these are so very important...life shoots by us and we have those moments were we think..."if only I had more photos". So with out sounding too "soap boxy"...get out there and get your pictures taken...with your spouse, with your kids, with your parents.

I adored spending time with this family...I have worked with Stephanie before (pretty blond on the right) and her 2 adorable sons have been in front of my camera a few times (lucky me!). So when I heard from Stephanie's sister in law Jen to set up this extended family shoot...I was thrilled. I knew I would like Jen just from chatting with her via email and talking to her on the first day we got rained out. She is super nice and has a beautiful little family herself. The day we met for these pictures it was her birthday!

I love the color scheme they picked...blue, yellow and white..one of my favorite combos.

Stephanie and her beautiful family...

These boys are just the cutest!

Love this one! She was making us work for some smiles. I personally think she has the most precious "serious" face.

A little itty bitty smile :) But I think she is smiling with her eyes.

Every single person needs a photo like this of their parents.

This little guys is one of the easiest little boys I have ever photographed. Every time time he has been in front of my camera it is like second nature to him. He deserves a really cool "prize" the next time I see him :)

 Blond hair brown eyed boys....melt my heart.

Thank you guys so much for spending your evening with me...and most of all

thank you for asking me to document your big beautiful family as it is right now.

I hope these bring you smiles for years to come. Jen, I hope you enjoyed your

hot dog dinner for your birthday! Great to finally meet you.

Hugs!

Lisa

My Clara Boo - 6 Months

Clara is my adorable niece, you have seen her on the ole' Blog quite often. I having been "shooting" her pictures every 3 months. When it came time for  her 6 months pictures I was a little nervous, it was during a time that I was extremely busy with Weddings and other sessions and in the middle of that we had a mini-family vacation planned. But I just happen to have a very laid back sister in law (oh and brother too) that trust me when I say things like "Let's just do her shoot in Branson when we are on vacation". They never questioned where or when we were going to squeeze it in...they just shrugged their shoulders and said "Ok!". So, on our last night there we decided to do it...and my thoughts were to do it in the grass of the beautifully landscaped Hotel we were staying in. Well, it was like 107 degrees that day...and I am not even kidding. I think the high was 104 or something. So, I had to come up with a plan B. Shooting in a Hotel room which wasn't very big and was decorated in mauve...not my ideal local. :) I improvised....made the room as dark as I could, had the only light coming in from the window and sat her in her Bumbo seat (love those things!).

What I got was a completely black back-drop and beautiful light on sweet Clara's face. LOVE how these turned out.

She was being kind of serious, usually a very smiley girl....but I LOVE serious looks on babies. You can truly take in how precious their little facial features are.

A TOTAL Clara face :)

Another Clara face....so her!

I know Jess is so sick of hearing this, but this child is my little brothers clone. I am on a mission to find a picture of him around this age...it will freak your freak out!

We snuck outside for just a few minutes, it had cooled off some....but rain was on it's way.
Here is Clara with her beautiful momma :)

 LOVE this one!

And here she is with her big sis Kearsten. I know this sounds like I am bragging....but we have some amazing eyes in my family ;) These two are a perfect example of that.



I can't wait until 9 months baby girl!

I love you sooooo much!!!

Aunt Lisa

The Adorable M's at 3 & 6 months

The adorable M's are cousins...and I have the awesome job of capturing their entire first year. Usually we do our sessions separately but their mommies (who are sisters) and I thought it would be cool to do one of their milestone shoots together. So little Miss Maria is 3 months and Mr. Mason is 6 months. I LOVE when I show up for either of their shoots. First off, amazing awesome (feel like old friends) kind of peeps for parents. But moms are super duper creative and always have the best props and ideas. This particular shoot we had about 5 outfit changes :) Everything from little onsies's with M & M's on it (you know Maria and Mason)...to matching shirts that said "Current Family Favorite". LOVE it!!
Anyway, on with the show....and showing you some gorgeous babies :)

See you guys in a few months!

I can't wait!!