Sun-flare, anyone?

After a long and difficult journey, Lisa and David are expecting their son in early August. Lisa told me that they've been taking pictures of her belly throughout her pregnancy, so what they really need is pictures of them as a couple. As expectant parents. As a family ready to welcome its newest member. I'm so thrilled to have had the opportunity to meet such a loving twosome, and now I'm even more excited to meet their little boy when he arrives in August!

We started our session at their home in Redmond. I don't think I've seen a baby's room more complete! Every detail was in place and it was GORGEOUS. Here's just one shot from the indoor part of our session, but I think it speaks volumes.

As sunset approached, we headed to Marymoor Park to catch some beautiful evening light. Yes, I went a little sun-flare happy, but oh! how fun!
You could say all kinds of things about this shot as a metaphor for two people coming together and the power of their connection. I just really, really like it.

Such an adorable little belly! Lisa is teeny tiny to begin with and her baby is LOW, so it was sometimes a challenge to show her belly off the way it deserves to be shown. I think we got it here.


Ahhh!

I kept commenting on Lisa's beautiful eyes during our shoot, but as I was editing photos, David's jumped out at me, too. Lucky baby no matter whose eyes he gets!

A new all-time favorite.

And another!
Lisa and David, thank you for a wonderful evening. I guess I should have realized how late it was when the sun actually went down, but I got so excited with everything we did. I hope you enjoy your sneak peak, and I look forward to seeing you with your baby boy in August!

We've had our session. Now what??

Yes, there are the standard prints you can order to put in frames. But what are some other ways to display photos from your session? The options are endless, but I finally took some photos of a few that I've come to love.

First up, the image box. A nice alternative to a more traditional album, I can create a custom box with an image from your session on the cover and your favorite images of the session (probably 20-25) printed on styrene to go inside. Recognize this little one-year-old? One of my very first sessions.

And a shot of the prints inside -- each with a border around the photo.

I'm partial to this view of the back.

Now on to wall displays. Many of you know that I am planning on giving birth at home. We moved into one of the back bedrooms of the house to give Wally a room, but Trevor insisted that we didn't have time to paint the walls. Give (or recover from) birth in a blank builder-beige room? Not me! So we created our shrine to Abigail.
We mixed prints printed on different materials to create a little depth in our grouping. Here you can see a photo on styrene that we mounted using a wood block to make it lift off of the wall. Underneath is one of our stand-outs. The edges are black and are 3/4" thick. I love that we didn't need frames for any of these.

A closer view of a couple stand-outs. I think these are sized as 16x24. A little 8x10 just doesn't cut it for me anymore. I want to see my photos BIG!

The "fresh fruit" photo is printed on matboard and hangs smoothly against the wall. Simple, modern, and easy.

Once our wall grouping was complete, I turned my attention to the opposite wall. Trevor built me this shelf, and it is a great place to display a mix of framed and unframed prints as well as some of Abby's artwork. I just need to get some flowers for the vase.

Recognize this? The shot that makes the header of my blog, but printed as a 16x20 standout. It leans against the wall nicely.

And finally, a sample of the birth announcements I am excited to offer. Remember Charlie? I can custom create announcements for boys or girls and have them printed front and back on 5x5 cards. I can't wait to make Wally's! Here is a sample front:

And back.

I hope that gives you some ideas of just a few other products that One Tree Photography can offer. All you have to do is ask! If you are interested in any of the above options, send me an email and I can give you prices and customization options. Thanks for stopping by!

Welcome Charlie!

Something about 10-day-old Charlie really got to me. Was it that he's a boy and I'm four weeks (or so) away from meeting my own? Very possibly. But he also slept like an angel and let me do pretty much whatever I wanted with him. Add in two over-the-moon in love parents and it would be hard for anyone to not be completely smitten. See if you can resist his charms in the following photos!

A close-up of sweet little lips.
I've got lots of new favorites from this session. This is one.

A little yawn.

Charlie's daddy, Eric, is from Wyoming, and Charlie's room is decked out in this vintage cowboy print. A smile!

Mama Natalie looking beautiful with her boy.

As I was shooting this, Natalie was fighting tears behind me.

Love the long limbs dangling. I'm telling you, this boy let us do WHATEVER we wanted.

So, did having a subject who was completely cooperative (well, except for the pooping/peeing all over us at the end) mean that this session was over in a flash? Of course not. Between my long pauses to admire gorgeous Charlie and my desire to try out just one more thing, the session lasted just as long as if we'd had to soothe the babe to sleep after every shot. Oh well. Natalie and Eric were a joy to hang out with and I'm so, so happy for them. Enjoy your sneak peak, guys!

I'd better rest up

I got a little glimpse into my future Saturday afternoon when I met Lee, Nick, and their two children, Addie (almost 3), and Ben (a year and a half) for some family photos in Issaquah. Family pictures with young children are always a challenge, but it helps (tremendously!) when Mom and Dad enter into the experience so willing to just go with the flow. Lee and Nick, I hope you find some images here to love.

First up, my favorite family shot. Lots of love and life in this photo.
Another fun one, though not your standard family shot.

Beautiful smiles on mom and daughter.

Ben and Daddy.

This makes me think of Abby and Wally.

Gorgeous Addie!
See the love?

See the joy?

Yes, it was a tough session (thank goodness I brought my assistant, Trevor!), but it was a lot of fun, too. Lee and Nick, thanks for the picture of what life with two can be like. Enjoy!

Almost Two

Abigail will turn two on July 14th, but I'm expecting to be a little busy/heavy then, so we're bumping up Abby's birthday festivities. On Thursday we went out for some "almost two" birthday pictures. Yes, I'm including a lot, so you'll just have to indulge a proud mama.

We started out at the beach by the Edmonds ferry (a favorite spot of late) and I realized quickly that this shoot was going to be HARD for my nine-months-pregnant body. Here Abby stops to smell a flower.
Grandma French gave Abigail this adorable halter dress.

I've been feeling a little left out of Abigail's documented childhood, so we stopped and let Trevor take some pictures of mama and babycake. I'm really happy with the light in this one and think it's hilarious that we have the same expression on our faces.

Abby, Mama, and Wally!

I took the camera back and Trev gave Abigail a few tosses into the air. WAY into the air! Man, I love that smile!

"Seriously, mama?"
Abby's fabulous lashes.

Wardrobe change. Mid-stride with her shadow close behind.

The cheeks that make people exclaim over how much she looks like Trev. Oh, so kissable.

Trying out the water. It's COLD!

Kisses for Daddy.

After rinsing off our feet we headed to the car for part two of our session. But a train was coming, so Trev and Abby stopped to protect their ears.

Back into her dress, we picked up an ice cream cone (Abby's first whole one to my knowledge!) and sat her down on Main street to enjoy.

I'd say she liked it!
There was no trying to contain the mess. We just intervened a couple of times when it looked like the ice cream was going to plop onto the sidewalk.

With the ice cream gone, she started right in on the cone, eating everything but the very point, which she kindly gave to mama.

As Wally's birth draws near, I've found that my time with Abby has grown increasingly precious. We stay in bed longer nursing/cuddling/reading books. I hug a little more tightly and kiss whenever she comes near. I watch her sleep for an entire ferry ride home. She's such a little PERSON now. When I'm down on the floor or weeding or trying to put on my shoes, she'll come over and put her arm around my neck and press her cheek to mine and just hold me for a minute, like she knows I need a little Abby-love. She's amazing.

Happy almost-Birthday, Babycake! Mama loves you!