Shannon Family Session

You guys. I think I met my spirit animal.
The moment I walked into the Shannon family's lovely home, two things immediately happened. First, new-big-brother Riley strode up to me confidently and proclaimed, "Hi! We have a movie room and we can watch movies in it!" Second, I was greeted by Laska the mastiff. She is gorgeous and huge and after a few treats we immediately became best friends. You know, best friends who kiss. She did all of the kissing but it was very sincere and... wet.

Baby Lucy was only 12 days old on the day of our shoot, and already Riley (and Laska!) treated her with such care and affection. It was wonderful to see this family spend time in their element: reading, playing on the floor, doing puzzles, snuggling on the bed, and enjoying this sweet new addition to their family. Gazing at babies is better than TV. It's better than anything.

(Only one plastic fireman hat was harmed in the process of this shoot)

Caleb and Ashley, you are EXCELLENT parents and and I can't wait to see how Lucy and Riley grow to love each other more and more!

Roman Family Session

I would totally understand if a baby wailed for an entire 1.5 hour photo session. There's this unfamiliar person with a giant black camera that clicks loudly getting all up in baby's face... it all feels pretty intrusive.

But Riley? She was a pro.

Allison and Justin were about to move out of the house that Riley came home to after she was born. It was the house that saw their relationship go from couple to family. They made it a home with artwork and music and love. Needless to say, the thought of leaving left them with a lot of emotions. 

Enter: me. Capturing a typical evening at home was the best way for them to remember this special time in their lives. Crazy and fun, exhausting and exhilarating, Allison and Justin wanted to remember what it was like to be a new family of three. Even the pictures of Riley pitching a fit when the PJs went on. "Why, Riley?" Her bleary-eyed parents would plead, night after night. "They're the softest pajamas ever!" All those little moments that made life interesting and frustrating and hilarious and worthwhile... they wanted to remember all of it. 

And Riley seemed to know how important it all was. She smiled and laughed and even gave the occasional "grandpa face" for which she has become famous (you'll know it when you see it). So as Riley grows and some memories from Bee Balm Rd fade, Allison and Justin will remember when they would bless their food and sing "Amen" together, when they would play chase up the stairs on their way to the tub, when Riley would select her own bedtime books, and of course all the little moments that Riley found worthy of grandpa face.

Autry Family Session

Don't you love "small world" moments?
Once I had a layover in Dubai and I was in line for the men's room and heard, "Noah?" I turned around and my friend Jon was right behind me in line. In Dubai. He was on his way to East Africa to climb Kilimanjaro. I was on my way to a two-week vacation in Thailand. Small world, right?
A little closer to home, a few years ago I found out that one of my former students from when I taught first grade in Dakar, Senegal had moved with his family to Charleston, SC. My city! Two months ago when their family welcomed baby Serena, I was thrilled when they called on me to document some family time at home. They have a lot of familiar West African decor, which brought me right back. Baby Serena likes to gaze at the wooden masks particularly.

Now a beautiful family of five (Aren't they? It's not even fair how beautiful they all are!), the Autrys are adjusting to new schedules and needs and their older boys are stepping in to help.
Because they both get to be big brothers now. 
Cue the heart-melting warm fuzzies.

Sotka Family

Ingredients for the perfect historic Charleston family mini-session:

1. One distressed peach wall
2. One adorable family pup
3. Two very charming youngsters
4. Hip outfits
5. Soft winter light

Schedule your own mini-session (30min, 25+ images) by contacting me today!

Meekins Documentary Session

People sometimes ask me whether I prefer to shoot weddings or families. It is a hard question to answer, since the two are so different. There's an adrenaline rush that comes with shooting weddings that is, frankly, a little addicting. The pace is fast, time flies, and everyone is (for the most part) deliriously happy. My wife can attest that when I get home from shooting a wedding at midnight or so, I am so jacked up with excitement that sleep is out of the question for several hours.

Shooting families is more intimate and I have lots more time to breathe and enjoy myself. I love getting silly with kids and inhabiting their space for a few hours. Letting the family have a typical morning or evening is refreshingly low-stakes for them, and it tends to help them enjoy themselves and react more naturally to what is going on.

That being said, shooting families I know is absolutely the best. I was looking forward to spending time with the Meekins family for weeks leading up to our Sunday date. I had the pleasure of teaching both daughters when they were in first grade and they are intelligent and hilarious and lovely young people. Their family is about to expand to include another little girl, and they wanted a lasting memory of what is was like to be a family of four.

Well, five if you include the Westy van (they do). Six if you include Guiness the dog.

As they prepare for the newest Meekins, the girls are helping to prepare the nursery and are writing notes and letters to little "Skittles" as they call their new baby sister. The provenance of the nickname was in dispute, but one of the girls came up with it. The whole thing is so adorable. 

So, to sum it all up in a list: bedroom tours, crepes and coffee, PJs, notes to baby sister, belly kisses, sleepy dog, raucous barefoot dancing, vanlife, tree climbing, and SO many tickle fights.

Who could ask for more than that? 

Sassmans @ Home

You know those novels you read where the setting acts as an important character in the tale?
This is a lot like that.

Hannah and Wyatt moved to Charleston as boyfriend and girlfriend. They found a lovely little house downtown near Colonial Lake and the historic district. Their pets got comfortable. Soon, Wyatt proposed and they spent their engagement in the house. Soon after their marriage, they were already preparing for the next step: a move to Washington DC. This house was a special place for them as their relationship evolved and their love deepened. Less than a week before their move I had the pleasure of spending an evening with them, to document this special place. In Hannah's words, she wanted to "commemorate our home together, where we first made our joint home, grew as professionals, learned to love our combined strengths."

Best of luck to Hannah and Wyatt in DC!