Birthday boy

Happy birthday to this little man, whom I have photographed so many times I have lost count now. It's so fun to see them grow through my work. This time he did give me a bit of trouble -check it out! I've had a run of toddlers standing on my furniture! But boy does he have beautiful eyes, don't you think? Thanks, Shelly, as always!

I love maternity sessions

I have a special love for maternity sessions, and any day that includes a maternity session for me is a very, very good day indeed. Amber has made my day twice now! She came before Christmas for a session - she wanted to gift her husband with maternity portraits, so the session was kept a secret from him. She loved the results of her first session and so brought her husband yesterday so we could augment her original session with portraits with the daddy-to-be included. Plus, since we had already done a maternity session, it gave us time to "play" - so I got out the fan and the flowing fabric and we had a great time!

Amber and John - here's a preview. I look forward to session #3 - when I photograph your sweet baby boy.

The fabulous Miss Marky

I love to photograph Marky. She teaches many of my daughter's dance classes and coaches my daughter's solo as well - we obviously think very highly of her, and she's got a lot going for her, not the least is her beauty. She will soon be graduating from KU with a degree in dance, and likes to talk about things like "movement vocabulary" and other things that I'd never heard of before talking with her. Anyway, we had another session this evening and I love the results. Here are a few favorites so far.

Thanks Marky! It was fun as always! (click on the portraits to see them better).

By the way - I have special pricing for adult dancers - if you are a dancer wanting a session, please contact me for details.

Love these little guys

I got to photograph C and P today - they are 6 months old and oh so darling! I did mom Julie's maternity portraits, and the boys' newborn portraits so of course it was really neat to photograph them now the twins have lived 1/2 a year. The session was long - both boys managed to sneak in little naps, but Julie, Grandma Darlene, and Aunt Jen and I all had a nice time catching up. Thanks, ladies! I really enjoyed photographing your happy little men.

Baby B's six-month portraits

I love when I get to photograph this little man - not only because he's cute as a button and growing more chunky by the day; but also because his mom and dad are just really nice people and I enjoy getting to see them every few months. Plus, mom Christina says she enjoys reading my blog when there's down time at her work and any faithful blog reader has a special place in my heart!

Thanks, Jason and Christina, for bringing your sweet baby boy to my studio on this snowy evening. I had lots of fun and am excited to show you these previews.

We didn't want the session to end

I had the most amazing maternity portrait session this evening with Amber. She was so fun, and so appreciative of my art, and so willing to try anything, that we didn't want the session to end. I love photographing maternity sessions so much - what a beautiful time in a woman's life, and I feel so excited every time I'm given the opportunity to document it. Amber - here are a few "blog safe" previews, if you know what I mean! Your gallery will be ready soon. Looking so forward to our next session! (click on the portraits to see them better)

Holiday Family Session

Nicole and Mark came to my studio this evening for portraits. Their little 3-year-old was so cute - and this is a first - she turned down getting to wear a tutu or pettiskirt. She's a free-thinker, I guess! I love your idea, Nicole, for Happy New Year cards - perfect for the many of us who are a bit behind on our to-do list this year.

Thanks Nicole and Mark - your gallery will be ready in a few days. I enjoyed meeting you. (Depending on your monitor's resolution, you may need to click on the portraits to see them more clearly.)

The old folks - my mom and dad!

I'm so happy to share these portraits - of two of my best friends, who also happen to be my parents, Chuck and Jean Wood. Karen (my twin sister) and I have always been so proud to be their daughters. Soon they will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary. Besides being the best parents in the entire world, my Mom and Dad are such interesting and giving people. My dad has devoted his life to helping children and their families by working in special education as a school psychologist and administrator; and my mom has devoted her life to taking care of others - my grandparents, her aging aunts and uncles, many elderly people around my hometown, as a volunteer medical first responder, and as a school bus driver.

Today I took a few portraits of them on our family farm near Westphalia, Kansas. I hope to do more in the spring when it's warmer, and everything is blooming, and hopefully get my kids in some of the portraits as well.

I think it's pretty neat that these are the first portraits with my new camera - considering my mom and dad are two of my biggest fans and supporters.

Love you mom and dad!