Layla turns One!

A little over a year ago I met Laura and Matt, on a late afternoon in June when the temperatures were high and the mosquitos were plenty! We had planned on this maternity session for just a little while and were hoping the baby would wait to make her appearance until after the pictures-- Layla was expected to be here any minute now! Thankfully we got to do the maternity session (still some of my favorite maternity pictures!), and within about two weeks I was back at their home taking newborn pictures of their sweet baby girl. We've been doing a Grow-With-Me package since then, so I have had the privilege of seeing this little family every few months for the past year. :) It's been so fun watching Layla grow up a bit, and also to see Laura and Matt go from expectant parents to a Mom and Dad. These are some of my favorite sessions for that reason! Instead of doing a typical one-year session, I got to go to Layla's first birthday party and take pictures there! They did a monster theme which was so fun, from the silly party hats to the crazy cupcakes, and the kids enjoyed cooling off in the pool when it started getting a bit warm out. Little Layla had friends and  lots of family come and celebrate with her-- she had cousins and grandparents, and even great-grandparents visit. :) When it came time for the cake smash she caught on to the concept pretty quickly and ate almost as much frosting as she got on her face! She didn't quite understand that wrapping paper isn't nearly as fun as the gifts inside it, but I'm sure she has been happily playing with the toys she got since then.

Thanks so much to Laura and Matt for letting me document a bit of your first year as a family! It has been so much fun and Layla is already such a sweet and beautiful little lady. :) I know you guys are so proud!

Layla- One year ago and now. :)

Seth+Brittany+Reid

Families don't get much cuter than this! I got to hang out with this little family while photographing The Synergy Project in Panama City Beach this June, and the last morning we decided to wake up a bit earlier and get some pictures by the water. I have to say, little Reid stole my heart that week and I miss waking up every morning and seeing his sweet face! He even winked at me a few times. ;) Isn't he adorable?! I'm so glad I got to take pictures for this sweet family, they worked hard all week and are wonderful examples of what being the hands and feet of Christ looks like.  Seth and Brittany helped prepare meals for the campers, went on crazy grocery shopping runs, helped with the services and organization of the camp.... and on and on. Even Reid helped get the students pumped for worship by doing some dancing and singing himself. ;) It was fun and inspiring to get to know them all a little more this year, and I hope you guys can get a glimpse of that in these pictures!

Lynnlee & Abbott

I love this session because not only did I get to photograph two sweet little girls, but we got to do the shoot in their own back yard. :) There's just something double-sentimental about that to me! It brings back so many memories of catching fireflies, playing on the swingset, and roasting marshmallows over bonfires in our backyard growing up. Lynnlee and Abbott were only content to sit still for a few pictures, and then they were ready to run around and explore! They smelled a few flowers, tossed a few balls around, played in the little house, and giggled a bit while doing it. That's what fun Summer evenings are made of. :)