Lifestyle and Park Session | Ardmore, PA Lifestyle Photographer

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I had a wonderful time last fall with the R family.  We started their session at home and took so pictures doing some of their favorite activities with their daughter: reading books, playing with their doll house, and being silly.  They also love going to the park, so after we finished up at home, we walked the park and I followed behind to capture them hanging out as a family.  I loved this session and I know they will love looking back at these images of their home and town when their daughter was young <3

Documentary Park Session | Downingtown, PA Family Photographer

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I love doing sessions that have a more documentary feel to them.  For this session, we met at one of the family's favorite parks and played for a bit before taking some more posed photos.  This family has three kids three and under and they had so much fun letting the girls take the lead.  It was fun to get to know all of their personalities and get a few laughs here and there. 

As we are | Longwood Gardens Documentary Family Photographer

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Mom's first line in her email inquiry to me was, "I'm looking for photographers who can capture our family as we are."  She said she loved "candid shots" and "real moments." My heart sang when she chose me.  We decided to do a sunset shoot at one of our favorite places - Longwood Gardens. 

I arrived as they were eating dinner, we took walks, we played, we looked for airplanes, and we ran.  Fast.  There were no formally posed photos... there were no fancy clothes.  There were shy moments, snuggly moments, yogurt moments, and moments that had us all out laughing.  They were perfect moments... real family moments... just as they were. 

Towards the end of the session, I took a picture of Ellie's hand resting on her mom's hand.  Ellie was tired and we were walking towards the exit.  I stopped to show Mom the back of the camera and said, "As a mom, this is one of my favorites."  They won't always sit on your arm with their diaper peeking through; their hand won't always be small enough to rest on yours.  We were well past sunset and the image has a good bit of grain.  But memories and little moments don't always need perfect light.  Mom said to me, "You got it!  That's just want I wanted: to capture us together and Ellie... just being little.  Because, she won't always be little... she's so much bigger than yesterday!"

I love all the sessions I do, but this continues to be one of my favorites.  I love sunset, I love families, and I love real moments.  True documentary photography is where my heart lies.  

If you are interested in capturing your family, as you are, I'd love to do that for you.

James is One | Philadelphia Family Photographer

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It's amazing how quickly the first year goes.  I did James' newborn photos a year ago and I was excited to catch up with him again now that he is a walking one-year-old!  He was one of the smallest babies I'd ever held so I couldn't believe how big he was today!  His 1st birthday party was over Memorial Day weekend and I loved capturing all of the little details that went in to the party.  The kids absolutely loved the music and the start of summer fun :)

This is us | West Chester, PA Family Photographer

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As much as we take photographs for our own personal memories, we also take them for our children to look back at years from now. Their favorite images will be the ones that stir up memories of their childhood: ordinary moments from everyday life. For me, these ordinary, often simple moments are the ones that make life extraordinary.

Lately, we love to take bike rides around the neighborhood.  It wasn't all that long ago that Leah couldn't even figure out how to pedal her bike.  All of a sudden, she's biking up hills.  Sophie especially loves it when Dad is home; with an extra set of hands, she gets to "ride" her bike too, as opposed to being up in my wrap.  I love family time out of the house - away from the draw of electronics, the stack of dishes next to the sink, and the never ending to-do lists.  It's a time where we can just be us.    

Up next in our "This Is Us" blog circle is Candy at Suga Shoc Photography.  Please click through to see her gorgeous images and read a beautiful post about her daughter.

The photographs that are close to my heart are ones that happen between posed portraits. These ordinary moments are the ones that make life extraordinary.

I’d love to hear from you if you are in the Chester County or Main Line area and looking for a lifestyle newborn, child, or family photographer.  I would be honored to capture these fleeting moments for you and your family. 

This is us | Family Documentary Photographer West Chester, PA

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I recently joined a "This is Us" blog circle and I'm excited to share bits and pieces of our family life here on this blog.  I fell in love with photography soon after my first daughter was born.  I loved watching my family grow and capturing the little "stories" and milestones along the way.  Lately, I've been getting so caught up in everything that needs to get done each day, that I've been picking up my camera less and less.  I sometimes forget that this is where my passion lies. 

On the Thursday after Easter, Leah remembered that we never actually dyed Easter eggs.  We had a kit and lots of eggs, so during Sophie's nap, we had some fun.  Now, clearly, this is not all of "us."  In fact, it's just one of "us."  :) But it's a start!  It was fun to do a little documentary photography session in my own home and I'm hoping this project inspires me to start capturing more pictures of all of us... doing the things we love to do together. 

Up next is Elaina B. Photography.  I am always inspired by her photography.  I love her rich tones and the way her lighting always draws you right to the subject.  I hope you enjoy Elaina's posts as much as I do :)

The photographs that are close to my heart are ones that happen between posed portraits. These ordinary moments are the ones that make life extraordinary.

I’d love to hear from you if you are in the Chester County or Main Line area and looking for a lifestyle newborn, child, or family photographer.  I would be honored to capture these fleeting moments for you and your family.