Every now and then I stop taking personal pictures.

I like the control of being able to stop since I can’t exactly up and decide I’m not going to shoot for clients anymore. A week or two of not shooting goes by and suddenly I’m struck with the desire to get the camera out of my work bag. Next thing I know I’m taking pictures of the roof out of my office window because Kendall’s napping and I’ve photographed everything in this house to death already.

Lately, it seems every time I pull out of the garage with no one else in the car the first thing I do is reach for my iPhone and and start taking pictures. Yes, right from the car. Usually multiple shots of the same area of sky, a landscape or two, a self portrait, rinse, lather, repeat. It’s my way of holding on to the quiet or maybe my way of making a little noise to disrupt too much quiet. Either way I’ve found it to be great therapy.

A week or two ago while she napped peacefully I was scheming a grand adventure to a local nature area for when she woke up. The weather was perfect. 70 degrees. Sunny. The kind of mid-October day that insists you get of the house and enjoy it or else.

My plans included a game of chase, gravel inspecting and most important to me a perfect portrait shoot in honor of her upcoming birthday. She woke up. We drove over. We chased, we inspected, we chased, we inspected. She made it clear my camera was boring her and that “the portrait shoot” I had envisioned wasn’t going to happen.

Turns out it was nothing like what I imagined. It was even better, that is after I gave up on the notion of perfect and just had fun. Happy Birthday to the most charming person I have ever met!

A quick update from a 9 month old baby boy portrait session from this summer.

Yes, it is true. I am already all nostalgic for summer. Even though I expect to get a decent number of outdoor portraits in before winter rears its mostly ugly sometimes beautiful head, this photographer can’t help but wish she was in California all year long.

We did the majority of this session indoors since that is where little “B” was spending most of his hours at this time.

My favorite thing about “B” wasn’t his gorgeous baby blues, but his curly toes.

There are those toes again. Love.

Tomorrow? Halloween pics of my little “Kendall Bear”.

At first “G” wasn’t so sure about the big head behind the camera, but it didn’t take him long at all to warm up.

Dawn Mikulich is at the height of its busy portrait season. Especially so since I tried to get every single client on the waiting list scheduled before the end of Fall. I am happy to say I did it. Maybe even over did it! Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want my working days filled any other way. I’m looking forward to catching up with everyone over the next several weeks.

December portrait session dates are now open to anyone who is interested! Get in touch.

In the meantime meet “N”. I first photographed her when she was the grand old age of 3. She was quite playful back then and this year she’s the most athletic child I photographed so far. Tree climbing was at the top of her list of favorite things to do. So — guess what the first stop on the DMP Children’s Portrait Express was?

That’s right the climbing trees! “N” climbed and climbed and climbed until she went a little too high and we had to encourage some other activities.

We tore that playground up!!! From the tire and the tunnels to the swings and the monkey bars “N” showed me how to play, really play, at the park. I’ll have to send her a thank you card for helping get my exercise in for the day!

Oh and did I mention the fun?!?

Nope, not me. I’m the busy bee you hear buzzing in the background. My schedule has been jam packed with families and tots. Most of which I have photographed in the past. I’m having a blast getting to see how each little one has grown.

I first photographed this family when the youngest of this charming sister set was only three months old. She’s a big grown up three years old now! Oh how the time flies!

Too fast. Too fast!

These two were the sweetest little girls. I’d say more but honestly after a short shoot this morning that left me with too many mosquito bites to count and a day of nap protests courtesy of Kendall I’ve got little left to give you my dear Internet.

No fireworks. Instead I give you the next best thing — a coneflower about to bloom.

With no appointments scheduled I spent the long weekend hanging out with my favorite girl who was going through another round of heavy duty teething. Poor thing is not happy. Even the pup felt the pain. I think it concerns annoys her when K cries.