Years ago, during the prep call of one of my very first pro portrait sessions, the mom asked if we could sneak in a few family shots during her son's 1 year portrait appointment. I said OK, but let her know that family work really wasn't my thing, but I would do my best.

What did I know about family portraiture? I thought.

I naively hadn't considered that as something I would do or even be asked to do as a children's photographer. Wake up, right? Anyway, I saw that type of work as a mystery. I wasn't a fan of the staged shot where everyone is matchy-matchy pretending to be this perfect stereotype. There's nothing real about that. Nothing special.

I arrived as usual with no plan and while we were making introductions and exchanging pleasantries the family was playing around with their child and I got chills. Giant, life-inspiring, goosebumps. There was so much love, so much admiration. I started shooting that instant with the family completely unaware their session had started.

When I came home I told my husband that I found a family for us to adopt. This is no joke. But then the next day and the day after that and pretty much every session I've had since the same thing happens. I see this love, this wonderful captivating love that begs to be captured.

A few family shots that snuck into yesterday's session...

This little darling and I met last year when she was one year old. Now she's all grown up at the ripe old age of, well, two. I love the curiousity and playfullness at this age. Fun!

This little guy was so full of style and a bit of attitude.

DMP will be closed for business while I'm on vacation from 9/12/2006 through 9/20/2006. The Husband and I are escaping the "real world" to explore Rome, Italy. I hope to have lots of beautiful pictures to share. Email and voicemail will be checked sparingly, if at all. Your patience is greatly appreciated. No appointments will be booked while I'm away.

It would be impossible for me to leave without sharing a few images from my most recent portrait session ... a madly adorable 8 month old. I've been working with the toddler set so much as of late I forgot how much fun this age can be.

Sometimes everything clicks. As of late more often than not there has been a lot of clicking in my world and not just the kind of the shutter variety. We leave for Rome in a few days and I'm a bit disappointed because I've been having oh-so-much-fun working these days. My gosh! How lucky am I to be able to say that!

I love to catch funny sibling moments like these:

If I could only be around when they are all grown up and laughing about these.