Apple Hill

This time of year brings a lot of extended family sessions and fall up here is always spectacular and especially when we’ve had a quiet fire season. Extended family sessions are a great way to give the kids from each of the family groups some time in the spotlight and some time out of it. Kids need time to run around- and I try to capture that too. For me- I just try to stay present and capture the images as they make themselves known while also mentally checking off the list that we have. Little Alex is one year…

LOVE these two. Free spirits. Animal lovers. Kind humans. Sisters. I’ve been photographing Madison and Hailey since they were pre-schoolers and it’s such an honor to get to watch them grow up while capturing their “one year older” personalities.. It’s a perfect fall up here and this year, so far, basically smokeless…which is saying alot. Shhhhhh- knock on wood. It’s raining as I write this…we are almost through fire season.

Little Miss Cutie pie is 6 months old. I got out with the whole family during the week at Apple Hill, including Dan’s parents too. The colors are always so warm and wonderful.

Back in October while I was running around the southwest in my teardrop trailer, one of my favorite people got married in a small ceremony, to her love, Trevin, before he left for duty in Italy. While I would have loved to have photographed the two of them, Trevin was already on his way overseas. I called Elise(who does that? I sent her an IG message) and she was game. Sweet! I was so happy to be creative with Elise, “the Bride” out in the bright colors of fall and the soft light of the afternoon. Plus, I love a…

Granted, it was a busy hour working to capture everyone but this family was the best. They were all so kind, cooperative, and easy-going, even the littlest ones- it made the hour go by fast! They have been coming to Apple Hill annually for years and decided to get some photographs taken for the holidays. 

Kids are so real around their pets- it’s a great distraction and you always get real smiles. Who doesn’t love a floppy puppy in photos? Too cute.

I met up with Alex, Matt, Brock and Ellie this year for some more pics…you know the kind where everyone gets to be in them. Trust me, as a photographer, I always joke that my husband and kids are very well documented 🙂 Actually, my husband has been pulling out his iPhone lately, takes a photo and says, “look, you’re on vacation too”. Brock is such a kind soul, helping and coaxing his little sister Ellie into photos. Such a great kid. And I know it doesn’t look like it but I worked hard to squeeze a smile or two…

I was happy to get a chance to meet up with the Fleming family again this year. Their family has grown by one since last year with the addition of cute, little Jackson. We met in Apple Hill at the beautiful Larsen’s Apple Barn Park in Camino. Georgia was one of my pre-schoolers when I photographed them at Pinetop Montessori. My daughter Ember who also loves kids, joined us on the session and Georgia connected with her right away. There is so much love in this family- such a pleasure to capture it! Thanks Diana and George!

Some families just have it. Sure it often takes a little to get warmed up to a camera in front of you and I get that. Though, some families are able to just settle into their own unique vibe rather easily. That was my experience with the McDaniel family. Love, warmth, joy, playful… silly. As a human, so much fun to be around. As a photographer, so much fun to capture. We met in Camino on a beautiful fall evening and spent about 30 minutes or so playing around in the lovely fall light. When our session ended I felt energized,…