This past weekend I got to photography little Lily and her parents again, and we had fun! I first met this cute family of three last year after they contacted me to photograph their little girl. When Lily’s mom emailed me again a couple weeks ago, I was so excited to see how big the little redhead had gotten! She was as sweet as ever, and the giggles that come out of that kid… contageous! Lily has a very serious face, but she also has a ton of adorable expressions, and when she got to dancing with her giant bear — a gift from her grandparents at birth — it was quite the party!

Lifestyle sessions are very different from traditional studio family portraits. In my experience, lifestyle sessions provide an environment that makes it much easier for everyone to relax — which results in some great smiles and emotion. For small kids, it’s an excellent way for them to have mini-breaks throughout the session to burn off some energy. You also have the added bonus of a familiar setting, toys, etc. Down the road, that house and those stuffed animals will be just as much a cherished memory as the people in the photographs.

Thanks to the Thompson family for trusting me with capturing your memories again this year!

I love this photo because it really shows how difficult it is to photograph young children! It’s also what makes it so much fun, though. You have to be ready for anything, and be able to go with the flow to keep their attention and keep them smiling!