This is my FOURTH year doing birthday photos for this set of cuties! Well, technically, fourth year with the oldest two and second year with the youngest. Last year the baby turned one and we did a smash cake session along with all the usual photos, and it was ADORABLE.

Their mom does the neatest “show their growth” thing that I have ever seen a mom do. We all know that many moms will document baby’s first year month-by-month with a onesie that says the number of months or maybe a nursery blanket, but this mama captures each year in a very special way. She has her daughters “wear” her wedding dress (“wear” in parenthesis because it’s a loose term when you’re putting it on a two year old - haha!), and she has her son wear one of his dad’s white button-down shirts. As they grow, they begin to fill out these items more and more.

It’s a sentimental and magical way to document the inevitable passing of time.

It’s also kind of hilarious to document how their personalities change over the years because THIS year big brother and sister were not nearly as amused by me! They’re getting to that stage of being more self-conscious and they were definitely not as into smiling readily, but more into giving me all kinds of anti-smile faces. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t crack ‘em! Haha!

The littlest one was just the sweetest. I have always had the oldest girl grab the sides of the dress and spin from side-to-side, so this year the two year old was old enough to stand up and try the same and she LOVED IT! She just spun and spun and threw the dress in the air. It was the sweetest. It’s a perfect way to capture a birthday milestone in photos.

After we finish with the dress & shirt looks, we always move on to something a little more fun! We do a different background each year. This year, for their 2nd, 6th and 7th birthday photos, I did a background of all different color streamers. It looked so festive!

This type of shoot isn’t a traditional lifestyle session like I normally do, but I’m all about customizing my shoots to what works for my clients so that’s what we do here every year!

There’s an amazing group of photographers from all over the world that participates in weekly self-portrait challenges, which I am proud to be a part of. It’s for all of us to push ourselves creatively, to make sure that we are IN the frame and not always behind the camera, never showing up in our own visual histories, and way to take time for ourselves without the timelines or pressures of business & simply create.

Each month there is a theme and although we are encouraged to shoot within the theme weekly, not a lot of us do (but some do!). I’ve actually gone a few months without participating, but I’m fine with that. I kind of jump in here and there when the inspiration strikes!

“Shouty Color” was one theme from last year, and it was a blast. I bought this dress and that loud-ass hat from Target, along with some colorful wrapping paper that I tapped to one of my foamcore backgrounds. Then, I flung my hair a lot. haha! I had one or two lights set up, and that was it!

Each month, the creator of the group, Adri de la Cruz, chooses a collection of images to share on the Dear Photographer blog. The first one in this series was chosen for the Shouty Color month! It’s an awesome collection, and I highly encourage you to check out.

So, here’s what us creative photographers do when we have a few minutes of downtime:

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Looking for a creative shoot for your personal brand or just some creative fun?

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Two weeks ago my 3rd grader came home with papers that didn’t look like homework. It was two printer pages, stapled at the top left corner, and they talked about Market Day. This was where all the 3rd graders are to come up with a product to sell. They are to purchase the materials to make the product, make up to 20 per kid - and you’re allowed one partner, so that’s 40 per team - and get ready to learn about economics!

Apparently, though, this year they threw in the wrench that you have to first choose a country and then some country-appropriate product. So, Sailor and her friend first choose Japan and SQUISHES - obvi - but the first thing I had to do was explain that squishes aren’t made in Japan, they’re made in China, and then that making squishes that lived up to any 3rd graders expectations was near impossible (without your brain melting from whatever chemicals they use in those things).

So, then they went with flower crowns from Mexico! Sounds good, but flower crowns originated in ancient Greece, and then made their way to England and then a few other stops before being decidedly “American Wedding.” So, no go on that one, either.

FINALLY, they went with mini piñatas. Yes! We have a winner!

So, Sailor’s friend’s mom took them out to Hobby Lobby - which turned in a TWO HOUR TRIP complete with various discussions about BUDGET (God love that mom) - and they returned with all kinds of colorful loot. It was late when they got back and Sailor’s friend was spending the night so they skipped starting their work until the morning (after pizza and a movie and coconut milk ice cream which was not a hit for the friend - I feel bad).

But these girls got up and got to it starting at 7:30am, and, with exception of a lunch break and a “run around the house screaming like maniacs” break, they worked straight until 3pm!! Seven and a half hours! And they’re still not done! haha!!

But what’s MOST IMPORTANT HERE is that mom got some fun, colorful photos. I’m sure her friend was like, “Why did your mom turn off the overhead lights and why is she standing on a chair behind us?” BECAUSE THIS.

I love telling the story of our lives. I love being able to tell the story of my daughter and her friends. It’s awesome. (If you want your story told, check out my lifestyle sessions and contact me.)

SIDE NOTE: I’ve realized the wreaths in my dining area make it look like it’s still Christmas. So…time for a new plan…