Each member of this family was a TROOPER! We shot in 90-something degree heat and no one wanted to reschedule, everyone was like, “LET’S DO THIS!” and they showed up with changes of clothes and bottles of water and ROCKED IT.

That blue-eyed dad, Scott Stevens, is an awesome country musician and I KNOW you’ll be hearing him all over country radio soon, especially with the awesome team he has behind him! It was a blast to be able to photograph him, his beautiful wife and their equally-as-blue-eyed son.

Their baby boy had just turned one, so this was kind of a family/first birthday combo session, which is totally fine with me! Half family session, half kid-only session! We started out in a creek - because who doesn’t love creek photos?! - but had to move locations when baby Henry wanted to try swimming and wouldn’t stop trying to launch himself creekside, we had to go! And that’s how we roll with kiddos!

Outside is a wonderful place to have a family lifestyle session because there’s plenty of places for kids to explore and play. I don’t ever force kiddos to sit still and smile because, if they’re not in the mood, then they cry and get angry and mom gets frustrated and it’s no fun! Genuine interactions are the memories we all treasure most.

This past April was my first annual Celebrate Mothers Mini Session Event.  It was three days of just mamas and their babies (of any age!).  Along the way, I learned a few things I'd do a teeny bit differently next year, but what I got out of it the most was HOW MUCH LOVE there is between mothers and their babes.  Oh, my.  Each session left my heart warmed!  And so did the COLLAGES!

My first session was with Lisa and her girls, Kate and Anna.  Anna is now THREE and I also got to shoot her six month photos (see them HERE). If you look, you'll see some things never change - she broke down during that shoot and she broke down during this one!  One of the things that endears me most to Lisa is how she loves the photos of the kids losing it!  It's just such a natural part of motherhood/childhood - I love mommies that embrace it!  (See Anna down there in the corner?  Still so pretty through all the tears!)  We got her to smile eventually, though.  The shoot was in my backyard, so we had her hop on the YELLOW swing (much more desirable than the green one, you know), and that improved her mood immediately. 

By far my favorite "perk" of this session was the mother-child collages.  Each mother wrote a little letter to their children describing what they wanted to remember about each child at this age, and each child drew or wrote (or both) a love note to their mom and then they got a complimentary 8x10 of their collage.  Isn't it adorable! 

For the first few people who signed up, I had a gift.  I let them purchase a $1 gift session to give to a mom in their lives who meant something special.  Lisa chose one of her daughter's teachers, Michelle.  Then she showed up with HER mom, so we had three generations!  So sweet!  Little Chandler (isn't that a great name?) was the sweetest - and look at those eyes!!  

Here's Michelle and Chandler's collage:

I'll be sharing the rest of the sessions soon!

It's the CUTEST time of the year!  Valentine's Minis are a wonderful way to document your kiddos post-holiday.  Not too much out-of-pocket and low stress.  Hearts and red and love and CHEEKS!  (Because I know I'll see some chubby cheeks!!)

Details below.  TO BOOK, use this contact form or send an email to liza@lizahipplerphotography.com

Here are the details:

• Saturday, January 30th
• 10am - 12pm
• 15-Minute Sessions
• 8 Edited Digital Images
• Photo Print Release
• Online Gallery
• $150 All-Inclusive
• Album and prints available for additional purchase
• Adorable Valentine's themed set-up with cute props at in-home studio in Cool Springs.  Relaxed atmosphere with all the amenities of home (because, well, it IS a home)!

AVAILABLE TIMES: 10:00, 10:15, 10:30, 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, 11:30, 11:45

*mini sessions are open to children only, no parents or newborns

It's so fun to be able to shoot in a client's home.  I mean, you never know what you're walking into - lighting, rearranging furniture, room sizes - but even though some things can be a challenge, I LOVE getting to know a client that way.  You see a little of how they live, how they like to decorate, what they surround themselves with.  I use all of that information when I edit their galleries.  

And Anna's shoot was no different.  There were tons of photos of the kids all around the house, so I knew this was a family that wanted to get the images off the disk and onto the walls!  I also got to see their color scheme and know exactly what I wanted to do with the images so that, when they ended up on display, they'd look perfect.

This shot is one of my favorites, and it's the last setup we did.  It's not unique to me - I'm sure you've seen it before, likely on Pinterest.  Her mom did a shot just like this of her older one back when she was 9 months and I KNEW we had to re-create it!  I feel like it's becoming a standard shot for the 9-month rage, and I'm so okay with that!

We actually started off using a little crib that was given to the family by Anna's grandfather.  It was important to her mom to get some shots in there.  Anna wasn't too keen on being in it for long, but we got some good stuff before she got upset!

Every client with kids gets concerned that they won't get "perfect" photos.  I loved Anna's mom for saying, "Listen, if she cries, I'm okay with those kinds of photos, too!"  I love it because it's part of the memory of the day.  And, really, isn't this just adorable?  Oh, and it's not like you can't just grab some detail shots real quick before they need mommy!  Love the little hand and foot.

Another reason I love shooting in a client's home is the little treasures I find.  Many times a client won't realize what a treasure they have, but I do!  And in this case, it was this darling rug in Anna's sister's room.  Isn't it the sweetest thing for a background?!

Happy 9 Months, Anna!  I loved being a part of your special day and giving you and your family some memories to keep forever!