Anna + Todd = Bean

This was my very first maternity shoot! I'm so glad that the lucky lady in question was one of my older sisters, for a few reasons. First, because she couldn't be mean to me if the photos didn't turn out. Second, and more genuinely, because she is an absolutely stunning pregnant woman. Here is the personification of all of that glowing, happy, curvy, woman giggling with her husband stuff that you always hear about pregnant women. It hasn't been an entirely easy pregnancy for her, but now, at 8 months along, she is happy and healthy and looks incredible.

Another thing that's great about shooting my sister and brother in law? I get to show my nephew, when he's old enough, that I was there when he was just a little bean! (That's where he got his nickname.)

My sister and her husband live in a beautiful house from the 1800's, a historic landmark in a fantastic little suburb of Detroit. They both have degrees in product design and were both trained as car designers, so there are cars, antiques, and art all over the house. It's so funny though, since she found out she was pregnant, little baby things have started sprinkling in. Like these baby Air Jordans I found on the mantel.

Alright, enough of the bragging about my sister (have I mentioned enough how gorgeous of a little prego lady she is?). Here are the goods. Her supporting actors in this shoot are her dogs, Izzy (the French Bulldog with the big bat ears) and Martin (the pug), and her husband Todd (less fur than the dogs; taller).

Another fabulous thing in about shooting my sister? I got to follow her around everywhere with the camera! Here she is milling about the baby section of the grocery store, talking excitedly about newborn diapers and organic baby food.

Anna and Todd were married in Hershey, PA on the weekend of the city's big car show - very appropriate for such big design and automobile lovers. This was the sign from their hotel door on their wedding night. They keep it in their bedroom to remind them of that day. How sweet!

Anna and Todd call this "talking into the belly-phone." Have you ever seen a more excited future papa?

 

We took a break here, and Anna escaped to the kitchen to work on a delicious apple pie that she made from scratch. Baby Bean helped. Todd and I helped with the eating.

But then it was back to work.

I know I already posted one similar to this, but I just think it's so great. You can just feel how much love is happening here.

Todd and Anna run several real estate and management companies. One of these is called Michael Garret Associates. Looks like Bean is already getting into the family business!

Thanks so much for letting me tag along on one of your very few weekends of peace, Anna and Todd! I love you both and can't wait to meet little Beaner.

Another day at the office

As I previously mentioned, I spend my mild-mannered days as a nanny for a local family with three boys. Dictionary.com defines nanny as "a person, usually with special training, employed to care for children in a household." I'm not so sure I have any special training; except how to hold on for dear life when the five and seven year old are fighting and the ten month old needs a diaper change and the two dogs are barking and I just stepped on the cat while realizing that I forgot to feed the fish. And the phone is ringing. And it's probably their wonderfully sweet and caring mother calling to check on her handsome men. Oh, you want to talk to the boys? Crap, how can I put one on the phone when they have each other in shirtless screeching headlocks and the baby is spreading you-know-what all over the carpet and the dogs must see some sort of invisible, indoor mailman because what else could cause so much continuous, ear-splitting barking? And where did the cat go?


Did I paint you a nice picture there?


But honestly, the job is wonderful and I get to spend my days being creative, maternal, thinking out of the box, and honing my grilled cheese making skills (the other day the five year old looked up at me serenely and said, 'I used to want a grilled cheese for lunch but then I remember you stink at them so I guess I'll just have soup.' Ouch). And it's wonderful training for my new nephew, who will be arriving this spring. 

And who hasn't dreamed of getting to pay the bills for pretending to be a velociraptor nine hours a day?

I'll get to the point - the other day, aforementioned sweet and caring mother let me bring my camera into work to shoot some pictures of her fellas in their natural habitat. The following are the results. Let's see if you fall in love with them as much as I have!

Note: Not pictured is the oldest brother, because when all three of them are home, there is simply no time to pick up a camera.

And here is the baby with a miraculous wonder toy called the Twilight Turtle, from a line of environmentally aware toys that the family loves. I will definitely be getting this for my nephew.

 

 

There's something so magical about watching babies discover mirrors. Little man and I play with his nearly every day I'm there. He's so interested in his reflection, especially now that he's learning to stand and walk.

What can I say - I have a pretty cool day job.

Michelle - The Trifecta

Weddings are a harsh business. I happen to know this for a fact, as I am smack-dab in the middle of planning my own wedding. So here you have it, from an insider's perspective - we brides are a judgmental people. We are more likely to hire a professional because of her shoes or her haircut than any other group. To be successful in the wedding industry, you have to be more than just talented and business savvy. In addition, you need an impossible trifecta - sharp, driven, and damn good looking.

I have today one of those impossible women. Michelle, a Day-Of Coordinator at Kirkbrides Wedding Planning and Design, who happens to be a good friend. After postponing our session three times due to weather (in case you've been living under a rock, Northern Ohio has been less than lucky recently), Michelle and I finally met up at the park on a beautiful 50 degree day earlier this week. Unfortunately, we didn't think it through enough - despite the warmer temperatures, the trails were still covered in snow. But Michelle, thanks to the "driven" in the aforementioned trifecta, handled the conditions like a true champ.

The shoot was a pleasure. Michelle is so naturally photogenic and comfortable in front of the camera that I didn't have to give her any direction at all. In fact, I used the shoot as an opportunity to play around with my new toy a little more, testing out the external flash, manual focus, and the telephoto lens.

I got her talking about her boyfriend in this next shot. Can you tell?

Michelle really deserves a medal for this next series. She traipsed through snow, slush, and thorny plants to get into position. And it was worth it! I love these shots, and I LOVE that I got to use my new lens!

And the manual focus option here was absolutely fantastic.

Thanks so much, Michelle! And expect a lot of wedding related phone calls in the next year ;)