The Parish Family

I've been friends with this mom and her family ever since my oldest son was a wee babe. I did their family pictures last year when I was just starting out and learning, and I was thrilled they asked me to take their family pictures again this year. We headed to my newest favorite location, Bellevue Botanical Gardens and walked around the grounds. I'm still working on my color balance issues, and worked pretty hard on getting shots of getting two small kids to stare at me in the same direction at the same time. It wasn't always successful, but made for some fun pictures. I hope they enjoy the pictures as much as I do.

Incidentally, Bellevue Botanical Gardens was preparing for its yearly Garden d'Lights. If you live around the Seattle area, definately check it out! They put up tons of strands of lights to make a virtual dazzling light flower display.

Meet the Parish Family. Notice how the oldest daughter isn't *quite* looking my way. the youngest makes up for it with her very determined stare in my direction.


hey! everyone is at least facing forward in this shot! :)


the oldest daughter


My stunning failure at trying to get this family shot. The youngest wanted nothing more than to eat the dirt and gravel of the trail than look at me.


mom and baby


taking a walk with dad


high flier


sweet daddy and baby moment

Jeung Family

I visited this cute family in their home to shoot some family portraits and more formal poses of their two kids. I have to say, I really enjoyed interacting and taking photos of their older son (who proudly told me he was 4 and 3/4 years old...that 3/4 was very important!) He was a fun kid and I hope that the pictures got some of his spontaneity and goofiness across. His seven month old sister was a different story, I don't think she cracked a smile for me once! She was very solemn about the whole experience. I hope their family enjoys this sneak peek!

The Jeung Family. The dad pulled this great bench out from their backyard for posing for photos.


All smiles


posing with his pals Duck and Cow






Little Miss Solemn




I love the look mom is giving her daughter here

James - two months

Adorable James and his parents came to me for a photoshoot. He's three weeks younger than my Albert, and it was really nice shooting a baby that would behave for the camera! James was awake the entire time, so we spent a lot of time trying to get him to smile. Ultimately, we were unsuccessful, as he'd only smile when I wasn't taking pictures, but I think I got some nice shots that showed the little strong man's personality. Here is a preview of their session!

Meet James


yes, he did find his hand quite tasty in all the shots


fuzzy baby head!


my best shot at a non-serious look from James


I love the looks Dad and James are giving each other


posing with mom


the mom had this idea for a family shot. I thought it was great, and something they could continue to do every year as a tradition as James grows older.


a more traditional family shot

The Wagner Family

I have known the Wagner family since I was in junior high and they've always been very supportive and kind towards me and my adventures. :) The daughter is one of my best friends and we've stayed in touch over all these years. I was pleased to shoot their family photos this year at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens on a gorgeous fall day here in the Pacific Northwest last weekend.

The two hardest things about this shoot were a) getting everyone in focus, in a decent amount of light, and making sure limbs and heads weren't cut off too awkwardly; and b) getting the toddler to look at the camera. The two year old was being two and my regular tricks were not getting any sort of responses from her at all. Combined with the large group setting, it was hard getting a shot where everyone was looking and smiling without closing their eyes at me. I had much better results shooting her one on one with a family member being entertaining behind me. Maybe next time at a large family shoot I'll wear a funny hat and have rabbits pop out of it to garner the kids' attention. :)

Onto the sneak peek!

Meet the Wagners


one of the better shots where everyone was looking at the camera


I love the look in her face here


three generations


and oh look! a real smile!


this is my favorite thing about the Botanical Gardens. It comes with its very own hobbit door! Perfect for toddlers!

Apples and kiddos

Our yard has an inordinate amount of fruit trees for being in the city and a smaller lot. This time of year is apple harvesting time, and I thought they'd make a great background to shoot against. Unfortunately, both my kids had other plans and weren't the most cooperative of subjects, but I did get a couple of good pictures. Yes, all the apples you see were picked from our yard.

If you've been to my website recently, you'll have seen this picture already. For this picture of Samuel, I used my 85mm 2.8 lense with me perched on top of a six foot tall ladder shooting down at him. he refused to lay down in the apples, probably due to the fact that the sky was bright (even though it was overcast). Hence the close cropping.


Albert was much easier to pose. We just laid him in the grass and positioned apples around him. Again I'm up on the ladder shooting down at him with my 85mm.

"mom, what are you doing?"


I moved off the ladder to shoot him a little closer for these pictures. Todd had the great idea to give him an apple so his hands wouldn't constantly be in front of his face.


and finally, a smile!


and what we do with all those apples - make applesauce! Samuel here is operating the apple corer peeler machine.


in action

The Rossi Family

I met this happy couple at Bothell Landing Park in Bothell on a beautiful fall day here in the Pacific Northwest. The park was a really gorgeous backdrop, with a pedestrian footbridge over to the Sammamish River Trail, the river backdrop, and some historical houses as well. I'm really looking forward to shoot there again.

The wife had told me she wanted some family pictures taken in the gorgeous fall foliage with her, her husband, and their two cutie daschunds. It was my first time photographing dogs so I was pretty excited. I was also pretty excited that this couple were pretty easy going to any suggestions I had, including my obsession to get a picture with leaves falling around them - perfect for fall!

The happy couple




the footbridge


in front of the historic old school house


such good sports to pose for me


laying on the wooden footbridge across the wetlands


family portrait


dogs!




the husband had the great idea to have me shooting while the dog ran across to him. This was my favorite shot of that series


happy autumn

The Larson Family

I've been friends with this couple since high school, and their son is just a year younger than my Samuel and are good buddies. Melissa has been kind and very supportive of my journey to become a photographer and has let me take pictures of her son and of her family. Her main goal this shoot was to get a family portrait where Jarrett was smiling, and I think we achieved that result.

Meet the Larson Family


I caught him as he was running around in circles at the park


Serious Jarrett


ready to jump


smiling for the camera