Dowling Family | Family Portrait Photographer | Helena, Montana

Let me stop for a second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so wonderful to work with. That's true of my recent session with the Dowling family, too!

I met with them last month in my backyard and the weather was great for photo-taking. And while it was a beautiful warm,sunny day, it was the Dowling family that made this shoot such a blast! 

When it comes to photographing kids, I've learned that the session may not always be rainbows and unicorns. There are times when kids just aren't happy to have their pictures taken.  This was not one of those times (although Baby Jake was teething so we had a couple of tears). I've learned that when that sort of thing happens, you just have to roll with it. I always capture those moments too. And inevitably, mom and dad always buy at least one copy of that photo. Luckily, I was still able to get many wonderful shots of them without Jake crying. Our session consisted of lots of laughing, teasing, tickling, a little crying and even a photo bomb! 

As you can see from the photos, this family is not only photogenic, but also a very close-knit group who clearly love spending time together. They are lucky to have each other. Enjoy!

 

Erskine Family | Family Portrait Photographer | Helena, Montana

I recently had a quick session with the Erskine family. I've said it before and I'll say it again – I truly have the best clients ever! This family was no exception, either. They are fun and don't mind being silly,

I love to capture moments that aren't necessarily posed and definitely candid. I always try to capture moments between mom & kids or dad & kids or dad & mom when they're not looking. You can really see the love in those moments, like the one below with mom & son.  

 The three kids all had tattoos and were happy to show them off (don't worry, they're not all real!!)

Michael & Tammy | Engagement Session | Helena, Montana

When I first talked with Michael & Tammy about their engagement session, I had tons of ideas on how to pose them to especially show off the ginormous rock on her finger. Well, they had a whole different idea on how they wanted their session to go. They are not ones to be flashy (with the exception of the engagement ring of course!). They like things simple, to the point. Tammy wanted a session that was truly about them and NOT the ring. What? I know, right? I've never had a girl tell me I don't want a lot of shots of the ring! Every couple is unique though and what was most important is that I think I captured the love the two of them share.  It was obvious in everything they did; the way they looked at each other, the way they touched each other, they way the smiled at each other.

Tony | Children Portraits | Helena, Montana | Christmas

Meet Tony! This is my second time photographing him. Isn't he a cutie?

His parents came to me because they wanted some portraits done to use for their Christmas cards. They weren't sure what they wanted or what he should be wearing.

One of the things I always tell my clients is that it is very important to keep in mind where and what the photos will be used for. If you are going to be hanging a portrait in your home, its important to look at your decor. Is your home decorated in bright colors or more neutral colors? If its neutral colors and you choose to wear neon colors in your family portraits, they will look out of place hanging in your home and you won't be nearly as pleased with them. So try to make sure the colors of your clothes go with the color scheme of your home.

If you'll be using a portrait strictly for greeting cards, holiday cards or announcements, keep the colors and outfits as simple as possible. Think of the design and colors they'll be used with. If you choose a pink Christmas card design but you are wearing a blue dress with yellow polka dots, it's not going to look as nice as say a white dress with a smaller pink pattern will.

Tony's parents had already looked at my Christmas card designs and had picked a design that I knew using a simple white background would look best with. I suggested that Tony dress in Red, Green or Black.  His mom found this outfit at a local store and knew it would be perfect!

  

Tom Melissa Gabriella Jorge | Family Portraits | Bozeman, Montana | Adoption

I love photographing families...capturing the love and interactions between parents and children and even siblings.

Awhile back, I photographed a family that I couldn't help but fall in love with.  The love felt in this family can be seen in every photo I took. Meet Tom, Melissa, Gabriella & Jorge.  This family was brought together by adoption. Gabriella and Jorge were adopted about three years ago from Guatemala.

 

Adoption is very near and dear to me because my son is also adopted from Guatemala and I think thats why it was so easy to fall in love with this family. To know the struggles of the adoption process and knowing the feeling you get when you bring your adopted child home for the first time, we instantly clicked.  Gabriella and Jorge are obviously very happy kids. They were a joy to photograph and I hope that we can get those two and my son together soon for a playdate!

Did you know that November is National Adoption Month? Check out http://national-adoption-month.adoption.com if you'd like more information.