End of Year Cheer!

Allison contacted me to do a family Christmas shoot. Frustrated with the limited time that portrait studios give you (not an uncommon statement) she thought that the kids would be moe comfortable in their own home for some family pictures. I'm finding family shoots are a lot like when I used to nanny, it takes a little bit for the kids to warm up to me but once they do we always end up having a great time. Little Taylor and Cayden were so cute and loved playing with my box of Christmas props!  I told Allison she has a future model on her hands as by the end of the evening Taylor was posing and smiling for me.

 Cayden was giggling and Taylor looked on in approval!

 Kevin and Cayden were having a blast

 I cannot express how much I love, love, love this photo. The happiness and laughter can almost be heard coming through this shot. With the tree glistening in the background, for sure one of my all time favorites!

 All smiles!

 The hat says it all...

 The magic of black and white is just as great for Christmas photos.

In the end as I was doing some final shots of the kids on the stairs I heard whimpers from Stormy above, I insisted she make the last family photo shot. She perked up and made a great center piece for the final family photo of the evening. Another enjoyable family photo shoot in the books!

I'm thankful and blessed for a great first year filled with many smiles and good times, and shoots with friends new and old. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and look forward to capturing your new memories in 2011!!!

Hangin' with Mr. and Mrs. Cooper

As we strolled through Lake Anne the temperature reached 46° which seemed balmy compared to the wind chill of 15° from earlier in the week. Krista, Cliff and their two cute dogs Louie and Inky were the stars of this shoot. Hoping to get a good family Christmas photo we took to the paths and the bridges of Reston. The result was some pretty cute family photos.

 Louie

 Inky

Family photo with some festive Holly in the background!

The Coopers were really fun to work with and did I mention they are the owners of Wagging Walks and take care of my boys Jack and Bandit? They are the greatest dog walkers in Reston... check them out! :)

Christmas with the Filippones

I showed up around 5pm to do a little Christmas shoot with the Filippones. What a fun family, the two girls are just the cutest, and Bryce is a great older brother, so patient! Even though we managed to lose a Christmas snow globe in the process of taking photos, I was able to get some cute pictures of the family. Here are just a few of my favs from the evening.

 Little Sophia in her Red Christmas Dress was just the cutest.

 Kisses from Mommy for Sophia

 I definitely could not get enough photos of her cute red flower in her hair

 An incredibly gorgeous family

 I've taken photos of Alyssa and Sophia before, and Alyssa makes this face which I've captured twice now. I love how beautiful and serious she looks, she has the most incredibly expressive eyes.

 One of my favorite photos from this shoot, when Alyssa saw herself in the glass ornament. So precious!

The Filippones were such an incredibly great family to work with, so laid back and fun. When we finished the shoot and we were talking photo packages John told me he wanted them all... good, bad, he just loved all of them. While great for a photographers ego, it just shows what a great proud husband and Father he is. This love of family fills the walls of their beautiful home and I can only hope some of these holiday photos will adorn their walls on my next visit. :)