Okay, first of all, I haven’t moved my business down to Florida despite my dislike of snow and ice. I’m just super lucky that my husband’s family lives in South Florida, so for a couple of glorious weeks each winter, we can soak up the sun and wear sandals instead of snow boots. This past visit over the holidays involved a new twist- a lifestyle family session in Miami! How adorable is this one-year-old? And how amazing are palm trees? I’m sure all the year-round Florida photographers are sooo over them, but to me they’re magical.

By far, my favorite lifestyle newborn photo sessions involve older siblings. Kids are wildly unpredictable, and I just love that about them! Baby O’s older sisters were so excited to welcome me into their home. They flitted about showing me their rooms, how well their mattresses bounced, their baby dolls and books, and the star of the day: their new baby brother. This little baby is so very loved by his family!

It was a pleasure spending the morning with this sweet family and catching authentic moments that I hope will be treasured always!

There are so many things I loved about this recent family session on the Wellesley College Campus:

* little hands getting stuck in a raisin box (because who doesn’t remember the struggle of getting the last stuck ones out?)

* the many faces of an infant that is just learning to sit up (thank you, parents, for allowing me to continue photographing him as his little face crumpled up!)

* the way little kids always manage to find giant sticks twice their body length

….and the sweet moments caught between siblings as their relationship deepens. Always those.

Sleepy Baby R was a delight to photograph! His mom is an avid knitter, and the little owl hat and cocoon were so adorable. Baby’s older brother was equally fun; I often spend as much time photographing older siblings as I do newborns because the early days of a sibling growing into the big brother or sister role are momentous as well. I think my own daughter grew a foot overnight when I first saw her next to my son! Thank you so much for inviting me into your home, and I look forward to catching the little guy awake come spring!

I could photograph Baby’s S’s big brother all day. The faces he was making while feeding his new sister are hilarious! Opening his mouth to show her what she needed to do, grimacing when a little squirted out, the look of, “Yeah, I got this!” when she took the bottle….

Though they are called “newborn photo sessions,” the interactions between the newborn and her/his parents and other family members are perhaps what I focus on most in a session. Of course, the documentation of teeny tiny baby parts that are so fleeting is also super important. The photo of the back of Baby S’s neck gets me- I can remember sniffing and kissing my own babies right in that spot like it was yesterday!