Some people have asked me how I photography my own girls. How do I get them to be still and actually look at the camera without that “fake” smile.  Truth is – they do have that “fake” smile.  Forcing them to stand there and look at the camera has never worked that well for me.  That is why we don’t have many “official” photo shoots.  For the most part I just let them play and walk and talk while I follow behind.  I’m usually in charge of the location and sometimes the outfits.  We usually shoot 2 “official” sessions each year – one in the fall and one in the early spring.   My girls’ birthdays are in August and February, so these are birthday sessions too.  It’s a win-win!  They love feeling special as they add another number to their age and I get to capture them in that particular season of their lives.  It’s a time for them to be silly and join together to “crack” mom.  They know my main goal and, yes, I’ve had to use the “stern” voice a time or two to settle them down.  But, my ultimate goal is to document the unique personality of each of my girls in each season of life.

And this go round, they even let me in on their secret handshake!