"I make eleven look good!"

Remember yesterday how I told you all about WHY I wanted to learn photography? Capturing my kids personalities and all of that? Well...I think I was a little hypocritical. You see...when I envisioned my soon to be eleven year old's birthday pictures...I saw these amazing pictures of him dressed in classy, perfect, teenage clothing. I wanted the perfect urban setting. I even shopped for 2 solid weeks to find that perfect outfit. I found a jacket that I almost forked over eighty bucks for....BUT FOR WHAT? To take images that represented a stranger? I quickly realized that I was envisioning other photographer's work of really, really rich pre-teen children. You know the ones....where their outfits seriously cost a normal person's monthly house mortgage! I came out of that stupid way of thinking really quick when I realized that my soon to be eleven year old son REFUSED to wear anything but jeans and a t-shirt. Why would I spend eighty bucks on a jacket that he would NEVER wear again?!?!?!?

This picture makes me realize that no matter HOW old boys get, throwing the biggest rock in the lake is still their favorite past time. In this case...he was trying to break the ice.

He kept trying...without success.

I will admit I am kind of in denial that my kid is eleven.

So...let's talk about this shirt. I always buy my kids a new shirt to wear on their birthday. He told me a few weeks ago that he wanted me to make him a shirt that said "I make eleven look good!" So...I obliged. Hilarious kid.

This is about the extent he will "dress up"

I have really lucked out with the Utah weather this week. It was a little cold...but the sun even managed to peek out for a few of these shots.

Over-all, I am glad I stayed with my own advice. I captured my kid's very unique personality and still managed to get pictures that I love. 20 years from now I want to look back and know who I am looking at. Not some rich, pre-teen stranger. Dirty, eleven year old fingernails and all.

Birthday pictures...

It's that busy time of year again at this house! BIRTHDAY SEASON!

The main reason I learned photography was for this very thing...taking yearly pictures of my kids on their special day. As a mom, I know my kids and their very unique personalities that develop each passing year. I know those little smiles and smirks that are all their own. The faces I see every single day. I never felt like I had those faces captured when I took them to a studio professional. The photographer was so focused on getting a cute smile (and that is what they are trained to do) but it just wasn't working for me. It was the motivation I needed to learn the ins and outs of photography. I wanted to remember the different faces I saw everyday.

I love taking pictures of my kids walking away from me. May sound strange...but I don't want to forget the back of her curly little head and her tiny stature.

I rarely instruct my kids on poses or specific things during a shoot. I pretty much just walk around with them while they explore the area we have chosen for the pictures. I do call their name out so they will look at me. This is usually when I get "those looks" captured. The looks I always want to remember.

While doing shoots with my own kids...it really helps to have someone with me to also help get their attention. My kids get bored of me pretty quickly...Also...it is always a great idea to have a different perspective on things. I am lucky to have a great second shooter :)

I absolutely love to get shots like the one above. She isn't looking at the camera, but it shows off her gorgeous eyelashes and her chubby little cheeks :) Why is that so cute on a 4 year old and not me?

Haleigh was sitting next to me when I opened up this one. She gasped and said "Oh my! This is so cute!" I couldn't agree more...

And, when I opened up this picture...I knew this photo session was a success! That little face and expression is one I never want to forget. I see her look at me like this all the time.

That is why I learned photography.

Happy 4th Birthday little Haleigh-Bug.

Details:

Clothes purchased from The Children's place. (including coat)

Boots/shoes from Target.

Umbrella found at Cookie Cutters.

Flower hair piece...made by me :)

HERE are her pictures from last year...just so you can see how she has grown. Where does the time go? Really, where?