Shooting Star Photography

I love seeing tiny newborn babies grow into toddlers that walk, laugh, clap and talk! It’s amazing how totally dependent infants can become little people so quick. Remember Reese’s newborn session from last August?

Since then, her parents have moved to Mississippi, but I’m fortunate enough that they wanted to come back to visit for Reese’s 1 year old session!

I said at Reese’s newborn session how strong she was and how I’d never seen a baby hold their head up like that at 1 week old. So I shouldn’t have been surprised when her parents told me she’d been walking (er, running) for a couple of months. Reese was also one of the happiest and most expressive 1 year olds I have ever seen.  Besides the heat, Reese made this session a breeze with her big smiles and adorable disposition!

It was great to see you guys, and Reese is absolutely amazing and so gorgeous! Happy Birthday, sweet girl!

Look how she’s leaning her head into her Daddy. It doesn’t get any sweeter than this!

Three generations of beautiful girls!

It has been 11 days since Davis’ birth, and he was so excited about his first real photo shoot, that he thought it would be more fun to stay awake for most of our session! His mommy emailed me later to tell me that he had been cashed out for the entire afternoon after I left. I think he likes me :).

Check out this eye contact -

Eventually, he drifted off. So dreamy…

Is this not the best face? Don’t you want to know what he was dreaming of?

Of course we had to get big sister, Sally, in on the fun! For the most part, she’s been ignoring the newest family member. But there were a few sweet moments, and some funny ones too!

Congratulations “M” family! I look forward to watching Davis grow over the next year!

When this family asked me to photograph the birth of their second child, a son, I jumped on the chance! I wouldn’t have missed it, because over the past 15 months, you see, I’ve become part of their family :).

It started with the birth of their first child, Sally, which I photographed back in April of 2009, and then I documented her from a newborn, every 3 months, until her first birthday.  Unlike Sally who was born at 3 a.m. on a Saturday morning, baby brother Davis’s birth was induced and we were able to easily plan around it.

The scheduling wasn’t the only easy thing about this labor and delivery. Apparently a woman’s body remembers how to give birth the second time around, and it was a much easier and shorter process for the birth of Davis.  After arriving at the hospital at 6 a.m., the doctor broke the mother’s water, she got the epidural and pitocin mid morning, and by 10 a.m. she was 5 cm dilated. By Noon, she was complete, and after one “practice” push with the nurse, the doctor came in to deliver the baby on the next contraction.  He is a beautiful baby with a head full of dark hair! Congratulations M family on your latest member and thanks for allowing me to be part of such a special day!

Here is the slideshow - enjoy!

The birth of Davis