Summer Sunsets | New Orleans Family Photographer

Brandie hires me to capture intentional and authentic moments for her family several times a year. Creating this time capsule of art for her family has been nothing short of magical for me. Each time she emails me with the direction she’d like to take upcoming sessions, we coordinate a plan for ideal circumstances and trust what the other brings to the table. I don’t believe the outcome is ever a final product either of us could have envisioned in our heads, exactly, but the memories and nostalgia the final gallery creates is palpable. Combine that feeling with a consistent schedule of documentation of the same group, and it becomes an entire collection of art and family heirloom that’s invaluable in more than just one person’s life.

By authentic, I obviously don’t mean that Brandie and her boys likely sit in fields of wildflowers several times a week, no. That’s not the point. But wildflowers may bring about a certain sentiment for her. Combine that feeling the flowers bring with the sweet innocence of her baby boys so lovingly bringing their mama blooms by the handful and we’ve created a portal back to the feeling of innocence and joy that embodies her boys at this age in their lives. This is what family documentation is about, for me at least…

Whether it’s four times a year or once every four years, DOCUMENT YOUR LIFE, my friends.

Here’s a little slice into how Brandie and her boys began their Summer…

New Home + Anticipating Baby #2 | Hammond Family Photography

I’ve said this before, but truly, watching friends raise babies, whom I knew in adolescence, college, or any other era of life prior to the current is such a fun experience. Heidi and I had literature classes together throughout our college careers. After college, Heidi travelled and worked teaching ESL abroad for several years. I always enjoyed keeping up with her adventures on social media and was particularly flattered when she booked a family session with me. Watching the ways my friends put their heart and soul into the little humans they bring into the world and the ways they cultivate their flourishing personalities is incredibly interesting to me.

This past summer, Heidi and Austen eloped for an intimate wedding ceremony in Costa Rica. They’ve also had an exciting year of a new home purchase and the anticipation of baby #2, Leif. We decided to do this shoot in their empty new home that they had not yet moved into. I look at these photographs and think about the nostalgia they’ll bring to Heidi as she looks back on this time of firsts for their little family.

River is at such a fun age, and what a memory to capture his last months as an only child. Documenting pre-baby lifestyle sessions for both expecting couples and expanding families is something I’ve done quite a bit more of lately, and I truly love the meaning and authenticity behind the moments we capture in these shoots. There’s just something about having visual snapshots of those days before lives and hearts forever shift, mold, and expand in new ways…

Life moves + changes ever-so-quickly and documenting truly authentic and personal parts of it for my clients forever feeds my souuuuuuul. Heidi and Austen, I cannot wait to document many more exciting firsts for your family.

Layrisson Family Generational Session | Northshore, Louisiana Family Photographer

"There are only two lasting things we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other wings."

- Henry Ward Beecher

I've been photographing Brandie + Parker's growing family for a while now.  Brandie's thoughtfulness for capturing intentional moments, ages, and seasons in her children's lives always leaves me with that gooey heart-in-a-puddle-on-the-floor feeling in the ways that I soak in something new and lovely about life, love, or family from each time I spend with them. 

After the births of both of her boys, Brandie had me over to photograph generational sessions with the littles, their parents, and grandparents. This year, we did a photojournalistic generational session at Parker's parents' house, where we gardened, laughed, had the best morning kicking off the beginning days of Summer and soaking in the best homegrown memories with family.

If you're reading this far down in the post, you probably know my writing style enough by now to know that it's sentimental all over the place up in here. If that's not your jam so much, just keep scrollin' on through to the pretty photographs. No offense taken!

Growing up, my grandfather always had a lush garden in which he carefully tended. This morning session made me think of the memories with my own grandparents of picking, cooking, and serving all of that homegrown goodness that was cultivated with love and patience. 

I know I say it enough to sound like a broken record, but documenting the tiny littles of my clients interactively as they grow, develop, and change is a job that constantly leaves me gaining wisdom and insight that I'd never even known I'd needed.  Essentially, some days my job description involves playing with toddlers, and let's just say, I never leave those days without their innocent, engaging minds unintentionally teaching me a thing or two. 

These are the types of moments that make me feel inherently blessed to be able to make a living cultivating + capturing the things that make us feel.

After time in the garden, Parker's mother Mrs. Celeste showed me her serene studio where she creates artwork.  Mrs. Celeste has such a warm persona and an impressive eye for beautiful things, but seeing the space where she relaxes, engages her creative mind, and creates meaningful artwork was such a wonderful way to end that morning.  I left dreaming of my next home and working from the sun porch with warm sunshine beating in. 

Until then, I'll keep it real and inform you that my current workspace is much less glamorous than that sounds, looking more like dirty hair and a "makeshift" desk located in the same location on my bed. All just humbly reminding me to soak in the transition, messy, and the now, because those seasons contribute to the pretty in life just the same.