There's nothing more joyful than a child laughing or smiling their toothy grin. I enjoy photographing children because of their authentic expressions and the challenge of capturing their fast-moving play!



I spent the first half of my career writing about schools and helping children feel comfortable in front of a photojournalist's camera; now I love being the one taking the images! Sessions with toddlers and young children are 30-45 minutes. We start with the "Christmas Card" formals, which may only last 5-7 minutes — all I need for a handful of posed portraits. Then we move to everyone's favorite part: Games!

Family fun time creates the best opportunity for candid, documentary-style moments, which are often my clients' favorite images. We'll weave in posed and prompted photographs as we go. Instead of trying to force a 2-year-old into a certain look, I'm flexible enough to capture authentic moments as they unfold.

These sweet girls loved their time so much that they both gave me hugs when we left, including the little one, who stretched out her arms from her stroller. You can view the full gallery here.