{Dilks Family Portrait Session | June 2012 | Davis-Monthan Air Force Base | Tucson, AZ}
Mariby found me online as she 'searched the snot' (slight paraphrase of how she described her photographer hunt) for a family portrait photographer. I had yet to shoot on base and was THRILLED to hear of her different ideas with red, white and blue and her desire to capture her little girl's 1st year. Both Mariby & Ken beam with pride to be an air force family! | lkm
Sotello Family | Tucson Baby Portraits
{Baby Sotello | March 2012 | Tucson, AZ}
Little bundles of humanity...babies are really mind-blowing for me. I just can't quite wrap my head around that this ball of helpless awesomeness will one day morph into a man or woman. The level of dependence, reliance, desperate need for training and intentional upbringing--it's overwhelming. And I'm already on #3 and STILL feel like I haven't fully grasped the full length and breadth of my role's significane as mom; a child-rearing, bottom-wiping, snot-swiping, laughter-loving, sleep-needing, patience-building parent. Amos & Dulce let me capture a bit of their little one's first stage and it was a treasure :) -- though, i will secretely admit that i take a meniachal level of deep satisfaction in watching newborn parents. I giggle to myself while I think, 'oh boy...they have only JUST begun...' Cheers to beginnings friends... | lkm
Choe Family | Riverside, CA Family Portraits | teaser
{Choe Family Portraits | Riverside, CA | Mach 2012}
Check out this little face :D just wrapped up the edits for the Choe Family sesh and excited about releasing them to the family shortly! :D
Rapunzel/Darth Vadar Kisses Spider Man | Huge Identity Crisis | personal
{Judah & Jordyn | Tucson, AZ | March 2012}
I'm not sure if i need to explain much. Kids found cool Darth Vadar mask that was the result of a recent successful garage sale outing, Jordyn insisted on putting on her Rapunzel outfit from another garage sale find a year ago, Judah put on his 2 year old spiderman hand-me-down costume and then they insisted on giving each other a kiss. Of course I might have made the initial suggestion, but regardless.... mothering is pretty darn hard, but little snippets like these make life make more sense. :D | lkm
Raising Kids | personal
{Judah & Daddy | The plethora of faces we have trained our kids to crank out on the spot | Downtown Tucson, AZ | November 2011}
We've had an interesting schedule the past couple months. While Lawson waits to have more hours added to his plate at Starbucks, he's provided me with a generous amount of 'work days' to continue working on photography and developing relationships with fellow photographers and vendors in Arizona. While I love being able to get my productive 'working girl' fix throughout the week, I count the enormous blessing of having this man be my kid's father. He is goofy. He is bizarre. He is passionately in love with his family and dedicated to spending time and providing as darn best he can....And he's raising his kids to love each other. It really is a pretty beautiful thing. | lkm
my gosh. these kids are awesome :)
LEO | Tucson Newborn Portraits
{Leo | Backyard Newborn Portriats | Tucson, AZ | December 2011}
I don't do very many newborn sessions. Newborn photography is a whole amazing ball game on its own. Props to the pros and mommies who patiently wade through 3 hours of nursing, coddling, nuzzling, adjusting, stripping, dressing and working in a room 10 degrees warmer to assure that the babe feels most comfortable and stays asleep long enough to get the perfect perch of the head, curl of the toes, tuck of the legs and maybe even a lil' yawn while wearing that perfect hoodie to nail that amazing newbie portrait that'll grace the walls, wallets and wedding day slideshow in years to come. (breath) now, while you recover from that rediculously insane run-on sentence, I share with you a mini backyard session I had with a local Tucson family for their first grandbaby, LEO. It was a quick session. Minimal props. And while I focused on capturing little Leo most of all, I have to admit my favorite part was mom and dad's expressions--their wonder, curiosity, fascination, anxiety, fear?? (grin. i know that feeling!)--all of it. The newness, awkwardness, sheer, absolute, unabashed, die-hard love for their new addition--it's brilliant. Such a treasure to be welcomed into these moments. | lkm
McPhilipps Family & Co. | Romeo, Florida | Family Portrait Photographer
{McPhilipps Family & Co | Romeo, Florida | October 2011}
Everybody has personality. Some have personalities that bursts, pop, flare, sass, hit you smack in the face, chase you off, draw you near and dear and even makes you all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm sure that is an official title of some cool pyscho-assessing book somewhere in the world. If i were to write a personality book, I'd use these images and the offspring from this little pod to provide case in points. No kidding. When you get a bushel-full of whiz, bang, pow, beat em' up kinda boys and a heaping cup o' girly squeals--you'd have to! But don't take my word for it...
(above) check out that smokin' gun and that snarl. can't beat that face. :)
cousin lovin'
(below) this would be, hands down, my first choice for the cover of my book
such sweet little faces
the marshland was eating him...and he had just broken his cool stick
big bro and his sneaky little spit fire of a wingman :)
a mini mommy&me moment
more cousin lovin'
i want this whole cousin series framed :)
Rikki, you scored such a cool backdrop with those huge oak trees and praise JESUS he sent those golden sun beams just for you and aaron at that last minute. :)
McPhilipps & Richardsons... I am so glad I got to snag such a fun collection of memories for your 2011! Thank you so much for getting all dressed up and cozy with family, for trusting me, and definitely for letting the kids whip out all their tricks for the most fun batch of faces, energy and personality i 'er did see! Happy 2012. I can't wait for next years!! ;-)
How to Greet a Grandma | personal
{Picking Up Moo Moo from work | Tucson, AZ | November 2011}
I snagged a few shots of the kids running to get moo moo after a long week at work. "Happy Friday Moo Moo," they yelled. I've decided that they modeled possibly the top best way to greet somebody: shreak and run into their arms. Hands down best way to say 'i love you.' Even adults should implement that into their greetings from time to time. I don't know about you, but that'd probably rock my face off. With that said, Monday just ended. It's the beginning of the week. Try planning a sweet way to bound, with great abandonment, into the arms of somebody you care about--not just because it'll make you feel awesome, but because you want to make them feel adored. Do it. And then maybe post on my FB wall that it rocked your face off as well. | lkm
Griffith Family | Tucson, Arizona | Family Portraits
{Grifftith Family Portriat Session | Auga Caliente, Tucson, AZ | November 2011}
This family is extra special to my heart. Derek, the dad, was one of the first guys at Second Mile to chase Lawson down and befriend. Jen, the mom, has rocked my world with her testimony. She was introduced to Jesus less than 4 years ago and it changed her life. She radiates a bazillion tons of joy and belief that makes my head swim and my heart intrigue. Even Lawson has said on numerous accounts, 'Laura, you should rub up again her. A lot'...(beat) uhm, he probably said it a bit differently. that just came out weird. But point made. We would rub up against the Griffiths every day if we could. It's true Griffiths. We are so excited about getting to know you guys better! (P.S. I've never had a client plaster their home with their session's pictures as fast and as die-hard thoroughly as Jen did. It's awesome! I mean--it'd be awesome even if it wasn't my work. I just love pictures. But the fact that i took them--so cool. So encouraging. In fact, I believe an MVP award might be due...)
Miley...gosh her little smile just makes me beam :)
I had to warm Abby up a little. I warned her, 'So Abby, you will feel uber cheesy, silly -- but you gotta nose dive ok straight into this lil' project? So...i'm gonna say 'snap' and every time i do, you have to whip up a different pose, pop a hip, make a silly face...lets just play. It took 20 'snaps' and we landed some GREAT keepers :)
sisters...guh. i love sister shots. 
yes owen was genuinely gnawing on Derek's nose. he's such a beast.
Lukavich Family | Tucson, Arizona | Family Portraits
{Lukavich Family | Agua Caliente, Tucson, AZ | November 2011}
When i initially spoke to Joni about setting up the family session with her clan she hesitated before telling me she had SIX kids plus a foster baby. Three of which are red-headed triplets. I gawked and grinned for half a second and then said, 'oh please oh please let me photograph you guys!' So they showed up in their enormous white van, all kids were dressed to the nines with an extra wardrobe hanging neatly in the 'extra row' at the back of their 'bus.' The kids were great. They followed direction amazingly well and Joni and her hubby just helped the kids laugh the whole time. I was so impressed with their joy. Even the little baby (whom i can't post pictures of because of system rules) was a gem. (Its killing me not to share his little cheeks and constant 5 month old grin. His name is even Leonard. For reals. Coolest little smiling ball of pudge ever.)
i'm pretty sure this special 'father-son' set will be treasured for a long time.
It took a little urging for them to be cool with the 'hand holding' but then i told them to RACE on the count of 3 and all smiles and giggles were unleashed
no joke, the exact words were, "can we please pose in front of this cool door. It matches the girl's hair.' 
And then out came the fancy pants. I have never seen a family change so fast.
this little guy's 3 piece suit just killed me
I'm pretty sure this little munchkin could star as a model for a whole series of illustrated children's books. I'd call them 'Munchkin Maddie & Her Sweet Mollases Madness'...or something like that. 
one of my favorite from the whole day
and then there were three...
Joni... your family is delightful--one big pod of delightfulness. thank you so much for letting me be part of your family memories! | lkm