She’s brave and sweet and kind. She’s funny and observative.

And she’s still a little fashionista. I’m in love with her dresses – the first was her Christmas dress and the second is a custom-made dress for her birthday party. Aren’t you in love?

Who knew that in October there would be bright yellow flowers blooming? It was a nice find right before we walked to our cars.

Sherry is one of my closest photographer friends. She and I met a little over a year ago for lunch before I started second shooting weddings for her. She and I instantly clicked. I remember we had to make ourselves say good-bye and turn to leave because we would have kept talking ALL day.  Our friendship is still that way – when we call each other to ask simple questions, we just stay on the phone to laugh and talk, for her to update me on the newest Sofie stories…and 45 minutes later get off the phone.

When Sherry asked me to photograph her family, I was floored. I had to try to put aside all my nerves during the session and just focus on playing and having fun. I didn’t want to focus on OH MY GOSH- what if I frame this weird and Sherry wonders why I shot something like xyz? I had to realize that Sherry would be looking at the pictures as a Mom – seeing her little girl grow up. Sherry and Sean are two of THE BEST parents I’ve ever encountered. In case you’re wondering – this was one of my favorite family sessions to date.

I had such an incredible time with these three. Enjoy the photos and leave Sherry, Sean, and Sofie some love!

Here’s a little preview for you…

That was true.

But then this happened…

Who is the sibling that is the protector and peace-maker?
Which is the child that is silly and goofy with loads of personality?
Can you tell which one takes more time to warm up to you?

My emotions are a very big part of who I am.  I went into this session with Jessica and her baby girl, J, excited but emotionally wavering. You see, Jessica and Nic had baby J four months ago. Nic was deployed shortly after J’s arrival. This is their first baby girl together, and I just felt this immense pressure to make sure that we would be sending Nic photographs that he would really appreciate. Photos that would speak volumes to how much Jessica misses him, and how much J is growing into a beautiful little girl.

There was so much pressure on me – but it was completely my fault I felt that way. As soon as I met Jessica at our first location, I immediately calmed. How could I not be excited to send Dad pictures of his two beautiful girls?  Jessica has the sweetest voice on this planet, and a giggle that will clench your heart. J was so adorable in her bright pink tutu and her little converse shoes. (I’ve always told my Mom that when we have kids, I too will be dressing him/her/them in baby converse.)

This was one of my very first frames of the day. I think we got the perfect picture.

Know someone in the Military who would benefit from an OpLove Session?  Share Magan’s Lens with them – a baby, children, and newborn photography studio that enjoys reaching out and sharing her work with others.

I’m 100% guilty of this. I feel the stress of this sometimes – the need to get the perfect family photo where everyone is staring directly into the camera with their best non-cheese smile. However, today I was re-watching Tamara Lackey’s Creative Live about children and family portraiture. She gave a beautiful talk about the importance of family portraiture. I was nearly in tears as she described how wonderful they can be – especially when approached with the right attitude.

This hits me at an especially tender moment in my life. A time when our small group is helping a refugee family adapt to America as they’ve just fled their country. Their family. As I’m getting to see our family grow with the soon-to-be very first addition of a nephew. (I’ve never been an aunt before!)  During a time when I’m receiving more inquiries for OpLove sessions than ever before. When I’m getting to see some of the families I have grown to love and care for through this business finally welcoming children into their homes via adoption.

Families are perfect due to the imperfect. I’m embracing that, and I can’t wait to show you some of this family…

However, as soon as we got home panic set in as we realized we had a WEEK to pack up our apartment and move.  The closing process was chaotic and many things happened in the eleventh hour, but on the 30th, we closed on our house. We moved beginning bright and early on the 31st.  I’m pretty sure we fell asleep before midnight even hit because exhaustion completely set in. The last ten days have been full of appointments to get things set up and running here in the new house. I’ve been trying to unpack, but I look at the boxes with disgust as I can’t help but think, “I just packed that.  Ugh, I don’t want to unpack it.”  I’m taking a slow approach to unpacking because I’d like to purge things from our life that we need to quit hoarding.

Anyway, here I am. Back and excited about 2011. Ready to share some of the sessions with you I’ve secretly gotten to smile over, but have anxiously been wanting to show you.

First up – the Flippen Family.   Read their adoption story at the end of the post.

Sometimes… this is how sessions start. Accidents happen.

Almost simultaneously, this was happening right behind where we were standing. A leaf fight broke out with Daddy.

Jessica and Christopher were such great older siblings – they jumped right in the middle of the leaf fight to play along. Anything for a great photo, right?

And then we had another quiet moment. Someone {Joshua} got shy again…

But I quickly got that gorgeous little smile back with Daddy’s help. He’s the KING of getting the best smiles and giggles.

My favorite family photo of the day is a little atypical – not everyone is perfectly smiling at the camera or even looking my way. I think this speaks much more to the dynamic of their family than the others do. This is who they are.

I thought the older siblings and Mom and Dad could use a little quality time in front of the camera too.

All their silly came out during a skittle break. I mean, I’d smile big for a skittle too.

Let’s take a moment to swoon over these awesome eyes…

Heather {aka: Mommy} contacted me about an adoption session. She found me via the talented photographer Sarah Giles in College Station and inquired about the adoption sessions. Joshua and Josiah were adopted by the Flippens from Ethiopia. When Heather had to send Christopher to school, she began to think about no longer having babies in their home. The idea of adopting was brought up, but the timing was not right for their family. Heather began praying that if this was something that they were called to do, they would know without a doubt. Several things happened over the next few years that really opened their eyes – and hearts – to adoption. They unknowingly downloaded podcasts that discussed adoption in great detail. The only station they were able to pick up on the radio during a long drive had a week long adoption awareness special. They were introduced to children that had been put through terrible circumstances in previous adoptions.  Over the course of many years, they learned more and began the process to adopt. Heather hand wrote on their application that they were open to sibling groups. They were given the opportunity to adopt twin brothers, Joshua and Josiah, from Ethiopia.  The boys are now three and a half years old.