I look back and feel like I’m that fresh kid just starting her business … ready to take on the world. Honestly, that’s how I feel every single day. But then I look back and see how far I’ve come and how much I’ve grown. I’m sure you do the same thing in your life and with your loved ones!

That’s why I love this family! They understand the importance of capturing moments in time each and every year. It all started with their engagement photos where we captured the beginning of new love while Mike and Vanessa embraced each other with those googly eyes, full of excitement and joy for what was about to come. Then we captured their wedding, which was just pure magic. You could not only feel the blissful love that the couple was in, but wanted to hold onto it with them for years to come. I remember Vanessa and Mike telling me, “Whatever we have to do for the photos is fine; that’s the most important memory we will have.” OK, it was Vanessa that said this, but Mike was definitely along for the ride. I couldn’t have said it better myself. For Vanessa and Mike’s wedding, that meant that they missed their cocktail hour, but it was totally worth it for those precious memories they now have hanging on the wall in their home. Plus we had some good laughs and of course cocktails of our own, or at least the couple did, lol.

Vanessa holds true to her conviction of capturing memories … each year she has captured her baby boy as he grows. The first year with his smash the cake session. (OMG, that was the best – In the middle of the woods in his high chair with his cake – but of course we captured the family first.

Baby V was a bit of a crab monster that day, but we still made it happen. Some of my favorite family photos came out of that session. Capturing the bond between mother and son as Vanessa tried to soothe him … the three of them playing and laughing as little V rides on dad’s shoulders … V looking on as mom and dad embrace in a kiss, and of course the little tike’s solo shots.

Now let’s get to the latest session with this adorable family where I played with and chased little V, capturing those candid smiles as he laughed at whatever goofy face or gesture I was making – maybe it was the crazy dance mom was doing behind me. Either way, I love nothing more than capturing those genuine smiles, especially from the little ones. They just make you wanna bust up laughing with them. I mean look at all those different facial expressions! 2 years old is absolutely one of my favorite years. They have the biggest personalities and fully express how they feel, from grumpy, to laughter, to funny faces.