I pretty much say it before every shoot. "Sunil, why am I doing this again? I'm nervous that it will go terrible and they'll hate me and the photos won't turn out! I'll just stay here and never leave the house and be a hermit forever" 

He usually smiles and patiently reminds me that I do this because I love working with people, I love creating images that will last families forever, and I'm good at what I do. 

He's right. And he knows it. I always come home with a big smile on my face because I get to meet such amazing people with this job and really pour love into their family in the midst of our sessions. 

I took a few months off when I had Mary (if you haven't visited my blog in a while, SURPRISE! We had a kid!). And part of me loved maternity leave and staying home and not having work. 

But every spring when the grass gets green and the shadows get longer and the sun stays golden during those gorgeous sunsets... I just can't help myself. Photography is something I love - even if my pre-session jitters tell me otherwise! 

So when Becky reached out about doing a spring session (LOVED their fall shoot so much!) before they move away from the Kansas City area, I couldn't wait to get out there. 

Also, meeting up with previous clients again is like hanging out with old friends you haven't seen in ages. There's an amazing bond that happens when a family opens up and let's you photograph who they really are... and even though we only spend an hour together, I always walk away feeling like I've known them for years! 

(For the record, this photo below was a blooper and yet it makes me smile a LOT. Henry was so eager to be seen and noticed and I LOVE the expression in his forehead here! Bloopers often make my favorite photos.) 

Trevor and Becky, it really was a pleasure. I could've stayed in that random parking lot for hours with your kids as we sang, "THIS IS THE GREATEST SHOOOOW" and blew bubbles and found random thumb tacks on posts and pizza crusts in the grass. Promise me you'll come back often so we can do it again sometime. :) 

I tell my clients often... 

If the lighting is beautiful, we can make just about any location look lovely. 

When she suggested a Christmas tree farm for the location of our session, we searched high and low for one that matched our availability, but nothing seemed to work. 

So instead we improvised. With the highway only a few yards away, and the rows of trees at the local landscape supply used carefully for our background, we decided to embrace a non-traditional spot. 

And instead, we focused on the beautiful celebration of a lovely little family. 

Hannah and Jake, I'm so thankful you trusted me with such a crazy idea of a location! It was such a joy to work with your little lumberjack and I can't believe how precious his smile is!! Thanks for trusting me with your memories. :)