~Playground Pictures~

A few weeks ago when I was feeling particularly motivated I decided to bring my camera along to playgroup. I love practicing my photography skills on kids.  They expressions are so much more genuine than most adults, and though there are always a few kids that act camera shy, for the most part they just keep playing and smiling.  My kids are usually the ones who get bombarded with the camera, so it's nice to change it up a bit and work with other people's children.  Lucky for me many of my friends don't mind a bit if I photograph their children, especially if I send them a copy of the good shots.  ;-)  Here are a few of my favorite from that particular day.

Climbing Trees.

Cheesy Swing.

Observing.

Caught off guard.

Good friends.

Proud of herself!

Best lunch EVER!

Smiles despite the need for bandaids.

Swing flying.

Hanging out in a favorite place.

~I finally pulled out the camera...~

I snapped some photos for a good friend and her beautiful family last weekend.  These three sneak peeks may quite possibly be my favorite. (You can find more over on my rarely updated photography blog...)

We really do love the Payne family to bits and consider them part of our extended family here in Iowa.  Their children are like my niece and nephews... not to mention some of my kids very best friends.  It breaks my heart to see them leave Iowa, yet I'm happy that they're moving forward towards bigger and better things... like med school graduation!
Though I'm so devastatingly sad to see them go I feel so blessed to have friends worth missing, and that is exactly what they are.
Feel free to hop on over to my thefrontsideofmylens and check out a few more pictures from our shoot.

~A Morning at the Park~

All summer we have Wednesday morning playgroup at a different park around town. I've started bringing my camera along for the ride so if the moment strikes I can practice my photography skills on my favorite subjects, children! I love how expressive, unposed, and completely uninhibited little children can be. Here are a couple gems I caught last week.

Lyssa

Super Alec

Isaac

(or as Alec calls him "the other Isaac" or "Becca's Isaac". It's hard when your friends have the same names.)

Alec, Maddie, Lyssa, Isaac

This last picture makes me happy on sooooooo many levels. I love Alec's expression... priceless. I love that Lyssa looks like she's about to snort laugh. I love that I didn't even set this up or ask them to do this. They all sat there together on their own. I love that they all waited for me to run grab my camera to snap this shot. I love it.

More park pictures to come...

~Baby Owen~

This is Baby Owen.

He is a calm, content little fellow, about 8 weeks old.  He calmly posed for pictures while Alec's car noises crashed all around, Lyssa sang out her usual "Oh no! Oh no!" song, and Momas chatted about potty training and the like.  I don't know many babies who could relax in the living room with my bambinos about, but this little one is special.  Even at his young age Owen already knows how to cope and enjoy a buzzing happy home because he's the lucky sixth baby of my friend, Laura.  

I love this picture of Owen and Laura.  Owen turns his head to follow her voice.  He watches her.  He knows who she is and loves her dearly.

But even the most content children have their breaking points when enough is enough...

Thank you, Laura, for letting me play with your little baby.  

It was an honor to photograph your sweet little prince.

~Baby Spencer~

Meet little Spencer.  He is the sweet baby of one of my favorite people, my dear friend Becca.  This sweet little one is only a few weeks old, but already showing off his sweet personality.  Becca graciously let me capture some of his tiny perfect little baby moments... 

for we all know they grow and change so fast...

Thanks, Becca, for letting me play, love, and take a hundred picture of your sweet little one.