This season was loaded with fun holiday family sessions. I did more this season than I’ve ever done and I’m now finishing up the ones I did in October and November. The Lundins are a fun family with two little girls that will, quite literally, have you in stitches. With young Iris’ “Cindy-Lou Who” hair-do and her big sister Olive spouting facts about what constitutes a mammal and what doesn’t… Well, you can imagine. Thanks to Dave+Jaymee for a laid back afternoon in their home and strolling their neighborhood. I hope we can do it again next year!

PS. This is the first post I’ve ever done completely in black and white. I was in a mood.

Seattle, WA.

“Love me some Lunnys.”

That was just one comment on a teaser photo I posted on Facebook just after my session with these three last month. Most other comments had something to do with David’s beard, which he recently decided to grow out, completely non-Movember related. I just think it’s amazing.

Lisa, David, and Abby are sweet, gentle spirits. David and Lisa play on the worship team at EastLake and David is a such a talented musician. I was thrilled to shoot their family photos this year and their willingness to walk around my neighborhood, in spite of the pitter-patter, made it a really laid back Friday afternoon.

Sammamish, WA.

The Tinneas are a remarkable family. And I’m not just saying that. No need for details because you can just take my word for it.

Ryan, Katie, and little Kennedy were a joy to spend the afternoon with… Obvs.

The Lunsfords are a special family and you are gonna love their session. Stay tuned for more!

The holidays are quickly approaching and I’m officially accepting inquiries for all lifestyle portrait sessions. The sooner you book, the faster the turn around and for your chance to get your custom-designed holiday cards, just in time to mail out to family and friends before the New Year.

This season, if you book your holiday session before October 21, 2011, you’ll receive 25 Custom Designed 5×7 Flat Holiday Cards with Envelopes for FREE (a $100 value). The Holiday Session Package starts at $400 and includes the following:

• 1-2 Hour Session within 25 miles of Seattle
• Up to 4 family members (Add $25 for each additional family member)
• An Online Gallery and Slideshow to share with family and friends
• A DVD of fully edited, print-ready images
• Copyright Release Form
• FREE: 25 Custom Designed 5×7 Flat Holiday Cards with Envelopes (a $100 Value)
• Additionally, if you share the link for this post on your Facebook, I’ll throw in a FREE 8×10 on top of your package (a $15 value). Just be sure to let me know you shared it on your Facebook when you book your session.

Long Beach, CA.

This session took place during my visit to California last month. I have a lot of family members in Long Beach so Stacy, my cousin, was really excited to schedule a session with me. It’s been 12 years since my last visit to California, so it made it that much more special. The last time I visited, Stacy and Eric were newly engaged and I was attending her bridal shower. Back then, I wanted to be a musician and I played my guitar for everyone at her party… So embarrassing to look back on…

But the session couldn’t have come at a better moment, as Stacy+Eric are preparing to adopt their second child. Oliver, their son, is wild, rambunctious, and full of dimply smiles. I could have photographed him all day.

Long Beach, CA.

Thought I’d share a sweet frame from a family session I did while I was in California. I hope everyone is celebrating their American freedom in awesome ways. George and I are going to celebrate by eating Costco hotdogs and then seeing Super 8 at the moving picture show.

Happy Independence Day! Go hug a British person and tell them, “Better luck next time!”

If you’re not a dog lover or even a “dog person”, you’re really missing out on a lot of love. The purest kind.

These photos were taken a couple days after my sister’s family found out sweet “Rudy”, the dog she’s had since college and the “man in her life” before she was ever married or a mother, was diagnosed with bone cancer. Yesterday, he went home and we all miss him so much already. He was a comedian and a sweet soul. My family has been in the “animal business” for nearly two decades, so we’ve never really taken our pets for granted. We’ve owned and loved some of the greatest dogs to ever walk the earth. I hate it when people roll their eyes at someone who mourns the death of their dog. They just don’t get it, so I feel bad for them. Because dogs like “Rudy” gave love every single day of his life without fail. How many of us can say that about our own lives? Trust me—No one can.