So imagine your perfect Sunday morning...unless your perfect Sunday morning involves rain, cause that thankfully did not happen at this session. For this lovely 2 year old - the weather was perfect, the rocks were fun, and her smile was super genuine. Enjoy Arawyn's 2 year photos.

I feel like she looks so grown up in this next one.

And last, but not least...the red dress :)

And a little more Christmas before the engagements and wedding posts :)

Well, this family is really like my second family. Sarah was my roommate for a little over 3 years in college and we became great friends through living together in the dorms and apartments. We still hang out, and her family always makes me feel like I am at home. So when I got the call from her to take their photos on Christmas Eve when they were all in town, I couldn't say no. Thankfully I didn't have any big family gatherings of my own planned for that day so it worked out rather nicely. 

I was welcomed to Sarah and Justin's new house - they just moved in in November - with open arms, hugs, and the offer of delicious breakfast. It was warm, cozy, and I just love being with these people!

After breakfast was finished, they all finished getting ready and we headed outside to take a few shots. Again - very cold. There seems to be a theme here for me - so if you're reading this and want some family portraits taken, my advice would be to take them when it is WARM outside :) Not that I mind the cold, but it's a lot easier for you to smile and pretend to not be cold, because you wouldn't be.

After a few group shots, we headed over to a nearby park and took some more group shots. The kids were troupers and we did the quick coat exchange - everyone had their coats on until the last possible second. Then they'd all take them off, I'd snap a few pictures and then they'd put them back on. 

Cochrane's, I had such a blast taken your photos and love your family so much. It was such a pleasure to share Christmas Eve morning with you!

Would you look at those blue eyes. Gorgeous!

And below is my fun-loving roommate and her hubby.

And the amazing parents that had all of these wonderful children!

Just a little Christmas in July for you...

So this past Christmas, I was able to collaborate with my church's Zambia focus team and do some Christmas "mini" shoots. So most of the proceeds from these shoots went directly to help people either in Zambia or make their way to Zambia to help the community we support over there as a church. 

It turned out to be a wonderful day! We had spots booked from 12:30 pm - 5:30 pm straight. Everyone was great and some had some great ideas for shots. We kept it simple with a white background and used our surroundings for inspiration. Most people used the pictures for their Christmas cards - thus why I didn't post this sooner. I didn't want to ruin the surprise. But now that Christmas is way over and they've all had time to get those out, here are some of my favorites from that day.

Thanks everyone for being such great models and showing your Christmas spirit :)

So my trip started off with a phone call. "Well, no need to rush, but you might want to start making your way down here," my brother-in-law stated. Oh so much excitement from those words!

So my younger sister and I began our journey down to Anderson, Indiana to be at the birth of my niece - the first grandchild on my side of the family. We didn't exactly know what to expect, but we were SO excited to meet this little girl that had been 9 months in the making.

It started off meeting Josh (my brother-in-law) at the hospital and seeing Audrey (my sister and new mom). AFter visiting a while, we went to their house to get some shut eye and kept our phones on, just in case - although it didn't seem like the baby was going to arrive until later the next day.

And later the next day it was. Around 7pm after much labor and over 3 hours of pushing, the Weiger family welcomed Emma Mattingly Weiger into their arms. It was so wonderful to spend the next few days with them, basking in the newness of life. She was so precious and did really well for having a photo shoot on her second day of life :) Gotta get it in while you can, you know?

So I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking. First a few of the baby bump and then I'll show you my adorable niece, EMMA!

Story-time with Dad.

And now, it's baby time!

In the waiting room the next day... Did I mention it was bright and early?

And then she was here! Proud Dad.

They are so in love...

And when baby sleeps. Mom and dad sleep too.

And then it was time to go home!

Welcome to the world Emma. We are so glad you are here and couldn't be more excited for what God will do in your life! Love you lots already - Love, Aunt Elise.

To get you thinking more about sunshine and brighter, warmer days...this past fall, sometimes in Michigan, the weather gets a little crazy. Okay, ALL the time the weather is a little crazy. And this past fall was no exception. There were some warmer days that I would call "Indian Summer" days - the days when it was in the middle of September and it felt like July. 

Well, this next session took place on just such a day, at a lovely house on a lake, with a wonderful family. They were fun and as they interacted, you could just tell how much they loved each other.  This family of four (five including the dog) were so much fun to photograph. Sit back, snuggled in your blanket with the heat turned up and think of warmer days.

A kid's best friend.

When you have boys, you pretend to be dinosaurs. Adorable.

Thanks so much for letting me photograph your fun, loving family Martins!

So the Meyer's. I am so grateful to call them friends. My husband and I were the best man and matron of honor at their wedding and it is such a pleasure to continue to capture the joy of their spirits as their family continues to expand.

So, I am grouping two sessions in to one post, because I think it's so wonderful to be able to see the baby bump before the baby has arrived, and the newborn after they are here :) So here you go, the bump and the baby (and the rest of the family too).

And when dad talks to Malachi, he really gets in to it - in a good way.

Then it was time to get Malachi ready to go out for pictures. And while mom and dad got ready, Malachi and I had a fun time reading.

Then out to the car and on to take some more family pics!

Then we went to a coffee shop to warm up and reminisce about going to a coffee shop for Jason and Amy's engagement shoot. They made funny faces and a good time was had by all.

And afterward we went back to the house for a few portraits of mom and Malachi was definitely tired from the cold and all of the smiling required for such a family shoot.

And even though Malachi was tired, he still wanted in on the pics with mom.

Big brother had to get in on the action too.

And Grandma and Grandpa visited while I was there too! I only got a picture of Grandma, but both of them had their turn to hold beautiful Aliza.

And snuggled up on daddy (or mommy) is definitely the place to be.

Many blessings on your family Jason and Amy as it grows and grows.

It was a warmer day. A beautiful day. And two families awaited my presence. 

A year ago this month, I had entered a certificate into a silent auction and they won! The certificate was good for a photo shoot of up to 6 people, and these families each had a boy - so it was perfect. 3 and 3. We started with one family, moved down the streets of Holland, took some of the other and went back and forth. It worked out really well and the boys were able to take breaks and just walk around downtown as well. I think it really helped them be so alive and cooperative during pictures. They were great and the photo shoot was sooo much fun!

All taken in the beautiful downtown Holland, Michigan.

So, it was cold. Really cold. And this family of three were troupers. 

Despite the cold, we had a blast playing on the playground at Dunton Park and walking on the boardwalks surrounding the park. I should say running more than walking - and that made it even more fun! 

The Hoelsema's are a wonderful family. Full of smiles, laughter and the joys of chasing a 2 year old - they enjoy every moment - and it shows.

On this particular evening, again, it was cold. So we had picked an inside spot for their pictures. Seeing as I don't have a studio of my own, I sometimes have to get a little creative with inside locations. We went the Herrick District Public Library, and it was great. The kids were definitely distracted by all the books, but they were adorable as well. I think you'll agree, we got some great shots - candid and some posed. 

After being inside, we went outside for a couple of pictures, although the cold made us come back inside pretty quick. 

Well, although it is winter now, I have been behind on a few blog posts. So now is the time to catch up. Think back to when it was only slightly chilly and not freezing weather. It was nice to go for a walk outside and the falling leaves made it extra special. It also happened to be the time when a certain little girl was 18 months old and her lovely parents wanted to document how much she had grown. And grown she has. Enjoy the pictures of the beautiful Arawyn Do.