This is my good friend Erin, her husband, Jason, and their beautiful new baby. This shoot was extra special for me because Erin is not only a close friend, but she is an incredible graphic designer and blogger. She designed my cool logo that I love. Her website is Erin Vale Design if you want to check it out. Our husbands are close too, so it's been entertaining for us to watch Erin and Jason go through a pregnancy and become new parents. Our youngest baby is 7 now, so the memories of what we went through during that time in our lives is still kinda fresh. Right now, Erin and Jason are enjoying the sleepless haze that comes with getting up every few hours to change and feed the baby. And everything about their lives is revolving around this little, tiny human. The next thing they'll know is that little G won't want them to give her a kiss when they drop her off at school. It goes so unbelievably fast.

I just loooove photographing newborns. The time just goes so so fast when they are little, it always reminds me to stop and kiss my kids, smell their hair, and soak them in. My youngest is six now and it seems so long ago that I had a baby attached to me, while cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, working on the computer. They were always just right there next to me, or on me. Now they are out in the world, going to school all day. Sigh...

Okay, I've blogged about this family so many times... It's just that they were one of my first clients and they have been with me for years. And, they are just so cute. This little sweetie looks just like her big sister, so it might seem repetitive, but it's not.

While getting my kids ready for school I noticed that the ragged bag tags were ready to be replaced. I also decided it was time to update their look, they aren't in preschool anymore:( so I went for a more "sophisticated" look. Feel free to download them yourself. They are blank so you can just write in your child's name or open it in photoshop and use a fun font. You can print out two at home or print them as wallets at your printer. I laminate them back to back in a "luggage tag pouch" from the office supply store.

I got this idea from Pinterest, which I'm now addicted to. When I found the originating link, it was from a website called Babble. It's great! They have lots of great ideas for moms. So, I tried a variation of my own. I used ice cream flutes for the mold and I used juices from Bolthouse Farms that I got at whole foods. The green is a veggie juice. The kids absolutely were over the moon about making them and finally eating them. The juice froze well, maybe because it's a very thick juice, it wasn't as hard as regular ice, it was softer and easier to eat. We just froze one layer at a time. After the first layer was frozen we poured in the second layer and we covered them with plastic wrap and stuck the stick in so it stood straight up. After the second layer had frozen the stick into place we left the plastic wrap off. Then we poured the rest of the layers and - viola! A delicious treat.

It's time to vote for your favorite picture! All voting takes place on facebook. There are some great pictures and I think it's going to be a fun week:) I have a few clients that really, really, really want that free session and $400 digital package. Here are the entries:

Oh, I love maternity shoots. Moms and Dads are so full of anticipation and excitement. I can't blame them, the anticipation tops anything else - Christmas, a wedding, ANYTHING. Carrying a baby, giving birth and being a parent is the ultimate privilege. I can't think of anything more amazing.

I love this little one. I get a little attached when I photograph babies in their mommies' bellies and get to watch them grow. Who wouldn't? I took these baby pictures in my Indianapolis photography studio.

I love these guys. I've been taking their pictures since they were preschoolers. We always have tons of fun and the boys always have their own creative posing ideas. So, we try a little of everything. With my ideas and theirs together, it's always hard for mom to choose.

School Pictures

children's photographer

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