Happy Fall Everyone!  We’ve officially made it to October and while it is still pretty warm, the light has changed and it is feeling more fall-like.  So pull out those boots, scarves, and hit up your local coffee shop for a warm (not iced) beverage.  We Californians love to act like it is fall, even if it feels like summer!

With fall comes the onset of family sessions.  This past weekend I had a pretty diverse range of family sessions and I thought I’d share them with you.  I loved working with each group and they were a good reminder that families come in all shapes and sizes!  It was also great because these are all people I have a personal relationship with for various reasons.

The Forrest Family
{Jim & Elizabeth Forrest with Martha & Greg Pelachik and their pup, Penny}

We had such a fun time together with this fully “grown-up” group and their adorable fur baby!  Jim and Elizabeth had never had professional photos done and were very willing participants!  They were so cute together and their love shines through in these photos!

Martha and Greg used to live down the street from me.  We used to see each other at our neighborhood block parties and wave whenever we drove by.  It was nice to reconnect with Martha and take these photos for her.  She and Greg haven’t had their photos taken since their wedding and Penny is, of course, a newer addition.  They were so much fun and I loved having a howling beagle along for the ride!

The McCormick Family
{Chris, Ashley, Kate, Hailey, Colin & Madison}

I have known Ashley since 1999.  Wow, time goes by quickly!  Ashely is one of my sister-in-law’s best friends.  She was at my wedding and Link and I were at hers!  The last time I took their family photos was back when Madison was a newborn.  Now Madison is an adorable, active two year old!  Working with this family had the same challenges as most families with young children.  Luckily my offer of a wagon ride put them in the right spirit for photos!  But I’d be lying if there wasn’t a mention of Santa Claus and presents if we didn’t get smiles from one of them at the end!  Haha!  Whatever it takes, right?

The Hoffman Family
{Erik, Debbie, Courtney, Brandon, Ashlyn, Garret, Caitlin & Cole}

Debbie lives down the street from me.  She is a nurse and was kind enough to pull out Claire’s very first wiggly tooth!  Her daughter, Ashlyn, is our babysitter.  This group is the  modern “Brady Bunch” as Debbie likes to call them.  Debbie is mom to Courtney, Brandon, and Ashlyn (our babysitter) and Erik is dad to Garret, Caitlin, and Cole.  Together we’ve got a mom and a dad, three girls and three boys.  This is my third time taking photos of Debbie and her kids, and let me tell you, our sessions are very different from most.  These are always “adult” sessions…with lots of jokes and hilarious conversations.  They always have me cracking up.  There is never stress with this bunch, just a lot of fun and laughing!

So there you have it!  Three different groups, all wonderful families, all so much fun!  Until next time…