Sorry, I have been really horrible about blogging, this has been a whirlwind month!   Workshops and all kinds of wonderful things, I leave again on Sunday for another photog convention but couldn’t go without posting this amazing babe I photographed yesterday.    I have so much to tell you about and fabulous things in the works, but we’ll save that for a later date.

I was so excited to meet baby Ryker after photographing his gorgeous mama (check out her maternity shoot here).  And he exceeded all of my expectations, can you believe the joy when I walked in and laid eyes on this handsome babe with a red mohawk?  I think I actually started squealing.  Really can he be any cuter?   He was so good too, a dream!  I love looking at people’s nurseries and thought you might like a peek – mom did such a good job and really thought about every detail, she has such a funky, fun sense of style.   She even had this adorable owl hat specifically made with the session in mind.   LOVE IT!!  Congrats on the newest addition to your family!  He is amazing!

What’s with the title?  It was the first thing I thought of when I saw all of these pics together.  This baby is sooo loved!  One of my favorites is the third one down – mom and dad having a genuine moment while he gazes up at them adoringly.  I wonder what is going through his head, what his little mind is taking in while he watches two of the people he depends on most in his life completely enjoy each other.  At one month, we weren’t aiming for the curly sleepy poses, but instead caught a glimpse of this tender life starting to observe and inquisitively explore the things around him.  We even were lucky enough to capture one of his new smiles.  I love how peaceful and secure he looks in his big brother’s arms.  This first picture gives me goosebumps, it speaks volumes to me about new babes, look at the pure innocence in his eyes, he is breathtaking!

How can you glow when it is 17 degrees outside and you are half undressed?…….. it only happens when your pregnant.  This new mom was such a trooper I told her my idea and she was all good to unbundle and work it is the freezing snow, wow.. I love my clients.  I think it was worth it,  she looks gorgeous!  I can’t wait to meet this baby and take pics as soon as they make their appearance.  This is one lucky little babe to have such nice, kind parents.

I loved working with this fun, creative mom to be!  I can’t wait to meet and photograph her little guy in a few weeks.  Wait until I show you his adorable nursery!  I love when clients personalize their shoot, by incorporating special things, this green shirt she is wearing at the end of the post was the shirt her sweet hubby wore on their first date.  I asked how on earth she ever remembered what he wore?  she then giggled and said it was on St. Patrick’s day.  Can’t you just imagine a shoot down the road of the adorable toddling boy in his dad’s oversized shirt?  We’ll definitely have to get some shots of that!  Congrats guys, I’m so excited to meet this lucky little babe!

lalalaLOVE repeat clients!  (you can take a peek at their previous sessions here and here) It’s so fun to watch them grow!  Even though it was chilly we decided to take advantage of the snow and have a little fun.  Thanks guys for a great afternoon.  btw – can you believe how gorgeous this little girl is?  stunning!  She has grown up so much since our first shoot together.

This gorgeous couple was married in Salt Lake City and then had an open house in Billings at the Highlands Country Club.  The night was snowy and frigid, but the guests braved the weather and warmed up at a wonderfully cozy event.  It is so fun to see people reconnect at important times in their life, this was held over the winter break so this Billings girl got to celebrate with all of her friends that were home for the holidays.  She had bridesmaids in Utah and then a different set for her hometown party, these girls had grown up dancing together, they were gorgeous, and knew how to work it, (a photographer’s dream).  Congrats to this amazing couple, wishing you an eternity of happiness!

I lalalaLOVE this family!  I first met them when I photographed this little babe, that session turned out to be one of my all time favorite newborn shoots. (you can see it HERE) I loved working through the entire process with them and was looking forward to documenting their family as they grew.  (Mom is hysterical and now considered one of my friends -shot out to the mom :))  So I was thrilled when she asked me to photograph them in Bozeman at their newly finished second home, she wanted to have family pics in their yard and around the house so that they could show the boys in the future how big they were when they started this adventure.  It is in a gorgeous setting next to the ski hill and perfect for their active family.  (and I mean active…..)  I have never known such an outdoorsy mom, when we were trying to get together to go over pics after the newborn shoot we had to schedule it between kayaking and rafting excursions!  You know the everyday shoes that live at everyone’s front door in the snowy winter?  When I stepped foot in their Bozeman house I timidly placed my shoes next to their ski boots, if your ski boots are right next to the well used uggs you aren’t messing around.  She is my idol and what I want to be when I grow up, an outdoorsy superhero.  Just so you know what a reach that would be for me, we have made the decision or investment as my dear husband calls it to learn to ski as a family.  Now that are kids are all old enough to take lessons, we are hitting the slopes together, the cool or pathetic thing, however you decide to look at it, is that I am in the group class next to them snowplowing with all of my might like a huge dork.  I realize I am one of the few adults in Montana that doesn’t know how to race down the hill like an olympian but you have to remember that I grew up at the beach.  We have a couple of more classes before we will be blissfully, and hopefully gracefully, gliding down the hill together as a family in matching ski attire, ok that’s a little far fetched, but the skiing together is definitely a goal.  Everyone tells me it will be worth it.  I’ll keep up posted……  Back to this great family – what else can I say, they are gorgeous and so fun, I love the energetic, loving vibe that is oozing out of these pics, because I like to personalize things I have to let you in on one little neat fact, the sled that you see in the shots with the kids was their grandpa’s when he was a boy.  Love it!!!!!

This family was great!  I met them when the youngest boy was photographed for the cover of Simply Family magazine last year, he goes to the same marital arts studio as my daughter Taylor, he is so polite and kind.  They wanted to take advantage of their eldest son being home for the holidays and get a fab family shot as well as some of the brothers together.  It was a freezing day, but everyone had a warm, friendly, glow.  Thanks for a fun afternoon.

I couldn’t post a, “Happy New Year”,  greeting without showing a few pics from a wintery session.  I love this dear little family!!!!!!

I just finished a trip down memory lane and looked back at all of the fabulous people I had the good fortune of working with this past year, I felt pure bliss.  I saw something different and unique in every session.  I still get excited (and a little nervous) every time I book a shoot and have the first consult.  I am so lucky to do what I am passionate about, I feel so blessed, thank you!   Thanks for letting me into your lives, and trusting me to capture what makes you so special!  It has been a fabulous five years and  I am so excited for 2011!  I can’t wait to get to know new clients as well as reconnect and watch my past clients grow. (ok after the mushy love fest)  stay tuned for some very exciting happenings with Jana Graham Photography,  2011 here we come!!