One year later, same beach, completely different energy

A year ago, I photographed this family for their maternity session at a beautiful Seattle beach. They were glowing, excited, maybe a little nervous about becoming parents. It was sweet and calm and we had time to get all the perfect images.

Fast forward one year, and we're back at the same beach for their one-year family photos. Except now there's a tiny human who has OPINIONS about the weather. Specifically, the rain. Mainly, the vibes were "fuck this, I'm out."

When your baby is not here for your artistic vision

Outdoor family portrait sessions in Seattle with babies and toddlers are unpredictable. You can plan the perfect location, the perfect outfits, the perfect timing. And then your one-year-old takes one look at the drizzle and decides this whole outdoor photography thing is absolute bullshit.

Which is exactly what happened with this family. The baby was not feeling the rain. At all. We got some family photos, we got some moments, but mostly we got a baby who was making it very clear that this beach+rain situation was not acceptable.

So, we pivoted.

The beauty of flexible family photography

This is why I love working with families who are up for rolling with it. Instead of forcing a miserable baby to stay at the beach for the sake of "the perfect image," we went back to their home. And the baby giggled almost immediately. She was happy, warm and cozy at home!

And we got some of my favorite family photos from the session - not at the beach with the gorgeous backdrop, but at home where everyone was comfortable.

Outdoor family portraits don't have to stay outdoor

Here's something I want you to know if you're booking family photos in Seattle: outdoor sessions are amazing, and I specialize in them. But "outdoor" doesn't mean we're locked into one location no matter what. If it's not working - whether that's because of weather, or a cranky kid, or someone's uncomfortable, or whatever - we adapt.

Your comfort matters more than the location. Your family's actual happiness matters more than some idealized vision of what the photos should look like. And sometimes the best photos happen when we let go of the plan and just follow what's actually working.

Why I love photographing families through milestones

Getting to photograph this family a year ago when they were expecting, and then again now with their one-year-old, is fucking magical. I got to see them transition from couple to parents. I got to document both the anticipation and the reality. And yeah, the reality included a baby who was not into the rain, and it’s perfect.

This is what real family photography looks like. It's not always picture-perfect. It's not always smooth. But it's authentic, and it shows who your family actually is in this moment: rain-hating baby and all.

For families in the PNW: this could be you

If you're a family in Seattle or the Pacific Northwest - whether you're expecting, have young kids, or just want to document your family as it is right now - let's do this. Outdoor family portraits are my specialty, and I work with families of all configurations: queer couples, polyamorous families, blended families, chosen families, plus size families, all of it.

And if your kid decides they hate the rain or the wind or the outdoors in general? We'll figure it out together. Because the goal isn't perfect photos in perfect conditions. The goal is real photos of your real family, whatever that looks like.

About those images I can't share

The family signed an anonymous image release, which means I can only share certain photos: the ones where you can't identify the baby. So you're going to have to trust me when I say the full gallery is adorable as fuck. The giggles, the personality, all of it. But those photos are for this family to keep and cherish, not for me to plaster all over the internet.

Your family photos are for you first and for generations to come. They're meant to be on your walls, in albums, in your home where you can see them every day and remember this exact moment in your family's story.

Book your Seattle family photo session

Whether you're expecting your first kid, celebrating a milestone, or just want photos of your family as it is right now, I'd love to work with you. I do outdoor family portrait sessions in Seattle and throughout the Pacific Northwest for families of all types, all sizes, all configurations.

And if your kid decides to have a meltdown about the weather? We'll deal with it. Together. That's what makes these photos real.