It's three months into 2017, and I haven't blogged once. I don't believe I blogged once in 2016, and that's (fingers crossed) going to change this year. So let's begin with a Free Form Family session. I LOVE this family, so much. I've strayed away from taking family portraits, due to expectations from parents for that perfectly posed shot. Sorry, parents, you're all awesome and this is a bit too honest, maybe. However, now, my main families are ones that have been friends for quite some time, and insist I am the only photographer for them. The Foster Family and I just meshed instantly. Being a 'crunchy' family, everything about their lifestyle is organic. So, naturally when we had our first photo shoot, we just shot organically, with no expectations and no posing unless their first baby boy, Thameus, wanted to pose. We had a wonderful time, and from that moment on, I realized that Family Portraits shouldn't be stressful for anyone, especially the kiddos. Free play and snapping moments and having an all around good time for the entire family is much more important to me now, than getting that perfect smiling face (because let's face it, a toddler most likely doesn't want to smile for a camera). During this shoot, two more precious babies later (Mathalemu and Khalil), Johnathan and Colby told me that these pictures are essentially for the children to look back on when they're older, and they want their babies to remember this shoot as a fun day, not something they dreaded, and then stressed about. That's what I'm all about! I love to play, and I am a big kid at heart. I love hearing the stories kids tell about a rock they just picked up. I love their strength and watching the development of their brains and motor skills, and it is the greatest joy to photograph these growths throughout the years. This shoot just made my day, and I hope these pictures make yours. Have a look: