A couple weeks ago I was thrilled to see the Groff family again.  We had done a family session with them last October, but since then there has been a +1 addition to the family unit. Little Emily Madison had a few tough weeks to get through after she was born, but she put up a good fight and is now well on her way to being a happy, healthy baby.Mom Cathy and dad Greg came in today to view their images, so I'm stoked to be able to share a few of them on the blog now.

Ornery, right?  She works for the camera on her own terms and lets you know when she's ready to try something else.

Dad Greg doesn't stand a chance with those eyes.

While Emily was on break, I spent a little time with big sister Caitlyn and big brother Josh.  I photograph a lot of families, and on more than a few occasions the siblings can sometimes, shall we say, barely tolerate each other.  Not the case with these two.  When Kylie and I got to the house, they were playing together and all smiles.  When we left almost 2 hours later, they were playing together and all smiles.  So much fun together.

Heads up, ladies... future GQ man in the making.

This last one was my favorite of the session.  Little Emily was lettin' out a giant-size yawn and Caitlyn & Josh got a more giant-sizer kick out of it.  Fantastical.

This last one was my favorite of the session.  Little Emily was lettin' out a giant-size yawn and Caitlyn & Josh got a more giant-sizer kick out of it.  Fantastical.

I'm presenting to the Austin Professional Photographer's Association next month, so I thought it might be a good time to actually get started on my presentation.  I was taking a trip down memory lane through some of my older images when I ran across the image below.  Seeing it again after a couple years, I was really drawn to it.

The simplicity of the image with the understated fence backdrop, the raw expression on little Max's face with the tear just starting to trickle down his cheek... it's one of my favorites that, until now, I don't know that I ever really paid much attention to.  I don't recall the circumstances behind why he shed this tear, and in fact I'm not sure I ever showed this image to mom Lana and dad Bobby because I probably thought 'this isn't a very happy image of their little boy,'  but this is probably an expression Lana & Bobby have seen hundreds of times, but I would guess they don't have it etched in time in a photograph.  In revisiting this image, it's clear to me now that the imperfection in this image is what makes it perfect to them.

I love Frito Lay.  Seriously.  Not because of all the snacks (although they do have several I have an affinity for, including those Fritos Honey BBQ Flavor Twists that are as mandatory as gasoline for any road trip I go on), but because I've been blessed with several amazing clients who work there.  If you've been following the blog for very long, you'll recognize Deborah's, Cathy's and Maureen's familes.  And now I'd ike to introduce you to Dana and her ridiculously good looking family.  We met up with them 2 weeks ago at the Frito Lay corporate campus in Frisco (oh, and did I mention the corporate campus just happens to be a killer place to do photography sessions, too?) and had a ball with little Austin, big sister Ava, mom and dad Ashley.  Kylie and Ava were pretty much best buds by the time we were done.  And me?  Well, I was happy as pie with the images we ended up with.  Here's some of my favorites from our time together. I've gotta give a shout out to Dana for the fantastic job she did coordinating the families outfits not only with each other but with the location.  Well done, mom!

I had the pleasure of photographing Cheryl, Kevin and rowdy Riley Latimer a couple weeks ago.  Well, I call him 'rowdy', but that's not really the right word; it just makes for a cool name.  'Rowdy Riley'.  C'mon, who doesn't think that's fun?  Just kinda rools off the tongue, right?  Curious is probably the appropriate word... Riley had his own agenda - as most boys his age do - and wanted to explore everything and everywhere with little interest in stopping long in front of the lens.  I can't blame him... I'm not much to look at, although Kylie thinks I sometimes act like a 3 or 4 year old, so in that respect I guess I share a bit of a bond with Riley.  Maybe that's why he occasionally loaned me a few seconds here and there to capture his personality.  If that's what it takes, I'm all in. We met up in McKinney to do a little family photography, and I'd say we came away with some great images.  Here's a few of my favorites from our session at Chestnut Square.

A couple days ago we met this ridicuously beautiful family in Frisco for a family photography session.  I'll post more images after they've had a chance to come in and view them first.  Until then, here's a little preview. Mom Dana, little Austin and sweet Ava... love the interaction.

The kids didn't have a chance at being anything but cute with good looking parents like Dana & Ashley, right?

Great father-daughter moment.