Bubble Bath Photo Session | Baby E
This bubble bath photo session in Baby E’s family’s backyard in Meadow Vista was amazingly fun! Eight-month-old Baby E was loving it — and who wouldn’t be happy sitting in a galvanized tub filled with gallons of warm water, heaps of bubbles, and dozens of rubber duckies?! (Thanks to Brittany of Rustique Country Rentals in Meadow Vista for renting me the galvanized tub for the day.)
I don’t photograph newborns very often (just a few lifestyle sessions every year), but I love photographing sitters. Seriously, bring me ALLLLLLL the babies six months to one year of age!
One of the great things about a session like this, where baby is in a tub the whole time, is that I get to capture lots of little details - from her adorable blue and white polka dot headband to her strawberry blonde hair to her gorgeous blue eyes!
Oh, and that tongue and expression! So darn cute!
Love this one of Baby E looking up at me! Because I’m vertically challenged - ha!- I almost always bring a stool or crate with me to each session.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: The bubbles in the photo above are not real. Nor are the bubbles in the bottom photo. I brought a bubble machine with me, but it wasn’t pumping out as many bubbles as I wanted. With a bit of Photoshop magic (otherwise known as a bubble overlay), I was able to add lots of bubbles to these images!
If you want to do a bubble bath session with your precious sitter, please contact me. We’ll chat about the details and get you on my calendar before the weather turns cold. Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.
Lavender Mini Sessions | The G Family
This was my first time photographing the G Family! I’ve known Mom Karen for years — all the way back to fifth grade (I think!) when our families attended the same church. It was delightful to see her again and meet her husband and their three lovely teenage children.
Yep, I just typed “lovely” and “teenage children” in the same sentence, and there’s not a hint of sarcasm in my voice. Ha!
Seriously, all three kids were so very kind, funny, and easygoing. (Except when I asked who was the most competitive of the three, and the youngest daughter started arguing with her older sister and the older sister fired back. It was all in good fun, of course, and made me — and their mom and dad — chuckle.)
Mom really wanted a photo of the whole family in their matching purple masks (which she hand made!), and of course, I was happy to oblige.
I hope to photograph this sweet family of five again!
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR family taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
Lavender Mini Sessions | The G Sisters
Mini sessions like this one at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm are perfect for updated photos of your kids! A twenty-minute session is plenty of time to capture siblings together and separately.
Don’t these little girls look so pretty in their matching white dresses?! Mom did a good job! (And their cowgirl boots were adorable, too.)
Mom jumped in front of the camera for a few pictures with her girls. We’ll get dad in the mix next time.
This is, perhaps, my very favorite image from this mini session.
You might think this moment just happened and I was lucky enough to capture it, but the truth is, it was completely directed by me. I placed the girls in the lavender field and said to the older sister, “You’re going to pretend you’re walking through the lavender field, and when I say, I want you to look back at your sister and reach for her hand and then keep walking slowly as you hold onto her hand.”
The light, the shadows, the connection between two sisters — just beautiful.
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR kids (or family) taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
Lavender Mini Sessions | The E Sisters
More mini session fun in the lavender fields at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm!
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sister duo nearly every year in the spring — since the littlest one was maybe two?!
The younger sister adores her older sister, and it’s the sweetest thing watching them interact.
They are such playful and fun-loving girls! I can’t wait to see them again next spring.
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR children (or family) taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
Lavender Mini Sessions | The B Family
For the past several years, I’ve reeeeeeallly wanted to hold spring mini sessions at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm, but for one reason or another, it had never worked out in my schedule. That is, until THIS year!
I had four great sessions in the lavender fields — two of the sessions were me photographing just the kids and the other two were pics of the whole families, along with kid pics. As you can see, this session falls in the latter category.
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family many, many times…maybe 5 or 6 times now?! I love watching their kiddos grow up in front of my lens. The kids — and their mom and dad — are SO much fun, so easygoing, and pretty much open to anything I throw at them.
Aren’t they the cutest brother-sister duo?! They were a little scared of the bees on the nearby lavender bushes, but you’d never know by looking at these photos.
Sister knows her brother’s tickle spots for sure!
Aaaaah…I couldn’t believe how easy this was for them to do. I just said, Okay, now just put your foreheads together — and they did it! And the image is so stinkin’ adorable!
This is one of my favorite mom and daughter photos of. all. time.
I love capturing first and second graders with their brand new “adult” teeth. And of course, the holes between the teeth, too. Because in just five years or so, this smile right here will look radically different.
Speaking of smiles, look at those adorable baby teeth!
Cheesin’ for the camera…and mom and dad and brother! I love when kids feel so comfortable that they can just be themselves — whether that’s silly or serious or fun-loving or dramatic!
Thanks to this father and son duo for playing games and doing silly stunts like this.
What fun it was to photograph the B Family again!
Flowers and photography are two of my favorite things…so I’m definitely going to make lavender mini sessions at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm an annual June tradition.
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR family taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
The E Family
I’ve known this incredible family since my husband started working at Sacramento Metro Fire District sixteen years ago. Dad Joe had just nine days left on the job when I took these photographs in late February.
It was the first time I’d ever done a “lifestyle-type” session at a fire station, and I really enjoyed myself!
This sweet family is the absolute BEST — they made my job really, really EASY!
Thank you for your service, Joe. Here’s to a long and happy retirement!
Valentine Mini Session | The J Siblings
Wow, I think this was my FOURTH time photographing these sweet kiddos! Their dad did a great job bringing out their authentic smiles. The boys are getting SO big, and the littlest was too cute in her birthday dress. She turned THREE just a few days after this photo session!
I hope to take photos of these sweet siblings again next year!
Valentine Mini Session | The J Brothers
I’ve known these boys for years! I taught elementary school with their mom before, well, before they were born!
This was my first time photographing them, and they were SO fun!
Full of energy and laughter…and boy did they giggle when their mom sounded the “fart machine” I had secretly handed to her a few minutes before. Haha!
I hope to photograph these two brothers again soon!
Valentine Mini Session | Little B
This was my second time hosting Valentine’s mini sessions at my home studio. (In 2018, I took these Valentine’s Day photos and these Valentine’s Day photos.)
Little B wasn’t too interested in having her photo taken; she’s at the age where she wants to explore and climb and touch everything, and I totally understand.
Her mom and I (let’s be honest: mostly her wonderful mom!) worked hard to coax a few smiles from her. And what an adorable smile it is!
I’ll be sharing more Valentine Mini Sessions soon!
The Y Family
I had the pleasure of photographing this family two years ago, and it was fun to see all of them again. This time, we tried a NEW-to-me location in Rocklin.
These sisters have gotten so BIG! They (and their mom and dad) actually live in the south, but they love to come and visit their family here in California during the holidays.
Their mom dressed them in the cutest red dresses, and towards the end of the photo session, she asked if she could do the girls’ hair in side buns and then have me take some more shots. Um, yes, please! So adorable, right?!
Cousin LOVE!
Love this family — whom we’ve known for over 30 years!
Thank you, Y family, for another FUN photo session! Let’s do it again in 2021!
The S Family | Auburn Family Session
I love photographing families at their home, especially when their yard looks like this!
The light was SOOO pretty!
Thank you, S family, for a FUN evening!
The N Family | What to Expect During Your Session
I know many people get nervous about having pictures taken of their family, especially if they have young kids. Some even avoid family photos altogether because they worry about how their kids will act. Will they be cooperative? Will they run away? Will they refuse to smile? I’m here to say that these are all totally normal fears.
I thought showing you what a typical family photo session looks like might allay some of your fears.
This is the N family, a family of five that I photographed for the first time this past fall at Springview-Johnson Park in Rocklin.
To make family sessions more enjoyable, I often lead families in short games (because what kid doesn’t love games?!).
Like the game of telephone! Remember that one?!
Or Ring Around the Rosie. Except instead of falling down at the end, I encourage family members to hug!
Most of the time, there is some running around mom and dad — and if I bring a blanket, the kids LOVE to dart underneath it.
Sometimes, there is dancing and twirling and singing — it all depends on the kids’ ages, interests, and the dynamics of the family.
Kids always love to hear whispered compliments — like what makes their mom or dad most proud of them.
That’s not to say there won’t be some chaos during the session (we are dealing with unpredictable kids!).
And when the chaos comes, it’s so important to keep the atmosphere light and relaxed and fun. I remind parents that no matter what happens, it’s best to just continue to smile and laugh and play.
Because when you see your gallery of beautiful images, you’ll be so glad you stayed calm and relaxed during the session.
Homeschool Pictures | The M Family
This is another one of the homeschooling families I had the pleasure of photographing in November. This family has FIVE beautiful girls, and they are the SWEETEST! Here they are from oldest to youngest.
Their mom did such a great job picking out their outfits, making sure that the colors and patterns worked together.
Awe, the baby!
We tried and tried to get her to smile, but this was as close as we got.
Then, she sat on the log with all her sisters (see below), and BAM, she smiled! Get a good look at her grin; isn’t it the cutest?! All those TEETH! Mom and I had a good chuckle!
I can’t wait to take more homeschooling photos this year!
Homeschool Pictures | The C Family
In November, I had the opportunity to photograph a group of homeschooling families in Auburn. And what a great experience it was!
I staggered the morning session times, so I could have at least 15 minutes with each family, and I was able to capture individual photos and group photos.
Meet the C siblings! One girl and four boys. ! Aren’t they SO adorable?! Gah…and they were an absolute DREAM to work with.
Can’t forget the BABY!
Such a fun morning! I’d love to photograph more homeschooling families in the future.
The K Family
I think this was my fourth time photographing this sweet family!
They are such an easygoing foursome, and always up for a little adventure.
Would you believe that it was nearing DUSK as well as RAINING as I shot these images in Old Town Auburn?!
Thank goodness for a little post-processing magic.
Let’s do it again sometime, K Family!
The O'Rourke Brothers
This was my third time photographing these sweet boys!
One of my favorite things about being a photographer is getting to interact with young children year after year after year. Seeing how much they’re growing and changing and blossoming is fun and exciting — and a privilege.
All photos taken at Vina Castellano Winery & Vineyard in Auburn.
Fall Mini Session: The B Family
I’ve seriously lost track of the number of times I’ve photographed this family. #thatsagoodthing
They are the absolute BEST!
They always show up to their sessions ready to have fun and goof around and play and laugh — and we have a delightful time!
These two kiddos are growing up SO fast!
This has become a tradition of sorts during their photo sessions. The parents swing each child once, sometimes twice. (Please note: No parents or children were harmed in the making of these images. Haha!)
Let’s do it again soon, B family!
Fall Mini Session: The S Family
This was my second time photographing this great family. #repeatclientsrock
We met up at Griffith Quarry for a fall mini session, and I couldn’t believe how much these twin boys have grown — in both inches and maturity!
This family sent me their “Happy New Year” card in the mail, and I was delighted to see the first photo above front and center on their card. (I always do a little happy dance when I see my work in print. Seriously, it’s the best!)
I hope to photograph these four fun people again next fall.
IMPACTFUL GIVING
Like many of you, each year in December, I find myself on the hunt for a half dozen gifts for my loved ones. Of course, I like to buy them things they desire, but I also want to financially support the missions of groups doing good work around the world.
That’s where impactful giving comes in — buying items from big-hearted organizations and companies who help people in need, whether here in the United States or abroad.
Here are THREE of my favorite places to shop this holiday season:
Amazima: Over a decade ago, I read the book, Kisses from Katie, and ever since, I’ve been a fan of the work that Katie and her organization, Amazima, do to help the people of Uganda. Shop for beautiful jewelry, coffee, and books HERE!
Compliment: This is a great shop! Compliment was started by Melissa, a woman I grew up with in the greater Sacramento area. Compliment sells unique notebooks (I bought one for my SMART teenage niece two years ago), beautiful jewelry, fun coffee mugs, tote bags — and even baby onesies! They give 5% of their profits to high school seniors in the form of scholarships.
The Adventure Project: The Adventure Project sells charcoal soap and charcoal candles. (Did you know that charcoal soap is GREAT for acne-prone skin?!) Your purchases benefit women in East Africa by providing them with charcoal-efficient stoves and solar lights.
Do you buy gifts from any big-hearted organizations or companies? Please SHARE below!
*Image is a free stock photo that can be found here.
Mini Session: The B Family
Super fun family alert!
It was my first time photographing this group, and they were up for pretty much anything.
When I said, “Hold hands in a line, spread out, and do a little twisting and wiggling and dancing,” they did.
When I said, “Green light!” they took off.
When I said, “On three, look at the funniest person in the family,” they did.
We took some portraits in the vineyard, too.
Such a beautiful family in a gorgeous location. Thanks, B Family, for an easy breezy mini-session!