Sessions and More Sessions
Photo taken by Aimee O’Brien
I've been missing in action here on my blog. Like most portrait photographers, I’ve been shooting and culling and processing and delivering images (on repeat) for the past two months.
Not that I’m complaining! Fall is my busiest time of year - and I so enjoy seeing families year after year and catching up on their lives and snapping some photos of them. I’m always so surprised by how much the kids have grown and matured!
One of my favorite things to do this time of year as I’m driving from home to a photo location is to marvel at the leaves as they change color. Yep, I’m a leaf peeper, and right now, the deciduous trees in our area are showing off!
Last week, my 8-year-old son, knowing how much I love colorful leaves, surprised me with two bright red leaves, which he pulled out of his pocket after school. He said after recess, he jumped out of line on the way back to the classroom and grabbed these two leaves for me, knowing how much I would like them.
And I do! He knows me so well.
I’m sure it would not surprise you to learn that spending a week in New England one fall is on my bucket list.
I’ve been drooling over Instagram photos of trees and leaves in New York and Pennsylvania and Delaware.
What are your favorite things to do in the fall?
The T Family
I met this sweet mom six years ago during a Music Together class we were attending with our kids. At the time, we had no idea that we lived just five minutes from each other - and that we had something else in common: Both of our families had been blessed by adoption!
We hit it off and have been friends ever since. I’m so thankful to have her in my life! (Her husband and daughter are pretty awesome, too.)
This is the second time I’ve photographed these three (this was their first photo session), and this time, they brought along one of their sweet pups.
Libby, their Golden Retriever, has the prettiest coat!
A is so ticklish! And, of course, Dad knows all the good spots. I love her beautiful smile!
Thanks to Foothills Roots Farm in Meadow Vista for allowing us to use their beautiful flower garden for photos.
I loved this quote when I read it - and it seemed appropriate for this post: “True friends are like bright sunflowers that never fade away, even over distance and time.” Marie Williams Johnstone
Photography & Writing for a Blog
A few months ago, I started writing blog posts and taking photographs for Kids Activities Blog. I love that I can do fun arts and crafts projects with my kids at home - something I genuinely enjoy - and earn a little pocket money, too.
Last week, the kids and I made a batch of homemade Halloween soaps, and we added a plastic spider or eyeball to each to make them especially spooky!
I’d never made soap at home before, but it was surprisingly easy!
These were the supplies we used to make the soap - and everything you see here was purchased at Michaels.
Aren’t those red and purple eyeballs fantastic?! The kids picked them out! The spider rings were the right size and price point, so I just cut off the “ring” part before placing them in the soap.
No scent or color was added to these to these bars of soap, but I’d love to try that next time.
The best part: My kids are actually washing their hands these days - haha! - thanks to a bar of homemade soap with a red eyeball in it!
If you’re interested in making soap with your kiddos, check out this Kids Activities Blog post: How to Make Soap at Home for Halloween!
FAQ | Do you Offer black and white images?
Yesterday, I was looking through some of my images from 2019 (it’s so gratifying and humbling to look back at my previous work!), and I realized that although I had processed some black and white images from this family session, I’d never shared them here on my blog.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, the answer to the question: “Do you offer black and white images?”
Yes, but not all the time.
With sessions that include a newborn baby (like this cutie patootie below), I definitely include some black and white images.
This was one of those images that I knew instantly I wanted to convert into black and white.
Some images just scream “make me black and white” when I see them. (They are typically images with great facial expressions or fun details or cool movement.)
Black and white photography is perfect for highlighting and remembering those itty bitty baby details (like all that hair!).
Holding hands with his mama!
I just can’t get enough of baby toesies! They are the cutest!
Holding hands with his two older sisters!
Those tiny newborn fingers!
One more of the baby’s feet!
In addition to baby galleries, wedding galleries always have some black and white images mixed in with the color images.
For the most part, though, I don’t include black and white images in my galleries. (However, if you adore black and white images and want to see a few in your gallery, I’m happy to oblige! Just ask!)
Truth be told, I really love black and white images, but I don’t think many of my clients do.
Perhaps that’s not accurate, though.
Tell me: Do you love black and white images? Or do you prefer all color images? Or do you like a combination of both?
Baby E & Siblings {Children's Photography}
After taking photos of Baby E in her bubble bath, we took a short break (so mom could dress baby in a cute outfit), and then it was time for sibling photos with her older brother and sister.
Taking photos of children and/or families on their property here in the Sierra Nevada Foothills (Meadow Vista, Auburn, Colfax, Applegate) is a true pleasure.
It’s super convenient for families, too! No need to load everyone up in the car and drive to the photo location. I just show up at your door at the appointed time.
And I find that clients are more comfortable and laidback when I photograph them in or around their home. Makes total sense.
Here’s Baby E at 8 months! How cute is it that she’s sitting IN the milk crate! (I so love bringing this vintage Lucerne milk crate - that we inherited from my husband’s paternal grandfather - to photo sessions.)
And her older sister at 5 sitting atop the milk crate!
And her older brother at 8!
If you need some updated photos of your children, let’s chat about how we can make it happen! I’ll come to you and snap away one morning, afternoon or evening - whenever your kids are typically at their best. Just email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.
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!