A Spring Storm — Really Colorado?

One thing I am still learning about Colorado weather is you never know what to expect. One week it is sunny and warm, the next you are waking up to a winter storm. As a family photographer in Boulder Colorado I have learned to always have a backup plan — and this session was the perfect reminder of why!

I barely had my eyes open when my kids came jumping on my bed saying "can we please play in the snow!" I finally got both eyes open and told them they had school and we had to get ready. Once I was up and dressed I carried the youngest down the stairs while the older three were already deep in conversation about what they were going to do after school. I heard Juniper say "Bowie Bowie let's make snowmen when we get home from school" and both boys jumped with excitement.

When I finally got everyone in the car and we were driving to school I noticed the snow was so heavy it had broken a lot of branches and we were trying to avoid them in the road. I thought to myself — I love that we got the moisture because we really need it, but was it going to mess with my plans for Saturday?

Because I had a family session in Boulder and I was worried the snow would make the location really muddy. There is nothing wrong with a little mud — but when you have kids and family photos that can get a little messy. Quite honestly I did not want Micheal and Becca to have to clean mud off their back seat after.



But Colorado does what Colorado does best and by Thursday afternoon it was completely melted. I was so relieved because I had been looking forward to this session all week.



Saturday evening I loaded up my car, got my music going, and headed out feeling really good. When I arrived a few minutes early and stepped out of the car the wind hit me — and just like that it took me right back to a moment when I was younger.

From Wisconsin Winds to the Beautiful Mountains of Colorado

I grew up in Wisconsin and I remember sitting outside on a tree stump in the backyard one afternoon, running my hands through the green grass, eyes closed, the warm wind blowing my hair all around. It smelled like spring was right around the corner and the birds and the bees were coming back out like everything was waking up again. From inside I could hear the worship music flowing from the living room and my siblings talking with my mom in the kitchen the way we always did. Then the wind picked up and I got dirt in my eyes — and just like that I remembered exactly where I was. I laughed a little at that memory, wiped my eyes, and got my camera set up for the session.



When Becca arrived I said let's try a few shots of just you before we get the boys out and dressed. She stepped out of the car and the wind picked up even more. She laughed and said "we must have brought the wind with us." I tried a few shots but I knew — this location was not going to work. I needed to think fast.

So I took a breath and said no worries we are just going to do something different. I had shot at another location nearby before and I am so glad it popped into my head right then because the minute we pulled up I thought to myself — why do I not shoot here more often? It was perfect. Just like that the session had started.



Jack, Liam and the Bubbles

The minute Jack got out of the car I reached out my hand and said come walk with me and we can take some fun pictures. He grabbed my hand without hesitation and we walked over to the trail together. I sat my cute little yellow stool down and he hopped right on and before I could even say show me a smile he was already saying cheese. I mean he was READY and I loved every second of it.

We got some really natural and fun photos of him and then I remembered I had brought bubbles. The second I pulled them out his whole face lit up — he could not even get the word bubbles out he was so excited. His dad got to work blowing bubbles while Jack smiled and looked at the camera and honestly those are some of my favorite shots from the whole session.

Now Becca had given me a little heads up that Jack's younger brother Liam was a bit more shy and serious. I told her that was completely fine — we were just going to let Liam take the lead and I would follow him wherever he wanted to go. Let me tell you this kid is one of the cutest little guys I have ever seen. We did get a few sweet smiles out of him and honestly those quiet shy ones always end up being some of the most beautiful photos. I never expect perfection from kids during a session — I just follow their lead and keep things moving and it always works out.

From Individual Shots to Family Photos

After we got some individual photos of the boys I moved right into family photos — because when you are shooting with kids I always try to get the individual shots first and then move into the group ones. Kids can only stand still and smile for so long so you have to be strategic about it! 



The wind had not completely gone away but it was much better than before — just a little chilly. Poor Jack was jumping up and down trying to stay warm and it was honestly the sweetest thing. We got so many beautiful photos of this family together and I just loved every minute of it.



Once we had some really good family shots I gave the boys a little break to run around and just be boys for a minute. While they played I got to do something really special — turn my attention to Becca and capture her maternity photos. This was not just a family session. It was also a maternity session. Those are two very different things that both deserve their own moment.

More Than a Family Session | Family Photographer in Boulder Colorado

We are often told we are supposed to soak up every single part of pregnancy — and if we are being honest sometimes that makes us feel bad when we are overwhelmed, overtired, and our feet hurt. Pregnancy is not always easy. It is hard. Some days it feels like you just cannot do it and I think it is okay to honor those feelings too — every woman knows pregnancy is no walk in the park. There are some really great parts and there are some really hard parts too.

I am so glad that despite the hard parts of pregnancy Becca still wanted to capture this season she is in. She absolutely had that glow. I am so happy she will have these photos to look back on forever and feel so proud of herself — because she is doing some really hard work while loving on those boys every single day

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Becca is a really strong Mother and you could see it in the little moments throughout our session. Liam just wanted to be held by his mom the whole time. He was not interested in anyone else — she was his safe place. Honestly that tells you everything you need to know. That kind of love and security does not just happen. It comes from a mother who shows up every single day and makes her kids feel so completely loved and safe.



So Becca I hope when you look back at these photos you see what I saw that day. Your boys are so loved and you are doing such an amazing job.

It Started With You Two

Before we wrapped up I wanted to make sure we got some photos of just Becca and Michael together. It does not happen very often — you get so caught up in capturing the kids that mom and dad rarely get a photo just the two of them. That matters so much.

Michael was so sweet to Becca and the boys throughout the whole session. You could see it in the way he spoke to them — they all felt so loved by him. Dads play such an important role and you could tell that Michael is a really great father and husband. That was really special to witness.

At one point the wind was blowing Becca's hair all over the place and Michael just quietly reached over and pushed it out of her face. He did not make a big deal out of it — he just did it. I stood there behind my camera thinking about how beautiful that is. That quiet gentle everyday love that does not need an audience. Those are my favorite photos from any session — the ones that just feel real.



Michael and Becca — thank you for allowing me to step into a moment with your family and capture you exactly where you are. Raising young boys can feel like such a huge responsibility and I think you guys are doing it so beautifully. It was such an honor to witness your family and to see the love you have for each other and for those boys. So thank you for showing up and being exactly as you are.

If you are looking for a family photographer in Boulder Colorado who will show up for your family — wind and all — I would love to capture your family. When you book with me I send you a welcome guide packed with simple tips and tricks to make your family session run as smoothly as possible. Becca followed it to a T and even pulled off the good old pajama trick — and if you want to know what that is and all the other things inside the guide, let's book your session and I will help you plan every detail!

And if you are not already following me on Instagram come hang out over there — I share a lot more of the real and the behind the scenes and I would love to see you in my little corner of the internet