Little Hands Photography

Trash The Dress - Kate | Northwest Indiana Natural Light Photographer

I have been waiting and waiting to show you these!!

I am serious.  I had to keep this shoot a secret for way too long.

This Summer, while talking to my best friend about her upcoming anniversary, we came up with a fab anniversary gift for her hubby of almost 10 years. 

Kate and Dante go way back.  In fact, they go all the way back to my wedding day. 

Those close to us already know but it bares repeating!

Kate and Dante met at my wedding when Dante asked Kate (who was my maid of honor) to dance.

The rest they say...is history right?

10 years have passed since they said their own "I do's" and things have changed just a little ;)

Over the years, I had remembered hearing Kate talk about not liking some things about her wedding photographs.  Wishing she had her hair different...etc.

So we decided to take the beginning of the shoot and do some portraits that she could "love" 10 years later.

It was a warm, windy and perfect day at the beach.

I couldn't get over how beautiful she looked out on the sand...

As only a true best friend can do, I gave her the most honest truth.

She seriously looked even more beautiful on this day...then she did on the day she wed.

(And yes...this is after three kids too!)

With a few portrait type bridal photographs behind us, it was time to get a little dirty.

When absolutely forced to choose a most favorite photograph of the shoot...I would pick these two.

Today marks been 10 years of marriage for Kate and Dante!

Happy Anniversary you two...may you have 10 x 10 more happy years of marriage :)

P.S. To all those who are wondering...after the shoot the dress was thrown right in my garbage can and was hauled away by the garbage men!

Beilke Sneak Peek | Northwest Indiana Family Photographer

I have gotten several chances to photograph this family and each time is a bit more fun than the last!

It was a beautiful day for photographs on Sunday and the rain held out for just the right amount of time.  As these kiddos grow...they only get more beautiful!  Don't you think?

(This was a family shoot this time, but I have chosen to not show any of the family ones because they will be used for Christmas Card pictures this year.)

See...they really DO love each other!

Thank you Beilke Family for choosing me to photograph your family and letting me spend an afternoon soaking you all up!  :)

 

More Than Just Pictures

I love when I get to do these blog posts!

Even more importantly, I LOVE seeing what clients do with their photographs after the shoot.

How they choose to show the world their family is so awesome to see and every family does it a bit differently.

I love my job :)

I showcased this family on the blog with their sneak peek a couple of months back and I wanted to show you what they decided to do with some of their images.

Little Hands does offer canvases and let me just say...they are beautiful!

Here is just one way you can show off your photographs!

A different view...

Contreras kids Shoot | St. John Indiana Family Photography

I first got to photograph this family when Anne was 38 weeks pregnant with Gracie. (That was about a month before I had this blog!)

Then I got to do Gracies 6 month shoot.

And ever since then, I have revisited them every year to capture how much they change.

This family are dear friends of mine and I have so loved comparing their photographs from year to year!

This year was no different.

Gracie has more pizazz and sass then a 16 year old and Gabe is SUCH a typical boy.

LOVE it!

Here they are sass and all...

Jabaay Sneak Peek | Northwest Indiana Family Natural Light Photography

People ask me quite often where my favorite place to do a photo shoot is. 

It used to take some time for me to answer that question...because it depended on the season etc.

But now I answer swiftly and without any reserve.

The beach.

There is something about the beach that just takes my breath away.

And add to that a beautiful family...and well it's pure bliss to me.

I do have a little secret to share with you all...I have been WAITING for at least a year (or longer) to get my hands  camera on this family.  And today is his very FIRST birthday!!

I could have photographed them all night...although I am not sure sweet Cohen would have been  up for all my obsessive picture taking.  :)

So here are just a few of of the pictures and moments that simply took my breath away.

The sun set beautifully over the lake on an extra warm fall evening...who could ask for more?

Sigh.

Smith Sneak Peek | Cedar Lake Family Photography

When my oldest child Benjamin started Kindergarten at his current school, it didn't take long for him to have a "crush" on a very pretty young lady.  Although he promises me he no longer has a crush on anyone  at all now...I know that this dad is probably glad that the boys aren't calling yet anyway!

The Smith's lives are a bit crazy with four little ones to chase after...but I have to admit that after spending just a few hours with them I was wishing I had MORE kids!

 
 
With the Christmas card season almost upon us, I am again choosing slightly different pictures to show off as to not spoil the surprise that will arrive in the mail :)

But I can't resist sharing with you this adorable little face...

 

Thank you Smith Family for letting me experience the love and chaos of having a beautiful full family!

Proffitt Family Sneak Peek | Crown Point family photography

When I first met this family  they were a brand new family of three.

Their lives were filled with sleepless nights, poopy diapers and adjusting to life with a newborn.

But after spending some time in their home two years ago...you would never have known they had just had a baby.

Both Bodie and Kristen were cool, calm and collected.

They made it look easy!

Fast forward 2 years and I got the honor of photographing them on a gorgeous, sunshine-filled Sunday morning.

Even better...they are now a family of FOUR!!

Brecken was born on the 1st of September and mom & dad are STILL making it look easy ;)

 

I had to be very choosy in which pictures I am showing you because I know Kristen and Bodie want to use one for their Christmas picture :)

So I will show you a bit more of the adorableness that is their little boy...

 

 

So what do you all think...maybe another 2 years and I might get to photograph their family of 5? ;)

Gallegos Family Sneak Peek | Northwest Indiana Family Photography

If there was an award for patience, this family takes 1st place! 

They would also win the award for having to have their shoot rescheduled so many times because of weather!

Finally we got lucky with our pick of dates and we met up to catch some moments with their sweet family of four (soon to be five!)

The weather was just right and we got to explore a County Park nearby!

 

Look at these eyes!

 

Her big brother adores her...

 

 

Thank you for being so patient with me and Mother Nature Gallegos family :)

so many sweet cheeks to go around | Northwest Indiana Natural Light Photographer

I have heard it before.

The promising up and down that happens when I ask a client if they are all done with having kids.

"Oh yes...we are done for sure"!

Thank goodness THIS time they were wrong!!

Because this is what they would have missed out on!

 

I have decided that I want to eat her.  

With a spoon!

Her chubbs are wonderful and her personality is even MORE wonderful!

She joined her three older sisters on a sunny perfect weather afternoon...

 
 
The daddy of these blue-eyed girls...better watch out! 

Anneka the oldest of the four requested that I take this shot...I am thinking of hiring her ;)

 

I also observed how the older ones take on a sort of mothering role of the younger ones. 

Love that.

Does anyone else out there think there should be a rule that if you make super cute babies...you have to KEEP making them??   :) 

When it comes to my own | Northwest Indiana Photographer

My own children have long gotten used to being the object of my cameras affections. 

They live it on a daily basis and simply just know that they have to get used to it.

Along with the daily picture taking...they each know they get a photo shoot around the time of their birthdays. 

I keep reminding them that they will love having these when they are older.

Truth is...that I think I might love them even more.  Sssshhhh...don't tell them.

I have to use all the same tactics that I use on my clients to get my kids to relax and let me capture them just as they are.

But as any previous client knows...I am not above bribery.

And this time I got Benjamin (my oldest) to be my photography assistant!

Here is my Haley @ six years old...