In the Garden Is an Almost 3 Year Old

Isn't she gorgeous! You will all have to humor me today as I show a bunch of the pictures I took of ER last week while at my parents' house. I think they came out really nicely and I am very proud of them. I'm quite the avid amateur photographer, but I've had the most success with landscapes and flowers. I love being outside, hiking to a beautiful sight, and capturing it all on film. A squirmy child has never been my forte. We normally take her for a studio portrait session each year around her birthday. This year we're planning on getting some outdoor family pictures done in the fall with Amanda Williams, the photographer who did my friend Melissa's wedding.

Since that is a ways off I was feeling like maybe we should take her for one or two at the studio, but somehow I always get sucked into purchasing an expensive package. I love natural settings so I really want to save our photo taking budget for the fall. I hope to get great ones among all the colorful foliage. It's also been a couple of years since we've had a formal family photo.

I've been studying the composition and poses used by professional photographers for awhile now. I've been trying to capture a few really nice ones that don't have distracting backgrounds and wasn't having much luck. The problem is that if the picture comes out nicely, she's usually is wearing play clothes and not all gussied up. Until...last Friday! I think ER did a great job posing for me; having some where for her to sit really helped.

Last year some of our pictures from Kiddie Kandids were by a bench in front of a back drop and I don't think I'm bragging too much to say that mine came out just a well. Personally, I even like mine better. Plus these really are outside and the light is natural. So I'm going to consider these her 3 year photos and the ones in the fall our family portrait session.

For the last one we moved from the bench to by my mom's roses. For all my bargain lovin' friends out there, I want to point out that the pretty little dress she's wearing I got last week from Janie & Jack, which is too expensive for me to shop at unless it's on the clearance rack. Original price a whopping 48 bucks! My price, only twelve☺ It's lined and the detailing and pin tucks are so precious.