It’s so easy to oooh and aaaah over the newborn and first year photos as a parent and a photographer. But, as our kids get older, life gets busier … more chaotic … and, before we know it, our tiny ones have become big ones seemingly right before our eyes. And the 6-year birthday pics have now become the “I’ll get it scheduled in a few months” pics which then become the “7-year birthday pics” before we know it. I’ve heard this one enough to know it’s pretty commonplace.

There are a whole host of reasons I love shooting “older” children and these two sets of siblings are great examples of just how much personality, interaction and variety we can capture in a single session. Plus, I can put them into a composition or spot and not worry about them taking off like a toddler. I think it’s a great opportunity for every “big kid” to take their place in the spotlight, laughing, clowning around and even giving me their “serious” looks (which typically result in laughter anyway.)

Some favorites from two late fall sessions that I’ve been meaning to share. I guess it’s true that “3 is the new 2.”

And this one was a surprise session orchestrated by a very clever Dad for his wife. After the big Christmas morning unveiling, I received the following email:

“Suffice it to say that the pictures were the biggest hit in twenty years of trying to surprise my wife with gifts.  She was and is mesmerized by the quality pictures, floored by the outfits and effort in pulling this off without her noticing it and truly stunned at how you pulled the beauty out of each of our kids through your work … My wife never cries, never, not even at funerals.  Never until the moment she unwrapped the first gift …  It was nothing short of the perfect Christmas morning and the pictures already adorn the walls in our living room, the grandparents homes and soon our respective offices.  I want to thank you again for everything you did to effect this gift on such short notice and in such an amazing fashion.”