The Bird Family {Miles City, MT Photographer}

I finally feel like I am getting caught up on editing, but that feeling won't last long considering I have my sister-in-law's wedding to shoot Saturday, and have a number of shoots including mini sessions coming up the following week!  I love being busy with photography, and the weather has been cooperating perfectly for fall photos so I will continue to squeeze in as many shoots as possible before the weather turns cold. 

Before the wedding craziness really starts, I wanted to share this family session shot in Miles City.  You may remember Tess from her senior shoot. (Click here to view Tessa's senior shoot)  However, she really wanted to do a few in town, and her mom really wanted to have some family photos taken as well.      You can see where Tess and Ash get their good looks from-what a beautiful family.  I have really enjoyed getting to know the Birds and feel very lucky to be able to call them family.  (My hubby is  Jim and Linda's nephew)  

Jim was a good sport even though I am not sure he knew exactly what he had gotten himself into that day.  

I will be taking most of tomorrow and Friday off in preparation for the wedding.  My parents as well as my sister will be here friday, and wedding festivities begin out at the Bird ranch tomorrow afternoon!  I am so excited to spend time with everyone, and so excited to photograph it all!

Matt and Cassandra + their little ladies {Miles City, MT Family Photographer}

Sometimes you walk away from a shoot so completely excited about it that you can't wait to get home to your computer.  This was exactly that type of shoot.  Cassandra and Matt didn't seem stressed or nervous at all.  They were incredibly comfortable from the get go.  Baby Sloane was smiling the second I laid eyes on her, and Memphis was full of energy and excitement.  I think kids do much better in front of the camera when their parents are comfortable, and Memphis and Sloan were little Rockstars in front of the camera.  

I love photographing children in part because I can give them some direction, but they really don't need much direction to be adorable.  It is very different than shooting seniors, and weddings because seniors and couples want more direction.  They want to be told how to pose and where to look.  It doesn't work that way with kids, because they are gonna do what they want, and the photos end up conveying their personality in a way that I could never plan for.   

Although I think traditional portraits like the one below are important, I also think the spontaneous moments caught on camera are a more realistic portrait of a family.  The spontaneous portraits are the ones that tug on your heart strings just a little because they bring you back to that moment.  They are an accurate portrayal of your children at that moment in time.  

 Aren't these two just the cutest sisters ever?  This one is my favorite of the girls.

Sloane's face in the above photo is so stinking cute.  This is my favorite of all four of them.

Memphis was such a little model and look at those eyelashes!   

Thanks Cassandra and Matt for letting me spend the afternoon with you and your cutie pies!

One good looking fam!

I was so thrilled when the Bellach family asked me to do their family photos!  We had to battle a little rain and swarms of mosquitos, but they were all good sports.  The nice thing about the rain is always the great light, and the colors are incredible out at the Buttelman Ranch this time of year.  

Jeff and Carly probably have two of the cutest kids in history, and they were so great in front of the camera.  Caleb doesn't love pictures, but he delivered a perfect smile almost every time.  Ava seems to enjoy photos a bit more, but she can't pose for too long before the giggles come out.  It was so cute to witness.  Thanks for braving the elements.  You four are such an awesome and fun family, and a photographer's dream :)