The Adorable Duneman Family {Bozeman, MT Family Photographer}

This family nailed the perfect family portrait outfits.  They all coordinate without being too matchy.  It is perfect.  Honestly though, this family so dang good looking they could be dressed in 80s workout gear and still look adorable.  

I think Jen had envisioned this shoot going a little differently.  I think as she picked out the outfits, and got her kids dressed she assumed they would sit nice, and smile pretty.  I pretty much know what to expect by now shooting kids this age.  They don't sit still for more than a few seconds, they don't want to look at the camera especially if you ask them to, and they don't want to wear the matching hat or some other part of their outfit and that is ok.  The first oh at least five times my mom had my photos taken, I have big red teary eyes in all of the portraits.  I was always terrified of the photographer, and it showed.  Now I actually like to look back on those photos because they show a bit more of who I was at that time-a shy little thing that wasn't comfortable around strangers.  Kind of funny that I ended up a photographer.  My point is, that although posed family portraits look great framed on your walls, the photos of the kids being kids tell more of the story of who they were at that moment.  

Luckily, I try to get a good balance of both types of photos, and even though the sitting still moments don't last long, it is usually enough time for me to snap a photo like the one below.

 Notice how different Chase's expressions are in every photo.  He didn't make the same face twice.  The boy has a lot of "looks"

 Taylor is such a doll!  She is such a pretty little thing.

Enjoy your family photos, and thanks for having me out to your house for the session.  It was a blast chasing around your kiddos! 

Back to School Session with Shainy {Montana, Children's Photographer}

I posted a little sneak peek from this shoot last week, and here are some more images.  I have taken 

A LOT of photos of Shainy.  I started shooting her when she was a baby, and I was in high school.  She is quite comfortable in front of the camera.  Her older sister, Shayla, has had a couple senior sessions with me over the past month, and Shainy wanted in on the action.  Well, I think Shainy was mainly wanting photos like the last five, but I have been wanting to use that desk of Shainy's moms in a shoot for a while, and since Shainy was geared up to start 6th grade the following day, it seemed like the perfect excuse to haul it out to the ranch.  (Wow that is one long sentence, obviously I have been out of school for too long.  I am leaving it though because that is kind of how my mind works after two big cups of coffee)  

I picked the school girlish outfit, Shainy picked the skinny jeans, with a floral tank, and purple cardigan. Shainy's outfit wins.  It has a modern but vintage feel, and it is adorable.  (Modern and vintage-pretty much complete opposites....ok I am done) Modern with vintage twist is a better description. 

My nerdy sister was impressed that I still knew what the Pythagorean theorem was.  Not something I have used since probably freshman year of college in the only math class I took in college.  One of the many perks of studying photography...one little liberal arts math class is all that was required.

 So normally I try to shoot in the evenings for the best light,  but these were shot at 8:30 am and the light was beautiful.

Back to school preview

Here is a little sneak peek from the back to school shoot I did yesterday.  I am still in Three Forks and since  TF starts school today, I thought it was an appropriate post.  The full back to school post will come next week!  I also have a ton of other great stuff to share.  I am trying not to think about all the editing I have to get done next week.  I will probably be stuck at my computer until the snow falls, but today, I am cleaning my car, (it needs it so bad-life on the road is tough for my beloved nissan) and enjoying the sunshine. 

These photos almost make me wish I was going to school today....almost.