I know I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE 1-year-old sessions.  Yes, they are easy in that, 1-year-olds look cute in pretty much any light, outfit, situation, setting, etc.  Also, you can get them to look at you for at least a split-second and usually can squeeze out a smile (with mom or dad's assistance).  However, they are also a CHALLENGE, especially if you, like me, only bring a 50mm to an outdoor session, because this means you are guaranteed to get a workout, chasing after the darling little birthday child to get the best possible framing.  

I have GOT to get a new lens.

Anyway, the other challenge is to find your own style, and, while a lot of that can come from editing, most of it comes from how you view the world.  Every photographer sees things differently.  It's what makes our work stand out.  What I want people, especially parents, to notice about my style, is that I work to capture the unique personality of each child.  I take pride in the shots that I get which show who this small person is right now, what interests them, any looks that they use to express themselves, and how they interact with their environment.  Yes, I have my own fresh, bright style, but I want people to notice that each session looks different because every child's personality IS different.

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of photographing a sweet little Valentine's Day baby for his first birthday.  Knowing that he was not yet walking, I came prepared with an adorable little toddler chair that I snagged from my mentor (have I mentioned how AWESOME she is???  Heather Martin, you're an angel!  <3), a couple of little rugs, and, of course, balloons!  The little guy looked so adorable sitting in the chair, but only sat still long enough for me to snag a few shots.  After that, in true 1-year-old fashion, he wanted to explore!  What was quite unusual and special about this sweetie pie (aside from his RIDICULOUS good looks), was the fact that, whenever I picked him up to reposition him (away from the wet grass, back into the shade, etc), he snuggled into my arms and just wanted to settle in for a good cuddle.  I melted every time!!