Kristen Stewart Photography [blog]

I had a mini-session with sweet Sadie the week of Halloween.  Wasn’t she precious in her costume?

Baby Hale is one of my Grow with Me clients, and we combined a mid-year session with some family shots on a crisp fall day at home and around the neighborhood.

I hope y’all enjoy this sneak peak!

It’s been a couple months since I’ve photographed a newborn, and I was excited for the chance to get back into the game.  Poor Paisley had an upset stomach and her first fussy day while I was there, but we still managed to get some great shots.

Isn’t that nursery gorgeous?

I love looking through my newborn sessions and seeing the different personalities and feels from different families who I am privileged to visit in that first week or two of life.  Congratulations, Brad and Lindsay on your beautiful baby girl!

You might recognize these beauties from some of their previous sessions, they are always a joy to photograph!

I photographed Caroline early this spring for her second birthday, but I couldn’t resist getting another shot of her, too.

What a lovely family in every way.  I hope they enjoy this preview!

Our two little girls are 17 months apart, and love to proclaim that they are sisters and friends.  Raising them together has given me a special soft spot for little girls close in age, so I was excited to meet new clients with daughters even closer together!  Sara’s first birthday was the official reason for the session, but Hallie tagged along for all of the fun.

Obviously, they are really adorable children, and I had fun getting to know them!

Last week I caught up with another “grow with me” client, who wanted a special 3 month shoot to commemorate the end of her maternity leave.  You’ll remember Hale from his fun and creative newborn shoot.  Look how he’s grown!

Involuntary smiles result every time I look at the sweet photo of Hale sleeping on his mom.  I am so looking forward to watching this little one grow up.

Tom is one of my baby plan children and I got a chance to check in with him again a few weeks ago.  I started photographing him before he even arrived, and his parents are sweet friends of ours, so it was a joy to capture his spirit.  (Should have taken some of him eating, what a little foodie!)

Tom’s mother is the president of Babywearing International, and the one who co-founded our local babywearing advocacy group with me so it’s no surprise Tom is a happy, carried baby.

More previews to come this week!

I met up with Sydney and her family at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens for a one year photo shoot.

Is she not ridiculously cute?

Even though her dad was really sick, we got a few family shots.

She is so close to walking!

Sydney is such a joyful, sweet girl and a pleasure to photograph.

Maya is a sweet little return client who coincidentally lives right around the corner.  Her mom is a minister at one of the oldest churches in the city, First Presbyterian, and they all spend quite a bit of time there, so it seemed like the perfect place for her first birthday shoot.  I love urban shoots in general, but this one, in a place so dear to their family, will be a favorite for a long time.  It was hard to pick for the preview, I can’t wait for all of her family to see them all!

Of course, we started in front of the red door.

We headed inside for a wardrobe change and  some playtime in Maya’s favorite nursery.

Then we headed back outside, took a few family pictures and played on the playground.

I am completely biased in favor of family and child sessions in places of importance, in normal clothing (not props.)  For me, these sessions bring back the memory not just of that day, that photography session, but of a whole period of time, launching a whole series of related memories and capturing more than just an hour.  It is such a privilege to participate in families lives, capturing moments in childhood in that way.

Preston turned 9 months old recently and his parents decided to capture this sweet stage with a mini-session.  25 minutes is enough time to get a few great pictures in one outfit, and for me to fall head over heels for a little one.

Meet Preston:

When I see this little face, I want to give him a pony.  And I am not tempted that way with my own children.

Preston has two big brothers, who are teaching him to explore, have a good time…

And laugh!

It was so nice to meet Preston, his mom and his brothers and I’m looking forward to capturing their whole family later this year!