Getting to take my own family’s photos is so special to me. My sister in law, Sarah, asked me to take these photos while Tyler and I were visiting his parents in Idaho Falls. Our nephew William, we call him Liam, was just barely born, so we did a little in-home session in their apartment. It was so sweet watching the three of them together, but it was especially sweet to see Liam with his new mama. Moms and babies make me emotional, go figure.
I wanted to capture the three of them similarly to how they would be everyday. Sarah apologized for her house when we started–all oh my in-home session women apologize before we start no matter how clean or messy their house is. But I learned from shooting in-home sessions with Laurken Kendall, that you don’t want people to clean their houses before you come. I mean, sure don’t have leave it unusually clean for your house, but you don’t have to make it look like no one lives there either. Just have it look how it normally does. If your husband leaves his glass on the sink everyday (mine does), leave it on the sink while we shoot. Someday when you look at these photos, you will want to remember your life how it really was. Full of love and maybe a little messy. You will want to look at the photos and laugh about how your husband still leaves his glass on the sink all day, even after all these years of you telling him to put it away.
Their house looked like them. Sarah is an avid Instant Pot user and you’ll see it out on her kitchen counter later in the shoot if you keep an eye out.
I love this shot of Tanner holding Liam. Tanner is such an excited dad and it was a precious feeling to get to capture their bond from my lens.
I got this shot by sticking my camera through the slits in between the posts in Liam’s crib, and it might be my favorite picture of the whole session, rivaled only by a B+W photo down below of Sarah in the rocker with Liam.
Tanner’s mom made the mountain + bear + cloud mobile that’s in the back of these photos. Tanner asked me if I could make sure to get it in some of the shots. I hope Liam sees these someday and knows how much is grandma loved him.
This is the photo I mentioned above. One of my favorites. Mama + baby.
I am also in love with the next several photos where Sarah is dressing Liam. It is so special what parents do for their children. When you were a baby, your parent got up and dressed you each morning, and then several more times throughout the day as you got dirty. I hope that after Liam sees these someday, he’ll never forget the way his mom’s hands so carefully dressed him day after day.
I love this session. I know I said it earlier, but I love that they left their house true to how it normally looks. They have a guitar hanging on the wall, and now Liam can remember that his dad played guitar. They have backpacks on the ground, and Liam can know that his parents were working so hard to balance being students and parents when he was born. Sarah + Tanner, you are amazing. Ty + I love little Liam so much.