 Is there a better way to spend your Labor Day than with Wonder Woman? How about spending it with three Wonder Womans and their whole family? Well let me tell you, if you know the Hlavka family, you’ll understand why I say I can’t think of a better way! This shoot could not have worked out better if we planned it. And, well, we did plan it! We planned it for a Saturday and woke up to rain. So we re-planned it for Monday and got a morning that dreams are made of. The fall weather was teasing us with crisp, fresh air and a brilliant blue sky. We chased away any chills we felt by wandering up and down Main Street in Old Ellicott City. Jennifer had such an eye for finding the cutest nooks and crannies that Ellicott City is known for. Every photo is beautiful and unique! It helps that everybody’s look was on point. I honestly have trouble getting myself up and out of bed in the mornings. Let’s just say it’s going to be a rude awakening once early-rising kiddos come along! And yet, somehow, Jennifer and Andy got themselves and their three girls out of bed and looking fresh with time to spare! That included some extra time to load carseats into the car. (They never seem to be in the car when you need them to be, do they??) I felt so at home with the Hlavkas. Jennifer and I barely stopped talking the entire shoot! She works for the school system so there was an immediate understanding between us. It’s hard not to bond over public education! Jennifer and Andy were so relaxed and easy going. Some of my favorite shots during sessions are the candid ones. The ones that may not be all smiles or 100% in focus because they are capturing a moment. It was clear that they appreciated those moments just as much as me. Every wrinkled nose and tongue sticking out made them laugh and smile even more than before. That kind of go-with-the-flow attitude makes what can be a stressful experience, a joyful one. Just when the smiles were starting to fade, a Great Dane puppy brought them all back. Nothing like some puppy love to make a shoot better! After some pats, scratches, and snuggles, all the girls were ready to finish strong. And I mean that literally! You have to be strong to be Wonder Woman! We got the girls changed into their Wonder Woman jammies to finish things out, and they were just as happy as can be. I would have been too! I may have to go out and buy myself a pair. Not sure my other clients would understand why I suddenly started wearing them to shoots! I walked away from this shoot feeling like I had made 6 new friends (Jennifer’s mother was there too!) It felt like we had known each other for years. I can’t wait to watch them get up to all sorts of adventures in the years to come! 
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Maryland Family Photography // Multi-Generation Session // Rockburn Park - Howard County, MD9/5/2017  When it comes to photography, you can think up almost any reason to hire someone to take your photos. One of my favorite stories from photography team Amy and Jordan Demos is that of the doggie yoga birthday party they photographed! Who would have thought? But the photos sure did turn out cute! In the case of Sarah and her family, they didn’t need to invent any excuse to take photos. This is a big year for a lot of people! For starters, she had a baby this year! His name is Elliott and let me just tell you, he pretty much stole the show. Taking 6 month photos of him would definitely have been reason enough! In addition to the arrival of their happy little guy, Sarah and her brother Ben turn 30 this year. Their Dad turns 60. And their grandmother turns 90! That just works out so perfectly, doesn’t it? My sister is a math teacher and I pretty much immediately texted her when I got the email. All those pretty numbers, right in a row! Trust me when I say it looked even better in person! Being August in Maryland, it was, of course, quite a hot and muggy day. With a 6 month-old and his two great grandmothers, it could have been tricky to keep everyone comfortable. But we found a lovely shady spot at Rockburn Park, and I can honestly say, that not a single person complained. Not even Elliott! Everyone just seemed so happy to be with each other. That’s understandable seeing as there were several family members there from several different states. We had visitors ranging from New York to Florida! Somehow, even with all the travel, everyone looked completely fresh and put together. I absolutely adore the white and navy color combination they chose. Sometimes getting the right blues can be tough, but they nailed it! I love how crisp and summery it ended up looking. Nobody, myself included, could get enough of little Elliott. There were only a few photos that he didn’t make it into! He seemed a tad surprised when we set him down on the blanket to take some photos on his own. Afterall, there were certainly not a lack of people who were willing to hold him! Unsurprisingly, he turned on the charm for his individual shots. He even sat up unassisted for several long moments! With all of the adults cheering and clapping, he might have been too distracted to realize he was doing it! This entire group made me feel so welcome. When we ended, we all stood for a few minutes chatting, not really wanting to head back to the cars. With the good conversation and cool, shaded grass, I felt like we all could have sat down on the blanket with Elliott and hung out for a picnic. It’s moments like these that make me grateful for what I do. I not only got to capture these important milestones for a beautiful family, but I got to be a part of and experience it myself as well.  
 
 
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