First of all, I have been trying to do this project for a while, but Rufus was just not interested. He politely and repeatedly (and quite patronizingly) told me, "Mama, you can take the photo yourself," and then zipped off on his scooter. A little blur who will not be winning participation awards any time soon.

To begin with, here is how I have been handling photo projects and all art/crafts that Rufus snubs:

Keep offering. Kids are so fickle. You just never know.

Model it. I have been making rainbows, coloring, painting and taking photos alone or with David for a month and a half. Sometimes Rufus steps up and joins in, sometimes he stands there and sets a timer and critiques my art while I make it... Today he wanted to take photos. WIN!

Five Reasons to Take Your Family Photos In Your Home

I shoot family sessions in a variety of locations. Although I will always go over what is best for your family once we are in contact, I want to share some information about each type of location in order to help you choose. Today I'll highlight the reasons to pick your own house as the session location. First of all, 99% of my newborn sessions are held at home. When it comes to newborn sessions, it is a pretty easy decision. However, having a newborn is not the only reason to have a family photography session in your home. Here are five more:

Family of Five Cozy Home Session Seattle

I had so much fun shooting Anna and Brian in their beautiful Seattle home. All of their children are absolutely beautiful, not to mention fun, silly, cuddly, and real. Oh, also, Brian has my childhood dream job of working with National Geographic! I think my favorite part of the session was seeing these older sisters, Nina and Mila…

Back in the PNW: Family Photos at Home

There are SO many reasons I love photographing a family in their home. Usually it is such a relaxed and comfortable setting for a family. This in turn means children that are more open and natural. Those dynamics don't mean that everyone is happy and smiling the entire time, but it always leads to intimate moments that capture what life is like for your family at this point in time. Shooting Sarah and her family was no exception.

Elise and Antonio | Vashon Island

During our big family session, sweet Antonio started to get overwhelmed. He had helped out so much and been pretty cooperative, but he reached him limit. This is totally normal for a toddler, and I find that it can lead to the most intimate and beautiful moments between parents and their kids.