A few weeks before Christmas, Mike and I grabbed Annabel and met up with my amazing photographer friend Gina Lee for a photo session.
Gina is amazingly talented and I was so excited to have her take photos of Annabel (with a few family photos thrown in, too).
photo by Gina Lee
photo by Gina Lee
photo by Gina Lee
photo by Gina Lee
Gina insisted I bring my own camera along, and then she insisted I take some pictures with it, even though I was sooooo intimidated to use it around her. She gave me some of her lenses to play with…poor Mike. My ultimate camera wish list just got MUCH longer.
It was great to be in front of the camera with Annie. Despite my attempts to be in more pictures, I am still lagging behind. There aren’t enough pictures of me and Maddie, but there WILL be plenty of pictures of Annie and me.
photo by Gina Lee
Thank you, Gina!
(the grandparents totally thank you too)
rachel says:
Heather, these are all lovely, but the one that you took of Mike and Annie and the one right below it of Annie alone…gorgeous. You nailed the emotions and light. You clearly have no reason to be intimidated about bringing your camera out.
Also, on the lens front, I am sure your list is long (as is my lens wish list) but, I always recommend the Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8 for a beginner. I keep one on my older D200. It is a sharp and (relatively) inexpensive lens. Just a thought.
-Rachel
catherine lucas says:
Lovely photographs… It’s nice to have memories on paper, next to the ones in our head… Well done to the both of you, photographer and photographer…
Jenn says:
Cute shots! You both did well. YOU should be proud of yourself!
Sue says:
BEAUTIFUL,,,BEAUTIFUL,,,,,,,BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Veronika says:
Fantastic job to both of you! The shots are great. I totally get what you’re saying about getting pics with the kids. There are only a hand full of pics of me with my children, some so few that I can count on one hand how many there are from entire years. Part of me is sad that I’ll never get those moments back.
Katie says:
Beautiful pictures…. Annie just looks scrumptious!
katherine says:
Such precious photos — thank you for sharing.
I know what you mean about needing to make an effort to be in front of the camera. My daughter is almost 2, and I think I have about a dozen photos, total, of me with her. Terrible.
I also wanted to comment that you look great. I mean, you always look great, no matter what. But it seems like, despite all that’s been going on, you’ve been taking care of yourself. And it looks like you’ve been going to the gym. You’re amazing…
Marlena B. says:
Hello Heather! I just wanted to tell you that one of the photos really struck me. The pic of you and Annie is beatiful and Annie looks just like your Maddie here!!! I literally went back to the photo several times to figure out which child I was looking at! It must be all of those curls your girls have!
Nellie says:
All I can say about those pictures is….absolutely divine!
anotherheatherfromcanada says:
OOHHHH !!! Look at the chub on Annie’s legs !!! What beautiful pics and a beautiful family !!!
Heather says:
Gorgeous shots, both of you, Mike and Annie and the shots you took.
I wish I had more shots with stepson and I know I’ve remedied that with the girls.
NoL says:
LOVE all the shots! Am in awe of how many clothing changes Miss Annie tolerated. What a sweet, sweet girlie.
AmazingGreis says:
Love all of the pictures!
Molly says:
Ohhh the knee fat, the knee fat. Why must you do this to me heather?
So precious!!!!!!!!!
Also, third photo from the bottom is totally annie rocking her spiderman stance.
Jess says:
Oh my gosh I love her chunky legs Where’d you get the cute tutu?
Deborah says:
Annie looks so much like Miss Maddie in 050, I had to do a double-take! What wonderful pictures!
Lisa says:
The photos are gorgeous.
Lindsey says:
Beautiful girl!
J+1 says:
These are just beautiful!
kbreints says:
Beautiful!!
Ann Daniel says:
You deserve some nice lenses! Those are great (both hers and yours).
She’s right there, it’s all in the glass! :O)
Kristin says:
The picture of Annie and Mike is my absolute favorite. It brought tears to my eyes. There is nothing more amazing than the love of a father and daughter.
Rumour Miller says:
You just helped me to pick a goal for 2011. BE in more pictures with my girls instead of always hiding behind the lens.
Wonderful photographs… all of them.
Elle says:
These photos are beautiful! I agree, I’m rarely in pics with my daughter and need to start doing that more often.
Jen says:
Holy chubalicious legs Annie!!
stuckinmypedals says:
The ones with Annie in the tutu are so precious! What a great way to spend the day. Thanks for sharing.
Melissa says:
OK, I don’t post much but OMG you’re friends with Gina Lee?!?!! Sooo jealous. I’m totally her Facebook friend Adorable photos! What lens(es) were your fav? I’m curious what she mainly shoots with!
Trisha Vargas says:
Aww, the wardrobe changes are great! Annie is just adorable and you are totally photogenic, so get in those pictures Heather
(((HUGS))) from Florida
Trisha Vargas says:
Oh and BTW, the fists of fury shot so reminded me of your precious Maddie!
Melanie says:
I was coming to post the exact same thing. Definitely reminded me of Maddie!
Gale @ Ten Dollar Thoughts says:
That last pic of Annie in the red/white stripes reminds me so much of the picture of Maddie making similar fists. (I think the one I’m thinking of was taken with her in turquoise PJs when you did all those silly hairstyles on her… I’m sure you know what I’m talking about.)
Lovely pics of a lovely family. You’ll enjoy them forever.
Jenn says:
Gorgeous!
Nikki says:
Beautiful pictures!
I love the one of Annie and her fists…reminds me of a similar picture of her beautiful big sister.
XOXO from GA,
Nikki
Skye says:
Your family is beautiful, inside and out, and both are apparent in these photos. Annie is starting to look a lot more like Maddie! Those curls are precious!
AngieM. says:
beautiful pictures of a beautiful family!
loved how annie lifts her little legs so they don’t touch the grass
Elizabeth says:
Both of your pictures are AMAZING! I can’t even pick which one my favorite is.
Brittany says:
STUNNING! i love them ALL!
Buy her a snowsuit and get here stat, I MUST love on her STAT!
Camie says:
Oh, such gorgeous pictures (with lovely people in them!) The one you took with Mike and Annie is really beautiful.
I love how Maddie peeks out of Annie’s face every so often. Such sweet sisters.
Melinda says:
I have asked before and I will ask again…does Annie come in chocolate?…because she is super DELISH!!! As I have established in other comments I am not one of your IRL friends, but I want to be soooooo bad…does that sound stalker like? You all are just a sweet and wonderful family, trying to make the best out of horrific circumstances, trying to honor your Maddie by living with joy for your Annie. That is what I see in these photos, complete, uncomplicated, simple, pure JOY. It is lovely. It is as if those beautiful rays are coming from you and radiating upward to Maddie and then in another photo they are coming from Maddie and shining down on you. Truly beautiful.
Aimee says:
LOVE Annie’s tu-tu and her sweet little curls.
Jeannine says:
Those are such gorgeous pictures Heather!
Bonna says:
What beautiful photos! I especially like the photo of Annie in her tutu giving you that wonderful smile and the other photo where she looks very surprised. Thank you for sharing.
MyBabyBeluga says:
Beautiful pictures!
Laura says:
All of these pictures are so beautiful, Heather! You’ve got a gorgeous family!
Legally Fabulous says:
These pictures are all so great… Annabel looks so much like Maddie in the one where she’s looking up in the plaid shirt… and I’m just loving the pic of her chunky legs under her tutu skirt… adorable!
You have a beautiful family
Sue says:
P.S. I just went back and looked at these gorgeous pics, again. The one where Annie is holding her fists up reminds me so, so much of precious little Maddie. I recall pics of her doing that very same thing.
Glenda says:
B E A U T I F U L ! ! !
Kelly says:
The fists of fury! She looks so like her big sis in that shot.
Beautiful photos…a lovely family.
Maria Delgado says:
Love these!
Diana Horn says:
I have a photography friend too who totally intimidates and inspires me…but she is a GENIUS….and I…well, am a serious AMATEUR!
Your photos are beautiful. I’d love to hear about your classes and see what you’d recommend. It’s fun to look at someone else’s work and get inspired.
Here’s my friend… also a Heather. She’s UNBELIEVEABLE!
http://umamiphotography.com/index2.php?v=v1
Hope you are well….I check in on your site regularly…and ask Stef about you. Don’t leave a lot of comments but I LOVE YOUR BLOG! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful family! xo, Diana
ashley kleist says:
The pictures of your daughters are priceless; they make me smile! I read your blog M-F and those two girls are so lucky to have you two for parents. I hope there are a million more happy days in your future. Happy New Year!
Joy says:
the knee rolls OMG I am loving the knee rolls with a tutu!
Why can’t leg rolls be cute when your 32?
Debra says:
We Love Gina Lee!! She took family pictures when we still lived in CA. Your pictures are great! You have a beautiful family!
monica says:
*sigh* I just love your little doll so much. I want to nomnom on her every time I see that little face. Absolutely precious.
Rebecca says:
Love those piggies in the photo of her sitting in the grass wearing the frilly skirt. She is gorgeous!
Jess says:
Knee chub! My favorite thing on babies!
And the picture of Annie with her fists? Took my breath away because it reminded me of Maddie.
She is so beautiful. And yes you do need to be in a ton of pictures with her. There were not a lot of pictures with my parents and I and that is something that can’t be redone. So do it now. Annie will love it. Especially now that pictures can be done so much more awesome than my time of the early 80s.
Those pictures ROCK!
Amy S. says:
OMG! The last picture of Annie in the red/white looks just like Maddie! These pictures are great! Thank you for sharing.
amy M says:
What gorgeous shots, all of them!
Annie is one beautiful baby, sigh.. Would have another in a second if I could.. But can’t so must adore your baby from afar
Karla says:
Long time reader, first time commenter… Annie is unbelievably beautiful. So much of Maddie is present in her. What a beautiful family!
Stephanie says:
The pictures are gorgeous!! I have chunky babies but Annie totally wins the most chunkable award – omg….I love her legs!!!!! I see so much of Maddie in those photos….you guys make beautiful babies!!! I love how they both use their hands to express themselves!!
Meredith says:
Annie? Makes my ovaries hurt. Hard. I want to bite her fat cheeks. I love her.
amanda says:
These pics are completely gorgeous! OMG I love them! You guys are such a beautiful family. : )
jen says:
just wanted to say that your Maddie is totally shining through, especially the 3rd pic from the bottom, such a Maddie expression! It really hit me there! Such cute pics, love the family shots
domestic extraordinaire says:
Love the photos!!
Megan says:
Beautiful pictures – Annie is just perfect – little Mike miniature! I think Maddie looks so much like you did as a baby – funny how genetics work. The pictures are gorgeous, and yes, you need to get lots of mama pictures. There are almost none of me with my kids, partly because I always have the camera, and partly because I never want to see photos of myself. I have decided to get over that, just so I don’t leave my kids wishing they had a picture of me with them.