Aviva Photography Blog

I met A’s mom, Jessica, a while ago at a book club get-together. I instantly liked her – smart, funny, interesting – and very very proud of being a mommy. She spoke about portraits with me a bit – I definitely was hearing that she was more a fan of “get out and play” shots than posed studio shots (always better for a young active kid anyway, right?) but I gave her a card and figured she’d call when she thought about it.

I ran into Jessica a few times out in town and around my neighborhood (she lives nearby) and we both had crazy schedules, but she still had in mind that she wanted pictures of A. Well I got an email from her not long before my trip in April, and told her that we could hook up in May for the shoot. Perfect! The weather had been SO iffy around that time, and the evening of our shoot turned out to be perfect, it was like someone just wanted it to happen for us! I present my latest boyfriend, A.

A’s dad had left for a deployment only a couple of weeks before, and I think seeing his little man here might just make him happy. Trevr, he’s just delightful…I’m sure you miss him, I hope you love these too.

From the moment they arrived, it was GO GO GO. A learned to walk/RUN and I think he hasn’t stopped since besides to sleep. The good news is, my camera and I – we’re quick! And a game of peek-a-boo chasing never hurts either.

I love a one-on-one with a child for a shoot – and as I mentioned, Jessica was the perfect mama – she backed off and let me play with him but was always close enough to give him what he needed…like his monkey, “Bla Bla”….

…or have a hand close by to stop him from falling. (definite FAVORITE!!)

Could you just eat him? Love the faux-hawk…and this outfit. Fantastic, Jess!

He stopped at the square his mama painted for him on the sea wall for his first birthday with a knowing smile. This is so cute!

Lastly – I had to share these. Jessica brought a lime with her to show me one of her son’s favorite snacks. Also the snack that results in some very interesting facial expressions. I think a series like this belongs on their wall… don’t you??

Thanks for being YOU, Jess, that was so much fun. A was a delight – and I hope you got a great night’s sleep that evening. And thank you for being patient, I’ll be done soon!

More to come, everyone. And though I had to push it back a bit due to shoot rescheduling (uh yeah – RAIN much lately?), GAMU classes will definitely return this summer. Information about that too very soon.

I think you’ll remember adorable M and A…

(Their mama was pregnant when I took this… A YEAR AGO – OMG!)

Then baby W was born.

Ok – fasten your seat belt – THIS is how quickly time goes. W at nine months.

His beautiful and highly active sisters…

Little miss A there on the left – did NOT STOP MOVING. Oh man, I was having a heart attack every three seconds because she was balancing on a railing and hanging by one arm and swinging around like a monkey on a trapeze! But oh, A – you’re so beautiful and sweet. Little tickle monster.

Big sis M was a different story. Also a balance beam expert and athletic gymnast, however a bit more taken with having a baby brother – and definitely more taken with having the camera trained on her. Uh – can ya tell?

A wanted nothing to do with the baby, but M was different. She was lovin’ all over her little brother.

LOOK! I got them to sit together! Ok, with my assistant Kelly’s help, and with some serious coercing. But it happened. For a split second…

Mom had plans, so they did the hand-off during the shoot. Aaron’s a doctor (which helps because I’m sure he has the perfect bedside manner to deal with these active kiddos!) and after helping the girls with the sand in their eyes they gave him some very good love. THIS photo makes me melt. Sigh.

Then he became the ULTIMATE hero by getting a big hot pink strawberry sno-cone! The girls were ecstatic (and ya know I was too, hello photo op!) but W? Well, he seemed perhaps a bit jealous. OH this is an all time favorite photo – what a laugh!

What a great evening, thanks for playing with me, kids! Crista & Aaron, the kids are all just gorgeous and delightful. Can’t wait to show you all of them soon! Happy Monday – the SUN is back!

Last time it was just about one-year-old O. Well O has two sisters. They’re gorgeous too, no surprise. Sandy said there’s a shrine to her son in her home, so we certainly need to remedy THAT situation!

H is the oldest. She’s so great with her brother… (how delicious is this?)

…and seems to be the one kid who got blue eyes. Hm. Wonder what’s up with that? Luckily she had a friend along who was helping me a ton with making her smile naturally. (THANKS, E!)

Middle kid, A, is in kindergarten and she’s a beautiful and bright little lady. Sandy & I think (and MANY agree) that she and my daughter look a lot alike. When we’re together, they look like sisters!

And O. Well ya know I can’t take a bad photo of this kid! Even when he’s got a cold and we woke him up for the photo shoot. This guy has the best temperament. And that smile…and that hair… those eyes. SIGH.

I love the goofy side of kids.

Owen is just about a year and a half old. As I remember it with my kid, that was early terrible twos. He has his moments, but doesn’t any kid? During the shoot we were trying to sit him down (not an easy task with so much to see), and he didn’t want to face my camera, he wanted to face the water. Well of course he did. A simple way to make lemonade out of his lemons…. (See, Sandy? Told you to trust me!)

Sometimes you have to work around the tough part. That’s life.

I like when things happen with groups of kids. I think you can figure what happened in order out of these three.

And last but not least – all three kiddos in a row. I think O’s shot is pretty indicative of his stage right now. The binky and the blankie pretty much soothed him throughout the shoot. Don’t we all wish it was that easy for older kids?

Lots of things to share. Another post tomorrow for sure!

What better reason to have photos taken, right? My friend and neighbor Sandy has three gorgeous kids in her family. But this day was all about little O. One year old and just downright EDIBLE.

Yes, I tasted him. And he’s sweet and soft like Rice Krispie Treats^®. Another close-up. His hair, those cheeks, those eyes… yep. I’m in love!

It was such a nice day walking around with Sandy & O – he’s only been walking for a few weeks, so he’s still not that fast. Which makes my job a breeze because I can easily dash ahead of him or walk away and it takes a while for him to actually get somewhere. (Not for long though, so look out Mom & Dad!)

O was a busy little climber. Mom stuck close but he was very happy to be barefoot and work any steps or hills on his own. I love little fat toddler feet!

He’s very responsive to his Mama’s voice. He’d be walking but if she called him he would turn with a mischievous grin…

He was also quite the fan of this flower. Can’t you just hear it? “She loves me… she loves me not…”

Sandy, I had such fun with you two! I’m so happy you live close and I have you as a friend. I can’t WAIT to get my camera on your whole family in December. We are going to have a blast!