Kitt Family 2016 | Mikaela Joy: El Paso Portrait Photographer

Today I want to share a session that's a little older.  I've been behind on blogging, but I can't skip sharing this one.  Everything about it makes me smile!

This is a family session I did for my good friend Kitt.  She's been with me since the beginning of my photography journey and I've done countless sessions with her family.  It's so fun comparing all the photos I've done with them to see how their family has grown.

Possible one of the most fun aspects of working with Kitt is her fluffball pack of dogs.  How stinking cute are they?  They are pretty much 100% fur and I just want to snuggle with them all day long. Don't you?

Check out some of the photos from our session below:

FLASHBACK! This is one of the shots from their 2015 family session when their little man was turning one.  Oh how he has grown!

Sadie Family Session | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Family Photographer

I've got an extra special session to share today.  This was a session I did while on vacation in Washington State this summer.  Not only did I get to see her for the first time in over a year, but I got to meet her adorable little man and capture some beautiful memories for them!

We found a gorgeous location- Ft. Stielacoom and arrived just in time for some beautiful sunset shots.  Little man was more in the mood for bed than a photoshoot, so he and Sadie just played and had fun while I captured the moments.  I love how they turned out!

If you'd like to book your own family session, please contact me to set up your complimentary consultation today!

Selan Family Session | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

One thing that I find to be the most fun about working with children is watching them grow up.  I worked with this little girl last at Halloween when she came into my studio for a mini session.  She was in that perfect "sitter" stage for photography where she couldn't really do much but pose.  Not so much this time!  She is all grown up and running all over the place.

With this family it seemed fitting to make this a fun, laid back session.  We ran around Forsyth Park, picking flowers, watching the fountain, playing at the playground, and chasing the beautiful morning light. We had a blast and got some pictures that I feel really capture each of their unique personalities.  Watch the video to see for yourself!

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If you are interested in your own family portrait session, please contact me to schedule your complimentary consultation today!

Kristin Motherhood Session | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

Breastfeeding photo sessions always end up being my favorites, and this one was no exception.  Kristin and her little boy are coming to the end of their breastfeeding journey, and wanted to commemorate the bond they shared with some photos.  It's a bond like none other and deserves to be remembered. 

Breastfeeding is a lot of things.  It's full of drool, and spit up, leaky boobs, and getting kicked in the face.  It can be frustrating, painful, and monotonous, whether it's the hours spent on the pump or when baby wants fed for the third time in an hour. But it's so much more than all of that.  There's something so amazing about being able to provide everything a little person needs from one's own body.  It's about those late nights when the baby falls asleep on your chest and sweetly suckles in his sleep, or those moments when you make eye contact and he smiles up at you.  Breastfeeding is a crazy, frustrating, never-gonna-end/is-it-over-already roller coaster.  And it's damn beautiful, too.

I'm so happy that Kristin trusted me with these memories.  It was so wonderful to meet these two strong, beautiful people and share this time with them, because moments like this shouldn't be forgotten.

Dad & Son at the Park | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

I'm going to keep it short and sweet today.  Hubby is finally home, so we took Riley to play at one of my favorite places in Pooler, Tom Triplett Park.  Of course I had to get some pictures.  Aren't they cute together?!

Throwback Thursday: Riley 9 Months Ago | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

I love recreating photos as Riley grows.  It's so much fun to see how much he's changed in what feels like such a short period of time.  Case in point: these two shots.  These were both taken at the same swing at Tom Triplett park in Pooler, GA.  In the first one, he is 9 months old.  The second was taken very recently (he's almost a year and a half, now).

I can't get over how grown up he looks now!

Throwback Thursday: Breastfeeding Shoot | MIkaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

This is a throwback to one of my favorite sessions from last year.  I teamed up with two other photographers who all happened to be nursing our babies at the same time, and exchanged breastfeeding photos.  This is a shot that I never edited, but I can't for the life of me figure out why.  Just look at that sweet little nursling and her big blue eyes!

This is from the session that produced this shot, quite possibly my favorite from 2015

Riley in the Studio | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Portrait Photographer

Have you been following my 365 Days of Riley project?

I can't hardly believe we are already 6 months in.  This kid is growing up WAY too fast. 
And I'm happy to report that over 175 images later, I'm still not tired of taking his picture.  He's my favorite model!

Kitt & Family | Mikaela Joy: Savannah, GA Family Photographer

One of my favorite things about being a photographer is working with the same family more than once and watching how they grow and change.  You may remember this photo from a while back:

I worked with Kitt for the first time for a babywearing session earlier this year.  These two were absolutely wonderful together, and I loved working with them, so of course I was thrilled when Kitt asked me to do photos with her whole family.

It turns out the whole family includes three dogs, and a cat.  She calls them their pack- how perfect is that!

Just like the first time, this family was great to work with.  I can't wait to help them capture more of their future memories!  I also can't wait for another visit to their house just for the chance to lay in their fluffy pile of dogs :)

Elliott | Mikaela Joy Savannah Newborn Photographer

I have another fun share today- more baby photos!  Recently I had one month old Elliott in my studio for some late newborn photos.

Generally, you are supposed to do newborn photos within the first two weeks of life, so I was a bit nervous about little Elliott coming in at over a month old.  It turns out, though, that I had absolutely no reason to be.  This little man was a dream to work with.  He fell asleep easily, posed well, and then woke up for a few bright eyed photos at the end.

With his red hair and blue eyes, this little guy is certainly going to be a charmer! I had such a great time working with him and am excited to watch him grow up.  What a sweetheart!

To see the rest of his photos you can visit my website here.

Why I Edit| Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

In preparation for an upcoming newborn shoot (which I'm very excited about!) I decided to revisit the photos I took of my own little man when he was 5 days old. At this point I was a bit sleep deprived, inexperienced with babies, and lacking in a proper lighting setup.  I used a blanket, a couch, and some window light and came up with some decent shots, considering the circumstances.  Since then I've fixed everything but the sleep deprivation, and added some new photoshop skills to boot. Since the editing is such a drastic change, I thought I'd share my before and after:

The original photo was fine, but it looks like what it is- a baby sleeping on a blanket draped over a couch.  It's a fine snapshot and gives a good idea of what my little boy looked like at five days old.  But what a transformation a little editing can do! This is the difference between a professional photo and a snapshot.

I've been asked before why I edit every photo I reveal to the client.  Many photographers deliver unedited products in favor of saving time.  They often claim that they "get it right in the camera" and don't need to edit.  If that is true, then great.  But my goal with photography is about more than the snap of the photo.  For me photography is art.  I want to create something beautiful, something that you will want to hang on your wall, something that will be shared outside of a computer screen.

Yes, it is a lot of work.  Sometimes I will spend an hour or more on just one photo.  Certain types of photos require more, while others are quick. But the proof is in the pictures, and for me, it's worth it.

As a side note, look how little my boy was! Oh my gosh!

The Little Moments & Getting in the Picture | Mikaela Joy: Savannah Lifestyle Photographer

There are constantly moments where I think "God I wish I had my camera."  I see things every day that I frame into a photo in my head but never take the shot for various reasons (no camera with me, no patience for my photography shenanigans from the people I'm with).  Usually these are passing moments with strangers that I won't ever think about again, but often they are moments in my own life- moments that I would have loved to have captured and printed. Being a photographer means that the lives of the people closest to me are very well documented.  I have taken several pictures of my son for every day of his life.  I do photo shoots with him every month.  I take pictures of any friends that will let me and bring my camera to most events I attend.  But I'm hardly ever in the picture.

I think a lot of moms can relate to this.

It's so easy to get caught up in capturing every moment of your kids lives.  But what about one's own progress during this time?  Being a mom completely changes a person.  When I look at photos of myself before and after having my son, I see an entirely different person.  My body has changed, my outlook has changed, everything about my life is a little bit different.

Obviously, I believe in the importance of photography.  I want my son to look back at old pictures of us with amazement- at both the changes in himself and in me.  I want him to see the way I smiled at him as he "helped" me cook, the proud look on his face as he takes his first steps.

This is why I place my focus in lifestyle photography.  When I look back at posed pictures from my childhood I laugh at the way we all looked and the clothes we all wore, but it doesn't represent my life to me.  The pictures that resonate are the ones in a baby carrier strapped to my father as he gives commands to the family dog, or the photo of my brother and I playing together, me standing in his work boots.

As I capture these moments for others, I've been making a point to be sure they are taken in my own life as well. Whether it's through the art of self portraiture (and some  plain old lselfies, too) or by handing off my camera on occasion, I want to be sure that these memories are saved.  They are too important to miss.