Feeling Fancy

Family photos are a singular experience. At no other time are the opposing goals of children (chaos) and parents (neat presentably) at odds. It's astounding how the kids pick up on the stress and importance of the day and magnify it back in their own unique way... prowling through the grass like a lion cub (getting covered in burrs and seeds in the process), throwing grass seeds at siblings, pushing, shoving, making faces, and fixating on giant logs that they insist on dragging all over the meadow.

You'd think that over so many years of family photos I would learn to just relax and let go, since it goes without saying that me freaking out about their behavior only makes them freak out more. Maybe I'll have figured that out by the time I have grandkids.

Thanks goodness that God sent us a very patient, very creative, always adventurous, and perfectly relaxed photographer friend who is happy to let my kids be themselves even when I cannot. She never fails to re-assure us that she loves us even when we're a bit out of control and capture a whole bunch of really beautiful pictures in the process - portraits that don't just look good, but also capture our heart and personality as a family.

I'm super grateful for  living in a state so beautiful that locations like this are in our backyard, for my perfectly, uniquely, beautiful family, and Sarah Arnoff Photos for capturing this moment in our lives!

Step 1: Pull out the Ansel Adams camera and attempt to explain the concept of film, exposure, and darkroom to the kids.

Yes, this is what we do with our 10 exposures.

And, of course, there were many many beautiful digital pictures taken in the crisp autumn light atop Buffalo Peak. It's a funny thing, when we first booked the weekend we were hoping that we wouldn't be too late for fall colors, but with our warm September we ended up with green leaves and meadows. Oh well, we'll take what we can get - it's all lovely!

Did it get rowdy and sometimes a little out of control? Yes, yes it did. And did I learn to let go a little more? Maybe. But either way, it made for some fantastic family portraits.

Lord help me... that stupid stick

Family Portraits!

I had a fantastic plan. Since it had been a few years since our last set of family portraits that included parents (generally once I get 4 kids color-coordinated and presentable, the last thing I have the energy for is to do the same for Steve and me!), I knew the time had come for party of six photos. And since we love snow and since I'm always looking for an excuse to buy more winter gear, I thought, "Let's take snow pictures in coordinating puffy jackets!"

It was a fantastic plan.

Except that it stubbornly refused to snow.

But our fabulous photographer, Sarah Arnoff, was patient, flexible, and worked with us. And finally, when the snow came, boy, did it come!

So we proudly present the 2016 Morningstar Portraits: A Study in Snowballs.

Yeah. I really love these. And I really, really love my family.

Autumn Portraits 2015

Yes, I am aware that I have the most beautiful children currently on record. Yes, they always look terrible in school pictures. Yes, I get pro shots taken every year and it's still cheaper than school pictures. And, yes, I plan to show you every last lovely photo (ok, not really, but at least 2 per child!).

Portrait Time!

Hooray hooray it's one of our favorite times of year - the time when, for the price of 2 overpriced and astoundingly terrible sets of school photos Mommy gets to enjoy beautiful portraits of her gorgeous littles.

Check out this year's masterpieces!

Adorable heartbreakers every one!