When Kristan got in touch with me this year to make University of Montana summertime family photos again of her, her husband Ben, their son Lincoln, Ben’s mother Janet and Ben’s sister Jessica I was beyond excited because we’d had such a blast last summer making images for them. And this year was no exception!

Lincoln, now two, was as energetic as ever, ready to rocket all over campus, climb up and down stairs, balance on curbs, swing from his parents’ arms, giggle with his grammie and auntie, and challenge me to mini races. The boundless joy in this little guy is pretty magical and absolutely contagious! He had us all laughing and my cheeks definitely hurt from grinning so much!

Case-in-point: he gave me a new nickname of “Toots” – you know, short for Tootsie. Which has got to be about the funniest thing ever. Lincoln walked up to me at one point and exclaimed, “Hi Toots!” Ben looked at him, surprised and said, “Where did that come from?” We all had a good time guffawing over that little moment.

We eventually needed to wrap up our session, and as I was headed out to leave, Lincoln took my hand in his little one and pulled me along with his family. Oh my heart! I explained to him that I had to go to my house and he had to go to his, which wasn’t exactly the most suitable of explanations to him, because he was still pretty insistent that I come with them. So we agreed that he could give me a hug and I’d see him again soon. Seriously – how I didn’t melt right there on the spot is a mystery to me. What a little dear!

Suffice it to say, it was an absolutely fabulous session and I loved every second, as I knew I would. Kristan, Ben, Lincoln, Janet and Jessica – thank you again for a wonderful evening! It is such a treat to get to document your family when you swing on over to Montana! Here’s to a wonderful year ahead for you all!

On the docket:

Oodles of weddings, elopements, and portraits! Stay tuned!

Cheers,

-Kristine

I’ve got to tell you, I was beyond flattered when Bonnie contacted me about doing Missoula family pictures in the spring with her partner, Josh, and 6-month-old baby girl, Ro. Bonnie’s a fellow photographer and journalism school graduate (she attended Berkeley’s j-school), and does beautiful work – both photographically and written. She and her darling little family were going to be in Missoula again to visit (Bonnie had an internship with the Missoula Independent a couple years ago and we met through mutual friends), and I was so excited to see them again, especially with the newest addition to their family, little Ro!

I seriously cannot say enough about this sweet family. There’s something so special about seeing people you know become parents, and getting the opportunity to document even just a little sliver of their new lives together is pretty magical. It came as no surprise to me at all that Bonnie and Josh are such fantastic parents. They love their little girl to the moon and back (easily more than that, I’m sure!), and laugh with her and love on her with such ease and happiness, it kind of makes my heart ache in that swelling-so-full-it’s-gonna-burst sort of way. I loved seeing them smooch Ro’s oh-so-smoochable cheeks, tickle her little baby toes, and then steal glances at one another with such love in their expressions as they watched each other play with their baby daughter.

It goes without saying that we had SUCH a blast making these images. Ro, it turns out, loves my wacky dancing especially accompanied by the excitedly-said word “BUS!” (And I love wacky dancing for her when she giggles and bestows smiles upon me like the ones you’ll see below – oh my heart!!!). So we danced, we basked in the golden sunlight filtering through the trees, we sang diaper-changing songs and we explored some massive dandelion fields together.

Bonnie, Josh and Ro – thank you again for such a beautiful, wonderful session. My heart grew a few sizes getting to see you all together, and I’m so grateful I got to capture just a smidgeon of that joy. So much love for you all! Come back and visit again soon!

On the docket:

Portraits and weddings! Stay posted!

Cheers,

-Kristine