Sometimes you meet families and you think to yourself, "I would be so ok if they adopted me..."  And this is one of those. :)  Thanks to all the Pagano gang!  

Leave some love for them, because they have alot of great choices for their free 8 x 10 if they get at least 10 comments!!

The highest kind of accolade, in my book, is being asked to photograph a family a second time. When the family brings more family members to the second session... even better!  The Pagano family took advantage of the group being together for the Christmas holiday, so we were able to take some special photos of grandparents, cousins, and the individual family groups.  But the highlight, as always, was the baby. Sweet Baby Ada stole the show!  This is part one of the sneak peek... because cute babies get to go first! :)

Be sure to leave a nice comment for them... 10 comments gets them a free 8 x 10!  

Scoping out new shooting locations is more fun with a super sweet model in tow!

One of the wisest things I've been told by a well-known and much-loved photographer friend is that it's more important to capture a moment than to stress over the light and settings, ISO and aperture.  "Embrace the grain!"  And so I pass it on to you, because whether you're shooting with a point-and-shoot camera, your phone camera, or a high-quality DSLR, don't miss the precious moments in your life, especially with family.

I'll add one further note.... don't dodge the camera!  Even if you're not fully "made up" or if you feel like you don't want to be seen in photos, those who love you will want to have those images of you.  It's hard--I know!--to not let self-conscious thoughts take over, but smile, enjoy the fun of the event, and don't dodge!

This time of year is the perfect time to keep the photographs happening.  You'll be so glad you have those images to share and to enjoy later.  

Here's an example from our house this evening...  K.C. (as she's asking to be called lately) and her dad worked on our first ever gingerbread house.  The light is not ideal.  The background may be cluttered. The ISO is high, so the grainy effects are evident, but miss these smiles?  To miss these moments that she will cherish--and HE will cherish--for years would be so wrong.  

You know it's going to be fun when Daddy is allowing direct icing ingestion!

K.C. was the designer (boss), Daddy was the architect who made her vision come to life.

The finished product... we were all quite impressed!

Gingerbread kit, $6.99. Precious daddy-daughter time, priceless. 

Have a great Christmas, and keep that camera handy!