Jessica Lemmons Photography Blog, Longview Washington (Wa.) photographer.

I HAD to blog about this session, not just because she is adorable, but because of how special this little gal is to me.   I’ve been photographing her since the second she was born.  Really.  I was THERE!  Her mommy and I have been friends for a long time (in fact, she was MY wedding photographer 5 years ago!), I did her mom’s maternity sessions here and here, and then was invited to photograph her birth as well – THEN to make it even better, she was my newborn model for a shadowing by the Daily News photographer for this article which was on the front page of our paper.   I can’t believe she is already 1.  I know I say that with every 1 year old, but seriously!  It goes by so fast!

I met up with the “L” family this last Monday for some family photos at a park next to the Columbia River.   They have the most precious family,  3 beautiful daughters and one adorable son.    It was really windy out when we did the session because we were right next to the river, and so the poor kids were freezing, but despite the coldness they did amazing and I was so happy with how these turned out!

A big thank you to the “L” family for having me as your photographer and I hope you enjoy your preview!

I had a moment yesterday.  I was playing out in the backyard with my kids, and had my camera around my neck just in case they did something cute.   Olivia was singing a song about something……I couldn’t tell what it was, but it was cute.   And that’s when I had my moment, I realized while she was singing and swinging on the swing, that she’s not a baby anymore.    Over the last couple months, something has changed in her.  Maybe it’s that she can communicate verbally with me, maybe it’s that she goes down the slide head first, maybe its that she loves horses and tells me all the time how she wants a “horsey”.  I don’t know, but she’s not a baby anymore.  It hit me inside -  “She’s a kid.”  After taking a few shots of her, I came inside, put my kiddos down for a nap and uploaded the photos.  My husband was peeking over my shoulder while I was processing the shots and he noticed it too  “she’s a girl!”  he said, ” what happened to my baby? I don’t know if I like this”.  I don’t know if I like it either.  I don’t know how, as parents, we forget sometimes that they are only little for awhile.  I’m doing my best to  live in the moment with these precious little lives I’ve been entrusted  with.   I’m not ready for them to grow up, but it’s happening and much more fast than I had anticipated.

I’m getting towards the tail-end of the National Charity Model Search that I am participating in for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep foundation.  Mr “E” is my second to last session before my deadline  and I couldn’t have asked for a better session!  I seriously have never had a more cooperative 4 year old – he did amazing, and had a very natural little smile that photographed perfectly!

Good job Mr “E” and best of luck to you in the contest!

I met up with the “H” boys and their mom at Lake Sacajawea here in Longview earlier this week.  These two were all boy and full of energy (as all young boys should be!)  They were both super cooperative for their photos, but also had lots of fun making some great silly faces for me and had me cracking up the whole session.

And a few of my favorite outtakes……  

I had so much fun meeting these two!  They are participating in the National Charity Model Search to raise money for the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation.

They were by far some of the most fun kids I’ve had a chance to photograph, so full of personality – and in a good way! Miss “G” was loving the camera, and striking poses right and left, and “R” was great at giving me that serious look that looks so great in photos, and had a great smile to boot.

A big thank you to the “J” family for having me as your photographer!

I had so much fun photographing this session for Miss “J”and her Mom!  The photo’s from this session were a Christmas gift to Miss “J’s” Dad,  so I’m just now getting to stick them on my blog since I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.    Miss “J’s” teddy bear has been by her side since birth – she doesn’t go anywhere without him, so it seemed totally appropriate to included this little guy in her photos.  He is adorable and SO well loved by his little mommy. 

I would have to say her dear husband is a lucky guy! 

I met the “K” family this last Saturday morning at the lake in Longview.  It was absolutely beautiful, blue-sky, sunshiney, (and freezing cold)  winter day.    Little “KJ” was all boy – I had fun chasing him around and watching him throw bark dust and rocks in the pond at the Gardens.  You could tell his parents were totally in love with this little guy and it was apparent in everything they did with him. It’s always amazing to me how much I learn about family dynamics at family photo sessions,  something about photography seems to bring out the very best (and sometimes worst – yikes!) in people.

Thank you guys for having me as your photographer and please enjoy your quick sneak peek – the rest will online soon!

See?  Can’t you just tell how much they adore him?

I had the pleasure of photographing this absolutely adorable newborn baby girl.  Miss ‘K’ was nearly 3 weeks old at the time of her session and was an absolute angel the entire time I was photographing her.  I barely heard more than a grunt out of her until the very end of her session – she did AMAZING!

Please enjoy the sneak preview for Miss “K” and family.