Lavender Mini Session 2021 | Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm
I love photographing families at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm in Lincoln, especially during the lavender season (mid-May to mid-June).
The lavender is, of course, beautiful and smells amazing, but the ponds and dock make for pretty pictures, too.
These photos were taken in June 2021, and I plan to offer lavender mini-sessions again this year, most likely the first weekend of June. Sign up for my newsletter to be the first to learn the date and times.
FAQ | Do you Offer black and white images?
Yesterday, I was looking through some of my images from 2019 (it’s so gratifying and humbling to look back at my previous work!), and I realized that although I had processed some black and white images from this family session, I’d never shared them here on my blog.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, the answer to the question: “Do you offer black and white images?”
Yes, but not all the time.
With sessions that include a newborn baby (like this cutie patootie below), I definitely include some black and white images.
This was one of those images that I knew instantly I wanted to convert into black and white.
Some images just scream “make me black and white” when I see them. (They are typically images with great facial expressions or fun details or cool movement.)
Black and white photography is perfect for highlighting and remembering those itty bitty baby details (like all that hair!).
Holding hands with his mama!
I just can’t get enough of baby toesies! They are the cutest!
Holding hands with his two older sisters!
Those tiny newborn fingers!
One more of the baby’s feet!
In addition to baby galleries, wedding galleries always have some black and white images mixed in with the color images.
For the most part, though, I don’t include black and white images in my galleries. (However, if you adore black and white images and want to see a few in your gallery, I’m happy to oblige! Just ask!)
Truth be told, I really love black and white images, but I don’t think many of my clients do.
Perhaps that’s not accurate, though.
Tell me: Do you love black and white images? Or do you prefer all color images? Or do you like a combination of both?
Lavender Mini Sessions | The E Sisters
More mini session fun in the lavender fields at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm!
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sister duo nearly every year in the spring — since the littlest one was maybe two?!
The younger sister adores her older sister, and it’s the sweetest thing watching them interact.
They are such playful and fun-loving girls! I can’t wait to see them again next spring.
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR children (or family) taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
Lavender Mini Sessions | The B Family
For the past several years, I’ve reeeeeeallly wanted to hold spring mini sessions at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm, but for one reason or another, it had never worked out in my schedule. That is, until THIS year!
I had four great sessions in the lavender fields — two of the sessions were me photographing just the kids and the other two were pics of the whole families, along with kid pics. As you can see, this session falls in the latter category.
I’ve had the pleasure of photographing this sweet family many, many times…maybe 5 or 6 times now?! I love watching their kiddos grow up in front of my lens. The kids — and their mom and dad — are SO much fun, so easygoing, and pretty much open to anything I throw at them.
Aren’t they the cutest brother-sister duo?! They were a little scared of the bees on the nearby lavender bushes, but you’d never know by looking at these photos.
Sister knows her brother’s tickle spots for sure!
Aaaaah…I couldn’t believe how easy this was for them to do. I just said, Okay, now just put your foreheads together — and they did it! And the image is so stinkin’ adorable!
This is one of my favorite mom and daughter photos of. all. time.
I love capturing first and second graders with their brand new “adult” teeth. And of course, the holes between the teeth, too. Because in just five years or so, this smile right here will look radically different.
Speaking of smiles, look at those adorable baby teeth!
Cheesin’ for the camera…and mom and dad and brother! I love when kids feel so comfortable that they can just be themselves — whether that’s silly or serious or fun-loving or dramatic!
Thanks to this father and son duo for playing games and doing silly stunts like this.
What fun it was to photograph the B Family again!
Flowers and photography are two of my favorite things…so I’m definitely going to make lavender mini sessions at Bywater Hollow Lavender Farm an annual June tradition.
If you’d like to have photos of YOUR family taken in the lavender fields next year, follow me on Facebook to see my mini session announcements — or if you want to be among the FIRST to find out the date and times, subscribe to my newsletter. (All you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of my homepage and enter your email address. As my four-year-old daughter likes to say, “It’s easy peasy lemon squeezy!”)
The S Family | Auburn Family Session
I love photographing families at their home, especially when their yard looks like this!
The light was SOOO pretty!
Thank you, S family, for a FUN evening!
Homeschool Pictures | The M Family
This is another one of the homeschooling families I had the pleasure of photographing in November. This family has FIVE beautiful girls, and they are the SWEETEST! Here they are from oldest to youngest.
Their mom did such a great job picking out their outfits, making sure that the colors and patterns worked together.
Awe, the baby!
We tried and tried to get her to smile, but this was as close as we got.
Then, she sat on the log with all her sisters (see below), and BAM, she smiled! Get a good look at her grin; isn’t it the cutest?! All those TEETH! Mom and I had a good chuckle!
I can’t wait to take more homeschooling photos this year!
Homeschool Pictures | The C Family
In November, I had the opportunity to photograph a group of homeschooling families in Auburn. And what a great experience it was!
I staggered the morning session times, so I could have at least 15 minutes with each family, and I was able to capture individual photos and group photos.
Meet the C siblings! One girl and four boys. ! Aren’t they SO adorable?! Gah…and they were an absolute DREAM to work with.
Can’t forget the BABY!
Such a fun morning! I’d love to photograph more homeschooling families in the future.
Mini Session: The B Family
Super fun family alert!
It was my first time photographing this group, and they were up for pretty much anything.
When I said, “Hold hands in a line, spread out, and do a little twisting and wiggling and dancing,” they did.
When I said, “Green light!” they took off.
When I said, “On three, look at the funniest person in the family,” they did.
We took some portraits in the vineyard, too.
Such a beautiful family in a gorgeous location. Thanks, B Family, for an easy breezy mini-session!
Mini Session: The K Family
It was so special photographing this sweet family again — this time we met up at Vina Castellano, a beautiful vineyard and winery in Auburn. I first met the K Family at a local preschool when our oldest boys were four years old. Now those 7-year-old boys are playing soccer together on Saturday mornings. And coincidentally, their younger siblings (both 3 years old) are currently attending said preschool and had fun playing together at last Saturday’s soccer game.
Time marches on, doesn’t it?!
Mini Session: The F Family
I started off my afternoon of mini sessions at Vina Castellano Vineyards with this adorable family of three. Mom is an elementary school teacher who is friends with my husband’s cousin — and she is also a teacher!
Isn’t this little guy the cutest?!
He is 10 months old — with the drool to prove it.
This is one loved little boy.
The A Family
One of the most common questions I receive is: Do you photograph newborns?
Truth is, my response is typically no…and I go on to happily recommend three photographers who are absolute PROS at taking photos of newborns.
Why?
Because when most people think of newborn photography, they imagine photographs taken indoors with beautiful wraps and headbands and backdrops and miniature beds and baskets and of course, lots of adorable poses.
When my daughter was born in 2015, that’s what I was envisioning, and so I reached out to photographer Kathleen Galloway who has photographed many newborns.
But as a photographer, I don’t do that kind of newborn photography.
I much prefer (and have come to adore) this kind of newborn photography.
The outdoors kind with just a few simple items: a blanket or two and a basket and a baby dressed in neutral-colored clothing or wraps.
The kind with siblings close at hand, often loving on their new baby brother or sister.
That’s what this session at a private park in Auburn was all about.
Lifestyle newborn photography is what it’s often called, and I absolutely dig it. Especially for families that are expecting their third, fourth or fifth child.
Less stuff, less stress.
And more emphasis on the baby, the kids and the family — and the love they share.
The T Family | Griffith Quarry
As a photographer, I’m constantly on the hunt for new locations! In fact, it’s one of the things I really love about my job. Sometimes, I will learn about a location on Instagram or Facebook (a local photographer will mention where she did a recent session) or I’ll stumble upon a new spot while on a hike with my family. Occasionally, a client will request that their photo session be held at a particular location.
That was the case with the T family. Mom asked about a specific location where they’d hiked with her son’s Boy Scout troop, and although I’d driven past it several times, I’d never parked my car and explored on foot. What a gem I’d been missing out on!
In late November, I met up with the T family at Griffith Quarry in Penryn, and they gave me a tour around the place. The more we explored, the more it became clear what an awesome location this is!
Moss-covered granite boulders + wood split rail fences + open grasslands + beautiful light + a sweet, loving family of three = one VERY happy photographer.
Here’s a look at some of my favorite images from their hour-long session:
Thank you, T Family, for a fun photo session!
Want to take some family photos at Griffith Quarry? Let’s chat! Email me at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.
The D Family | Bernhard Museum
This adorable family of four was so much fun to work with! Earlier this fall, we met up at the Bernhard Museum in Auburn for a Sunday morning session. (I don’t shoot a lot of morning sessions, but mom Heather told me that her kids are happiest in the morning, and so we made it happen! And boy was she was right!)
Seriously, aren’t they the happiest and most beautiful babies?!
And yes, their eyes are just that blue! There’s no Photoshop magic happening there.
Speaking of Photoshop magic, I will let you in on a little secret. See that image above? The straight-out-of-the-camera image looked slightly different.
The little girl was looking off to the side (which is totally normal for a 3-year-old!), so we just did a little head swap and voila…she’s now looking at the camera!
And when I say “we,” I really mean Retouchup. (I have no head swapping skills to speak of, so for me, outsourcing is the way to go.)
Anyway, I say all of that, to let you know that if your munchkins are really wiggly during your photo session and looking anywhere but the camera, don’t despair. When I snap photos of kids, I almost always overshoot, knowing that there might be a head swap or two in post processing.
Thank you, D family, for allowing me to capture these special moments for you!
Want to take some photos at the Bernhard Museum, too?! Let’s chat! Shoot me an email at jennieharlessphotography@gmail.com.
The L Family | Fall Photos
We’re really lucky to live right next door to this sweet family of four.
This was a bittersweet September night for them; their son was heading back to college in the morning.
And I can’t believe their youngest is already a senior in high school.
I felt so honored to be able to capture this precious time in their lives.
Amor, Santino & Hannah
Amor, a longtime friend and fellow choir member from my old church, contacted me requesting that I take photographs of her son and his girlfriend at Folsom Lake.
As you'll see, I took a lot of photos of the couple, but I also snapped a few of mom and son together.
In addition, I took a handful of individual shots of Santino who will be a senior at Casa Roble High School (go Rams!) in the fall. Hello head shot for the yearbook!
Mom brought along two props (a pillow and football), which we used during their session.
As I do before all sessions, I emailed a questionnaire to the family, and Santino filled it out. One of the things Santino mentioned in the questionnaire is that he loves his girlfriend's smile. With that in mind, I focused on capturing as many of her grins as possible.
Enjoy the rest of the summer, Taylor family. Hope to see Santino play football in the fall!
Bartkoski Family Mini-Session
At the end of each year, I create a Facebook post wherein I share my favorite photo from each session I've done. Then, I -- and many of my clients -- ask people to vote for their favorite photo. The individual or family who receives the most votes earns a free mini-session!
In January, the Bartkoski Family won the free mini-session, and I was delighted to photograph them along the Bear River (again!) earlier this month. (You can see their November 2017 session here.)
It's always a fun time hanging out with this family of four. Mom Christa does such a good job coordinating all of their outfits before each session.
What's her go-to store for cute kids' clothes that coordinate?
Old Navy!
It was a pleasure, B family. Let's do it again sometime!
The Woodbridge Family
Such an adorable family of four!
Such a sweet family of four with two beautiful girls! I initially met Mama W through a local mom's group and then got to know her more when both of our oldest children attended the same preschool.
I love that we took the W family photos on their property. I'm sure these images are that much more special because they include their beautiful front yard and backyard -- and a walking trail that runs adjacent to their property.
Oh, and their dog, Linus, was present for the photos. He wasn't interested in sitting (and staying) for any of the posed shots, but in the top left photo, you might have caught a glimpse of him. He's naturally part of the family, so I'm glad he was there in the mix.
I feel lucky to be able to work with so many local families every fall!
The Bartkoski Family
A beautiful location for a beautiful family.
I'm catching up on blogging now that I am not as busy with fall photo sessions.
The Bartkoski family was so much FUN to photograph in late November! If you don't believe me, take a look at the two images below. :-)
Seriously hysterical!! I was laughing so HARD behind the camera as I took the first shot. But I didn't see the second image until I uploaded the photos to Lightroom, and boy, oh boy, was I cracking up at my desk.
The Laird Fam
A fun photo session with this family of four!
It's busy season right now, and I'm loving taking photographs of sweet families like this one!
A BIG thanks to mom and dad who stood right behind me and did who-knows-what to get the kids to giggle. Fist bumps for your efforts!
And one more image -- just because! Isn't the daughter's "scarf" too cute?! It's actually a headband that mom re-purposed. So smart!
If you'd like photos taken of your family this fall, do not delay! I only have two more session openings between now and Christmas. Contact me for more information.
The Tortosa Family
Outdoor family photography can be fun! Especially when a little girl, two dogs, and a river are involved.
It was a pleasure to photograph our good friends, The Tortosa Family, and their two cute doggies last week. As you can see, mom, dad and daughter had fun! They tickled each other and giggled and hugged and walked hand-in-hand and skipped through the Bear River and just generally played for 30+ minutes while I snapped away. Then, the dogs joined us, and from there on out, it was constant stick-throwing and tail-wagging and chasing and shrieking and laughter. An enjoyable session for all!
If you're interested in having me photograph your family before the holidays, please contact me. Currently, I have only a few session openings available in November and December.