It was another unusually mild and beautiful winter day, so we headed out to the Woodend Nature Preserve in Chevy Chase to explore, play, and get some great pictures of these cousins enjoying their time together.  They were so easy going, natural, fun, and FUNNY.   They had me giggling as they horsed around.  What a joy watching them just be kids!

I hope you can feel their bright personalities shine in these images because these kids are AWESOME!

Thanks, kids, it was fun.

As I went down in the river to pray

Studying about that good ol’ way

And who shall wear the starry crown?

Good Lord show me the way!

O sisters let’s go down

Let’s go down, come on down

O sisters let’s go down

Down in the river to pray

I love this these sweet children.  They are special friends to my own girls, and their parents are all around very rad, hip, and cool, and most importantly, faithful friends of ours.

We went down to the river this evening to this sweet spot in Rock Creek Park.  These children love to play in the river, and I loved being out there with them.  I’ll definitely be taking my own children back to this special spot.  Thanks for sharing it with me!

The very talented Roseberrys have been our friends for years.  When I was in college dating Alex long distance, they always welcomed me in their home.  When my oldest was born, Stacy listened and helped as we tried to figure out how to be parents.  And whenever we’re traveling to Dallas or Colorado, we check to see if they’ll be there too.

Our paths continue to cross so often, and that’s good thing.

Stacy also designed my logo.  Her eye for design is slick and modern, and I wish she could come help me decorate my home.

It was great seeing you all again, catching up, and playing with your children who are growing up too quickly.  You guys are beautiful!

Photographers can give you some beautiful photos with wonderful colors, composition, and focus.  And that’s a wonderful thing!  It takes a lot of knowledge and practice to deliver that consistently.

The most important part of the pictures, though, are the people in it.  Sometimes it doesn’t matter if the lighting is too harsh or the background isn’t pretty or the pose is terrible (see photo #1) or there’s a screaming kid in it (see photo #1, again), if the people you love most are in it and it captures them at that time, it can be one of your favorites.

So take lots of photos this summer.  There are a lot of fun opportunities to capture your family and friends in this season.  Don’t be embarrassed to get in there and demand a group shot.  Everyone will be glad that you did.

There are many simple ways to help you take better photos.  Here are a few.

1.  Practice.  I got a new camera last week, and I’m reading my manual, learning the controls, and practicing.  Every camera is different.  The better you know it, the better you will be.

Here’s Eloise being my practice subject.  Such a sweet practice subject she is!

2.  Step in front of a window, or better yet, a door.  Have your child right inside looking out at you.  This way you get a even light without the harsh light or shadows.

3.  Talk to your subject.  One dad recently laughed saying “awkward” as I pointed the camera at him.  It can be a little funny, especially for adults.  So talk about sports, the weather, political scandals.  Be a little silly and your subject will lighten up for you.  Or talk to you, too, like this one of Eloise.  And that’s great.  Just toss the talking photo and keep the smile of her after she tells her punch line.

4.  Oblige your subject.  If she wants to do a ballet pose, let her.  If she wants to show you her new stickers, let her.  If she wants to take your photo and you’re crazy enough to give her the camera, do it, with caution.  Give her something first and I bet she’ll cooperate with you later.

5.  Photograph them doing things they like.  Happy children make for memorable and good photos.  Like eating.  Who won’t smile when eating a muffin.

6.  Play pee-a-boo with your camera.  Get’s the 1 year olds every time.  It sometimes works on the dads too.  Nothing like making a fool out of yourself to get someone to relax, laugh, and give you a real smile.  Not the stiff fake stuff.

7.  And, like I said before, let them take a photo of you.  I had a big brother once who was not very interested in the photo session.  He was also tired of wrangling the younger siblings.  So I told him I needed him to take some photos of me after the session and he lit up.  Of course it was a risk to hand over my camera, but the risk was small and well worth the smile he gave me.

Take lots of photos of your children.  They are precious!