Just a very quick post….

I’m often asked for tips on how to capture kids in a natural way.

“How do I get my kids to pay attention?”

“How do I get them to smile naturally without saying cheese?”

It doesn’t have to do with how expensive the camera equipment is. Or how you edit a photo in photoshop. It is all in your actions as the photographer. And if you ask a lot of the parents that I photograph for they would probably say something along the lines of, “YOU ACT LIKE AN ABSOLUTE FOOL AND NEVER THINK TWICE!” haha Okay they may not say THAT but I bet they would agree.

This post also goes hand in hand with, “my son/daughter is very hard to capture so good luck.”  All kids are different! You have to change your style up from kid to kid. Sometimes you only have to say their name to get them to look but other children you have to go above and beyond and act as if you’re a kid yourself. Which is NOT hard for me at all.

Here is Ronin, he rocks! He is the kid that will make you WORK for a picture! I LOVE kids like him!
He had found a stick around our area and wanted to hold on to it during photos, completely fine. But that darn stick was then a wand, a symphony baton and at one point I think a sword. The wand, baton and sword were making it hard for me to get Ronin’s eyes looking at me & Mark (aka camera).

Then the stick broke the moment he bent it across his legs (see above)… so I put one half in my mouth and barked like a dog….

It’s always worth it.

The photo God’s were shining down on us for this shoot!
We all drove in from different areas. It began to POOR when we arrived.
All signs were saying this shoot should not take place but we waited it out and….
THANK GOODNESS WE DID!

Great job everyone!

Enjoy your sneak peek!

xoxo
Melinda Ann

Funny fam.

Aww! Brother and Sister

It’s double the giggles and double the grins, and double the trouble if you’re blessed with twins.

~Author Unknown

I had the best time photographing these 5 day old twins, Lily and Leighton. They are absolutely perfect & VERY loved by their big sisters Abby and Ella. Beth (momma to the 4 beautiful girls) posted some pictures on Facebook after the girls arrived and they looked like they were a pretty good size but seeing them in person they are TEENY TINY!!! I could have snuggled them all day!

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek Schelle Family! Congratulations on two healthy and beautiful baby girls! In a few years, when you have 4 tween/teen girls running around and you need some advice on how to survive, I’m sure my parents will be happy to offer some. However, I’m pretty sure we NEVER fought and we were ALWAYS angels! *wink*

xoxo
Melinda Ann

Lily

Leighton (GREAT name!)

teeny tiny ears

and my favorite: Lily’s expression says it all! “Leighton, get your darn head off me!”

The sweetest little reason why:

*I’ve fallen off the face of the earth the past 11 weeks.

*Driving to Martha’s Vineyard by myself was a bad idea. haha

*It takes me a few days to reply to comments, emails and phone calls.

*I start to tear up when Disney commercials come on.

*Between narcolepsy, work, the house and Leighton, I don’t look my best.

*Why your sneak peek is usually a day or two late - MAJOR apologies!

But I wouldn’t have it any other way sweet little baby. Well…. I probably wouldn’t drive to the Vineyard again.

We’re pretty excited for February 8th to come around! I think it’s another girl!

xoxo
Melinda Ann

Happy 1st birthday sweet little girl! We love you so much!!!

xoxo

Melinda Ann

The Ella stare! I hope she always has this look/stare. Some people are born with beautiful relaxed looks… she is one.

She looks like she is up to no good in this pic but I think she is giving her crazy daddy a “You are embarrassing!” look. I had to magnify 300x to show him in her eye for this shot. CRACKS ME UP!

FAV!

She is NOT a fan of things on her head… example #1

Example #2. I would like to put words in her mouth for the right picture….”SUCKAS!”

I’m positive these two were the quietest teenagers I have ever been around! I hope they had fun during their sessions. While one was getting their picture taken the other was behind me doing I don’t know what… no I really don’tknow what because they were extremely sneaky and I couldn’t catch them in action. Well, one time I did catch Alec doing a dance with his hockey equipment on and he still tried to deny he was doing anything.

They are identical twins but have some small differences that if you take your time on who you’re talking to you can get them right. I think/thought I did pretty good. Did I? When I did call them the wrong name I apologized and said how it must be the most annoying thing to be called your brothers name. And unlike a typical teenager that would most likely complain and tell me stories on how they are constantly mixed up they just shrugged and said, “It happens every day. We’re used to it.”  It’s a good thing you two are so laid back about it all because it will probably continue to happen for many years to come since you’re going to go to the same college, same major and possibly work at the same hospital.

Hope you enjoy your sneak peek boys!!!!! I think the Jeep ones are my favorites.

ENJOY!
xoxo

Melinda Ann

I have to start off with the fact that I had a hard time writing Johnson on this post. Numerous times I began with DeJaegher. haha Sorry Mike - I think Amber will always be Amber DeJaegher to me!

Mike and Amber had a BEAUTIFUL wedding celebration on July 3rd! They set-up, the food, the guest and the weather was PERFECT! They were such great sports about leaving right after the ceremony to go take some family pictures. I promised I would get that back in a decent amount of time so that they could actually enjoy their party.

Thank you for thinking of me to capture such a GREAT day for your now family of three!!!! You two are extremely lucky and I couldn’t be more happier for the three of you!

Hope you enjoy your sneak peek!

xoxo
Melinda Ann

OH my lanta! I just love looking at newborns!!!! Reece is SOOOOOO cute! Such a sweet baby sleeping through everything

I love this family and their sweet little girls! I can’t believe that Tessa is already turning one! It seems like just a few months ago I was taking her newborn photos.

I hope you enjoyed your quick Northern Michigan trip Odom family! It is always a great time with you! Lot’s of laughs with your silly girls.

Enjoy

Melinda Ann

xoxo

My Georgia Peach cousins did their annual summer trip up to Michigan but this is the first year that they added Traverse City to their plan. I’m pretty positive that we are now on their route every year! YIPPEE!

Ronnie, Heather, Tyler, Hunter and Parker - We adore you guys and you’re welcome back anytime! Of course we had a blast and we hope that your stay will be a bit longer next time. I promise not to leave for a vacation next time too. haha

I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. You were a blast, as always!

MUAH!!!!

xoxo
Melinda Ann

Tyler - As the oldest, it’s great that you still find your dad funny because your brothers are getting to the age where they do not. haha

Hunter - I think you look very grown up in these pics. :*)

Parker - You’re hilarious! I’m glad you received the “Watkins Wit”

I love family photos like this! Where they are just caught being themselves.

It started to rain during these shots, so we had to act quick. Parker is extremely apprehensive of being next to Tyler because 10 minutes prior Parker hit Tyler in the ear with a weed. I might have been the one to egg that on. OOPS!

CUTE!!!!

A week ago I went out to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts to shoot this beautiful family of three! (my baby sister lives out there so I was able to get some sister time) Their sneak peek couldn’t have happened at a better time because just two days ago was their Finalization Day for their son Angus aka GUS!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

In the first 5 minutes of meeting you I could tell that there is no shortage of love for Gus! He  is so lucky to have you two and of course, you’re just as lucky to have him.

I hope you had as much fun as I did!

And I hope you are SUPER happy with this gift!

Enjoy!

xoxo

Melinda Ann

Now THAT is a great start to a shoot!

This one is my favorite though!

Happiest baby ever!

DAD - You mess with the bull you get the horns!!! haha