Thank goodness I work with great families ...

I have previously worked with this family at a local club. They are great and the kids are awesome. They were one of my last bookings of the season and I was crossing my fingers the weather would hold out. It DIDN'T! The wind was whipping off of the lake like a hurricane. I have never backed off of a spot before trying it ... I couldn't even fathom trying.

We found some secluded outside spots and then when we were fully frozen, headed inside and found an empty room with a fireplace. Worked out pretty well.

Thanks to Amy and Mike. You guys are cool!

I have shot the M. family three times now. I know these kids so well, it's so easy and fun. The oldest boy is my bud. We commuted to school together for a year and we bonded. He is the best. I love the younger kids too ... the daughter has such expressive eyes and the boy is such an imp ... totally my kind of kids! Thanks for sharing with me for an afternoon Kate!

Jill is a very close friend and her husband has the BEST printing business in Northern Jersey! I have known their son since he was 2 years old. He and my son Peter were in the same playgroup and they still see each other to this day ... not as often as we would like though!

Thanks Jill and Jon!

I met up with this family at their backyard and then we went over to an alley in town. I shot them last year and their daughter makes it so easy. She turns it right on for me and it gorgeous ... how easy is that!

Thanks Joe and Mere.

I shot these three pain the butt kids last weekend ...

Only kidding, I LOVE these three kids. The oldest, is my son Michael's best friend, and the youngest is my daughter's best friend. My only hope for our middle kids is that they fall madly in love ... but alas, Jen's daughter is madly in love with someone else and my son Peter has just declared he is marrying a classmate.

Maybe it will work out somehow ....

Two girls, very young cousins, came all the way from central NJ to see me. They are only about a year apart -but- so cute. I can happily tell their moms that they are going to be very close. My daughter lives and breathes her cousin who is a year older. They are going to have such fun times together!

Thanks Kathleen and Jodi for sharing your girls with me!

I met up with Carol and family at a local club. I have never been there in the morning, and was a little hesitant about shooting there at the time. I couldn't have been more pleased with the results. Thanks Carol for making me step out of my late afternoon comfort zone.

Her family was so fun to work with ... thank you for sharing them with me!

I shot my friend Jen's kids and they are always game for something fun. I broke out the flash and played a little with it. I think it came out kind of cool.

I met up with this family in their backyard in Northern New Jersey. It's about as northern as you can go. Miss the turnoff and you are in New York pretty quickly.

This little girl had so much energy it was all mom and I could do to keep up with her. I do love this age. The wobbly walk, the inquisitiveness, the big personalities. Thanks for sharing your daughter with me. She was awesome!

It was a cooooold day for shooting. The temperatures plummeted the day of this shoot and we kept having to head indoors to warm up to keep the kids going. All in all, the kids were awesome to work with. Great fun and willing to smile and have fun on command. Thanks Kristen and Joe (fellow SI-lander!)

Silvia and I have known each other since before the dawn of time it seems. We met through a local newcomers playgroup. We each had one at the time and now we all have three (or more!)

I have seen Silvia's kids grow along side of my own kids. They are great kids and I know now that her son is not allowed anywhere near my daughter when they are in high school ... he is going to be a lady killer!