Doug + Ambriel + Teddy + Ben= Kansas City Family Photography

Wow, I love capturing memories for families, and I am so flippin' lucky that sometimes I get to capture a big moment in a family's life.  My friend, Liz, contacted me a few weeks ago about Ambriel and Doug and their boys.  I was going to be in Kansas City, and a group of friends decided that this family deserved the gift of a photo session to capture their love, laughter, joy and strength.  Boy, did they ever!!

Teddy, the little guy in the super cute fox hat, has been battling a brain tumor for the past year.  He is sweet, and joyful, and simply adorable and I fell in love with both him and his little brother Ben immediately! I'm sure the past year can't have been easy on any of these four, but there wasn't ANY difficulty in finding joy and laughter with my camera lens.  Holy Moly we had so much fun together, and I am so honored that you guys trusted me to capture some of the magic that you share.  

Before we did the shoot we weren't aware of this, but about a week ago, Teddy was found to be completely CANCER FREE!!!  There is no sign of disease, and even though he will have a long road ahead, he has the best parents and little brother in the business to love him through it.  Just look at this gorgeousness!!

When we were thinking of places to shoot, we didn't want to go too far from home, and we totally didn't have to, because when your home is this cute, why get photographs anywhere else? Am I right?

Ben is ADORABLE.  He is such an explorer, and wanted to get everywhere, and get there fast!

this next black and white is definitely my favorite.  SNUGGLES!!

We walked down their beautiful street to an awesome fence covered in ivy at the end... And right as we were taking this photo, a bus came by, which brought huge smiles to both the boys' faces!  It was great to see how excited Doug got with them.  I love when parents can find the magic with their kids in everyday things.

Happy Daddy, Happy Boys!

Side note... Ambriel, I don't know what you do for your skin, but share your secret with the rest of us please, because you have the PERFECT alabaster complexion...seriously creamy perfection!  

Ummm.. I can't decide, this might be my favorite, too ;-).

Thanks so much to Ambriel, Doug, Teddy and Ben for agreeing to your friends' crazy idea to do a photo shoot!  It was a honor to spend an afternoon with you guys.  I hope I get to photograph you all again when Ben is talking and there is peach fuzz growing on Teddy's little head... that is to say SOON!  

Won Family=LAUGHS | Phoenix Family Photography| Indian Steel Park

I was so very lucky to get the chance to second shoot a session with my good friend Angela over at Angela Dimler Photography.  She had met the awesome Won family through friends, and we spent a super fun Saturday morning capturing the first professional photos they had taken as a family ever!!!  I was mostly kiddo wrangler for the morning, so this is a short post, but I was able to get a few good shots in and wanted to share them.  Enjoy!!!

Vivi decided she would rather "climb daddy" than pose for a photo at that moment.  She has such a big personality, and I know she will be a little leader wherever she goes, this photo just captures her so well, I think.  I hope everyone is laughing about it when she is a teenager!  Sometimes the moments between the "traditional" photos turn out to be my faves!

You guys, Andy was SO HAPPY that he found this leaf.  SO AMAZINGLY HAPPY!!  I'm pretty sure we were all smiling and laughing as he took it around to show everyone this SUPER EXCITING LEAF!  Unfortunately leaves are delicate, and a two year old boy doesn't always jive with that concept...but it was a beautiful relationship while it lasted :-).

It was ballet recital day, so she had to practice her moves with daddy.  I melt when I look at them.  Phil (my super cute boyfriend) saw these photos, sighed, and said that he wants moments like this when he has a daughter...and I just completely turned into a puddle on the floor.  

Hello Won Family!!!

I mean, can you even?  Such a little cutie!!!

So I'm gonna get on my little soapbox here.   Angela was running the kiddos around for a few shots, and so I got Leah and Mike (aka Mom and Dad) to pose for a few shots with me.  After we got them, Leah said "We haven't done that since our wedding photos!"  And the heavens rejoiced because now they have an updated photo of their love in present day!!  So often I have parents say "Oh, you don't need photos of me" and my answer is always the same.  "I might not, but you do and your kids do, too!"  Can you imagine growing up with this reminder of how much your mom and dad adore each other on the wall? I'm getting all puddly on the floor again...

I don't think anybody in the history of the world has ever been this happy to have some princess bubbles.  I wonder where he gets all this enthusiasm from...

Ahh... there it is ;-).

And we end with my two favorites.  SO MUCH FUN, THIS FAMILY!  I hope you enjoy your photos, and that we get to play again sometime soon!