You guys. When a local photographer who is amazing asks you to do a family session for her you say YES and if you’re anything like me, you also get reallllly excited to meet her!!! That’s what it was for me when Danielle asked me about doing some family photos. And let me tell you, I LOVE how they turned out…

We decided to meet at The Cleveland Museum of Art and it turned out to be a beautiful day for the session! Warm, but not too hot, and the timing was perfect to get some pretty backlit golden hour photos!

Since Danielle is also a photographer this session was focused on HER (since she’s usually the one behind the camera)! Capturing sweet moments between her and her family – each member and all of them together. Catherine, the middle child was up first! She was so easy and fun to photograph, you can tell that they have such a special bond together!

Connor was up next! The oldest, at ten already! My favorites of them were the ones they were laughing together. And let it be known that I was definitely laughing behind the lens as well!

After Connor was the youngest with little Hannah! She was a feisty one, but that just made the challenge all the more fun!

I love these images of Catherine and Danielle together. The one of Danielle’s arms open wide and Catherine walking up to her Mama is such a favorite of mine! Of course, who wouldn’t love the one of them laughing together as well? Any time I can snap a photo of someone laughing with their head thrown back like that means the session is more than just a session, but that memories are being made!

Families that love to play and snuggle up close are so fun for me to work with!

I love how the photos of the family as a whole turned out too! I’m not going to lie, the one of Catherine dancing and Hannah crying is one of my favorites because THAT’S REAL LIFE, PEOPLE! Ha! It makes me smile every time I look at it! And even if that one isn’t chosen to be framed or put on a Christmas card, I hope that in the future this family laughs every time they go back to look at that photo!

I always encourage parents to get some photos of just the two of them without the kids. Since Danielle requested this already I was glad we were on the same page!

Nick and Danielle have a great, close bond that clearly came through in their images. They were so easy to photograph and look so in love! It made my job really easy and also just made me really happy!

Getting the image above of their matching tattoos was also really fun!

Like I said: IN LOVE!! And how pretty was this area at The Cleveland Museum of Art?! The overgrown plant/vines above the bench? So gorgeous!!!

Lastly, I encouraged Danielle to let me get a few of just her by herself. I think a lot of photographers – myself included – feel a little funny when it’s just them in front of the camera. I suggested she look at her family and that is where this black and white one came from. I LOVE the way this image shows the emotion behind her love for her family. The next one just shows how seriously beautiful this woman is!! Thanks for such a fun and easy session, Fantis Family!!! I loved getting to be  a part of it and hope you cherish these photos forever!