She’s always had a thing for horses.  But until this day, I considered it nothing more than a passing childhood obsession.  Like when I was obsessed with cabbage patch kids.  I’m sure in her mind it’s always been more than that.  And on this day, in my mind, her thing for horses looked much more like the beginning of a lifelong passion.

She was a natural.  She was curious, asking questions non-stop.  She brushed and groomed.  She rode forward, backward, in between cones.  She led.  She road bareback.  She didn’t want to leave.

And I watched this beautiful connection, between her and the horses.  And I couldn’t put my camera down.

In her own words, “It was awesome! I liked riding the horses.  I liked meeting Miss Kathy.  I wasn’t scared at all.  I wish I could stay at the horse farm all day.”

(And I’m off to research riding lessons here in Minnesota!)

When we met up for little Mr. W’s 18-month photos, it was the ninth time I got to photograph this incredible family.  NINTH TIME!  I first met them when big brother J was just three months old.  He was one of my first milestone babies…see a snapshot of his first year below…

And then little brother W was born and become another one of my milestone babies and gave me one of my very favorite photos ever (that one below with smirk and the aviator hat…swoon!).  See a snapshot of Baby W’s first year below…

Well now he’s a toddler, complete with a desire to never stop moving and a personal agenda that may or may not match up with the agenda his parents had in mind.  😉  This may not have been his smiliest photo shoot…and he maybe had planned to go the entire time without giving us a genuine smile…but we got it.  I snagged a sweet smile from him as he snuggled close to his favorite girl, and again toward the end of our time together.  I gotta say though…I love the blue steel images too!  Smiles or not, Mr. W…you are one handsome little guy! And I am one lucky photographer to get to chase you and your big brother around with my camera so often!

I’m an auntie again!  Our newest nephew surprised us by arriving a little bit early, making these maternity photos from a few weeks ago already seem outdated.  I had to share them though, because, isn’t she beautiful?  She is strong, patient, fun…and gorgeous!  And she is an amazing mama!  Maternity photos are so unique…capturing a fleeting time…a time of joy…a time of everything-is-about-to-change…a time of anticipation…preserving a moment of how they were as a family of four.  I’m so glad we ventured out and snagged these photos…even though it was muggy and hot, even though we had five kids with us, even though the dilly bars melted all over them, even though we didn’t plan for the boys to be in the photos.  Because the time is fleeting.  And it’s so fun to have beautiful images to remember it by.

Love you, S Family!  All 5 of you!

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This is one of our favorite family activities.  They get wet, sandy, good and tired.  We watch, laugh, drag them away, clean them off and put them easily to bed.  It’s a win-win for everyone.

It was so fun bringing my camera this time.  I found myself capturing details that I didn’t particularly love about beach days…like the sandy feet and the this-is-going-to-be-a-disaster-to-brush-later hair…because these things are part of a day at the beach.  And while I look at those things and get grumpy thinking about how I’ll have to clean it all off and brush it all out, they don’t see it that way.  They love the sand everywhere.  She loves the hair in her face.  And some day they won’t.  Some day, they will have a grown-up perspective on beach day and they will have to think about how to clean out all the sand, and she will have to get the knots out of her own hair.  But not today.

This boy.  From the moment he entered the world (literally from that moment, because I got to be there and capture it on camera…see below!) he took up a special place in my heart.  He is sweet.  He is adorable.  He is SO loved!  And I feel incredibly blessed to have been his photographer over the past 16 months or so.  Take a look at some images from our sessions together!

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And now he’s one and moving and he has a big announcement to make!  Check out his 1 year session and the big news he is so excited to share!

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Baby T is going to be a big brother and I’m going to get to document their family and new little one for another whole year!  I LOVE my milestone clients!  Here’s what Baby T’s mom shared with me after we wrapped up his milestone package:

Heart bursting with JOY!! LOVE LOVE LOVE each picture!  Truly didn’t know how you were going to capture any shots of our little runner on Sunday.  I’m always left in awe of your talent.  SO blessed you’re our baby paparazzi!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

More information about milestone packages and other photo sessions can be found here!  If you’re interested in birth photography, or a first 48 session at your hospital or birth center, please shoot me an email…I’d love to chat with you!  (staceysutkowski@msn.com)

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