One of the greatest joys of being a photographer, especially one with a wedding background, is that I often have a front row seat to the creation of new families. Theresa and Reggie had hired me to photograph their wedding back in the day, and when I relocated California, we reconnected for the one year celebration of their beautiful twin girls!

Ava and Lucia couldn’t be sweeter. The bright smiles, the darling giggles, and how inquisitively they investigate everything around them is a wonder to behold.

Can anyone tell me what is cuter than Lucia’s little nose wrinkle when she smiles real big? I can’t think of anything.

The best part of this session is how low-key it is. We just hung out together and let the girls be themselves. Kids naturally show out when they have space to be themselves. Magic always appears during family photojournalism sessions because it has room to breathe.

Something Theresa said after this session has stuck with me.

“I ask myself often ‘If Rachel was here, would she capture my girls feeling safe and loved and having fun?’ Day to day tasks have to happen, but did we have moments worth remembering too?”

I think that’s such a poignant reminder. Because the answer to her second question is YES! There are moments in each and every day that are worth remembering. Even a tiny detail like sweet little rolls in Ava’s arm or the nose wrinkle from Lucia as she grins widely.

Having photographs that capture those organic moments and little “isms” that change so fast is what family photojournalism is all about!