{H} Family | West Omaha Family Photography

What does hot chocolate, frost on the ground, and the sweetest little kids all have in common? Oh, just a typical fall morning photo shoot. :) 

Despite the chilly - freeze-your-noses-and-fingers - morning, this family turned up their charm! Even little Miss H gave me a few laughs and made my ridiculous behind-the-camera dorkiness pay off. :) Mama H - you've got yourself an amazing bunch of little people. You should be so proud of that family of yours!

The {W} Family | Omaha Family Photography

Getting a little personal here: when we first moved to Omaha, the thought of not having any family around was daunting. Like sit-in-my-room-with-a-bucket-of-ice-cream kind of sadness! Daily phone calls back home weren't the same as being surrounded by people who care. So when our neighbors moved in a few months later, I jumped on the chance to make them my friends!

Now nearly 7 years later, this dear family became more than just our friends. We've seen each other during our hardest and lowest times. I've seen their teenagers grow from young funny boys to mini adults with jobs and girlfriends! We've laughed and cried and laughed some more. And I stand back amazed at the strength of this mama raising her 4 handsome boys.

Heather,

You are a woman of courage doing an amazing job! Your boys know you love them, and they love you right back! Your house must be chaos with all the wrestling and boy-stuff (coming from someone who knows what living with 4 older brothers is like!), but you make it look so easy! Thanks for hanging out with me for an evening!

~mel

Mr. Ian | Class of 2014 | Omaha Nebraska Senior Photography

Mr. Ian rocked this photo shoot! The early morning light was creamy and perfect! Through all those handsome smiles, you wouldn't even know that it was a bit chilly and windy, especially in the shade. Ian is THRILLED to be a senior this year and is moving on to great aspirations...like being some sort of amazing surgeon!

Good luck to you Ian! 

The {O} Family | Omaha Family & kids photography

In our emails back and forth before the big family photo sesh, this mama warned me - her kids LOVE being photographed! I didn't know who was more excited - me, or the kids! Half way through the session, they were coming up with all sorts of ideas - "how about this pose?" Or "what if we do this for a picture?" and then proceed to make some silly/cool/serious pose. And some of their ideas made for awesome pictures!

What I wasn't quite prepared for, however, was how much they LOVE each other. Sometimes I worry what kind of a reaction I get when I tell the kids to "put your arm around your sister." Maybe some cranky "ew gross" response? Maybe a teasing brother who makes the excuse to pinch his sister? But with this awesome family, I hardly had to remind them - it was just automatic! Their smiles are genuine and their closeness is contagious. Inspiring.

(pssst...I have a secret...some of my favorite pictures are the ones where someone is sideways glancing at someone else! Look at her genuinely laughing at him below!)

Below: TOTALLY the kids' idea to do this pose! Isn't it fantastic???