Bottle It Up

What if you could step back in time and re-live a day of your childhood? Imagine being able to see what your home and parents looked like through adult eyes, hear the laughter and feel the love that surrounded you. Imagine seeing your mom's hands care for you, or the adoration on her face as she showered you with kisses. Imagine seeing your dad tickling you as you squealed with laughter.  

Now you can give this gift to your kids. 

A few weeks ago I joined the Hales family for an ordinary Saturday morning at home. The sun was shining, the trees were blossoming, and I felt like I stepped into a little piece of heaven within their warm, loving home. 

I created a film and photos to bottle up a little bit of this wonderful season of life for them. Press play and take a little peek.

Britney is a talented photographer and videographer herself, so why would she want someone else to do this for her? Because now SHE is in them. Now her kids get to see the full story, the story that she plays a major role in. 

If you are dying to bottle up the season of life you are in, let me know! My summer schedule is filling up quickly, so let's snag you a date before they are gone. 

Welcoming Baby Carter

"Would you rather do the pictures in a studio?"

"No, let's do it at my parent's house. This is the stage of life we're in right now, and I want to remember it."

This conversation I had with Heidi when she contacted me about booking a newborn session made my heart soar. Isn't it wonderful when your oldest, dearest friends keep popping into your life? Heidi was one of my best friends in high school, and she continues to teach me things, inspire me, and bless my life. 

Austin is in medical school, so after living across the country for a few years they have been able to stay with Heidi's parents for a while before their next big adventure (aka cross country move). 

In this Pinterest fueled world where we all feel the pressure to keep up "picture perfect" appearances, especially when it comes to actual pictures, there is so much beauty and freedom that comes from embracing your life just the way it is. 

And the best part? These adoring, doting Grandparents were able to be included in the session too.

My very favorite part was when Heidi cuddled up next to her parents on the couch and everyone realized that baby Carter has Grandpa's chin, and Grandma teared up. It was such a beautiful moment.

Can you imagine having pictures that really captured what life was like for your family when you were born? The home you were brought to, and the love that surrounded you there? To me, those pictures would be priceless. 

5 on 5 | Muffins

It was a quiet afternoon.

Chloe was napping, and after a 30 minute quiet time (aka "mommy needs to lay in bed by herself and regain her sanity" time) Madi was ready for my complete, undivided attention again. Just like she has been since the day she was born. (Seriously though). I really wanted to clean my kitchen and make dinner, so I asked if she wanted to make muffins ALL by herself. Secretly I didn't think she could do it, but really just wanted her occupied so I could get things done. 

But she did it!! I read her the recipe, and she did everything except for chopping the apples. Then suddenly I realized how crazy fast she is growing. How a few months ago she couldn't pour the vanilla while holding the spoon without spilling it everywhere, but now she can. So I grabbed my camera and took some pictures.

I want to remember my Madi when she was big enough to make muffins all by herself, but little enough to still want to be near me all day long.

I'm pretty sure half the batter made it in the pan, and half went in her mouth. That's what we called made with love. But don't worry- we didn't share these ones. 

And just because I love it when friends share recipes with me, here is the recipe to these yummy muffins. If you have a powerful blender and like making healthy snacks for your family, you'll love them! You're welcome! ;) 

Now it's time for you to head on over to my friend Jenny's blog (a Southern Michigan Documentary Photographer) to see the beautiful story she told this month.

5 on 5 | Alive

After a long, snowy, gray winter (the gray part kills me more than the snowy part) the sun finally came out. And now I feel alive again!

It's funny how you don't even realize how cooped up and blue you feel until you get outside and see those gorgeous skies and feel that beautiful, glorious SUN. 

To celebrate, I surprised my girls with a picnic at our very favorite place- the farm.

I even climbed up into the tree house, awkwardly squeezing into the tiny entrance so we could have a magical picnic inside. It ended up being more like a cramped, "don't let your food even get close to the ground or walls because they are super gross" kind of picnic, but that was ok too. 

We finished our food, played "duck duck goose", and then emerged from the tree house covered in dirt and yogurt to find a friend playing below. A little embarrassed I laughed and told the mom "oh, the girls begged me to go up there with them" which was a total lie. Sometimes I just like to revert back to my childhood a little bit. 

I'm not sure who had more fun. The girls making "collections" of rocks and sticks and getting lost in their imaginary world, or me quietly watching and taking pictures of them. 

The trip wouldn't be complete without not one, or two, but three trips to the bathroom for this little newly potty trained girl. We probably spent half our time trekking to the bathroom and back. But hey, she didn't have an accident so I'm not complaining! 

To make this picture I squatted the same position for 20 minutes while they chatted away, just waiting for them to look at each other at the same time. I was about to give up when BAM the moment happened. 

I thought for a minute about how funny I must look, but I didn't even care. Photography is my play. It felt so GOOD to be out there soaking in the sun, getting lost in my own little world and making art just for the pleasure of doing it.  

Because it's ridiculously hard to tell this story in just 5 images, you can check out the rest here. :) 

Now head on over to my friend Margaret's blog (a Documentary Photographer in Spokane, WA) to see the adorable story she told this month. 

Welcoming Baby Simon

Five years ago my husband and I took our brand new baby girl to a photo studio to get our first "official" family pictures taken. 

Honestly, I treasure those photos. And every single other photo shoot we've done. Because I love pictures and think they are important. 

But something my husband said afterwards has been stuck in my head ever since. He said "I wish we had pictures that were more US."

Now, five years later, THESE are the kind of pictures I wish I had to document that time in my life. 

Pictures that captured not only our faces, but the home we brought our baby to and the love that surrounded her there. What our life looked like and felt like during that stage. 

I have to confess that before this session I thought I'd be pretty content having all girls. But now I feel like I need a boy. Have you ever seen cuter little boys?? I haven't. My camera couldn't stay away from them. 

Baby Simon is so lucky to be born into such a beautiful, warm, loving family, and I feel so lucky to have been able to document this special time for them.

5 on 5 | Mornings

Morning might be my favorite time of the day. 

My oldest is in afternoon Preschool, so most of our mornings are still pretty slow and peaceful. Especially in the Winter when we are sick and stuck inside (come back, sun!). I know the clock is ticking and these days of lazy mornings won't last much longer, so I wanted to document them how they are right now.

Chloe is in her last days of sleeping in a crib. Every morning Madi comes to find me and says "Mommy, Chloe is ready to get up! I pinky promised her I would tell you." I always look forward to kissing those sweet little cheeks when I get her out of bed. 

She always wants to bring her "soft blankie" with her when she gets out of bed, so I wanted to make sure and include that in the picture.

First thing every morning Madi looks out her window to check the weather. Then all morning long she tells me "Mommy! It looks like Spring outside! It seriously does. I'm not even kidding. It just looks like a really cold Spring day."

We might be a little bit excited for Spring around here.

Daddy isn't usually home in the mornings, so when he is we definitely enjoy our cuddles. This is my favorite picture of the year so far. I especially love that Daddy still has his nasal strip on, which he usually forgets to take off for quite a while. 

For breakfast we usually have oatmeal, or cheerios with bananas and honey. I wanted to document those plastic little colored bowls, because even though they cause a ridiculous number of meltdowns and arguments (next time I'm totally buying all of one color), I know they won't always be around.

They aren't super exciting or glamorous, but to me these pictures are priceless because they preserve a memory and bring back a feeling. The feeling of a calm, peaceful, lazy Winter morning. 

Since it's always super hard to narrow down the pictures to 5, you can check out the rest here.

Now head on over to visit Blimie T, a family storytelling photographer in Milwaukee, and see how creatively she tells the story of a delay at the airport. 

All Together

2 parents, 9 kids (+spouses), and 23 grandkids with 2 on the way. 

It isn't very often that they are all together in the same place, but when they are it is a party! I was lucky enough to spend a beautiful November afternoon right before Thanksgiving with this big, beautiful family and document some of their time spent at Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

After taking some group photos I hung out while everyone played, made snowflakes, and enjoyed hot chocolate with sprinkles. I felt like a kid at a candy store with so much chaos and so many fun moments happening everywhere I turned. 

I hope that years from now when they are flipping through photo albums and come across these pictures, lots of treasured memories will come flooding back and they will remember what it felt like to be all together.

If you love the idea of un-conventional extended family photos that preserve your memories of time spent together (so you don't have to be behind a camera the whole time), get in touch! I'd love to answer any questions you might have.

5 on 5 | Christmas Memories

I remember one Christmas when I was a teenager when I was a little bit disappointed with what I got (or didn't get). I'm embarrassed to admit it, but I was sulky for a little while.

I seriously want to go back and slap my teenage self in the face and yell "THAT IS NOT WHAT MATTERS."

Because now opening presents on Christmas morning isn't even my favorite part of the day. I mean yes, it is exciting and fun to get gifts to give gifts. But my very favorite part of this Christmas was just spending time with family. 

The older I get, the faster time seems to be going. I've suddenly been hit with the harsh reality that things don't ever stay the same for long. So this year I soaked in every minute of watching my kids play with their Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and cousins. There is something so magical about sharing your kids with your family, and watching their relationships grow. There were so many perfect little moments of laughter, love and perfect happiness that I just wanted to freeze and remember forever. 

The part where we were all hit with a nasty stomach bug though, that part I wouldn't mind forgetting. ;) 

The day after Christmas we dug through the bins of snow gear my parents had saved over the years, grabbed tubes we used for the pool in the summer, and walked over to a little tiny hill down the street. 

Even though it was such a simple little thing, the kids had a BLAST. They could have stayed there all day if we had waterproof gloves for them all. :P 

It ended up being one of my favorite memories from this holiday season.

Now head on over to see some foggy day photos by Blimie T, a Family Documentary Photographer in Milwaukee, WI. 

2016 | In Review

Overwhelmed.

That's how I feel right now, looking through some of my favorite photos from the year.

Sometimes you get so busy worrying about how far you have to go that you forget to stop and appreciate how far you've come. This post is my pause.

2016 was my first official year in business, the year I found my voice as a photographer, and the year I received unbelievable support from so many wonderful people. 

There is a story behind each one of these pictures that holds a place in my heart.

First of all, congratulations on making it through all 1,000 pictures (ok, only 57. But still).

Second, to say thank you to all of you wonderful people for such an amazing year, I want to do something to give back. 

I'm giving away a storytelling session to a deserving family or couple, nominated by you.

If you know of a deserving family who would be thrilled to have pictures to document their beautiful everyday life, send an email to stephwoodwardphotos@gmail.com and let me know:

a. their contact info

b. a little bit about their story, and why you are nominating them

The session will take place in February, either at their home or one of their favorite places. 

Thank you all- from the bottom of my heart- for your love and support. Here's to a new year full of many more beautiful little moments.

The Good 'Ol Days

Crammed between my brothers and sisters in a warm mini van on a freezing Christmas Eve, singing "Jingle Bells" at the top of our lungs and feeling completely happy, content and safe.

Baking our favorite peanut butter chocolate chip cookies from my mom's well used, very stained Betty Crocker cookbook on Sunday evenings. Grabbing the cookies straight off the cookie sheet, and blowing furiously before shoving them in our mouths. 

Relaxing on the couch together in the evenings, listening to my Dad read "The BFG" while my mom played with my hair.

Growing up in a family of 8, things were often chaotic and messy. We argued a lot. My little brother drove me CRAZY sometimes, and my sister and I couldn't seem to get out the door to school in the mornings without yelling at each other because "that's what I was going to wear!!". 

But lately I've been missing those simple, everyday moments a whole lot. My heart aches for the good ol' days when we all lived under one roof, sharing life together. The good, the hard, the happy and the crazy.

When the wonderful Tomlinson family contacted me about an at home session and I found out they were also a family of 8, I was SO excited. They are right in the middle of those "good ol' days" where everyone is under the same roof, and I couldn't wait to capture for them the photos I wish I had of my own family.   

"Change is the only constant in life". Even though the stage of life you are in right now seems like it will last forever-- it won't. And these everyday moments are the ones you will miss the most. 

Want to capture the wonderful, crazy life you are living right now? Let's talk! I can't wait to tell your story through photographs so one day you can look back on the "good ol' days" and have those memories come flooding back. 

If you're itching to see more family stories, check out this one and this one.