The Pitroff Portraits! ~ Tacoma Family Photographer

As far as repeat clients are concerned, I consider myself pretty blessed.  Many of my friends trust me to take their portraits, and many of my clients become my friends.  I have known the Pitroff family for about 7 years now, and I've had the pleasure of doing their first maternity photos, newborn photos for their first child, and a family session when they were expecting their 2nd.  This time around, as you might be able to tell, their 3rd baby was within days of arriving, and their shoot hummed with the love and mutual anticipation that was fitting for that season of their lives.

Speaking of seasons (even though it's now fall), we did this session while it was still summertime: warm, bright, and relaxed, with bright bursts of blinding sunshine to boot!  The light was fun to work with, and the Pitroffs were dressed with appropriately bright, fashionable attire, which worked out quite nicely.

Their son, Elias, was very compliant, goofy, and happy (woohoo!), while their daughter, Evelyn, was not having the easiest day.  To be honest, this predicament is so normal that I am more surprised when all the children in a family are cheerful and in good moods for our photo shoot.  Most often, one or all of the kids in a family are "off," and the photos still turn out just fine.  I always say, the camera doesn't know what was going on before the shutter went off, and it has no idea if the smile it captured was surrounded by 20 minutes of frowning.  I love how cameras have that ability!  I also love how older siblings have the ability to draw their younger siblings out of a funk, which happened several times on this particular day.  For a perfect example of this, take note of the adorable shots of Elias peeking through the screen door at his sister.  It was so precious!

At the end of the day, we left Bothell Landing (which is an excellent location- I highly recommend it) with worn-out children (them) and memory card full of gold (me).  I came away with so many winners that it was hard to narrow them down!  Thankfully, this is a problem I love to have.  :)

This one almost has a "secret garden" kind of feel to it.

Mother and son.  So sweet!

Doesn't every woman want her husband to look at her this way?  

The sunlight blasting through this gazebo/ bell tower was gorgeous!

This is the tickle tactic in action.  I don't know whether she was crying or laughing in this one, but it looks good regardless!

I was so glad to get some sweet smiles out of Evelyn.  She is such a cutie!

I love how much Sara (the Mama) laughs.  What joy!

The kids were having quite a fun game of peek-a-boo with this screen door, and it was pure magic for photos.  I was glad to be in the right place at the right time!

Ah, what a wonderful family.  I just love 'em!  Don't you?  :)  Stay tuned for the next couple of years and I'm sure you'll see more of them, with more little cuties running around, too!  

~ Kathryn