I am of the age where a number of my friends have small children. Although I have formed very friendly relationships with many of my repeat portrait clients over the years, it is a truly special experience when I get to photograph the children of my nearest and dearest. I have been close friends with LuLu’s parents, Scott and Molly, for many years now. When we met, Scott was teaching at Cannon School with my husband, Mark, and Molly, also a teacher, was his long distance lady friend, traveling to Charlotte from Chestertown, MD for weekend visits. Our friendship was immediate, and we became like family once Molly made the move down in 2006. I had the pleasure of photographing their garden wedding at Molly’s childhood home on the eastern shore of Maryland back in 2009 and, recently, I was honored to have the opportunity to photograph their beautiful daughter LuLu’s first official portrait session in their neighborhood community garden.

LuLu is one of my favorite “small humans”, as I like to call her. She has inherited her parents’ good looks, her father’s sense of humor and her mother’s eclectic style. Since Scott and Molly live in the next neighborhood over, we have had the pleasure of seeing LuLu on a regular basis. I was so excited when Molly said they were ready for LuLu’s first portrait session. Since she is already so familiar with me, I knew we were going to have an exceptional time. LuLu did not disappoint. She even had the good sense to take her first steps just a few days beforehand. What a smart little lady.