For this photo session, Karen wanted the focus to be on the kids, but we did stop to take a few family shots, because those are important too.  I have been photographing these kids since they were itty bitty (and actually shot Camilla's birth), so watching them grow through the eyes of my lens has been so fun.  Kids this age have so much energy, and that's what I just love about them.  For the photo session, I try to keep them moving as much as possible so they don't get bored or frustrated. A playground is a great place to capture kids having fun and exploring their surroundings.  

One thing I also LOVE to do with kids in a portrait session is to include their lovie if they have one.  It adds so much emotion to the photos, especially for a mom when you look back on these photos years from now.  My youngest daughter (now 9) was (and really still is though it stays at home now) super attached to her "Mee-Mee", which was a purple baby blanket.  She carried that blanket everywhere when she was little and the photos of her through the years with her blanket are particularly emotional for me.  I am still able to catch a photo with her and her blanket once in a while now, but I know before too long, she will be too old for photos with her lovie.  

So I love that Camilla brought her puppy dog to the photo session. I probably need to put something in my family session guide suggesting that lovies come to the session.  What do you think? Does your child have a lovie?