Our 2018 holiday family photos
It’s family photo time! We’re so happy with how these turned out, and I wanted to share them with you. When I look at these pics, and when I think about the fact that we have our little Brady and our Rudy too — well, it makes me very grateful — that’s for sure.
By the way, we’re still in Florida, soaking up one more day of warmth, humidity and some of our favorite people. We’re heading back tomorrow though, which is always bittersweet. I hope you had a nice holiday weekend and are feeling ready to get into the Christmas spirit. I am! 🙂
Our 2018 holiday family photos
This year, we used Laura Michele Photography. Laura is a super sweet Les Mills group fitness-loving gal, who reached out to me on Instagram. She is based in Santa Clara and works all over the Bay Area.
We did our photos on a Sunday afternoon, and I knew I wanted to take at least a few inside our home, because it’s our first year in the house. And then we moved outdoors to Larkey Park in Walnut Creek, just a couple minutes away from us for a more fall-like feel.
We’ll start with my favorite shot of the batch …
It seriously melts my heart when Brady sucks his pointer finger. He does it when he is tired or nervous. So it seemed fitting we capture it in one of the last pictures we took that day.
And some others …
A few solo shots of our guy playing in the leaves … which took zero staging at all … we just put him in the leaves and he knew what to do. I think he liked the sound of the crunching.
Brady wasn’t really all that into the photos overall though. He was pretty good when we were outside, especially when he got to play in the leaves, but when we were inside the house, he tried to escape every single time we picked him up for a shot. He’s a busy guy and doesn’t sit still even for an instant. The outtakes were great!
Oh, and of course, Rudy joined us for the inside photos, because he’s a big part of our fam. And Rudy kills it in the photos, every single time. I struggled with whether he should come to the park with us too, but ultimately, we decided it would be easier to get the pictures done with just one little guy to hold.
A few in front of the fireplace in the family room …
One of just Dave and me in the office (while Rudy and Brady were crawling around the floor by our feet) …
One in the living room reading a book — which is something Brady loves to do, and we do with him every single day …
And one in the nursery, which is the coolest shot of the whole bunch …
It will be hard to narrow down to a few for our holiday cards, but I hope to be making that decision this week.
We not only wanted to get pictures taken for the holidays this year, but we also want to get some enlarged for the walls at home, because we have one last room with blank walls just waiting to be decorated. I’m happy to say that these photos will get lots of use.
Photographer Discount
If you’re in the Bay Area and in need of a photographer, who is not only talented, but also really great with babies, then give Laura Michele a call. She does newborn, family and more. (Special thanks to Laura for giving us such a sweet deal!)
Laura brought a little wooden clicker shaped like an avocado that helped get Brady’s attention, and she was sweet enough to give it to him at the end of our session — he loves it.
If you mention A Lady Goes West, she’ll give you $20 off your session, and the first three people to book will also get three free high-res digital images. Whoot!
The dress I’m wearing
By the way, this is the dress I’m wearing in the photos. It’s new, totally reasonably priced and very comfortable. And here is Brady’s outfit, another recent sale purchase.
Have a wonderful start to your week, my friends! xoxo
Questions of the day
Did you take holiday pictures this year?
Do you send out holiday cards?
How was your weekend?
Are you excited for Christmas?
Aw they turned out so well! They’re really cute.
Thanks, Heather! I just love documenting little Brady growing up! So much bigger than his newborn pics this time last year. Happy Monday, lady! 🙂
These pictures are absolutely gorgeous, Ashley {geez do you ever take an even semi-bad photo?} What a beautiful and happy family you have created.
Xoxo.
Oh believe you me — there were some bad ones in the bunch! ehehhe So YES many a terrible photo of me occurs on the regular. But you are so sweet. Thanks, Court! 🙂 Ohhhhh and thanks for ordering Beautycounter too!!! I know you will love it! 🙂 Happy Monday, my friend!
Hi Ashley, I loved your family photos. Of course I liked the ones with Brady the best. They all turn out beautifully (at least the ones we saw). We don’t get pictures taken that often. Lately whenever we are on a cruise we get some good photos taken on the ship. Good thing we have gone on several cruises lately. Glad the temperature was warm for your visit to Florida. Starting Tuesday it is going to get pretty chilly here for the rest of the week. Nothing like in the midwest. Hope the air is much cleaner when you get home. I guess the fire is pretty much out. Have a save trip home.
Ohhh yes, it’s awesome to get photos taken on the cruise ship when you are having fun and/or all dressed up! 🙂 Happy Monday, Richard!
Wow, love the pictures. They turned out amazing. Good luck deciding on what to use for the Christmas card. I don’t think you can go wrong though. They are all great.
Thank you so much, Dena! 🙂 You are sweet! Have a great week!
Brady (playing in the Leaves), the most beautiful blue eyes I have ever seen. (The eyes have it)!
Ohhhh thank you, Doris! I love his bright blue eyes — he gets them from his daddy!
Oh my goodness…these are all so amazing! How will you pick one for your card?! Brady is such a combo of you and your husband…so cute!!
Thank you, Heather! I can’t tell who he looks like, so I like to hear from others that he’s a mixture heehheh! 🙂
Gorgeous photos! Your hair looks different, blonder maybe? Love the color.
Rudy doesn’t look impressed. Lol
Also, you mentioned you were driving through Gainesville, funny we were there doing the college tour on Tuesday. My daughter loves loves loves it. Did you go to UF?
Hi Karen! Yes — I got some new highlights in my hair about a week before these pictures — and the light seemed to hit those to make them look even lighter hehehe. YES, I went to UF! LOVEDDDD it so much! I went to the College of Journalism and Communications there. There’s SO much for everyone at UF — so I would highly recommend it for your daughter. 🙂
Love the pics!!! I am so bummed I have still not met Brady in person! He is so cute!
My dear friend! I knowwwwww — when we visit over the holidays, it goes by so quickly — and we didn’t ever make it up to your neck of the woods. I really hope you get to meet him next time. We HAVE to make it happen. There’s always a room for you in SF if you want to visit before then! 🙂 Miss you!!
Beautiful pictures of a beautiful family, doggy and all!!