Indianapolis Lifestyle Photographer | casey and her camera

I’ve had this vision in my head for a while now, and every time I would go to the gym for cardio (there’s just something about cardio that makes me fixate on one thought) I would create elaborate scenarios of my idea playing out. It all takes place in the front room of my house and it’s something like a mini session. I can’t give away too much, though, because I’m shooting to make this happen next year. We just haven’t been in our house long enough, yet, to make it possible for 2015.

It involved sugar and people who love each other. What’s not to love!?

So, I reached out for a volunteer family and this family was lucky enough to be first in line. In short, I asked them to allow me to visit their home for a Valentine’s Day lifestyle session involving cookies and cupcakes and frosting… and toddlers! My only requirements were the goods were to be home baked. That’s it. And I struck serious gold with this family.

You see, Valerie and Eric cook and bake together regularly, so this session was nothing out of the ordinary for them, and Cameron gets to help out however he can. All three of them are fantastically good natured and easy going and didn’t mind spending the morning eating nothing but sugary treats. Although I’m not entirely sure Cameron knew what was going on at first…

But then he discovered the cookies. The rest was beautiful.

A huge thank you to the Young’s for inviting me into their home, for being so easy-going, and for allowing me to pump their child completely full of sugar. Your boy can come down from a sugar high in the most graceful way I’ve ever seen a child do. I’ll share that with you all on another blog. 😉

Your willingness to sit in tiny chairs at tiny tables and help Cam discover the art of decorating cookies and cupcakes was absolutely heartwarming. Right down to the spilled sprinkles and the abandoned sugar cookie on the floor.

See, check out that abandoned cookie. That was when he discovered cupcakes in the image below it. 

The sprinkles had red lips in them. And yes, he’s picking them off of the cupcakes and eating them. 🙂

I have to take a minute to talk about the tiny table. You see, this wasn’t just a prop for the shoot – this is their kitchen table. They have an adult-sized set in the dining room, but since (get your hearts ready) Cameron is the focus of their lives, this is their primary table they eat meals at together. Ohhhh, the feels. <3

Cameron is able to learn all sorts of life skills by sitting at a table with his parents for dinner that may not normally come until a later age. I’m pretty sure this is the most advanced almost-two year old I’ve ever met. He’s already started reading, has table manners, and will surely lead his friends in dinner parties as an adult.

Of course, it’s not easy to keep a toddler at a table if they have the freedom to get up and run circles around the house in between bites. Valerie and Eric shared that this often happens at other meals, too, and not just the sugared-up snack time I was seeing. Sometimes Cameron will take off and leave them sitting at the table together like any other couple at dinner time. Except in these cases, their knees some above the table. 😉 So it was perfect when Cam took off on some laps and I was able to get a few shots of them at the table sans-toddler. It’s just perfect.

It’s official – one of the best things you can do is teach your child to ‘cheers’. And to cheers EVERYTHING. Cupcakes, cups, cookies, milk. Doesn’t matter. CHEERS!!

Ah, to be small enough to sit on chairs this way again. Or to have big enough chairs….

Don’t think I forgot about the FREE SESSION WINNERS!! YAY! I could never forget, I’ve been anxiously watching the votes climb all week!

First off, I want to say that those of you who were nominated ALL deserve to win. You are each blessed to have such amazing people in your lives who recognize your greatness. And then came the votes – I was overwhelmed with all the support you received (and solicited, lol) from your friends and family. Each day as the votes went up, my heart swelled a bit, too, to have the potential to work with such deserving individuals.

So without further adieu, the winners of the Indiana and Michigan FREE SESSIONS are…

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Contact me to schedule and book your free session. Let me know what type of session you’d like (family, lifestyle, senior) and what your ideal month would be for it and I’ll get back to you with some options for dates and contracts to get you booked!

Plus….

…coincidentally enough, my other two nominations TIED, and in a close second to the first placers, and since I’m really feeling the LOVE on this Valentine’s Day, I’ve decided to award my second place winners with a FREE SHORTIE SESSION!

Congrats, girls! Contact me to schedule and book your shortie session – all awarded sessions must be booked in 2015. Note: awarded shortie sessions can be family, lifestyle, or senior, as well.

And with that, I want to wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day. I wish you a day filled with love and laughter, hugs and sweet treats. Spoil yourself a bit today and smile at a stranger.

And for goodness’ sake, eat a cupcake. <3

casey and her camera is an Indianapolis Lifestyle Photographer specializing in family, couple, lifestyle, senior, and wedding photography for Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding areas.