journal

There are so many reasons why this Charlotte styled Motherhood session meant so much to me! As many of you know, we are now sharing our time between both the Queen City and our beloved California. One of the most special things about expanding our network to include Charlotte, is that my brother, sister-in-law and nieces are here! It is the absolute best. Sunday dinners … and birthdays … and soccer games … and dance recitals. Living within close proximity to family again means more to me than I can adequately express.

So when I recently had some exquisite new vendors to add to Kent Avenue’s Client Wardrobe, guess who I called to see if they might help me showcase these new offerings?! Yup! The girls. They were so gracious to let me come and do a little relaxed styled session for them. We had a lot to celebrate … the approaching Mother’s Day holiday and their own mama’s birthday weekend!

We laughed and took heaps of images that day in the sunshine, against my friend JRD Art Shop’s stunning hand-painted backdrop. Charlotte’s talented LookLove kindly did a house call for us and helped the little girls with some soft hairstyles as they enjoyed a kiddy Mimosa mocktail. I mean, how else should you spend your Sunday? Music, bubbles, beautiful dresses, and heaps of pastel velvet accent pillows leading to a pillow fight (the girls took verrry seriously … sorry Mom!!) sealing the deal at the end.

Styling client sessions has always been our favorite. Our appetite for sourcing beautifully detailed, heirloom pieces is insatiable. While heartfelt moments and connection are the driving force behind all our sessions … we love helping our clients save time with wardrobe coordination, adding that extra layer to elevate their final imagery! We could do this all this day ~ layering color, texture and delicate patterns. Our goal is always to create fresh, artful, timeless captures. We understand that photography is an investment and want your photos to look just as beautiful on your walls five years from now as they do today! Let us help take something off your shoulders with our wardrobe collection and design direction ~ you have enough to do! We want this to be treat for you. Every last bit! ~ Kent Avenue Photography

This Bay Area backyard Family session was an extra special one for me. Our kind friends hosted us our final weeks in California. Their warm, wonderful home served as such a source of comfort and happiness (and a whole lotta design inspiration!) during that time. I came to learn that each space was designed with ‘experiences’ in mind. Every sweet corner, and hallway, and meandering garden space had such thought behind it. Niches that encouraged conversation and creativity …. and where honestly, magic would unfold on the daily.

Our second floor guest room was a haven of sorts ~ a whitewashed space with oversized french doors that opened to the sweetest rooftop patio. We could sit there at night with our wine in hand, looking up at the stars and listening to the coyotes in the distance. We could sit there in the morning with our coffee in hand, as we planned our day, listening to the birds and the trickling water fountain below.  Peeking over the rooftop railing, we would look down at the children playing in the warm sun as my friend tended to her overflowing cosmos garden. Her hardworking husband worked off to the left on the beginning stages of the chicken coupe that they had recently designed together.  It was beautiful and peaceful … and grounding … in so many ways.

We would come home those chilly nights to a wood burning fire,  oil-lit candles dotted throughout, jazz swirling about the nooks and crannies, and a cocktail (or two) awaiting. There was homemade bread, and homegrown vegetables and beautiful dinners that my talented friend had so thoughtfully prepared. Walks outside, down the loose-gravel (greenery lined) pathway to the most handsome seating area by the fire, led to cigars under a starlit sky as we chatted about life and love and happenings with a glass of Pinot in hand. 

Right before we left, I asked if I might capture a few images of their family together. While I was confident that I could never adequately repay them for their gracious hospitality, at the very least I hoped to leave them with some tangible reminders of the incredible love they shared. It’s funny how sometimes, something that is so obvious to an outsider, might not be as apparent to those actually living it. I mean they know it, but have they actually seen it? Events and actions (albeit dripping with love) can become lost in the monotony of the day to day. But this certainly was not lost on me. I witnessed this love in all it’s magnitude. A family whose open arms I am so grateful for and whose kindness left such an indelible mark on my heart.  ~ Kent Avenue Photography

Mother & children’s clothing are part of Kent Avenue’s Client Wardrobe available to all our Fine Art clients.

See more of this session featured here on The Fount Collective. 

This coastal California Family Session was a such a memorable one. I hadn’t seen this fabulous six since the youngest daughter was a newborn so this was really such a treat! I had been excited about our visit for a very long time. Plus, Mom and Dad are two of the kindest people, so secretly I just really enjoy their company!

Thinking back to the last time we met, I remember the boys being absolutely smitten with their new baby sister. I remember each brother (so small at the time) with their arms outstretched, wanting desperately to be the one to hold her for photos. So we sat that handsome band of brothers close together and placed her right in the middle so they could all cradle her tightly. It was the sweetest. Fast forward a few years and let me tell you, not much has changed! 

That beautiful little girl is still a magnet for all that love. She gives it … and boy, she gets it. And those amazing brothers of hers are everything you would want in an older brother. They are smart and kind. They are so funny and (wouldn’t you know) fiercely protective of their little sister. It was so special to not only see all their personalities developing but also their friendships deepening. They fed off each other. They leaned on each other. And they made each other crack up again and again (… and again!).

THIS is why I love photographing families so much.

I want Moms and Dads and brothers and sisters to remember this! These memories are gold. My hope for each of these brothers as they grow older is to look back at these moments and see how unique each one of their relationships was with their Mom and Dad … to really see how their parents looked at them. I want to document those stars in their little sister’s eyes when she is around them, so they are reminded of how much they are loved, and realize what an incredible role model they are for her. I want her to see how her brothers still cradle her with just as much adoration at 4yrs old as the day she came home from the hospital. And I want Mom and Dad to have a tangible reminder of these beautiful hearts, minds and souls that they are nurturing and guiding each and every single day.

These little things, in my humble opinion, they are everything. Thank you Walkers for inviting me to share in such a fun and heartwarming afternoon together. I missed you!  ~ Kent Avenue Photography

This Tomales Bay Family session was such a memorable one! Point Reyes National Seashore holds a very special place in Jess and Brent’s hearts. Needless to say, when they decided to celebrate their family photos here this past Fall, I was absolutely thrilled! It was so touching to see them bring their little ones up the coast to share in this place that has such meaning to them.

This bountiful, beautiful place leaves me in awe every time I visit. We shucked oysters in the sunshine as the sweet smell of eucalyptus trees swirled around us. The tall seagrass at the water’s edge blew in the wind coming off shimmering Tomales Bay. We threw a crisp, white-linen tablecloth over the wooden picnic table sitting against a sea-weathered picket fence. That glistening, watery expanse before us took my breath away. The wildflowers and dry grasses growing at the base of where we sat, begged to be enjoyed at a higher altitude … so we chose a couple for a sweet little bouquet and added them to a glass vase atop our table linens. Popping open a bottle of chilled champagne, we shared some crackers and some of that coveted, local Cowgirl Creamery triple-cream brie. Brent worked hard shucking a large plate of sweet Hog Island oysters (pulled right from the water by which we sat)! The most wonderful company paired with the most delicious local treats. It was heaven!

After some time relaxing, we hopped in the car and wound our way several miles up the windswept coastline to another one of their favorite spots ~ Nicks Cove. I loved listening to their stories about coming here. You could tell their memories were such happy ones.  We walked out to the end of the pier. There was the sweetest little illuminated boat shack (WITH A PIANO). I mean, can you just imagine the nights here? Bundled up, enjoying a martini or glass wine, everyone laughing, exchanging stories and singing at sunset. I mean, this is what movies are made of. (Nancy Meyers, we need you.)

We captured a few final moments together along the pier as the sun slowly slipped below that pastel-ombre horizon. The chill in the air had us soon walking the planks back to the cozy tavern for some comfort food. Clam chowder and crab mac & cheese enjoyed over a glass of Pinot. With full hearts and bellies, we said our goodbyes. I jumped in the car and wound my way back through the golden hillside, over the Golden Gate Bridge and back down into the valley where I lived. It was one of those days that had me really counting my blessings. It truly is such an incredible part of the country and to have shared it with these friends (who have such history here) made it extra special! ~ Kent Avenue Photography

When that California  “June Gloom”  comes rolling off the Pacific, you jump in the car and head over the hill to the coast! At least I do. That dreamy fog layer is something else! It swirls about and settles gently overhead, creating beautiful lighting opportunities and a little reprieve from the valley heat. And wouldn’t you know, we lucked out with one of those kinda mornings for this Bay Area Coastal California Family session.  It was perfect ~ the weather of course, but even more-so, the incredible company.  This beautiful family are “goodness” in very sense of the word. (The kind of mama that sends you home with fresh cut flowers from her garden. That kinda goodness.)

We spent most of the afternoon outdoors in their dreamy, multilevel backyard space.  A space that provided the ultimate haven during a year of being quarantined at home. Gosh, I wish I had been quarantined here! It is magical. There are beautiful flower beds and fresh herb gardens. A large, open patio is framed by towering, sweet smelling eucalyptus trees. There are spaces to lounge in the sun and rest in the shade.  A white-washed, naturally-lit, backyard art studio is perched high above the garage. It is all just so pretty. We took our time, walking about and chatting, stopping every so often to capture some images. 

At the end of our session, we found ourselves in their front garden. Not “by” it … pretty much “in” it. Those gigantic flowers were absolutely unreal. And they smelled incredible. So we climbed in (ever so careful not to disrupt those blooms).  It was such a fun (and beautiful) way to end our time together! I drove back home that late morning, just as the sun was peaking through the clouds, with a full heart.  All my senses surely awakened.  A wonderful time with a truly wonderful family. ~ Kent Avenue Photography     

Mother’s cotton eyelet dress was provided by Kent Avenue’s Client Wardrobe available to all our Fine Art clients.