These two pairs of little feet showed up on Sunday looking all handsome and they brought the magic.     Today I get to send off their gallery and surprise mom and dad with the beauty of their now.  Surprise them because I know when the walked away they probably had doubt any would turn out.  

Here's the thing about family pictures....We just did family pictures too and I am guilty of this...as we pulled up, after forcing them into clothes that may not be what they wanted to put on, I finished up my lecture reminding them how important these pictures were. Repeatedly emphasizing that they needed to listen and smile and be good.    And as we stepped out of the car and throughout the entire photo session I think I was trying to telepathically make my children smile and be perfect.  Heck, we took time and were investing money in these moments and I wanted them to turn out great.  And I too walked away thinking the photographer got nothing.  

 But here is the thing, every session starts out a little quiet and awkward and then all of a sudden it goes from calm to chaos.    I see it with 98% of families.  The kids start running  away and I can see mom and dad start to panic.  

But here is the thing...there is magic in letting your children be themselves.  They will look adorable crying, staring me down, running away, or smiling.  So relax and trust the chaos.  It is my motto.  And I try and quietly remind parents while we are together to relax and trust the chaos.  I know it is hard.  So I murmur it quietly and gently.  But even in the chaos and panic moms and dads you forget about meand there are incredible moments.   And you don't even realize it but I am snapping up the magic.  Moments like these....

And when we finally let the kids have a break and I offer to capture a few moments of just mom and dad...well, all of a sudden they aren't running away. Cracks me up every time.

 If we trust the chaos we capture the real.  I bet this look is common when this particular item comes out of mama's diaper bag. 

And when mom and dad just enjoy the moments then the proof of a beautiful life is right there in the connections captured.

Trust the chaos.  It really does bring the magic.  And I love the chaos.  Because when I say good-bye...I return to the beauty of my own chaos.  Which I know I don't see as beautiful enough of the time.  So good to meet you E family!  Hope to meet again in the future!  You have an incredible tribe!