Even after doing this for 15+ years, there are still some nerves before each shoot. Will the kids have fun with me? Will this senior be easy to work with? Will I be able to make some compositional magic in that location? And for Amanda, I’m always honored when we get together with my camera, because as a marketing guru, she has quite the discerning eye. Amanda has a knack for picking out locations because her work takes her all over the Metro and downtown, so I trust her when she tells me to meet in a particular parking lot where I’ve never been before. I trust her for the location, she trusts me for my creative eye and off we go!

Her boys came to PLAY this particular evening! I don’t think I’ve ever encountered them in such a goofy state! It’s as if they conspired beforehand to make each other laugh so hard they fell over - and honestly, I didn’t mind one bit! It made for a great evening and even better images! See for yourself:

Do you see what I mean?! The smiles were off. the. charts!

How does one help make a Boy-Mom photograph have a hint of femininity? Get a touch of florals in the foreground!

Amanda + Trevor : You guys are amazing. Thank you so much for coming back year after year, going along with some of my crazy ideas. Keep finding all the fun nooks and crannies of Des Moines, Amanda. You’re my Secret Sauce! ;)

Soak up these last days of summer!

Carrie

PS You can view the rest of our time together HERE.