Fall Family Photo Sessions, the J Family

It’s not a secret that photographers are busy in the fall with family photos. The combination of the pleasant weather with the impending holiday season, makes for good motivation for updating those family portraits! I have to say though, i am honored by the families that book an annual session with me. I get to watch the kids grow up before my lens and keep the connection of making the family memories each year. I realize this is a huge commitment and investment, therefore making me grateful for those client relationships. The J family has come to me every year since their daughter was 1 and the privilege is not lost on me! I adore how this session turned out.

November, National Adoption Month

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty, as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” - Lauren Distefano, Wither

I agree with the above sentiment, that not only is fall lovely but in November, we turn a corner and watch the rest of the year start drawing to a close. As a family and wedding photographer, I am involved in so many memory making moments in the fall.

Today I am sharing with you a beautiful family brought together through adoption. November is also National Adoption month, a month set aside to raise awareness about the urgent need for adoptive families for children and youth in foster care. So thankful for families like this one that openly share their love for the kiddos and the adoption community!

Sneak Peek, Fall Family Photos

Clients booking me every fall for an annual session has been such a gift! The first time I met little H, she had just turned one and now she's a lovely third grader! It's sweet to help chronicle a family's annual photos. I have select dates left in November if you are still looking to book a family session or get in that Christmas card shot! Drop me an email, emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com for availability and pricing

Sweet Summertime, Wilmington, DE

“Perfect song on the radio
Sing along 'cause it's one we know
It's a smile, it's a kiss
It's a sip of wine, it's summertime
Sweet summertime” ~Kenny Chesney

I first got to photograph this family when little B was just 6 months old. He’s now a busy 2 year old and with a sweet baby sister. We met up on a beautiful summer evening with a breeze to capture a few sweet memories for this family on Father’s Day weekend! We got some great moments with daddy and each of his kiddos!

I am still booking certain dates for summer, email me today for availability emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com

Family Fall Portraits, Newark, DE

“But there is always a November space after the leaves have fallen when she felt it was almost indecent to intrude on the woods…for their glory terrestrial had departed and their glory celestial of spirit and purity and whiteness had not yet come upon them.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Windy Poplars

We caught the very end of the fall colors and the beginning of the autumnal chill during these portraits last weekend. I can’t express as a photographer how truly sweet it to capture the same families over different seasons and especially if it’s someone who has long been a friend. Not to mention, seriously how cute are these kids and family? Happy Friday internet friends!

Sweet Summer Evening

"May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you

May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

And may you stay forever young"

~Bob Dylan

Enjoy this sweet summer evening session of siblings that I shot this last week. I hope it brings a smile to your Monday!

Monday Confessions, Summer of Moving

    Good morning internet friends, how's the heat wave treating you on this second day of July? As I sit and write, we are temporarily moved in with family as we await moving into our new home later this summer.  I can truly say I understand why people put moving right up there with grieving. It's exhausting both mentally and physically. We have everything in storage and will have to move again once it's time to settle on the new house. I am currently mentally preparing to have to do it all again! BUT I cannot say enough that I am so thankful that we sold our previous home very quickly and everything went smoothly. I am also extremely thankful that we have family willing to let us stay for the summer!  

   June was a blur but we were very lucky to escape to North Carolina for the first week of the month before we had to do the big move so I thought I would share a few of those images with you this morning. It's a sweet time for me to try to slow down time and reflect over all that is changing and growing this summer. For those that have followed me for a longer time, my twins turned 9 on Friday! It's amazing how the time passes and yet I am trying to live in the moment even in all the transition. Have a great week and stay cool! 

Sweet Summertime! The K Family

"Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."  

~Henry James

This sweet family session was a large multi-generation shoot over the weekend out in Maryland. The warm summer sun and slight breeze made it a perfect evening session. I just wanted to share a few this morning of these cute siblings! R was celebrating his 5th birthday on that day so it made it extra fun to capture him on his actual birthday with his family!

Holding his Grandpa's hand on his fifth birthday!

He's 5 today!

Giving his little sister a sweet hug!

Holding mama's hand

Don't you want to reach in and squeeze her?!

Love those tootsies!

Hope you have a wonderful week! This is moving week for us so say a prayer for us! Not only is it crazy with camps, VBS and life in general, I think the heat index is over 100 degrees the next few days :)

Monday Confessions, Merry Christmas

"Joy to The world! the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room
And heaven and nature sing"  ~Joy to the World

May this Christmas day find you surrounded with love, laughter and the truth that Christ came for you too! Now that Christmas is here, allow me to share a few of my favorite images from our fall session with Christina Vance Photography. She's wonderful and I am so, so thankful to have some updated family images that include Benjamin! 

Sweet little family session, Wilmington, DE

“Autumn...the year's last, loveliest smile."

~William Cullen Bryant   

This sweet family met up with me early afternoon for a session with their two young boys and thankfully they were so sweet! It's amazing what a little sugar treat can do for encouraging smiles for photos! We also got some sun after a rainy morning which makes all the difference in these images. Happy Monday friends! I aim to resume the usual "confessions" on Mondays in November.

As always, I am so thankful for new clients and referrals from others. It's honestly the best way to grow a business! If you're looking for updated family photos, I have limited December bookings emily@emilytroutmanphoto.com

Summer family session, Smyrna, DE

 "The crickets felt it was their duty to warn everybody that summertime cannot last for ever. Even on the most beautiful days in the whole year – the days when summer is changing into autumn – the crickets spread the rumor of sadness and change." 

―E.B. White, Charlotte's Web

It's August and I am starting to hear those crickets chirp...

   Photography has been such a great way for me to both meet new people and keep in touch with old friends. When I got a message from Brandon, an old college friend, to come photograph his family, I was excited to see them all. Brandon and Hannah have not only a beautiful family but a lovely home that's more of a farmette. They are able to have some animals to keep them busy along with their kiddos. We were so lucky to have some of the milder August weather last weekend to have an evening session. I have to say, it was really enjoyable and the kids hung in there!  They may or may not have been smiling for candy :)  What's not to love about summer white outfits, sunshine and family?!

Odessa, Delaware Family Session

Remember this beautiful wedding couple from 2013? They're old friends of mine and I adore the opportunity to photograph their growing family any chance I get! They're expecting a baby boy in the next month and we had a family session to celebrate. Their sweet Della is preparing to be a big sister and will turn two this summer. How cute is she?!

Autumn Family Session, Middletown, Delaware

  "I sang of leaves, of leaves of gold, and leaves of gold there grew:

Of wind I sang, a wind there came and in the branches blew." 

― J.R.R. Tolkien 

    I met this adorable family through my husband and was excited when they contacted me about family portraits. We caught the very end of the autumn golden leaves over Thanksgiving break! The sweet boys were such troopers even with the chilly November breeze. I never take for granted the opportunity to capture a family together and there's nothing quite like the warm afternoon glow in the fall to make it the best! 

Summer Session, North Carolina

    If you have followed me or my life for any amount of time, you know that I love to blog but also it's the first thing to drop when priorities shift. I know there's a million reasons that this isn't smart for business but I also know I am one mom, and a very human one at that. Every day I am sifting through priorities to tackle what has to be done, what should be done and what can potentially wait for another day. Today I am again home with a toddler and a sick coughing kindergartener. This is not exactly a great combination for productivity but at the same time I know that some things must get accomplished if I am going to strive to have a great client experience. I am in the midst of editing, ordering and you guessed it....prepping over due blog posts!

Hopefully this sweet summer session will have you feeling the warmth on this chilly morning! Better late than never right? I can't say enough how much I have LOVED the multi-generational photo sessions I have been a part of this year. For some reason this year, I have had a much bigger group of large family sessions. I adore them because they are an absolute treasure for a family to have!

Here's to Emerald Isle, North Carolina...I miss your warmth, your sun, your ocean and palm trees...can't wait to see you again next year! These are just a FEW favorites from this fun session...

Can you even handle this cuteness?!!

Cousins and friends!

A sibling favorite for sure!

Nana and Pop with all their grands!

Hope this Wednesday has your spirits bright!

Wilmington, Delaware Autumn Family Portraits

      There's truly nothing like a beautiful October afternoon on the East coast is there?! Throw in a new puppy and I am just smitten. These kiddos were thankfully game for throwing leaves and being silly. The internet is this funny place that can either bring people together or push people apart. Thankfully this is an instance of where the internet had a hand in brining this adorable family to me for a photo session! (Thank you local Facebook page where friends recommended me!) 

Do you not love her laugh and first grade teeth?! I ADORE it!

This is where it all begins, love snagging a few portraits of just mom and dad!

Wilmington Delaware, Autumn Family Portraits

 We met early in the morning, praying for the rain to hold off! Thankfully our hopes were fulfilled and the rain didn't come until we were pulling out of the parking lot! I have had the privilege of photographing these kiddos every fall since they were 3 and 1. It's been fun to watch them grow each year and hear what they are into. I am thankful for clients who trust me continually to capture their memories!

ProjectTen October

“I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” 
― L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables

October has snuck up on me for sure! Isn't it still back to school time? Well I guess the chill in the air and the smell of bonfire suggests otherwise. I am thankful for project ten getting me to shoot more of the every day activities. This is a glimpse into my afternoon time between homework and dinner! Here's just a handful of moments with my four crazy, lovable kiddos in this beautiful fall weather. I basically have to chase the big kids and try to keep the toddler out of harms way. Good times! 

Right before I had to drop the camera to keep the toddler from flipping out of the car!

Off we go...this girl came home one day a week ago and said, "Mom, take these training wheels off," and she never looked back! 

He's giving kindergarten a run for its money!

Long day...

What's for dinner? I am over this!

Make sure to check out these other ladies participating in Project TEN to see what they're up to in life and photography! Katie Hall, Paula Richwine, Cait Jensen, Lisa O’Brien, Parker Slaton, Rae Barnes, Erin Gregerson, Kelly Lapp, Kate Neal, Heather Butler

Our Ten Year Anniversary and our kiddos!

      The traditional anniversary gift for the ten year anniversary is tin or aluminum. The modern day gift is diamond jewelry. Thank goodness Matt took the modern approach! He surprised me on our trip with a beautiful anniversary band. Today officially marks a decade of marriage for Matt and I! Although it's hard to believe all that we've been through in the last ten years, it also it hard to believe how quickly life passes us by. On this day ten years ago, I really had no clue other than I was in love and ready to dive in with both feet! I can honestly say though that I love Matthew more today than I did that day. It's the kind of love that has been stretched and tested. It's the kind of love that endures. 

    Although today is our anniversary, I had planned to finally blog a photo session of our kiddos from June. I think it appropriate to celebrate on this day a bit of the blessing of these past ten years, some of the biggest blessings being our four children. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
 Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!"

Psalm 127: 3-4

Can I just confess too that as a photographer, it can be a struggle to take photos of my own kids. This was actually a spur of the moment photo session right before bedtime one night, so I am lucky it worked at all. It was a combination of bribing, being silly and threatening to make this happen :) I confess that I always feel pressure to have amazing photos of my own family but sometimes life just doesn't work that way! I am thankful though for the times that we push through and just make it happen! Have a great weekend friends!

The K Family

"Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June." -Al Bernstein

As a photographer, I always enjoy capturing families together but there's nothing sweeter than an at home session on a summer evening! The K family and I had fun exploring their yard,  blowing bubbles, swinging swings, riding bikes and generally enjoying ourselves during our session! Kim and I had a funny moment about ten minutes in when I realized we knew each other! We had graduated high school together 16 years ago (almost to the day) and as it dawned on me, I did the awkward "I know you!" Thankfully she remembered me and didn't think I was crazy. I love how photography can bring things in life full circle for me! Getting to run into an old friend and seeing how beautiful her life is these days is a special treat. 

9 months

For this morning's confessions, I am doing a little reflecting over the past 9 months with being a family of 6. I still have to remind myself sometimes, "I have four kids!" I used to think that was a silly excuse for being at overwhelmed at life,  but now I GET IT. Having kids of any number of children is a huge explanation for lots of things...like lateness, tiredness and being scatter brained among other things. Some people are amazing and flawless with multiple children, but that's not me! I wish I had it more together with every month of photos for this kid but I am taking what I can get at this point! Here's a few photos of our sweet chunky little man on his 9 month birthday last weekend (and yes it was less than 24 hours before his little hospital adventure! He likes to keep life interesting :) 

I am learning in this season in life to embrace the feeling that I can't do it all. It seems so counter productive but it's actually very freeing. I need to do my primary roles and let other things just fall to the periphery. I am doing the very best I can to serve clients, take care of my family and myself. I have found it honestly very hard to keep up taking good care of myself but I take it all one day at a time. Today a workout and a shower are on the schedule!

A helpful scripture that I have been pondering is found in Psalm 61, 

"I cry to you for help
    when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the towering rock of safety,
   for you are my safe refuge"

So thankful that we serve a God that is our help, our refuge and can help when we are overwhelmed!

So although some moments I wish for time to just slow down, I will just have to embrace each day to the fullest right now. As I collapse into bed each night, I will do my best to forgive my failures from the day as well as seeing all the things I have to be grateful for! As Shauna Niequist says, "Present over perfect." (Can't wait for her book to release!)