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Almost a year ago this little sweet pea’s Momma graced my studio for a maternity session back when I was building my portfolio to start C A P T U R E D photography by Jennifer DiDio.   Here’s her blog from last November:  http://www.capturedphotographybyjennifer.com/blog/2010/11/17/a-r-t-i-s-t.html

If you’ve been in Carroll Ob/Gyn’s Eldersburg or Westminster office, you’ve seen her fabulous belly on display.  At the end of her maternity session we shot this as a statement of Amy’s love of art.   Thousands of images later this image has stuck with me a year later.   It also sticks with me that Ashlynn kicked during this shot and I witnessed that from behind my lens—if you look closely you can see a little foot bulge in the upper right belly area. 

Ms. Ashlynn returned to my studio to mark her first birthday in style!  We wanted to pull back in an element from Amy’s maternity session and knew this frame would be the perfect tie in. 

Ashlynn of course has no idea of the significance of a day like this to a Mom and Dad, but she was happy to watch us all act like fools by balancing a monkey on our heads, snorting like pigs and being super delighted by Cherrios! 

My personal favorite from the sesison!

Mom brought an adorable little cake with colors complementing Ashlynn’s outfit and eyes!  Babies are generally so confused when adults set an entire cake in front of them.  Then, when mom encourages them to dig in and make a giant mess it really messes with their categories.  “Wait hasn’t Mom been trying to get me NOT to smear food all over the place??? I’m confused!?”

Ashlynn started her cake smash very tentatively.  In true style of her artist mom, she finger-painted as her first order of business.  First she started with the floor, then her legs, belly and walls.    The next day I even found a little icing on my camera body!   

We wondered if Ashlynn would be willing to share her cake, as she’s usually pretty generous with her food.  Well, she did….after she had several solo servings herself.  Watching Amy and Mike share in the delight over this cake smash was precious.  They soaked in the time with their daughter and celebrated right along side her. 

While shooting this scene I thought how generally few family photos show a mom and dad together celebrating moments like this with their children.   Most often one is assigned the role of photographer so the photographer is conspicuously absent from the recordings.   Laughter is often the glue that binds families tightly together—and this family knows how to have a good time together!

Ashlynn will always have these photos as a treasure, long after mom has recovered from the awesome first birthday bash she’s planning!   Amy actually submitted a design to Starry Night Bakery for her vision for the cake!  That might be one of the coolest parts about having an artist for a mother! 

Happy First Birthday Ashlynn and remember—-only Ms. Jennifer’s studio walls are for finger painting on and you must promise to never tell my 3 boys!

how i’d paint you sweet pea!

  1. Amy says:

    Absolutely amazing! yeah its my daughter and i might be biased but Jennifer really did a great job capturing every moment. the colors are great, ashlynn's expression are priceless and the outfits are too cute! cheerios saved the day! yeah!

  2. Nicole Hunsicker says:

    Ashlynn is completely gorgeous!!!! I love how you incorporated the frame from Amy's maternity shoot- what an incredible idea!!

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