I am so glad that it is June and school is finally out! Whoo Hoo!! My kids are really excited too. I know that a lot of parents find the summer a little challenging as their kids are home from school and now they must find a way to entertain them. I hear from many parents that they can’t wait for school to start so they have their days back to themselves. As a homeschool mom the opposite is true in our family. I live for the summers as much as my kids do! No more teaching history, correcting science papers or trying to make sure piano practice has been done for the day. It’s just pure freedom for all of us! And a chance for mommy to devote a little more energy to my business, Katie Watkins Photography. So summer is very welcomed in our home with it’s lazy schedule and freedom to pursue whatever we want that day. And of course being in Redding, California with it’s hot days that includes a lot of lake time!

This beautiful extended family portrait session took place last fall right after Thanksgiving. Heidi’s family was in town and they wanted family pictures. I met them all up at Old Shasta and we had a fun family session with the whole family including the dog! I love cousin pictures, grandparent pictures and that big family portrait. Such a treasure to look back on in the coming years and say “remember when…”.

I love that Redding offers so many great locations for outdoor family portraits. Having done family portraits in Nevada for 5 years anything green and growing looks like a beautiful spot for portraits to me, even in the dead of winter!

Aleece and Torey were married in Shingletown last summer at a garden nursery. It was a beautiful and fun wedding filled with a lot of great details that really showed Aleece and Torey’s personalities. Those pictures are just as cute as these are! Aleece has a great sense of style and the chemistry between the two of them is magical.

It had been funny moving back to Northern California and seeing really how small the community is. Aleece and Torey are from Paradise, I’m from Chico. I quickly realized at the wedding that I knew Torey’s aunt and had grown up with his cousin. Small world!

We did this session up at Old Shasta and then finished up at the tracks. I don’t usually shoot at the tracks as they always make me nervous but Torey loves trains so we braved them for him. I love what we captured and I just adore these pictures and loved every minute of working with Aleece and Torey.

Enjoy!

These were taken at their home in Anderson. I love photographing people in their own environments. It’s part of their story! Someday they can tell their little guy that those pictures of mommy with him in her tummy where taken in the yard of their home. What a special memory! I love the challenge of making anything look amazing so let your creativity and your memories dictate where you do your pictures. You will love the special meaning they hold for you.

Crista, you made a beautiful mother-to-be and are an even more beautiful mommy. I am excited and honored to be apart of your journey into motherhood.