in home family session | baby hugo turns one

One year is one of my favorite things to document -- it's a big deal for everyone involved. Mama, daddy and baby have all survived, thrived, learned, grown and here you are -- a milestone that twelve months ago in the middle of the night during your fifth feeding felt like an eternity away. But now, looking back, seems like this little one just arrived. You can't imagine life without them and have trouble remembering what it was like before them. They've come into their own and their personality is blossoming just in time for a birthday celebration. Still small, snugly and squishy, but more mobile and grasping for independence. It's a beautiful season of life.

Sweet little Hugo (best name, right?), was the perfect little subject -- smiles and giggles galore, such a joy to photograph. 
AND for the month of August : book a session and receive 25% off the session fee! Email me to start a conversation and mention this promo!

that little dimple, right?!

lifestyle family portraits by lily glass, Los Angeles

and then he brought the HAM.

Tristan and Katy are newly engaged and planning their wedding for next year so we stepped outside to grab a few images of just the two of them -- double celebration!

remember to BOOK your August portrait session now for 25% off the session fee! 

leisure versus lazy | work-life balance as a mama photographer

Ever been rushing around the house like a mad-woman, camera bag in one hand, dolly, blanket, baby bottle, one shoe and a half eaten apple in the other, trying to convince your sweet child that dolly doesn't need her own bear and we really should be going... And then your day off comes (which to schedule and observe is an accomplishment in and of itself if you're a freelancer). A beautiful 1 hour chunk of time to do whatever you want with no interruption and you snuggle up with a book, window open: pure leisure. Five minutes in, your mind starts to think about all the little things that you could be doing. "Think of all the emails and edits you could get done in this hour... but instead you're resting and refreshing your mind? Whose whacky idea was that? I'm surprised you can focus with the dishes in the sink and that laundry really should be going... You lazy BUM!" Those sweet precious moments quickly become a guilt-ridden shaming session of not checking things off of your to-do list.

Perhaps it's the idea that between the hours of 9-5, I feel I should be working. But then I see instagrams from other freelance moms with a full pot of coffee at their computers at 11pm, settling in for a full "day's" work. A tiny voice inside my head tells me that if I'm not working toward something, my time is not well spent.

Somewhere along the lines we've allowed the word leisure to conjure thoughts of laziness. In her book Overwhelmed : Work, Love and Play When No One Has the Time, Brigid Schulte suggests we take a moment to double check our vocabulary.

Leisure : inspires creativity, offers rest, refreshment, exposure to new things, health.

Lazy is not liking to work at all - doing the bare minimum with apathy about final results. We've glorified a 100-hour work week big fancy prizes (nice things) to show for all our hard work so if we don't clock those hours or have the nice swag, it's easy to say we're not working hard enough.

Schulte also emphasizes the inspires creativity portion of the definition - that leisure time should be enjoyable. Perhaps the benefits from rest and relaxation cannot be measured but they can be felt. More alert, more creative, a rejuvenated passion about the work you're doing and a renewed spirit to share with others.

How can we become more present and not feel like we're lazy bums when we take an afternoon walk or weekday brunch? Breaks are good for the mind, body, soul and creativity.

This weekend be encouraged to rest. And enjoy it. Set aside time to fill up your bucket and allow yourself to savor it. Carve out the time and protect it. Your littles will grow up seeing a healthy example of leisure and feel the benefits from a refreshed, more vibrant version of yourself.

Check out previous Mama+Photographer posts if you need some extra examples of setting up a weekly schedule based on your priorities.

kassi bacquet + family

I was first introduced to Kassi's Instagram by Ashley during a conversation we were having about genuine motherhood. She had recently begun following Kassi's feed and though Ashley didn't have any kiddos at the time, found herself encouraged by the things that Kassi shared. In no time I too, enjoyed her witty and sometimes brutally honest yet simultaneously grace-filled comments often accompanied by a lovely image of herself and one of her five children. 

Kassi has had a significant following for a few years but after one of her twin babies was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis just over two years ago, her Instagram community widened and in many different ways came together to support the Bacquets and their little boy Trax. Within weeks their medical bills were significantly decreased and a #pray4trax necklace had been created by a mother in Australia with all proceeds donated to ease the financial burden (the necklaces are still being made and typically sell out within 15 minutes of re-stocking). The #pray4trax hashtag is a collection of precious portraits of Trax receiving treatment but also enjoying every day life as a two year-old, alongside a slew of other individuals fighting CF and living life to the fullest. Their story gives a glimpse of the good that social media can bring : to raise awareness, to relieve burden and to encourage genuine community.

I had the lovely opportunity to photograph Kassi+Daniel and their kiddos in their home on the Central Coast and upon entering, was welcomed like we'd known each other for years. Their home feels like real life in all the best ways -- loud, rambunctious, playful and full of grace and love.

same profiles right?! Love that squishy nose and big grin on mama+baby.

if you're cute enough I'll let you take my picture, too.

You can learn more about CF in this short documentary with the Bacquets.
Follow Kassi on instagram for an honest, refreshing, lovely look at motherhood and marriage with a large family and : @kassibacquet
Learn about the history behind the #pray4trax necklace.
And keep up to date with Trax and the ways you can donate, pray for and support the Bacquets : http://www.gofundme.com/38gcjs