This year we tried something new for our Christmas Family Photos. The photographer from Wanderlust Exposures was shopping at my boutique and had casually mentioned she wanted to add a lifestyle photoshoot of a family decorating their Christmas tree to her portfolio. It’s something she had heard of but had never seen and thought it would be a fun and unique holiday photo shoot.
As soon as the words came out of her mouth I sheepishly raised my hand to volunteer my family for such a project.
Let’s get real. Sheepishly is not in my vocabulary.
I crawled over the counter, handed her my business card, and begged her to allow our family to be her ginny pigs.
A few weeks later our shoot was scheduled and about an hour her arrival before I was dragging Christmas decor out of the attic and scrambling for family pajamas at Old Navy.
That’s how I roll.
I don’t do my best work in well prepared scenarios.
The photo shoot was a total success. It captured all of the chaos and love that happens around our house on the daily.
This shoot was nothing short of memorable.
The kids hammed it up and loved having Sara from Wanderlust capture their every move.
But for the most part we just did our thang.
Acted silly, made a total mess of the house, and played Christmas music all the while.
I forgot that last year our Christmas tree broke and my parent gave us their old one – which I realized was tiny.
Like as tall as I am. A whole 5 foot 2 inches.
Not grand but just right for our little family.
I’m holding out to find the tree of our dreams during an after Christmas sale.
Many of our ornament are handmade from various television segments, blog posts, and kid school projects.
Axton can’t wait to have presents under the tree to shake and speculate. But his Mario remote control cart was a good way to pretend that Christmas magic had already arrived.
I didn’t care our house looked like a hot mess. Isn’t that what life is? A big ole mess before the beauty?
Axton, who is super smart and has high functioning Autism is an encyclopedia of all things 1980’s. He even has a few KISS ornaments to prove his passion. God of Thunder did not play on our Christmas playlist but Jesus knows where his heart is and that’s got to be what matters the most.
Please don’t judge. Our neighbor’s kid can tell you every single brand of beer and what sporting events they sponsor. So I know there are much worse obsessions to have than the 1980’s.
You can tell I take my ornament placement rather seriously. I force myself to take my interior style hat off year. I let the boys have most of the decision making in the outcome of our tree this year. It’s for them, after all, so it makes sense.
But in my mind I keep thinking.
That ornament looks crooked.
Don’t move it.
Don’t mess with it.
Let it go. They are only little once.
We are blessed beyond measure with our little crew and I am so grateful to Wanderlust Exposures for capturing such a unique event.
Ugh. Just make my heart melt.
What do you think about this photography concept? If you are wanting to knock the socks off of your Christmas photos make sure you call Sarah Vorva from Wanderlust Exposures. She is amazing. And blessed us beyond measure with the gift of these photos.
Thank you Sarah! I hope you are blessed as much as we were by you!
This is such a sweet, sweet story. I love the photos of your family. Don’t you dare go back later and straighten any of the ornaments! The tree is perfect!
Great collaboration, and I wish much success to Sarah.
Thank you Suzy! I got lucky to stumble into such a talented family photographer!
Love those pictures, very special! What a beautiful family you are blessed with!
thank you Sue! We think they are pretty special!
I noticed you have a wall of plates. I do, too! Mine is a collection of state souvenir plates. One day I hope to have all 50. They add so much color and interest to the wall, I just love them. and it gives me a great excuse to stop at thrift stores and yard sales. Fun way to have a collection without needing any shelf space to display it.
I love mine too! Mine aren’t as sentimental – as some are melamine from Target and some are European. But they bring me so much joy! I love your collection idea!
About the wall of plates, how did you hang them. I do not like plate hangers as they do not let the plates be flat against the wall and I would like them to be safe and solid. Yours look awesome.
Love everything about this!
Just beautiful.
Love everyone of these pics. Soluch a beautiful family. The joy and laughter is totally captured here.