Levi wasn’t his usual happy self when we met for pictures this year. He spent the entire first half of the session in full-on meltdown mode and wouldn’t even look at me, much less the camera. But after a ride on dad’s shoulders, a whole lot of patience, and the discovery of a feather, he slowly came around and laughed with me like the best friends that we are.

I really love cooperative kids and sessions that go smoothly. But I think it’s even more rewarding to watch parents struggle through the chaos and still be sweet to each other, and then to see everything come together at the end. Big props to Justine and Jeremy for hanging in there with me and making this happen.