I recently stumbled upon a quote by Austrian artist/photographer Ernst Haas that made me feel so good about the photography Andy & I create.

“There is only you and your camera. The limitations in your photography are in yourself, for what we see is what we are.”

I love this idea because what I love so much about photography is the way it allows me to document the one thing I respond to most in the world…{LOVE}. Love between two people romantically drawn to one another. Love between a mother and her newborn baby. Love between a man and his aging father. Love between strangers drawn together in joy or tragedy.

Pure. Simple. Unfettered. Glorious, Love.

Sometimes, I have such strong feelings of love for the people in my life I feel certain my heart will grow too large. But, in this feeling comes incredible joy and immense gratitude. And, intensifying those feelings is the idea that what we see, what we capture in the couples & families we photograph, is somehow a reflection of what we are. Truly, it’s just the coolest thing I’ve ever heard.

Trends in photography will come and go, and sometimes I wonder if we ought to infuse more of them in our work. But, Haas’s idea is more appealing to me. And, without realizing it, I think it’s been the foundation on which Andy & I have built bello….we shoot from the heart and, in so doing, we are able to show our couples and families, through images of stolen moments, that they are what we all most desire to be…LOVED.

Such was the case a couple of weeks ago, when we got together with one of our favorite couples, Dan & Michelle!

Last year was the first time in four years that we didn’t get to spend time with these two sweeties and their gorgeous girls: Mackenzie & Cameron. Mother nature seemed determined to keep us apart. Every day we’d scheduled to get together for their annual portrait ended up raining. And, in the end, the stars just didn’t align to bring us together.

Happily, luck was on our side this year, and a couple of weeks ago we reunited for our annual family photo session at Woodneck Beach in Falmouth, a place we had been going with them since we shot their engagement session back in 2006.

It’s so fun to see the changes each year brings to their family, and the two year break left me feeling a tad old, as the girls, Mackenzie & Cameron (who we’ve know since they were babes) seem all grown up. They are delightful, energetic, crazy sweet, funny, wonderful little people and we all agreed that we need to schedule another get together just to play and leave our cameras behind.

Here are a few of our favorite moments from another joyful love-filled afternoon with this wonderful family who knows how to love BIG!

A little hermit crab hunting to start our photo adventure…

Hola famalia. And, can we talk about how cute Little Miss Mackenzie is with her adorable specs. This is one girl who enjoys being photographed, almost as much as she enjoys playing with her doting photographers.

These girls have the most crazy beautiful eyes. Cammie you are simply mesmerizing!

Time for a little sister snuggle before they’re off…

The pride on Michelle’s face in this next one makes my heart sing. She & Dan are truly blessed!

Mackie writes her name in the sand…

Coy Cam, oh how the camera does love you.

Best hug…EVER!

Mmmmm good!

This next one could be my all time fave of these two little rays of sunshine. Their personalities are just shining through. Love, Love, Love!

Another fave…

And from a different perspective…can you tell which one is mine and which one is Andy’s?

Some momma lovin’. That there is some good stuff!

“If I could save time in a bottle. The first thing that I’d like to do, Is to save every day, Till Eternity passes away…Just to spend them with you.” Jim Croce

Mackenzie breakin’ it down, beach style, in her sporty new sweatshirt from Nana! Way to rock it out, Mackie!

A fun perspective of Cam in her new sweatshirt from Nana. Too cute!

Wrapping up the family fun with a big yellow bow!

Thank you Dan, Michelle, Mackie & Cam for a super fun afternoon! We love getting together with you guys and so very much appreciate the faith you put in us, year after year. Although we may be helping preserve important memories for you & your families, you, and all of our other wonderful couples/families are helping us become better versions of ourselves….reminding us where it all starts & ends…with LOVE. With big hugs & kisses, Christine & Andy xoxo