Hannah Nielsen » Documentary Family Photographer Seattle Portland and Worldwide

Masthead header

You’ve seen this family many times before, but it’s been since before the youngest was born that we did a more posed family session (she’s 3 1/2 now!). It was a lot of fun to get them out in the fresh air laughing and playing. It was a little cold for our taste, but everyone hung in there. I am so so happy with what we captured. And even better? This was one of my mini sessions that I did to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. (GO TEAM!!)

HDP-0874PIN

HDP-1016PIN

HDP-1001PIN

HDP-0967PIN

HDP-0969PIN

HDP-0938PIN

HDP-0919PIN

HDP-1178PIN

HDP-1182PIN

HDP-1085PIN

HDP-1113PIN

HDP-1147PIN

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • February 11, 2015 - 10:28 am

    Stephanie Necessary - fabulous session! I’m in love with the light and smiles!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 10:28 am

    Laura - Oh I love these playful images! What a great way to capture this loving family!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 10:39 am

    Dana Halter - I love these pictures of our silly, loud, loving family. Thank you so much, Hannah!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 11:09 am

    Sara Maximoff - Gorgeous as always! We can’t wait for our mini session! 🙂ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 11:23 am

    Rebecca Anne Photography // Tacoma Wedding Photography - I love how you captured this family just being a family. Beautiful Golden Gardens Family portraits!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 2:04 pm

    Gwen Workman - Great session… and so playful!!!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 3:34 pm

    Alex - What a beautiful family session! Such wonderful moments captured. Lovely work, Hannah!ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 5:30 pm

    Ashley - What a fun, playful family session! I love how you captured their crazy personalities – I’m sure their parents will cherish these forever. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • February 11, 2015 - 6:55 pm

    Chantal - what an absolutely adorable family session!! So much cuteness!ReplyCancel

  • February 12, 2015 - 3:06 am

    Georgina Voigt - Wow! These are beautiful.ReplyCancel

  • February 13, 2015 - 9:19 pm

    Jenny Storment - Golden Gardens is one of my favorite locations to shoot in. The lighting was amazing! What an amazing family session at Golden Gardens.ReplyCancel

Stories in Seven is a blog circle made up of documentary family photographers who have committed to telling a story in 7 images on the 7th of each month. This is the story of the box fort.

Bennett and I have been home a lot the last couple of weeks. Teething plus colds and just generally not feeling great or sleeping well has kept us cooped up. This day little man was feeling better and it was POURING down rain…What to do? BOX FORT!! I set up this little fort for him while he was napping and put all of his favorite toys in it for when he woke up. He was so excited! I love watching his little face when he gets to do something new and exciting. And it’s fun to have to get creative and come up with new ways to keep him busy and entertained! (Although in the end he was too busy getting into trouble while I tried to take his picture from across the room.) Looking at these images, I suddenly feel like my baby is almost gone and I’m mere minutes from having a toddler on my hands. *Sigh* At least we’re having fun while the time flies by!

 

HDP-1868PIN

HDP-1816PIN

HDP-1786PIN

Untitled-1PIN

HDP-1860PIN

HDP-1827PIN

 

Be sure to follow the Stories in Seven circle to see other photographers’ February storytelling! You can start by clicking here: Jana O’Flaherty | Photography 2204

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • February 7, 2015 - 3:36 pm

    Jana - Oh Hannah this is such a lovely story!!! Boxes were always a huge hit here too 🙂 Looks like he had a blast!ReplyCancel

  • February 7, 2015 - 9:25 pm

    Tiffany - Hannah, you’ve done it again! Priceless memories, beautifully told story. I feel like I’m right there in the box with him.ReplyCancel

  • February 8, 2015 - 5:20 am

    Lisa Baldelli - Gorgeous as always!! And…those eyes…what a beautiful little boy!!ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 9:03 am

    Vanessa - these are fantastic! and I agree, I feel like I am in the same room with you and this cutie. wonderful work!ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 9:44 am

    Cherlyn Wagner - Ahh so wonderful! My kids love their boxes & forts – so box forts – of course! Such a great way to capture a part of your day and hold on to those memories too.ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 2:33 pm

    Melissa - I just love lifestyle family sessions! Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 2:40 pm

    Alex - I love this idea! He is such a cutie pie and this project is really adorable! Can’t wait to see the next one 🙂ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 3:25 pm

    Gwen Workman - Love some of the angles… such a creative way to capture these moments…..ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 7:30 pm

    Arica - K, those eyes are incredible! What a wonderful little person you have! Great idea for the box fort.ReplyCancel

  • February 9, 2015 - 8:56 pm

    Aimee Trawick - What a cute idea! Story in seven. How lovely. And I love these pictures!! They are simply adorable!ReplyCancel

  • February 10, 2015 - 11:01 am

    Jenny - This is an amazing idea! I would love to be part of it… I want to do more story telling with my photography. I would love to get more info from you on this group.ReplyCancel

  • February 10, 2015 - 12:52 pm

    Whitney Lane - Haha these are so great! I love all the different angles. I need to take more photos of my nieces in just every day situationsReplyCancel

  • February 12, 2015 - 6:43 pm

    McKinney, Texas Lifestyle Photographer: Stories on Seven Feb 2015 » Gingersnap Photographs - […] I am a part of a wonderful blog circle. Every month we tell a story in seven photos. So, today, I pick the donut portion of her birthday. To see the ENTIRE story – check it out *here*. And to follow many other wonderful sets of seven, click on through to Hannah D Photography. […]ReplyCancel

Maybe it’s because a large part of my job is watching moms interact with their kids. Maybe it’s because I took care of other people’s little ones for so long. Or maybe it’s because I finally have my own sweet boy. It doesn’t really matter why. It just is.

I see you, Mamas.

I see you wiping dirty faces. I see the spit up covered t-shirts and how sometimes you barely have time to look in the mirror. I see you having half discussions with your friends because you’re too busy chasing toddlers around to finish a thought. I see you making sure everyone has what they need before finally plopping down to have three bites of your now cold dinner before someone needs you again. I see the loads and loads and loads of laundry. And the endless returning of the toys to their toy bins. I see you breathing deeply through grocery store tantrums. And soothing them when they’re sick or hurt. I see the hugs and the wiping of tears. I see how you know Goodnight Moon word for word. I see the late nights. And the early mornings. I see the endless efforts to balance family and work and a social life and to somehow fit in what you need.

I see how you worry about your little ones. Every. Single. Day. Wondering if you’re doing the best for them. I see how your heart breaks and swells all at once every time they do something new. I see you watching the time go too fast. Way too fast.

It isn’t glamorous, being a mom. But I also see how you don’t care. Glamour isn’t what you signed up for. You signed up for unconditional love. You signed up for that tiny hand in yours. For the sound of that little voice calling for you, “Mama!”. You signed up to be their safe place. To always come when they call, and even sometimes when they don’t. You signed up for one of the greatest adventures you’ll ever have. And all those little things that could easily be complained about mostly aren’t. And most of the time you don’t really care that your hair is still in a ponytail and you haven’t changed out of your yoga pants. Mostly you’re just happy.

I see you, Mamas. Through every hard moment and every mundane one. Through every challenge and accomplishment. I see that to your kids, you are love. And you don’t need to be anything else. Because they see you too.

HDP-9897bwPIN

mamasPIN

HDP-9150PIN

HDP-7085bwPIN

HDP-9441bwPIN

HDP-7793PIN

HDP-8541PIN

HDP-3213bwPIN

HDP-8110bwPIN

HDP-2259bwPIN

HDP-1751PIN

mamas2PIN

HDP-0938PIN

HDP-2891PIN

 

 

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • February 5, 2015 - 3:36 pm

    Melissa - Aw, these are perfect!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 5:03 pm

    Ashlea MacAulay - These are all so precious! As a mom to a toddler boy, I can see myself in many of these. Love all of them!!!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 5:18 pm

    Ashley Cherry - Beautiful storytelling.ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 6:18 pm

    Jade - this is such a great post! Yay for MOMS!ReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 6:26 pm

    Hendrick Moy Photography - Ohh man… so many feels in these images!! A truly splendid set with love on full display =DReplyCancel

  • February 5, 2015 - 7:15 pm

    Aimee Trawick - I love these photos! They are so beautiful! <3ReplyCancel

  • February 6, 2015 - 8:18 am

    Shannon - This brings a tear to my eye, on the 18th it will be 1 year since I lost my Mama to cancer. I can’t tell you how much I cherish every single photo (all 5 of them) that I have with her. I wish that I had beautiful photos like this. What a beautiful gift a photo is, and yours are so beautiful!!ReplyCancel

  • February 7, 2015 - 12:07 pm

    Jenny - The connection you captured between these moms and children are amazing! Great set of images.ReplyCancel

I just love when clients become friends. You might remember Sara and Josh from their engagement session. I was SO excited when she came to visit (and bring us delicious food!) when Bennett was first born — and even more excited when she, while looking at Bennett’s nursery, subtly told me that she was pregnant!! “I’ve been looking at these blankets…” I waited and waited to meet her little lady and what a treat it was! I also got to meet her mom and dad who were visiting for the holidays as well (and got even more delicious food! I’m telling you, this is the kind of friend to have!). Josh had to work, but was able to sneak away for a little bit. What a calm and sweet session this was. Cat naps, a sink bath (you know how I feel about those), and lots of cuddles with the whole family.

Thank you, Sara and Josh, for inviting me into your home and introducing me to sweet Kalina! I can’t wait to see you all again!

christmas babyPIN

sink bathPIN

christmas baby2PIN

 

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • January 9, 2015 - 9:30 am

    Rebecca Mortensen - Oh my goodness….I love these!!!!ReplyCancel

  • January 9, 2015 - 1:02 pm

    Libby - What a cutie pie! How wonderful that this family has these moments documented to treasure forever.ReplyCancel

  • January 9, 2015 - 1:30 pm

    Gwen Workman - Very sweet…. an nice memories they will be able to have of their first chirstmas together as a family…. beautiful…ReplyCancel

  • January 9, 2015 - 1:44 pm

    Conchita Medel - Those are wonderful!! Love the bath ones and that baby has so many great expressions. These are such great memories to have, great job!ReplyCancel

  • January 9, 2015 - 1:50 pm

    Alex - Such a beautiful set of images! They are going to treasure these for years to come!ReplyCancel

  • January 10, 2015 - 5:00 am
  • January 14, 2015 - 10:08 am

    Chasity Noel - Savvy Images - Such precious little baby moments! Beautiful photos!ReplyCancel

  • January 19, 2015 - 8:02 am

    Lynn Dougherty Quin - These precious family photos will only become more precious as the years pass. Love all of Kalina’s sweet little facial expressions.ReplyCancel

Stories in Seven is a blog circle made up of documentary family photographers who have committed to telling a story in 7 images on the 7th of each month. This is the story of a sink bath.

Bennett has been taking his baths in the sink since his very first one in the hospital. He loves bath time. The splashing, the bubbles, the wash cloths and rubber duck, even the water in his face. I love it too and so does his dad. I’m so sad that he’s getting too big for the sink and it won’t be long before we have to move him to the big boy bath tub. This has been one of all of our favorite parts of the day since the very first time we got to experience it. Sometimes it’s silly, sometimes peaceful, sometimes a bit of both. Always calming. Always special.

The sink bath.

HDP-0052PIN

HDP-0118PIN

HDP-0074PIN

HDP-0079PIN

HDP-0091PIN

HDP-0061PIN

HDP-0126PIN

 

Be sure to follow the Stories in Seven circle to see other photographers’ January storytelling! You can start by clicking here: Felicia Chang | Felicia Chang Photography  .

Share:|Facebook|Twitter|Pinterest
  • January 7, 2015 - 7:39 am

    Jana - Oh Hannah I love this series! And that is the perfectly shaped sink for babies <3 Beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 10:03 am

    Amy Jay Photo - What an amazing sink! And totally the perfect shape for baby baths. I can see why you’ve been using it for so long. I think #3 is my favourite, but love #3-5.ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 10:14 am

    Lisa Baldelli - What a GORGEOUS group of pictures!!!!! My goodness I cant even choose a true favorite! Love EVERY.SINGLE. ONE!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 10:39 am

    Jenny w - These are so wonderful! Love this story and images are gorgeous!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 12:00 pm

    Tiffany - It really just doesn’t get much better than a baby bath in the sink! My goodness, all that sweet baby squish, I NEED TO SNUGGLE! The last one is my favorite…look at those little piggies!!!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 1:09 pm

    Alex - Love, love love! What an adorable idea and that baby is just precious!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 2:15 pm

    Cynthia - Such a timeless story! I love the details you captured and the last image is just too perfect.ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 2:35 pm

    Julianna Rennard - What a beautiful kid. I can’t wait to photograph my own. I love this idea.ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 6:14 pm

    chantal - Ohhh I Adore this idea!!! So great and these [photos are absolutely beautiful!!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 7:09 pm

    Jete Devisser - Oh what the heck. Now my ovaries are dancing!! He is the cutest little thing EVER!! Fantastic images.ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 7:37 pm

    Jenny - Simply beautiful!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 8:21 pm

    Chasity Noel - Savvy Images - So precious! I love the last two for sure!ReplyCancel

  • January 7, 2015 - 9:16 pm

    Felicia - Oh such beautiful light and moments for a classic routine! I think we can all relate to sink baths! Love this.ReplyCancel

  • January 8, 2015 - 1:19 am

    Gwen Workman - WOW…. amazing images… and such a great project…. look forward to seeing more…ReplyCancel

  • January 8, 2015 - 11:13 am

    Alina Thomas - Such a great idea. Haven’t heard of Stories in Seven before but I like the concept. Just started my first Project 365 in January and I am so excited about it!ReplyCancel

    • January 8, 2015 - 1:21 pm

      Hannah - I have been doing a 365 since March and I loooove how it pushes me! Have fun!!ReplyCancel

  • January 14, 2015 - 8:08 pm

    Kari - I love the details of the water! Beautiful.ReplyCancel

  • January 28, 2015 - 8:42 pm

    Jenn Valluzzo - Oh my goodness the sink bath and that adorable baby – I love these! Such an awesome story for the first post!ReplyCancel

  • May 8, 2015 - 9:24 pm

    Briar - These are beautiful! Love them all. 🙂ReplyCancel

  • May 11, 2015 - 1:46 pm

    Jacqueline M Cinnante - I love the light on your baby! So angelic! Beautiful captures! <3 =)ReplyCancel