Katie Oblinger Photography

In case you ever wondered, I love photographing kids and families. It’s like I’m receiving a behind the scenes look at the sweet and loving relationships between moms and dads and their precious little ones. This particular session was extra special for me. I’ve known Mary T. (the mom) since I was about 14. We met on a tennis court in Montgomery, Alabama at one of the many tennis tournaments of our younger years. I don’t even know how it happened, but we became friends that day and have been friends ever since. Of course, for the record, she beat me pretty soundly in that match. She was and still is a force to be reckoned with on the courts.

I’m embarrassed to admit that until this past weekend I had never met her amazing husband, Bud, nor their sweet little ones, Win and Ella Kate. When she asked me to photograph her family, I was beside myself. What I learned is that  Mary T. is still the sweet soul I met all those years ago. I can see her kindness in her children…and I know Bud is one lucky man.

Our afternoon at Aldridge Gardens will go down as one of my most favorite sessions ever.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I love this job…and I use that word loosely.  This past weekend I photographed this precious couple and their 20 children/grandchildren/daughter-in-law/sons-in-law/grandson-in-law. Jim, the patriarch, had me in stitches.  I think it’s safe to say that we became fast friends…so much so, I hugged him before I left.

Everyone gathered in honor of this lovely lady though, Jane, to celebrate her 80th birthday. It had been a few years since the family as a whole had been photographed and Jane’s birthday was the perfect occasion to do just that. But before getting the 22 of them together, the individual families gathered for a few of their own shots.  And here’s a sampling from our afternoon together.

I’m sorry, but I love this girl. And it might not look like it by that sweet smile on her face, but she is one fierce tennis competitor.  Look for her in a few years on the college circuit.  No, really.  I say, Go Dawgs! Yes, Blaine.  Go Dawgs.

This one cracks me up.  I love getting a few shots of people and their silliness.  This family did not disappoint. Sam and Austin, I’m looking at you.

But in two seconds, they were in perfect pose position.

Happy birthday, Jane! You have one fantastic family.

One of the things that I love most about this job is that I meet the most wonderful people. At my day job, I work with the same great people day in and day out. Very few new faces enter into our daily lives, but with photography, each session is new. New names, new faces, new personalities and I realize just how lucky I really am.

Meeting Liam and Grant was no exception. These two boys are vibrant, creative, spunky, and just plain sweet. They adore each other, their gorgeous mom and dad,  and no doubt will love their soon to be baby sister.

These smiling faces are one of the many reasons I am one lucky lady.