Lori is one of my favorite people. I have her on my speed dial. She is one of my constants. I love her so much that she was even in my wedding. I watched her fall in love, get married and have two beautiful children. And after talking about it for what feels like forever, we finally got around to taking some family portraits.
It was a special occasion. The Bollows got some new additions to their family, six little chicks. Before the shoot I had envisioned the kids holding the little chicks in their palms and doing a farm themed shoot. I don’t have kids, so my vision was totally idealized. Two little boys under four really meant playing with dirt, squeezing the chicks heads and lots of running around. So our farm shoot turned into more of a day-in-the-life shoot, which I think is so much more authentic to this family. So I introduce you to the Bollow family….
Finley is the cutest kid! He has a joy that just radiates and makes me laugh. 
I love how John loves on Lori. Their marriage makes my marriage stronger.
This is Sammy, who has got to be one of the cutest kids I know. He had fun jumping on the trampoline and when I saw this shot, I knew it was one of those that makes you jump up and down.
Oh, Finley this face kills me! So cute. 
Look at how proud daddy is of his little chick. 
John kept singing the funniest song. “Hello, chicken, hello. I really want to meet you. Hello chicken, hello. I wouldn’t want to eat you.”
And little Sammy did an outfit change and had some fun playing with dirt. Lori really lets her boys be boys. I love that!
And then it was time to say goodbye. I was sad too!
And if you want to see the whole shoot, check out the slideshow.
this shoot is absolutely precious! there were too many awesome shots for me to pick a favorite.
What a beautiful family, love the yellow on your friend.
Are you still using Animoto for your slideshows?
Amber you are such an amazing artist! The week and hours leading up to this shoot were causing me to lose my mind because it is simply the nature of our life stage. I just sat down to look at these photos for the first time after spending an hour putting the boys down for naps and cleaning spaghetti sauce off the walls. This is my crazy life. You captured the BEAUTY of life with two young boys! I have always admired your creative work but to see how you transformed our chaos into radiance is such a wonderful thing. Thank you so much. These photos are a gift that we will forever cherish. Now I have to go because I hear Finley waking up and screaming through the baby monitor. So much love to you. I can’t wait to order our prints!
John was one of my closest college friends. While time and distance have left us disconnected, I treasure John. So great to get a glimpse into the Bollow family who I continue to love and admire from halfway across the country!
Just great! Love the personalities shining through.
When can I buy photos of that hot mama and her photogenic boys! (And that vagrant she picked up, I guess he’ll do.)
Amber, thank you, thank you, thank you for capturing and truly holding still for a moment in time so many things that I feel for my family. Wow, what power in your photography: to be able to make me pause and realize the reasons I’m a Dad and husband.
What a gift — can’t wait to order some prints from you.
Much love and gratitude,
John
Beautiful Beautiful Beautiful – can’t wait to see you LORI – in two days!
KC
Amber,
This photo shoot was just toooo precious! You certainly captured the essence of Lori and John as not only a loving couple, but also as incredibly loving parents. Not to mention, the sweet spirits of the kids that bless all of us lucky enough to call them ‘family’. Great job (and good job Lori and John for taking the time to do this).
Kevin O’Keefe