fancy ticklers | madison, wi photographer

A few images from the last weeks of summer that have caught my eye…

Made lots of new friends at the pool while hanging around to watch our kids practice for swim team (which for my baby boy started out as “drowning with style”, according to one of his coaches). Day after day the darling Shirin & I bonded through shared stories, discussions on creative expression & most of all, being mothers to Simons (who joined forces on the slowest LIGHTNING FAST relay team).

Here she is tickling up her beautiful 4-year-old Zachary.

Queen Anne’s Lace, processed using Addy Lane‘s Vintage Tea Tones (actions created by my so-talented-it-hurts-just-a-little friend Christy).

As we barrel along toward teenhood, I am so very grateful for every bona fide, spontaneous laugh I can get from this girl of mine. I recall from my own years that they will all too soon be almost completely (but temporarily) replaced by sneers and eye rolls.

Ellen - Great post, Tara!

shirin - Thank you so much for your kind words, Tara! I feel blessed to have met you and your wonderfully sweet family. Thanks for simply being you. :-)

carrie ann - love these, tara & and love your blog title…

my little leo | madison, wi children’s photographer

Oh yes, she di-id [insert head waggle & finger snaps here]. Our younger daughter went and turned nine whole years old on us yesterday. Some nerve.

Hope you had the very happiest of days, my generous, sensitive, goofy, creative, LIFE-DEVOURING beauty. This world would definitely be less sparkly without you in it, sweetie girl.

And I get to be your momma? Like, forever? Wow, Els. Guess that makes me the luckiest lady in town.:)

Love you so, Bellie Boo!

♥ Mom

[Eliza Grace, age 2, film]

[Eliza Grace, age 9]

Ellie’s birthday wish was this: Mommy & Daddy will dance to their love song (“How Sweet It Is”) whilst also singing the words to each other. At the end of this performance, the lady shall be dipped deeply and then immediately kissed on the lips (no pecks allowed…5 seconds AT LEAST). We granted this wish for our baby girl, of course, much to the delight of the entire brood. Avery did cover her eyes for the smooch, but I’m pretty sure I saw her peeking through her fingers.

Dana Pugh - What a beauty!!! Love the cake shots :)

Jen - Umm hello that wish of hers? The sweetest thing. Like ever. What a beautiful girl. Happy Birthday Miss Eliza!

Laura - Happy birthday, Ellie! We love you!

Laura - Happy Birthday Eliza! Missed you tootsie pop!

Ellen - Happy Birthday Eliza from all of us!!!

Sara - She’s gorgeous!! Watch out! :) I loved her birthday wish…i laughed.

Bill Anciaux - Please post Flip video of Ellie’s wish fulfillment. Love the story, message and photos. You are one special and beautiful girl, Ellie.

carrie ann - a perfect tribute to this beauty and special girl- happy birthday, ellie! BTW, i still have that first pic in a magnet frame- hard to believe how time flies!! xoxo

Shuva Rahim - How adorable… Congrats to both of you :-)

nearly nine | madison, wi children’s photographer

Think she’d obey her mother and just slow the heck down already if I asked nicely? Worth a shot, I think.

[Sigh.]

♥ t.

Jen - Sigh…my Zoe is nearly 8 & it is KILLING me. Eliza is so cute. I love her freckles. Have I told you how much I adore your children’s names? Yep…ADORE them.

Bonnie - Oh my gosh! I’m not surprised at how cute she is because of her genes, however, I can’t believe she is already 9! I must be having lots of fun because time is flyin’ by! Happy Birthday Eliza

Ellen - Happy Birthday, Eliza, from all of us!!! Do you look grown up in this picture or what?!?! Slow down, girl. Love you!

LAURA JIRSA DILLE - I knew it would be Eliza when I saw the title of your post! Tell that girl to have a most wonderful birthday. We will miss her at the camp out this weekend.

karen - Happy Birthday, cutie pie!

Jennie - Beautiful!! She looks so grown up in this photo!

my boy lost his toof | madison, wi children’s photographer

Simon lost his first tooth a couple of weeks ago and I took it a bit hard. He’s my last babe, after all. I know I’m not alone in my unreasonable alarm over this event. Uh…right, fellow mommies?

On a positive note, I also gained something that same day…a new, PRETTY PRETTY lens. I love her. (Check her out in action in the shot below. See? You love her, too.)

I know this is old news for you Facebook friends of mine out there, but I couldn’t resist sharing this image and video (click on “simon tooth” below) on the blog, as well. I know I’m his momma and all, but MAN! That child is flippin’ CUTE.

♥ t.

VIDEOsimon tooth

Jen - My little guy lost his first tooth this summer as well! Sigh…bittersweet. Such a great image. That lens is on my list. :)

Johanna - Heart Breaker indeed! Missing toof or not – he’s a cutie pie! Congrats on the lens Tara; I’m jealous too!

Ellen - He is so handsome! And that tooth just adds to his cuteness ten-fold! I love this picture!

LaurieK - You are SO right, he is so handsome!!!! Congrats on your 85. I am very jealous!

Carrie - Yay for the 85mm! :) Your boy is a cutie.

tara - happy to share, sara! 85mm 1.8. DELISH. :)

sara - Oh man this tugs at my heart. My boy is starting kindergarten and the beginning of loose toofs ;) granted he’s not my baby, but still, he’s my only boy. So…i must know what the pretty pretty lens is??? Your boy is cute. I appreciate the photo. :)

dwight & company | madison, wi family photographer

Um…hello? Is this thing on?

Yes, I know. It has been forever and a day since I’ve posted a darn thing here. Blame the irresistible sunshine, blame my three kids’ 267 summer activities, blame pure laziness if you must.

But I’m back! And fantastically excited to share my recent sessions, news and general nonsense.

So let’s begin with 6-year-old Mr. Dwight and his oh-so-proud parents, shall we?

♥ t.

A pretty common reaction to my request that parents take a few moments for themselves during a session (snuggling, kissing, loving)…one of them is temporarily overcome by giggles and intense blushing. In this case, Patty fell victim. THE CUTEST. Eric, as you can see, was enjoying himself thoroughly, soaking up a “private” moment with his girl.

But, man oh man…sooo incredibly worth any initial nervousness once things calm down. Because that’s when THIS happens…

MAGIC.

And then, the romance is abruptly shattered as your beloved son decides that there has definitely been enough disgusting lovey dovey stuff for the day. Happens every time. Gotta love it!

By the way, did you know that Dwight lost a tooth? Well, he did. Just so you know.

Laura - These pics really capture this wonderful family perfectly :)

Keri - awesome pics Patty!

Deanna Anderson - I love all the pictures, especially the one of Dwight getting held upside down. They brought tears to my eyes!

Johanna - Cute kid, fun session – parents look like they were fantastic too! Lucky you Ms. Tara! Great images; I bet these are making a gorgeous album!

Greg Lindner - Very nice! I love how the angled shots offer a sort of real depth and action to the photos. Great job!

Gail Vanderhoef - Love the pictures! Thanks for sharing with us. Would love to see you in person sometime soon!

Betty Gobrecht - The pictures turned out great!! You guys look great!

Jerry Vesperman - Cool pics guys!!

pen and bill - Great Photos, treasure each and every moment that you can capture and capture you have!!!!!!!!!!!! Great job, much love, Uncle Bill and Aunt Pen

Susan K. - Tara,
you have had VERY GOOD reasons for being gone ;-)
but gosh, I’ve waited patiently to see the rest of this session since I fell in love with your amazing-fantastic-quirky-intimate schmoopy portrait. The wait was worth it. I adore this whole session – it all just “goes” together to tell a sweet, wonderful story of an afternoon. It can be really hard to capture a swiftly moving, energetic, fun boy – but you totally did!!!

L.O.V.E. this. Completely.

Adina Vesperman - Awesome Pictures! I would have a hard time choosing!

Holly - Each image is an awesome representation of the Gobrechts, true to their personalities. Great job!

Laura - My fav are the piggy back ones!

Carmie - These pictures are awesome! Aren’t you so glad you got them done! It’s so worth it! Buy a print of every single one!!!

Andrea - Awesome pics! The colors are so great! These really made me smile!

Bonnie - Nice pictures guys. We especially liked the black and whites…. also the one of Patty and D-man going down the slide.

Shelly - Awesome pictures patty eric and d-man! they are all so cute and seem so in the moment….how do you choose? :)

casey ohmen - Each picture is perfect and catches a great moment. Thanks for sharing.

Judy Spiegel - Wonderful photos Eric, Patty and Dwight—not sure which is my favorite one. Judy

Brittany - What a beautiful family! Amazing work Tara!

Patty - We had such a great time at the photo shoot and are thrilled with the photos. You captured so many awesome moments. We love every one of the pics.

Jen - These made me so happy. Don’t even know these gorgeous folks & I’m giddy over their photos. First one is oh so fabulous & the flare is just perfect. And the couple shots are…as you said…pure magic. Beautiful work!

Shuva Rahim - Wow, I thoroughly enjoyed this post! Great job… especially on the parents-only portion! LOVE it!

Bill Anciaux - Well done, Tara. It really is all about Dwight right now for these two, isn’t it. Cute how you got Patty and Eric to enjoy a little one-on-one time too…before Dwight showed up. I enjoy your writing so much, how you set up or give a little context for your photos.

carrie ann - energy bursting at the seams and captured beautifully, friend. especially lovin’ the b/w’s of this family- so real life. :)

Laura A Wedekind - Nice session! Gotta love burke park, just did one there today. I love the couples’ shots!

Jennifer Chaney - Totally worth the wait! What a beautifully fun session! I love the parent pics. So sweet.

Brie - Love them all! thanks for sharing!!

Maureen Cassidy Photography - LOVELY! Love all of them!!!
Glad you are back, and I hope to see you soon!

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