You know someone. You know someone who’s experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can’t afford custom photography, but who would cherish it. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family’s spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography — $1400 worth, to be exact. The winning nominee will get a custom session with Andrea Roberts Photography, and my full digital package, which includes a disc and prints of every image.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a $300 print credit. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be?

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside within 1 hour of Columbus, Ohio. Tell me who you know, what they’re experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : andrearobertsphotography@gmail.com

The winner will be announced on New Years Eve, and all nominations must be recieved by December 15th — so get nominating! I can’t wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season — and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Andrea

You know when this is one of the first images you get that it is going to be a fun session! Chelle is a fellow photographer here in Columbus, and I was so honored that she chose me to do her family portraits. Not only is her family absolutely gorgeous, but they are so fun and sweet too! Her girls had me laughing the whole session, and it was so fun to see them interact.

When I asked Chelle to tell me a little about the girls before our session, she told me that they were polar opposites for just about everything. Her youngest, Maddey, loves barbies and dress up, and the oldest, Hannah, thinks both are “disgusting and embarrassing.”  Hannah  plays softball and basketball, while  Maddey is in tumbling and ballet. But one thing they do have in common- they are both gorgeous and full of personality!

It is easy to see where they get their good looks from!

I love this one. I just adore the way Chelle and her husband are looking at each other. We should all be so in love!

I love a family that can crack each other up! What is life without laughter?

Chelle, thank you for letting me capture your beautiful family. You guys were a blast to photograph!

The minute you walk in to Amy’s house, you feel instantly at home. It is just so warm and inviting and lovely. Just like her. She is one of those people that you just can’t help but smile when you are around her. Her positive energy is contagious. And did I mention the rest of her family is pretty darn amazing too?!

We started our session in the kitchen for some good old-fashioned baking fun. The kids had a blast sneaking bites of the batter, dipping their hands in flour and later frosting the cupcakes and their noses. Photos like these are ones I wish I had of my childhood. Just honest images of my family doing everyday activities together.

I love this one too. I can hear their laughter when I look at it. Most days I think we all wish we could bottle up those precious giggles and save them for a rainy day when our house is empty and a little too quiet.

Gorgeous, inside and out. I’m telling you.

Vaughn is already a little heart-breaker.

And Lena, oh Lena. A little drama queen right after my own heart, this one was taken while she was doing her monkey impersonation.

I think this one might be my favorite of the whole day. I can just feel the love.

Amy and Billy, thank you for letting me spend the evening capturing your family. I hope every time you look at these pictures you will hear Lena laughing, and Vaughn squealing,  and remember the days when their only worries were what stories you were going to read them before bed.

The morning was just right when I met Miss June and her family for a picnic. I loved watching Junie and her big sister Kinsey laugh and giggle with their parents as they sipped water tea from china cups. The girls sang silly songs, had a tickle fight, and did twirls. The birds were chirping and the wind was blowing gently and the sun had just started to peak through the clouds. Basically- it was perfect!

Have you ever seen such a beautiful, happy family?!

Kinsey was so sweet helping June sip her tea. She is such a great big sister!

Nothing better than a kiss from Daddy!

As a parent, there is nothing quite as special as creating a little bit of magic for your children. Just the simple act of spreading out a blanket and sitting as a family to enjoy tea makes a special sparkle in their eyes. Moments like these are magic. Moments like these are the ones you will always cherish. Your own slice of sunshine for any rainy day life may send your way.

It is hard to believe that summer is coming to a close.  If you are like me, you have been doing your back-to-school shopping, filling out last minute paperwork for school and trying to squeeze in a few more trips to the pool before the chill that has been greeting us in the mornings sticks around all day. Truth be told- I love the fall. I love the crisp air, the football games, the changing leaves and hearty fall meals. Fall is also when I do all of my sessions for Holiday cards.

If you have been meaning to schedule a session to get that perfect image for your holiday card, now is the time! My deadline for all holiday orders is November 20, and my September and October calander is filling up fast! Be sure to book soon to take advantage of this great deal. As an added bonus- if you and a friend get together and book your sessions back-to-back at the same location, you will both recieve 3 awesome mini-albums that will make perfect gifts for grandparents.

Contact me at andrearobertsphotography@gmail.com today to reserve your spot!

When Jennifer contacted me about bringing her dogs along for their family photo session I could barely contain my excitement. Having two dogs of my own, I know that pets are a huge part of the family. Whether it is greeting us with a slobbery kiss when we get home, laying on our laps as we watch TV, or playing fetch with what is hopefully not an irreplaceable shoe- our four-legged friends bring joy to our lives and give us unconditional love and companionship. It is so important to document their special place in our hearts and homes.

And, if the cute dogs weren’t enough- isn’t Miss Hailey gorgeous?

I love her expression here. I know that this is the face that Jennifer will think of when her little girl is all grown up. Hailey will be walking up on stage to get her high school diploma, and she will think back to this moment with a bow in her hair and a grin on her face and wonder how her baby grew up so fast.

Jennifer, thank you for letting me capture your beautiful family! I hope you will always look back on these and be taken back to the laughter and warm sunshine and wet doggie kisses!

Anyone with a toddler will tell you that these are the moments you treasure. Those quiet times with your kids, snuggled in bed with your pajamas on, reading a book. The calm before the storm. The rare, still peaceful moments when the constant blur of preschool exuberance is stilled by words on the page. The covers always seem extra warm, and even with the sun peeking through, it is tempting to stay there all day.

But of course you can’t. Your wild things will eventually want to get up. And then, if you are lucky, they might slow down just long enough to give you that look. You know, that one that melts your heart? The one that looks a lot like this:

But, they are wild things after all, so then they will be up and running again. And laughing and giggling, and tickling. I love the look on Gwen’s face here.  I just adore that look of pride in her smile. Because- hey- you made them, and they are pretty amazing! It is a look that says- this right here is the good stuff. This right here is what I want to remember.

Meet Ella. She is just what little girl’s are made of, if you ask me.

A princess with a bit of spunk and a whole lot of personality- she was cracking me and her parents up the whole session.

I think she might be a bit of a Daddy’s girl, what do you think?

Look at those eyes!

Oh, yes- definitely a Daddy’s girl!

I met Ella and her family just before sunset at Heritage Park in Westerville. The sun was golden and magical, and Ella’s laughter filled the air. As we wandered around the property, a wedding party came out to the porch of the barn, and I couldn’t help but think that someday that would be Ella in the beautiful white dress. Don’t blink- isn’t that what they say? And it is so true. That is why I love to capture families just how they are. It is so important to document this time, so that one day, before your daughter walks down the aisle, you can pull out that picture of her playing peek-a-boo through the trees and savor it once again. Because she will always be your little girl, she just won’t always be this little.

Julie, you have a beautiful family- Thank you for allowing me to capture you!

Okay- admit it- you are totally smiling right now, right? I mean, look at that little grin!

I love to capture families just as they are. First thing in the morning, pajamas on, in the bed snuggling wrestling. It doesn’t get much better than that. Years from now, these are the times you are going to want to remember the most. The moments with all the giggles and smiles and boundless energy.

Of course, it is always a plus if you clean up nicely and we can get a picture of your gorgeous family outside too.  And this family cleaned up nicely!

I love boys being boys! Aren’t they handsome? I think Katy’s phone is going to be ringing off the hook when they hit the teenage years.

This was one of the first images from my session with the gorgeous M family, and I knew right when I took it that it was going to be a fun session. Mr. J and his sister Miss H were full of energy, and come on- have you ever seen such a gorgeous family? Magazine cover material- I’m telling you!

I had so much fun chasing following the kiddos on the trail at Creekside in Gahanna. I love catching moments like this one, because mom is always amazed that I got them to stay still. Toddlers are fast, but I am faster!

Are you feeling the love? Because I am! I love this one:

I always love when families are up for something a little different. The next image is one of my favorites from the session:

And of course, since we were at Creekside- we had to go splash in the water. This one is another favorite: