samantha

is

perfect.

her big sister

has come around,

and just

adores

her.

their family was meant

to be

like this

at this moment.

while a trip

to Paris,

would have been

lovely…

a sweet baby sister is

truly amazing.

my clients

forever

that real

genuine

moments

aren’t forced.

they are fluid

little glimpses

found in every session,

when the subject

is allowed

to just

be.

MZP is rolling out a new take on the classic session. It’s simple, understated, real…the moments you want to remember about your child, about your family, about each other. In the coming weeks on the blog you’ll see real families, real children just as they are – imperfect but completely perfect to those who love them, exactly how God intended us to be – so totally, head over heels in love.

meet Campbell.

newly four.

big sister

little sister.

six sweet freckles,

piercing blue eyes.

sweet

as

sin.

and today,

she was allowed

to just

be.

If you’d like more details on this new offering, shoot me an email: mz@melissazihlman.com

For this year’s pictures we toured TCU’s campus.  Dad is a proud alum, and mom & dad also exchanged vows at the chapel on campus.  Grace is destined to be a horned frog, just like her dad, aunt & uncle, and grandparents.  They brought along Aspen, the most well behaved dog, who was all to excited for her very own close-up.  Awesome family, awesome session.

I meet Kenzie when she wasn’t even two weeks old, and each year I feel so lucky to be able to capture family images for them. This year when mom and I started talking about the session we had something entirely different planned, then she posted a picture of a dress on FB she was buying for an upcoming formal function they are attending, and the wheels started turning. Instantly I went to their gorgeous gown in a field filled with tall grass and pretty light…and well mom was totally on board. I seriously love clients who trust me completely to style a shoot, I promise you won’t be disappointed! Case and point…

I love seeing old clients whose children have grown so much in a year.

I love meeting new sweet faces.

I love the holidays.

a baby plan graduate. now two. adores his mommy, smarties candies, and iPhones. always best dressed.

4.5 and 20 months. spunky, sweet, and completely adorable.  i could watch them interact all day long…

mom & dad to the kids above.  incredibly in love with their kids, and each other.  so lucky.

five going on thirteen.  ninety to nothing.  will work for candy.  doesn’t yet know how gorgeous she is.

her older brother by 13 months.  talented first baseman and pitcher. proud of those missing teeth.

Tonight I met Ethan.  After months of communication with mom.  Doctors visits for Ethan, and the birth of my little guy kept us from meeting until now, but he was certainly worth the wait.  I knew I was going to love this session even before I arrived – after all, little boys named Ethan who were born in December hold an extra special place in my heart.   And this sweet 21 month old didn’t disappoint.

Ethan was born with a heart condition called Transposition of the Great Arteries and Ventricular Septal Defect  Basically the aorta and pulmonary artery are on the wrong sides of the heart and have to be switched back via surgery.  He had his first surgery at 9 days old, spent his first month of life in the hospital, and had a follow up surgery at 4 months old.  For all intents and purposes he is a normal toddler, but mom & dad and all those who know kids with TGA are acutely aware of just how fragile life is.  He’ll likely have follow up surgeries down the road to replace valves – could be next year or 10 years from now – there just isn’t anyway to know for sure.  So keep him in prayers, okay?

Thank you mom & dad for spending the evening swatting mosquitoes, wrangling your toddler, and allowing me to document your family.  It was an absolute honor.

more information on beads of courage

Tonight I had some holiday (yes, that’s right, I said holiday) mini sessions.  Some pretty cool families came out to see me.   Just wanted to share a few from my early session – it was approximately a million degrees with the humidity, and this sweet family didn’t complain once – note the long sleeves and jeans!  I hope your evening at Six Flags was fun, thanks for coming out!

It just is not possible.

Mom and dad seriously rock.

Last week I needed to reschedule when the stomach bug attacked my house.  They didn’t mind a bit.

Tonight I made them (highly suggested, lol) that they drive 45 minutes so we could  use this amazing location.

It’s about 20 feet from a sandwich shop’s dumpster…you know if case you are looking for it.

Gray worked every bit of the amazing light…I love this kid, and I seriously love him outdoors.