One Family, Thousands of Photos

I was going thru some of my older digital files and was looking for something else, when I found the first session that I had with this family! I am blessed to say that that they are my cousins. :) 

Let me fill you in on the stories behind these photos.

The summer before my senior year in high school (2008), I had the fantastic opportunity to be a part of the Career Academy Program at my school. I shadowed Renee (a professional portrait photographer) a few times that summer, and then at least once a week thru out the school year. I still say it was like a year of college. Renee is fantastic. (click *here* to go to her Facebook page) She let me borrow her back up camera over a long weekend, which was conveniently the Sletten Family Reunion. I thought I had been given the world! So, of course, I wrangled three of my cutest cousins (Although in all fairness, they're all amazingly cute. I have very adorable cousins) and I had my first ever photo session with a non-point and shoot camera!

This top photo was taken that summer, the bottom was taken just last month.

Way cute, right? Although the photo perfectionist in me must point out that the lilac bush behind them is in focus and they are not. :)

Julia and I thought we'd do it again the next summer! I had gotten my own "professional" camera by then and was starting college in a few months. What we hadn't planned on was Little Miss C's intense dislike for my camera. Not joking. We tried two separate times.

I don't remember what brought this next session on, I think it must have been a school assignment. I absolutely LOVE the photo below. I met them at a park, and it ended up being VERY windy.

 Another Reunion rolled around, and of course we had another session. :) We also did a few of Mis L and Miss E, who's birthday had been a few months before this.

Last summer, we thought we'd mix it up a bit and go to Stilwater! We had fun, to say the least. 

This summer was extra special. All of Julia's siblings were here for the Reunion and we did a huge family photo. (You can see it *here*) We also did each family individually, and these were from that.

I love this family! I have gotten to know them better over the course of these sessions and summers, and they are so much fun to be around! I have so many photos of this family, hence the post title.

It is fun to see the girls grow, as well as my photography. 

I hope you enjoy the peek back into my photographical past. 

Is that a word? Or did I just make that up? :)