AROUND OUR CLOCKS: 12PM | NORTHERN VIRGINIA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Winter in Northern Virginia has seen our family building a lot of blanket forts indoors. I'd like to think I have a bit of skill in this area since I spent a lot of time using blankets and sheets to make little hideaways growing up, but I suspect most kids do. :-) I have fond memories of my mom teaching me how to build blanket forts when I was a kid. And I remember making them in my basement with my best friend using hair scrunchies (remember those?) and rubber bands to secure the corners of sheets around door knobs or chair backs (not a successful tactic, as I recall!). But mostly I remember them as a quiet, cozy place to curl up and read.

My son isn't quite at the independent reading stage yet, but I'm glad to have caught him quietly at play recently under one of his blanket forts (although he calls them "tents"). We tend to spend more time building them (and making them bigger and bigger, using every blanket and throw we have!) than actually playing in them, but I imagine that'll change as he gets older. 

Boy playing with tablet under blanket fort by Northern Virginia Family Photographer Nicole Sanchez

I wish I had pictures of myself making them as a kid with my mom or best friend. I'll have to get creative and try to capture some moments with my son that include my husband and myself before winter is over, but for now I'll treasure the ones I have.

Do you build blanket forts with your children? I'd love to hear your tips for making them awesome. 

This post is part of a collaborative documentary photography blog circle called Around Our Clocks. We're documenting a day in our life over the course of one year.  Continue the circle by visiting Stephanie Bryan Photography, Raleigh, NC Lifestyle Photographer.

A Fun Day with Mama | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

One of my favorite things about shooting family sessions is getting to connect with other parents, especially mothers. When I became a mom, I was pleasantly surprised to learn I'd unknowingly joined a special community of women that had always existed, but was invisible to me before I became a mother.  A community that brings an abundance of support, advice, and humor to one of the hardest and most rewarding jobs there is.  It was such a pleasure to get to know Sy and watch and learn from her with her two little ones, especially since I was due with my second soon after our session. :-)

In home documentary family session | Northern Virginia Photographer

There was also the added bonus that Sy is a small business owner herself, based in Northern Virginia. Like many parents, she finds inspiration in her children and family and channels that into koko's nest, which features beautiful blankets and accessories for nesting families. (You'll find one of her adorable blankets featured in my Instagram feed from time to time. :-) 

Old Town Alexandria Playground | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

I hope you enjoy these photos from our session.  We spent a fun morning in home (with muffins!) and a trip to a neighborhood park in Old Town Alexandria. I have a special love for photographing moms with their children. So often, we're behind the camera making sure family adventures get documented and we often miss out on being in the picture.  It's so special to be able to provide moms with sweet moments like these that demonstrate their love and dedication and how important they are to their family.

Check out more from Sy and koko's nest on Facebook and Instagram.

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May 365 Project Faves | Northern Virginia Family Photographer

I mentioned last month how much fun it can be to look back over photos and remember what family life was like at the time.  That’s the wonderful thing about documentary, candid photos.  The images help you remember what life felt like in that moment, whether it was last month or two years ago.  And if my propensity to click on the "See your Memories" prompts from Facebook is any indication, I'm not alone (and it only gets more fun the more time passes). :-)

A continuing personal documentary project is great for daily glimpses into the progression of your family's life.  May was a busy, but happy, month of travel for us.  Thankfully, we got to escape some of the unusually rainy weather in Northern Virginia for fairer skies elsewhere, but it’s good to be back home.

These are a few documentary faves from my 365 project last month.  There was a lot of much-welcomed outdoor time, time spent with family, and time spent marveling at growth (both my toddler’s and my own – pregnancy is going by so fast!).  June is already well under way and I’m looking forward to all the fun of summer and nesting before our new baby’s arrival in August.

I hope summer (even though it's not technically here yet!) is off to a fun start for you!