Susan Ford Photography

Baby Anderson (Main Line Newborn Photography)

2011-11-29T14:50:00.001-05:00

Baby Anderson must have wanted his family to have something extra special to be thankful for this Thanksgiving because he decided to come a couple weeks early.
His session ended up being on a cold, dark, rainy day, but he was content as long as he was warm and had a full belly. He smiled for me several times which is always a lot of fun to capture.
He is one lucky baby, coming into a loving family with a big brother who couldn't wait to "introduce" him to me. Gotta love that!

Enjoy the preview!

The Extended Ferguson Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-11-28T21:44:00.001-05:00

My friend Nicole and I have been good friends since college. Along the way I was fortunate to meet many of her wonderful family members. Last weekend I had the pleasure to meet even more of them and also do a large family session with everyone. We got together at a state park with some old fort ruins. It was truly the perfect setting for some great shots with a lively and fun group.
My only regrets from this session are not having more time with them and not taking them up on their invitation to stay for an early Thanksgiving dinner. I know with all the amazing foodies in the family that it was definitely not a meal to miss.
Enjoy the preview!

Baby Ian (Philadelphia Area Newborn Photographer)

2011-11-26T21:37:00.001-05:00

I am so excited to introduce you to baby Ian! I just love his family, who I have photographed now 4 times. His big sister Ava is such a cutie and both of these beautiful children have wonderful parents.
Ian was born on 11/11/11. How exciting is that? Apparently his doctor was all for trying to deliver him at 11:11am, but alas the operating room consensus was that waiting might be the wrong decision.
He was such a good baby for his photo shoot. He slept like a champ and allowed me to do all sorts of fun things with him. Yay Ian!

Enjoy this preview of this sweet babe!

The Stendardo Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-11-17T23:59:00.001-05:00

This is the second time I have had the pleasure of working with the Stendardo family. I rarely go into the city for my sessions, so it is fun to get to head in and photograph them in some really great city parks. This time I met them at Franklin Square. It was a cold morning, but everyone warmed right up after a few minutes of playing in the leaves. Well, the sunshine helped too :)
What a great looking family!

Stendardo crew...enjoy your preview!

The "B" Kids (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2011-11-14T16:25:00.001-05:00

I LOVE doing sessions in new places where I can explore with my clients and find hidden background gems. So I was really excited when the "B" kids' mom was also excited about doing pictures at Yellow Springs. It seriously could not have been a more perfect day. The temps were warm, there were still colorful leaves on the trees and the sun was illuminating those brilliant colors perfectly.
The kids were happy to explore and their sibling bond made getting great images so easy. There wasn't anything I didn't love about this session.

Enjoy the preview!

The Davis Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-11-10T16:59:00.001-05:00

I love the doors that photography opens! Not too long ago I was contacted by some great friends of my husband's from his college days. They live near Harrisburg, but wanted to come out near us and have some pictures taken and reconnect. Our families had never met. In fact, my husband hadn't seen them since college. It was so nice to have the double pleasure of capturing pictures of their family and getting to spend the evening together and let our children have a blast playing together.
I probably sound like a broken record, but I love all the blessings this job pours on my life!

Davis Family...enjoy this preview of your awesome family.

Hull Family (Main Line Family Photographer)

2011-11-09T23:22:00.000-05:00

It is so special when I get to capture moments for great friends. The Hull Family falls into that category and it was so much fun to get some images of their playfulness and love for each other. Little J is such a cutie and was almost delirious with excitement to be at the farm and play in his surroundings. His giggles as he toddled down the gravel road made us all smile. It was awesome!
Thanks for the fun my dear friends!

Haltom Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-11-09T17:20:00.000-05:00

It was so wonderful to see the Haltom family again this year! They are a fun family and this year they had two dogs with them instead of just one like last year. The dogs were amazingly cooperative!
The whole family had just gotten back from Disney where it was nice and warm, so being out in the cold with no coats on was a little more difficult than usual, but smiles abounded nonetheless.
I just love the attitude in first picture!

Haltom Family...thanks for another great session! Enjoy your preview.

The Dunn Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-11-09T14:59:00.000-05:00

I got to meet this sweet family recently on a VERY cold morning at Springton Manor Farm. The poor baby, who they said normally smiles constantly, was initially frozen with a "please warm me up" look on her face. They wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm in between shots and she was all smiles. It was a such a beautiful Fall day, despite the cold, and we were able to get some great shots that really showed that off.
Dunn Family...it was so nice to meet you and work with your awesome family. Enjoy your preview!

Mullin Kids (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2011-11-07T14:40:00.002-05:00

I haven't seen the Mullin kids since the youngest was just a newborn and my how they have changed. Still full of energy, but definitely displaying their own individuality within the group of 4. I had so much fun chasing them around the park on the ultimate quest of getting good shots of each of them. I hope mom agrees that I think I succeeded.
Enjoy the preview!

My Niece Karina (Main Line Newborn Photographer)

2011-11-04T15:27:00.000-04:00

Our family has been eagerly awaiting this precious little girl. What a blessing and a joy it is to welcome a new life into a family and Karina is certainly both.
I'm a little partial, but I think she is absolutely gorgeous. She is such a good baby and is letting her parents get at least some sleep. Her little brother likes her most of the time and is going to be such a good sibling.
The day I was going to take these pictures of her was one of those days where nothing was going right for me. I prayed on my way over that she would sleep soundly and I would be able to get some great images of her. Oh my did God answer my prayer! Not only did she sleep through every single part of her session, she smiled at some point in nearly every pose I put her in. LOVE it!!!
So, needless to say, I had a hard time even figuring out what to put in this preview, but here are some of the many faces of sweet Karina.

Maxim Family (Main Line Family Photographer)

2011-11-02T23:11:00.000-04:00

This is the third time I have had the privilege of photographing this gorgeous family. Two handsome little boys and awesome parents whose love is apparent in their children and in the way they interact with each other. I love getting to spend time with them!

Once again this year we had a rather chilly day, but thankfully we were able to move our session up one day so at least we weren't trying to do a session in the crazy SNOW. It was a great afternoon and I can hardly get enough of all the candid images that are simply priceless moments that every family desires to remember forever.

Maxim Family...thank you for another great session with your awesome family!
already looking forward to doing it again. Enjoy your preview!

Selcher Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-10-31T16:27:00.000-04:00

These two little beauties were so good considering how cold it was the morning of our session. I absolutely loved when we told them we were going to play in the leaves and they laid right down in them without even being asked. It made for some great pictures!

Selcher family...enjoy your preview and thank you for a fun, Fall morning with your beautiful family!

Stewart Family (Philadephia Area Family Photographer)

2011-10-27T12:25:00.000-04:00

This week I got to travel to a cute little town in New Jersey to visit and photograph some friends. They have moved since the last time I saw them, which was just after their daughter was born, and their new community is practically perfect. I mean anytime you can walk to a great park, the firehouse and a bunch of little shops and restaurants, you have found a gem.

We spent most of our morning in the park and since it was a familiar place for the whole family, it was the perfect setting for capturing who they really are. I love this family and I love these images of them.

Stewarts...enjoy your preview and thanks for the awesome cup of coffee at your cute little coffee shop!

VeVerka Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-10-26T00:13:00.000-04:00

I think nine months is such a great stage with babies. They are usually mobile, but not too mobile, curious, love playing peek-a-boo and can easily be entertained by the people they love. This little beauty was no exception. She was particularly entertained by a couple nursery rhyme songs that her awesome parents had no shame in singing over and over in many different voices. I loved it! But seriously, wouldn't you do just about anything to get great pictures of your kids?

It was so much fun to spend the afternoon with this beautiful family! Enjoy the preview!

Morraye/Pearson Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-10-20T14:51:00.000-04:00

One of the great joys of my job is getting to spend time photographing families as they grow and mature. This is the third year that I have had the pleasure of photographing the fabulous and beautiful Morraye family, but this year it was extra special because I got to meet and photograph a part of their extended family, the Pearsons. It was so much fun seeing the 6 cousins together and how much they truly love each other and enjoy spending time together. And talk about a beautiful family. Seriously...the beauty genes run strong in the whole family! See for yourself.

Morraye and Pearson families, thank you again for a lovely session. Enjoy your preview and I look forward to seeing you again.

Hawk Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-10-18T00:13:00.000-04:00

I just love this family! They are seriously the nicest, happiest people and their love for each other pours out of every moment and every image. It was so great to see them again this year! The last time I was with them their youngest was a tiny babe and now he is an independent, handsome little man.
We had been scheduled for September and got rained out, and boy am I glad because the Fall was a perfect backdrop for their awesome playfulness.
These images make me smile and I hope they make you smile too! Hawk family, thanks for being you and enjoy your preview!

Parker Turns One (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2011-10-14T12:05:00.000-04:00

I can hardly believe that it has been a whole year since I met this happy little boy as a newborn. I love, love, love getting to photograph my clients as they grow, and boy has Parker grown. He is such a little ham in front of the camera. His sea blue eyes are mesmerizing! It is so obvious when you see him around his parents and grandparents that he is a joy to everyone around him.

Happy 1st Birthday Parker!

Baby Melissa (Philadelphia Area Newborn Photographer)

2011-10-13T23:26:00.000-04:00

I know that I have mentioned this before, but one of the things I love so much about this amazing job is that I have the opportunity to connect with friends I haven't seen in quite awhile and photograph their beautiful families. Last weekend I had the pleasure of doing that yet again. My friend Miranda brought her precious baby girl to my house so we could do some newborn pictures. Being four weeks old, I worried that she might not want to cooperate with typical newborn pictures, but she is such a little peanut that once she fell asleep she did great.
Both Miranda and her husband grew up around horses so she brought a stuffed horse to see if I could get a picture with Melissa and her horse, similar to a picture her daddy had taken of him when he was a baby. And, oh my, I love how sweetly she cuddled up to that horse!
Miranda is such a beautiful, proud new mom and it was such a joy to spend some time with her and her sweet little girl.
Miranda (and I want you to know that it is really hard to call you by such a formal version of your name) - Thank you for sharing Melissa with me for a few hours. I hope you enjoy your sneak preview :)

Baby Gia (Philadelphia Area Newborn Photographer)

2011-10-13T00:37:00.000-04:00

What a little doll I had the pleasure of photographing recently! She was blessed to be born with a full head of beautiful, black hair and stunning little features. Meet Baby Gia!

Her parents and big sister Caroline are beaming with love and pride over her.

Gia seemed to enjoy her first photo shoot! She slept through a good portion of it, and then was happy to look at her adoring family as I captured some sweet moments. There is nothing like being around a newborn in the first couple weeks of life. Amazing moments abound.

S Family, it was so wonderful to meet you and thank you so much for trusting me with such beautiful moments in your lives. Enjoy your preview!

Kayla (Philadelphia Area Senior Photography)

2011-10-04T23:41:00.000-04:00

Though I have lived many places in my life, Morgantown, WV will always be a place that is home to me. It was so wonderful to return there last weekend and have the opportunity to photography this gorgeous young woman who will soon be a high school graduate.

We met at Cooper's Rock State Park where the views are breathtaking. My memory of how beautiful it is up there was not even close to the reality. I am so glad that Kayla chose to have her session in a place of such fond memories for me.

Kayla's session was so easy. Not only does she have stunning beauty, but her sense of style and the intensity of her eyes is a winning combination.

Kayla, I hope you have a wonderful senior year and that you will find much success as you move beyond it. Enjoy this sneak peek!

Nathan (Philadelphia Area Senior Photography)

2011-10-03T15:21:00.000-04:00

I spend a lot of time photographing little people which I love, so maybe photographing high school seniors is such a pleasure because of the contrast (after all, they don't run away or cry when they see a stranger with a camera...at least not usually). The great thing about seniors is they just want to look cool or pretty and beyond that they are usually up for anything. I love that!

I also love that I get to travel from time to time and take pictures in locations outside my area. Last weekend was one of those opportunities. I photographed two seniors, one on family property in Oakland, MD and another in beautiful Morgantown, WV (Go Mountaineers!).

I was so thrilled when I arrived to find that it was truly Fall there. The leaves were bright, brilliant colors and the fields were filled with Goldenrod. What a beautiful backdrop to photograph a handsome young man that will soon graduate from my alma mater.

He was admittedly nervous about having his pictures taken, but he did awesome. Nathan (and family) here is your sneak peek from our session!

Baby Eden (Main Line Newborn Photography)

2011-09-08T17:58:00.000-04:00

It seems like only yesterday that my husband and I attended the wedding of our friends Miriam and Dan, and now here they are welcoming their second child, beautiful little Eden. It was so much fun to see them and meet their sweet, new addition. She was wide awake and alert nearly the entire time I was there, but she loved looking at the camera. I loved that her precious family was all about the kind of candid shots that stir up emotions and take you right back to that time when you look at them in the future. And time passes so quickly...

Miriam and Dan, you have a beautiful family and was so honored to get to spend time with all of you and hold your little bundle. God Bless you and enjoy your preview!

Baby Samuel (Main Line Newborn Photographer)

2011-08-25T11:17:00.002-04:00

Get ready to fall in love as you look at the pictures of this sweet baby boy!

Even with two lawn mowers working tirelessly in neighboring yards, he was completely at peace being outside in the warm breeze. I'm thinking that if his mommy or daddy need a little break they should take a nap with him in the hammock. He really seemed to like that!

Since my son just turned one, it was so nice to get to spend a little time around such a precious newborn. I am so happy for my friends Eric and Laura who are Samuel's truly blessed parents. Their "firstborn", Bentley, also seemed pretty happy to have a human brother to protect (see the last shot).

Eric and Laura - Thank you for allowing me to capture these sweet moments for you! Though the nights may be mostly sleepless right now, soak up the beauty of this time for it passes quickly.

Another Deserving Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-08-20T11:36:00.004-04:00

Last week I had the sincere pleasure to meet and photograph my third family of Need a Smile winners. To say that this mom is deserving of having this session done with her boys is quite the understatement. Her sister nominated her and here (in her words) is why she felt compelled to do so:

"I would like to nominate my sister. She adores your work, and has always raved about friends of her's who have had sessions done through your studio. It has been a long two years for her. She had her youngest son, Aidan 7 weeks early, and while Aidan was in the hospital, the business she and her partner built burned to the ground. There was no insurance to cover the loss, and there have been financial struggles since then. Her efforts in life have revolved around taking care of my parents. Our father, who has gone through two amputations in the last 18 months, and spent months in hospital and in therapy, had come home only to suffer another set back of a stroke. My sister is the one who has spent hours upon hours running my father to all his appointments, sitting bedside with him either keeping him company or giving him a quick shave and cut, a trade she learned in high school but never pursued. She is the person who ran our mother back and forth to radiation and chemo when she was diagnosed with colon cancer this past year. My mom had a heart attack soon after and my sister is the one who took care of her. She paid attention when the nurses would visit my parents at home and if a problem arose on the days the nurses weren't at my parents', she is who handled it.
Its easy for me to say that Chrissie handled my parents due to me and our other sister living so far away, but in reality, she did it because it's who she is. She did everything in her power, to get the Veterans department to recognize my father disabilities, and was able to get him a grant to have his home handicap accessible. She found the contractors to do the work, and my parents home is currently under construction.

She is a "basketball mom" to her oldest son, there for every practice and every game. She is currently over seeing a coat drive, for the needy and homeless, that her son started, as part of community service for his confirmation. Her youngest has also been in need of some special services for which she has had to work with CHOP and get him to appointments. She has a pretty full schedule to say the least.

She herself has had two cancer scares in the last six months.

She would love having the boys pictures done by you. She deserves this, more than any other person I can think of! I can't think of a better gift for her!!"

And, I couldn't agree more! So here is just a snapshot of some of the images from our session together.

Ocean City Family Session (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-08-06T23:55:00.006-04:00

Awhile ago I was contacted by a friend to see if I would be interested in photographing her extended family at the beach. We were exchanging text messages and I have to admit that I thought it was a case of autocorrect when she said it would be about 50 people. Wow!

Of course I accepted the challenge and made the arrangements with her lovely mother in law to get all the details worked out. For weeks I thought through the possible arrangements of 46 people in a single shot on the beach. When the day finally arrived I was excited and admittedly a little nervous about getting that many people into one shot on the beach where conditions and surroundings can be unpredictable.

Unfortunately, the weather decided to make things even more interesting. About 45 minutes before our scheduled time MAJOR thunderstorms began to roll through. High winds and a lot of rain were pounding the area. Soon there was flooding. Weather reports said the storms would be fast moving, but after awhile, it was still raining. My client called and asked what my thoughts were about trying to do it inside their beach house. I headed right over because I knew how important it was to get the pictures done since family was there from overseas and Alaska, and that evening was the only time everyone would be there.

It took some furniture displacement, corralling all the little kids that were having a ball running around the empty room, and some wading through the flooded street by almost half the family, but we worked together to make it happen.

It was such a pleasure to work with this wonderful family! Even in hot, humid conditions, everyone was really great.

Thank you for trusting me with capturing this rare moment. I can honestly see why all of you enjoy getting together as often as possible.

Need a Smile Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-06-22T23:21:00.006-04:00

What a joy it was to meet my second Need a Smile winners! Back in December they were nominated by a family member who had this to say:

"I am nominating my amazing sister, Jackie! She is a working mom of two, married to her high school sweetheart. He commutes almost two hours a day. They chose to have this commute so they would be closer to family, but needless to say it is difficult for both of them, and became even more difficult recently. Last year around this time my adorable little nephew Cole was diagnosed with autism. My sister and Michael have been through so much as a couple and have been sacrificing a lot for Cole's therapy treatments. They both are so giving of themselves and are doing everything they can so Cole has the therapy he needs. I always say I wish I could just do SOMETHING for them, so I am giving this a shot! Cole's big sister, Makenzie, is always looking out for her little brother and is such a joy to everyone. She lights up the room with her big smile and beautiful blue eyes! Cole just turned 2 in July and he has finally begun to walk without his medical walker and the joy to see him walk is priceless! My sister does the best she can to capture the everyday moments, and hasn't taken Cole for a portrait because it is such a challenge and, let's face it...how many kids really want to sit in the studios being forced to "smile!" She really wanted to have a family portrait done and thought the money should be used elsewhere...for Cole!"

This truly is a beautiful family! Their love for each other was evident and it has seriously taken me forever just to figure out which of their many touching and beautiful moments to put in this preview. Cole is a lucky little boy who will surely thrive because he is surrounded by devotion and love. And though I am sure that is true, I also know that the ones who will be truly blessed are those who have the pleasure of knowing and loving HIM.

Thank you for the pleasure of spending the morning together. I hope these images bring you the smile you deserve!

A little information about Autism in case you were unaware:

* 1 in every 110 children are diagnosed with Autism. That makes it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes and pediatric AIDS combined.

* Autism is 3-4 times more likely to strike boys (1 in about 70 boys are diagnosed).

* Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others

* There are several forms of Autism

If you would like to learn more, please visit the Autism Speaks page by clicking here.

If you would like to get involved in supporting the cause to raise awareness, support and research funding for Autism you can make a donation here or you can plan to participate in a walk.

If you live in the Philadelphia area there is a walk coming up at the end of September. More information can be found here.

Frank Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-06-13T09:59:00.003-04:00

Meet the Franks!
What a fun and great looking family. My family has had the pleasure of knowing them for a few years and it was such a pleasure getting to capture their love and joy.
We met at Valley Forge Park and despite the swarms of gnats circling our heads, we had fun exploring and playing. The boys chased a deer, explored some old log cabins, met "George Washington" and skipped rocks in the creek. And after all that fun, they helped me take some fun pictures of mom and dad together.
Frank family, I hope you enjoy getting to see some of the images from our time together. Thank you for your patience while waiting on this preview. I know you were eager to see these!

Mahoney Girls (Philadelphia Area Children's Photographer)

2011-05-23T21:38:00.002-04:00

One of the many blessings of this job is getting to reunite with friends that I haven't seen since college or even high school and take pictures of their kids. Last weekend I got to do just that.

I hadn't seen my friend Karen in at least ten years. (We couldn't manage to put our heads together and come up with an exact amount of time.) And, because her beautiful daughters are younger than that, I was meeting them for the first time which was so much fun. Karen and I were friends and sorority sisters in college. It was so much fun catching up (at least partially) on life during the last ten or so years.

Karen was just sure that the session with her girls would be rained out, but amazingly, out of the three sessions I did in DC that day, the weather for this one was the best. The girls were excited to explore and be photographed. It was a great time!

Enjoy your preview my friend!

Greeves Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-05-22T21:28:00.003-04:00

I can't even begin to tell you how much fun it is when I get to photograph kids and families as they grow!

The first time I met little Miss "A" she was about 5 months old. The second time she was almost 1 and was getting close to walking. And this time she was almost 2, and was so adorably polite and talkative. I can hardly wait until the fall when I will have the pleasure of photographing her as a big sister!

It was misting through most of our session, but that didn't keep us from having a great time. At one point the mist got a little heavy and Miss "A" asked to wear her hat. Thank goodness because the cuteness is almost overwhelming!

Greeves Family...thank you for braving the weather for another fantastic session. Can't wait to meet the new addition! Enjoy your preview!

Lindeblad Family (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2011-05-22T13:15:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I spent my Saturday in the DC area. I love going down there to do sessions. I get to work with some wonderful families and this is one.

I have never been rained out on any of my trips to DC, but I thought this might be the first time. There was a 60% chance of rain, and on my way to our selected location it was pouring. Thankfully I checked the radar on my phone and knew it was just a passing shower. Though it began to mist at the end of our session, we got the whole thing in and actually it was perfect photography lighting.

It was so great to work with this family again! The girls are full of energy and enjoyed exploring the area and all of its beauty.

Lindeblad Family...thanks for a wonderful morning...enjoy your preview!

Lloyd Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-05-06T16:50:00.002-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the Lloyd Family. We had no idea the adventure we would embark on when we scheduled the session.

You see, our first choice of location, Springton Manor Farm, was shearing sheep the day of our session and we weren't allowed on the property at the time we planned to take pictures. So, I took the opportunity to try out a new spot that I had been eyeing for awhile and boy am I glad it worked out. The Lloyds were great and were up for the impromptu change of plans.

What a fun and gorgeous family. We truly enjoyed the beautiful morning that God provided and managed to capture the excitement of bubbles, the fun of peek-a-boo, the joy of picking flowers and the love of a wonderful family.

The girls even found a piece of bark that looked like a camera and took a few "pictures" of me!

Lloyd family...enjoy your preview!

Aubrey, Class of '11 (Chester County Senior Photographer)

2011-04-21T23:19:00.003-04:00

Taking Aubrey's senior pictures was such a privilege! She reminded me a lot of myself when I was her age in terms of her goals and dreams, and it was fun to do a little reminiscing.

At the same time it made me realize once again how fast time passes. I wonder if her parents feel like they blinked and their beautiful, little girl was suddenly a senior in high school. Did she go from playing dolls and dancing around like my little girl currently does, to embarking on college and a career?

Though I am sure it is somewhat bittersweet, there certainly must be much pride, joy and celebration in her home as she nears this exciting achievement.

Enjoy this little preview of your senior session!

Gamburg Family (Main Line Family Photographer)

2011-04-14T10:20:00.002-04:00

A few months ago I had the pleasure of doing newborn pictures for baby J who is lucky enough to belong to my great friends and neighbors, Kia and Joe.

This time the whole family got in on the action including his Gigi and PapPap, aunt and 2 cousins. It was a beautiful day at Jenkins Arboretum and though there wasn't a lot blooming quite yet, we made the most of what was blooming including of course, the crisp, green grass.

I hope you enjoy this preview of pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them for you!

ANNIVERSARY Celebration Deals!!!

2011-04-02T12:00:00.000-04:00

April marks the 2nd anniversary of Susan Ford Photography!

It's hard to imagine that much time has passed, but indeed it has and that warrants a celebration. (Insert imaginary noise makers and confetti)

SO......

Starting now I am having a Spring celebratory booking blitz full of deals.

The first person to book a session will receive $100 off their session!

The second person to book a session will receive $75 off their session!

The third person to book a session will receive $50 off their session!

The next three people to book a session (#4-6) will receive 3 FREE mini accordion books with images from their session! (see sample below)

To book your session and receive your deal, you can either call (610-212-4798) or email (susanfordphotography@gmail.com) me. I will give the deals based on the initial call or email time even though we will have to work out dates and such. Bookings require a $75 deposit that must be paid within a week in order to receive your bonus deal.

Because I am a full time mom and my family is my first priority, I am currently only taking about 4 sessions a month and I am no longer working on Sundays.

Please pass this information along to family and friends who might be interested. If they book a session you get 20% off your next session! I love referrals :)

I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months, which hopefully will soon bring us warmer weather and no more snow.

Thank you all for making the last 2 years an absolute joy! I have amazing clients.

Susan

Nicole and Malia (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2011-03-28T00:13:00.004-04:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of photographing my first "Need a Smile" winners. The bright sunshine could not even begin to outshine the beauty and love of this mother and daughter.

Nicole is a close friend of mine from college and not only is it great when I get to spend time with her, but capturing special moments of her and her daughter Malia makes my heart smile.

I know they (and the person who nominated them) are very eager to see this preview, so I will just let the images speak for themselves. Enjoy your preview!

Clinton and Tanya (Philadelphia Area Engagement Photographer)

2011-03-22T23:44:00.002-04:00

On Saturday I had the pleasure of meeting Clinton and Tanya at Longwood Gardens for their engagement session. It was a somewhat chilly and bright sunny day, but inside the conservatory it certainly looked and felt like Spring.

Clinton and Tanya drove up from the DC area to have me photograph them. What an honor to have clients come that distance to use me! They are getting married in Aruba late this summer and they are an awesome couple. It is apparent that their love is strong and that they are "made for each other."

Clinton and Tanya...thanks for making the trip and trusting me with capturing such a special time in your lives. Enjoy this little preview!

My Baby - 6 months (Chester County Infant Photographer)

2011-03-04T14:10:00.004-05:00

I must admit these images are a few weeks old and my baby is now actually 7 months old. Where does the time go?

I wish I could find a way to slow time, so I could enjoy the amazing and fun ages my kids are right now. Especially this amazing infant stage where he sits (but isn't mobile), sleeps through the night, belly laughs, is curious about all things, interacts with his siblings, babbles, plays and is infatuated with his toes. I love it!

Oh the drool...it's constant and he isn't even teething!

Practicing his posing for Mommy

It is such a blessing to have happy kids. Even on the hardest days they overflow my life with joy!

When I married my handsome, blue-eyed husband I prayed that I would one day have a child with those amazing eyes. After all, I grew up with brown eyes which seemed so blah to me (the old, "you always want what you don't have"). First child...brown eyes. Second child...hazel eyes (close!) Third child...BLUE!

Are you hypnotized yet?

Baby Graham (Main Line Newborn Photographer)

2011-02-02T19:26:00.003-05:00

My cousin and her husband were blessed with a handsome, little early Christmas present this year. His name is Graham.

Last Friday I had the pleasure of meeting him for the first time. He and his parents were on his first road trip from their home in Virginia, visiting family in several locations. Fortunately the snow didn't affect our time together so that I could capture some sweet moments with him.

Even at 6 weeks old, he seemed so small compared to my 6 month old who appears to be in some sort of weight competition. He was alert, content and totally enjoying all of the attention. He didn't even mind when we got him down to just his diaper for some pictures. What a trooper!

Eventually we wore him out and he was all set to do some snuggling with mommy and daddy. Those are moments every parent should have the pleasure of putting on their walls. They don't stay that small for long!

What a blessing it was for me to have the opportunity to spend time with my cousin and her little family. Here is a preview of just a few images from their visit.

Winter Wonderland Mini Sessions (Chester County Family Photographer)

2011-01-18T17:31:00.006-05:00

It looks like we are in for a snowy winter and if your kids are like mine, they want to be out in it as much as they can. I love watching them play in the snow!

Snow is such a great backdrop for the colorful winter gear and bright smiles of wintry kid play.

So....I have decided to offer Winter Wonderland Mini Sessions for the remainder of the winter!

Here's how it will work.
Anytime that there is snow on the ground (enough to photograph with snow as the main backdrop) you can book a 30 minute mini session for $100. The mini session will include 12-15 custom edited images on CD along with the standard copyright release for your printing ease. I will either come to your home or we can meet at a park or other location (standard travel fees apply). Session must take place outside and can include any activity that you think would be fun to have pictures of your children or family doing (ie. snowball fight, sledding, snowman making, etc). To schedule, just call me when snow is forecasted or has fallen, and as soon as the roads are clear enough I will be there for some winter photography fun!

Need a Smile Giveaway Winners! (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-12-15T23:45:00.003-05:00

In the last 10 days I have had the tremendous honor of reading the stories of some amazing people. People with resilience, determination, hope, unfailing love and faith. Each nomination deeply touched my heart. Everyone who emailed me did such a wonderful job of conveying how this gift would truly put a smile on the faces of those they love who are struggling, or have struggled in some way recently.

I have read the nominations over and over trying to decide who the winner of the free session should be and what I have decided is...they are all winners!
Yes, you read that right. Each of the 6 nominees will be receiving a free session. And here is the reason why.

I know that I could have just put names in a hat and drawn out a very deserving winner, but Christmas is about hope, unconditional, unfailing love and the gift and blessing of a Savior....my Savior. My family and I have been richly blessed in so many ways and by so many people this year and this is just one small way to share and show the love, hope and faith I have with others.

Over the coming months I will introduce you to these wonderful people and will joyfully display their smiling faces for all of you to see.

Merry Christmas!

Need a Smile Giveaway (Photography Giveaway)

2010-12-04T17:01:00.004-05:00

Last year at this time I gave away a free session to a very deserving family in need of a smile. And this year I'm doing it again!

Do you know a family, a couple, a child or anyone for that matter, that could use a pick me up in the form of a FREE photo session? If so, I want to hear about it.

I have been so blessed by this business and all the wonderful people I have had the sincere pleasure of working with and this Christmas season I want to share that blessing.

Maybe you know of a family that has been struggling with illness, job loss or some other difficult situation, and family pictures would bring some joy back to their hearts and faces. Whatever the reason, if you know someone deserving I want to hear the story.

From today, December 4th, until December 14th, I will take submissions. Please email me at susanfordphotography@gmail.com with the story of why your nominee should be the winner of the free session. Please be specific. I don't need to know every little detail, but you need to convince me that your nominee is the most deserving. "They are good people" won't cut it. You don't have to be a spectacular writer or perfect speller, just a person who cares enough about someone you know to tell me their story, in a persuasive way, in the hope that they will be given this gift.

I will choose a winner by December 15th.

Please spread the word about this giveaway by email, Facebook and word of mouth as you see fit.

I look forward to hearing about some amazing people in the coming days and putting a smile on the face of the winner(s).

Merry Christmas!

"P" Family (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-12-03T18:32:00.003-05:00

I was thrilled to recently get to photograph my first set of twin babies! These two precious peas belong to a friend I used to teach with, his wife and three year old princess. I was SO excited when they contacted me to let me know they had had twins and wanted me to come and take some pictures.
What a gift this Christmas! Most of the session the babies were alert and wide awake, but we finally wore them down to get their Christmas picture.
Their very proud big sister wanted to be in every picture, and at one point pouted because she couldn't hold them (see one of my favorite pictures below). She is going to be a huge help with her little brother and sister, and I have a feeling mommy and daddy will need the extra hand!

"P" Family...thank you for trusting me with these precious moments in your lives and enjoy your preview!

Shaughnessy Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-11-30T23:55:00.002-05:00

The last time I photographed this family it was for this little guy's newborn pictures. As we all know, time speeds by, and now he is about to turn one!
I had so much fun catching up with them at Springton Manor Farm and seeing the two brothers together. The baby loves his big brother with enthusiasm and his whole body would show it when he got near him. Smiles, squirms and giggles would ensue. What a beautiful thing to spend an afternoon photographing!

Shaughnessy Family...thank you for braving the chilly temps with me and trusting me to photograph your precious boys...enjoy your preview!

For Mom (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-11-23T12:48:00.002-05:00

What mother doesn't love pictures of her children, whether little or grown? But, this particular mother is going to be surprised for Christmas with an entire wall display of pictures of her children and grandchildren. What an amazing and fun surprise gift!
As an added bonus, her beloved and beautiful Mustang will be center stage in one of the shots. What a fantastic idea her son had to borrow the car to use in some of their shots. Apparently she was under the impression they were borrowing the car for a nice drive to breakfast on a gorgeous Fall morning. Boy will she be surprised!
Thank you Hopkins and extended family for letting me be a part of this wonderful gift! Enjoy the preview.

Baby "G" (Main Line Newborn Photographer)

2010-11-22T16:58:00.002-05:00

What a surprise I received a couple weeks ago when I got an email from a client letting me know they had just had a precious baby boy and wanted me to come and take some pictures. 17 months ago I had been at their home taking newborn pictures of their daughter and had no idea they were expecting again.
It was such a joy to get to be around their growing family and capture the striking features of baby "G". He is such a beautiful little guy and he wanted to be awake for nearly all of my time there to show off his big eyes. In fact, the sleeping shots that I got were only in the last couple minutes as his poor mommy sent up prayers that he would cooperate for the basket shots that she really wanted.
"G" family, thank you so much for inviting me into your beautiful home once again and congratulations on that handsome boy! Enjoy your preview!

Jason and Lauren (Chester County Engagement Photographer)

2010-11-14T17:22:00.002-05:00

I have been looking forward to this session for weeks because these two people are very special to me. This beautiful couple consists of my stunning sister-in-law, Lauren, and her awesome fiancee, Jason.
They are getting married next October and wanted their engagement pictures to reflect the same time of year so that they can use a picture or two for their save the date cards. They chose one of my favorite locations and we had a beautiful afternoon too!
Admittedly, Jason was not looking forward to the session as much as Lauren and I, but he had a positive attitude and did an excellent job getting comfortable in front of the camera. It wasn't hard to capture their love and joy. They truly are made for each other, and all of us that have had the pleasure of watching their relationship and love, develop and grow, are so very excited for them and all that the future will bring.

Jason and Lauren...enjoy this preview of your pictures. I love you both and was so honored to have the opportunity to capture some images of this special time in your lives.

Maxim Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-11-13T16:11:00.002-05:00

This is the second time this year that I have had the tremendous pleasure of photographing this wonderful family. The first time their youngest was just barely sitting up and now he is in motion! It is so much fun to see and photograph the changes in my little clients as they grow.

It was a cold afternoon the day of our session but the boys did so well. We played in the leaves, discovered sticks and even ran around to stay warm. The love this family has for each other made getting these shots an easy task. What a great afternoon!

Maxim Family...enjoy your preview and thanks again for trusting me with these beautiful moments in your lives.

I love this shot! It reminds me of the E-Trade commercials :)

Baby Jameson (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-11-08T21:55:00.002-05:00

About three months ago one of my friends from college, that I hadn't seen since our college days, moved onto my street. She and her husband moved in the weekend that I was in the hospital after delivering Jaxon, and when we finally saw each other I noticed that it wouldn't be long until she was delivering a sweet babe of her own.
Well, that baby finally arrived after much anticipation and he is the sweetest thing. Jameson tipped the scales at 9 pounds, 3.6 ounces on his birthday and he has a set of cheeks that are SO kissable.
What a joy it was to go and hang out with an old friend while I photographed her firstborn!

Kia and Joe...enjoy the pictures of your sweet little boy!

Morraye Family Preview (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-11-07T22:17:00.002-05:00

I had the sincere pleasure of working with the Morraye family again this year. They have truly been fortunate to get some vibrant leaves in their pictures the last two years. They are such a joy to work with, because the love they have for each other is undeniable and it translates so well in the captured images. It was fun to see the girls a year older and get to know them at this age.

It was a chilly day, but everyone did a great job despite the temps.

Thanks again Morraye family! Enjoy your preview!

Bridge Newborn Preview (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-11-03T15:35:00.002-04:00

Last month I had the pleasure of taking maternity pictures for the most adorable couple and now they are new parents to the most precious little boy. He was enjoying quite a bit of wake time during our session, but eventually he fell asleep and I was able to capture his utter sweetness.
His parents are totally and completely in love with him....and so is his big "sister". (She is in the last picture.)

M and P, thanks for sharing your little man with me! I hope you enjoy your preview.

Announcing Holiday Card Mini Sessions

2010-10-25T16:18:00.005-04:00

Today marks 2 months until Christmas. Can you believe it? I certainly can't.

If you haven't already started thinking about what to do for your Christmas or holiday card this year, now is the time to make a plan. We all know how busy this time of year can be, so why not eliminate the stress that comes with trying to get the perfect picture of your little one(s) and let me take care of it for you by booking a mini session. To make life even easier, your mini session will include 25 custom designed Christmas/Holiday cards!

Here are the details:

* Date: Saturday, November 6th (raindate: Saturday, November 20th)
Location: Valley Forge National Park
Times:
8:30 - 8:50 am
9:00 - 9:20 am
9:30 - 9:50 am
10:00 - 10:20 am - Szigeti
10:30 - 10:50 am
1:30 - 1:50 pm
2:00 - 2:20 pm
2:30 - 2:50 pm
3:00 - 3:20 pm - DeMarco
* Mini sessions will be 20 minutes long and will focus on getting only the types of images you want for your card whether that is a family shot, individual shots or a combination.
* You will receive 5-8 custom edited images on CD.
* You will receive 25 custom designed Christmas/Holiday cards. (Additional cards available. Pricing depends on style of card chosen.)
* Mini session fee: $135 (due at the time of mini session)

Other important information:
* Bookings are limited, but if enough interest is generated I may add an additional date.
* The style of photography will still be mostly candid with a few posed shots unless you choose to have all posed shots.
*Please come dressed and ready for action as time will be limited. No need to dress in fancy clothes if that is not your style. In fact, some of my favorite cards each year are the ones that truly show the personality and style of the family based on their card and clothing choices. Get creative!
* Custom designed cards are high quality cards printed on 80 - 100 pound cardstock. A pdf catalog of styles is available via email.

Want a discount on your mini session? Here's how:
* Tell your friends about the mini sessions and if one of them books a mini session, you will get $20 off.
* If you are on Facebook, share the link to this blog post and you will receive $5 off. (Be sure to let me know)
* Not on Facebook? Email the link to this blog post or create an email with the details. Send it to your friends and copy me on the email (susanfordphotography@gmail.com) and you will also receive $5 off.

For bookings or questions please contact me at: 610-212-4798 or susanfordphotography@gmail.com

The Haltom Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-10-01T15:29:00.002-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful day at Springton Manor Farm. In fact, it was their Family Fun Day and there were tons of fun things to do. But, before all of that started I had a terrific session with the wonderful Haltom family.
They came dressed in their Fall attire (though it ended up being a bit warmer than expected) and the kids were eager to begin exploring having never been there before. Another family member ready to explore was their dog, Darby. Unfortunately, her exploring led her to a very pungent smell from another animal, which she promptly rolled in, leaving the rest of us wishing she had not been so adventurous :)
Despite that, we had a wonderful time checking out some of the area, seeing some of the animals and capturing the essence of them as a family and individuals. Thank you Haltom family for a beautiful morning! Enjoy your preview.

Ella...is 2! (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-09-27T23:12:00.002-04:00

I love this little girl (and her parents too) and it's not because she can recite the whole starting line up of the Phillies or because my daughter loves playing with her, but because she has the best personality. She is one of those kids you just can't help but smile when you are around. She lights up the room with her energy.
What a great time we had last weekend getting pictures for her 2nd birthday. She was SO into it and didn't mind her mommy changing her outfit a bunch of times or me making suggestions. In fact, she just used her creativity to make it her own. She pretended to be Diego rescuing a baby jaguar when I sent her into the tall grass and pretended she was in the rain forest when I sent her under a large tree. She was making sound effects and all...too cute!

Enjoy the preview of this awesome little 2 year old!

Nugent Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-09-27T09:36:00.003-04:00

How beautiful is this family? We had such a nice afternoon together.

During our session, the girls and I pretended we were on an adventure and were trying to explore different areas in search of the perfect places to take pictures. We found all sorts of interesting objects along the way. It was so much fun and the real objective of capturing their personalities was a success. Dora the Explorer would be proud!

Nugent Family...enjoy your preview!

Bridge Maternity Preview (Chester County Maternity Photographer)

2010-09-24T18:27:00.003-04:00

This beautiful couple is only a few weeks away from getting to meet their baby boy! What an exciting time filled with anticipation, nervous energy, lack of energy (for mom) and so much more. But there was no lack of energy for our session. They were up for anything and thank goodness because I moved to 4 different areas in 45 minutes and she had 4 wardrobe changes....whew!

We had so much fun.

She has such a cute belly! Though I know that she thinks she is huge, she is truly a beautiful mama to be.

M and C, enjoy your preview! I can't wait to meet your little guy.

Baby Ott (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-09-23T22:26:00.002-04:00

One of my dearest friends just had her third child. And, he is one precious little bundle. He surprised everyone by coming one day early (because her other two children were late) on Labor Day. How fun is that?

It was such a joy to get to do his newborn pictures. Stef and I used to teach together and our lives seem to run parallel. Our oldest boys are friends and are about 6 weeks apart, our daughters are friends and are 1 week apart and now our baby boys are about 6 weeks apart. So fun! We also started our businesses about the same time. (She co-owns the fabulous Little Pink Turtle accessory bowtique.) There is nothing like sharing life's moments with a friend who knows exactly what you are going through on a daily basis :)

Getting to capture her little man in his early days was something I looked forward to all summer. Though it was warm and we were sweating, his skinny little body did not like being unclothed. But, eventually he got tired enough to let us create some baby magic.

Enjoy the preview!

Luke - 6 months (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-09-20T16:35:00.003-04:00

This is my adorable nephew Luke. He just turned 6 months old!

It is hard to believe it has been that long. I feel like I was just doing his newborn pictures the other day.

He is such a happy baby and makes all of us smile.

And, he has the best facial expressions!

He is one cool kid!

But, one of my favorite things about him is his adorable pudge and boy does he have pudge!

Love you Lukey!

Charlie (Philadelphia Area Children's Photographer)

2010-09-10T13:50:00.002-04:00

My second session while I was in Morgantown, WV was actually with a friend from my days in Miami, FL. She and her husband moved there a couple years ago for teaching jobs in higher education and soon they were parents to this adorable, blue eyed boy. It was so wonderful to reconnect with her and meet her little family.

Meet Charlie! Charlie is turning one and that was the purpose around this session, besides getting to see each other.

Charlie was quite the explorer and was having a great time finding sticks, pine cones, leaves and all sorts of fun (dirty) stuff at the arboretum where we met. He particularly liked an old, hollow stump we found. He cruised around it and tried his best to explore the inside which soon produced a nice sized spider. His mommy and I agreed, that was the end of the stump exploration...yuck!

To all of those who love Charlie...enjoy this little preview!

New Offering ..Check it Out!!!

2010-09-10T10:40:00.003-04:00

I have something new to offer my clients and I know you all are going to love it!

You now will be able to get your pictures in a video format so that you can show all of your friends and family the results of your session in a fun way. Not to mention that it will be a great keepsake for your children in the future.

It would also make a fantastic gift for grandparents or other relatives that are constantly asking you to provide them with more pictures.

Check out a sample below.

Alkire 2010 from Susan Ford on Vimeo.

Your video can also have text so that you can incorporate messages to family members (ie. Merry Christmas, We love you!, etc.), birth stats for newborns, quotes...the options are endless.

This can be done with any pictures that you have had taken by me at any time so it is not just available on new sessions.

I look forward to creating a video made just for you!

Miss Reese (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-09-09T20:52:00.004-04:00

I had the tremendous pleasure of returning to Morgantown, WV to photograph little Miss Reese nearly two weeks ago. She remembered our last session together and was ready to show me all of her favorite spots to take pictures. We had a great time and even her mommy (my friend Jen from high school) got into the pictures this time.
Reese has such a fun personality and it really shows in the array of images I was able to capture of her. One of my favorite moments was getting her to make different kinds of faces for me. She gave me a great silly face that you can see below.

Thanks for a great morning Jen and Reese! I hope you enjoy your pictures and all the surprising you are planning to do with them :)

My Jaxon (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-09-08T22:16:00.003-04:00

It is seriously a crime that I haven't put up a post of my own newborn who is now 6 weeks old, but as we all know...time flies...and it has been flying like crazy over here.

May I now introduce to you...Jaxon!

His stats were 9 lbs and 22 inches. Boy am I glad they induced me!

He is a sweet little guy and he is still gaining weight like a champ. At his last doctor's appt he was almost 12 lbs!

He is a good sleeper and that makes Mommy REALLY happy.

His brother loves to hold him and sing to him. It melts a mommy's heart!

This is my first summer baby (the other two were born in the winter) so I have taken full advantage of getting some outdoor pictures.

He was very cooperative toward the end of his newborn session, but that was only after the marathon of wake time while I was trying to get other sleepy shots. I finally gave up and got the one below with him awake. Turns out...I like it better that way!

His brother and sister are in love with him and so far there are no jealousy issues...whew!

I love the above shot because it is so characteristic of my kids. My son loves to try to make Jaxon laugh. I can't imagine how fun it will be when he finally gets a reaction out of him.

My daughter would much prefer to give him kisses and baby him.

All in all I must say that life as a family of 5 is going well and we are thrilled and blessed to have this little man in our lives. In fact, it is hard to imagine what it was like without him.

Becoming the Client (Chester County Maternity Photographer)

2010-07-29T10:45:00.003-04:00

Here I sit in the hospital being induced in wild anticipation of meeting our third child. A couple weeks ago I made a list of things that I wanted to accomplish before my son arrived and the list was very lengthy. I figured there would be things that would not be accomplished because he would come early like my other two children. Ha!

On Tuesday, my doctor was wonderful enough to suggest an induction for today. I almost cried tears of relief and joy. I quickly went home to see what was left on the list I had created since only one day remained before I would be here hooked up to all sorts of equipment, watching the minutes tick by and feeling the pain slowly increase. One of the few things that remained was having my husband take pictures of my huge belly with our other two kids. I know it seems silly that a photographer would not have taken care of something like that already, but I have never been sure that I wanted to have such a larger version of me in pictures.

I decided that it was important to at least take the shots and decide later if I wanted to use them. I set the camera up yesterday morning and handed it over to my husband. The kids were VERY excited to get to be IN pictures with mommy and were cooperative, but it is hard to give photography direction as to what to do, on the front side of the camera. He did a great job though and I am thrilled that we took some time to get these priceless images.

I can honestly say, I wish I would have done it with the other two kids as well. These precious times can never be replaced and just because I don't feel my skinniest or my prettiest, doesn't mean my friends, family and in the future, my kids, won't be thrilled to have the treasure of these images.

Baby Hopkins Preview (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-07-16T16:04:00.002-04:00

In May I had the pleasure of photographing the Hopkins family for the first time. It was a combined maternity/one-year session. Now that a couple months have passed baby "A" has arrived and what a beauty she is.
Wonderfully, she was a sleeping beauty for her newborn session! For well over an hour we positioned her, put on a variety of hats and moved locations, but she continued to stay sound asleep. I loved every minute of it, especially since it is likely only days until I am holding my own newborn. What fun!

Hopkins family...enjoy the preview of your little angel!

Clark Family Preview (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-07-08T10:01:00.002-04:00

Back in December I was a part of a holiday "Mom's Night Out" vendor fair for the Coatesville Moms Club. I have done sessions for many of the moms it was nice to see so many familiar faces. At the event I donated a mini-session as a raffle prize and the Clark Family ended up being the lucky winners.
With the terrible winter we had, they wisely opted to save their session for a warmer, more scenic time of year. A couple weeks ago we met at a local park to get pictures of their beautiful family. The boys played and fortunately weren't too affected by the heat so that we could get some fun shots.
They have been SO patient waiting for this preview as I get ready to have baby #3. Thank you Clark Family!

Enjoy your preview and be looking for your CD to arrive very soon!

Hall Family Preview (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-06-22T08:19:00.002-04:00

It has been awhile since I have done a session at Springton Manor Farm, but last weekend I returned to photograph the Hall Family. They booked the session back in September of last year, so it was certainly long awaited.
It was a steamy day with thunderstorms on the horizon, but we stuck to the shade where there was a little breeze, the girls visited with the barn cat, the kids sat on the tractor and everyone generally enjoyed being together before the storm truly threatened.

Hall and extended Family...enjoy your sneak preview!

Shackelford Preview (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-06-18T15:48:00.002-04:00

I recently had the pleasure of photographing some children that are dear to my mother-in-law, but are not her grandchildren. You see, she is a nanny for a family with 3 beautiful girls, one of which was just 3 weeks old when I arrived for the session. I was immediately envious of her full head of dark hair because though I was born with hair like that, so far my children have not been given that gift. What a stunning little bundle!
There were moments of sisterly love and moments of independence, but all in all it was a wonderful session and it was great to get to meet the Shackelfords (well, most of them.)

Shackelford Family...enjoy your sneak preview and those precious little girls!

"F" Family Preview (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-06-15T00:11:00.002-04:00

First, let me thank the "F" family for their patience in waiting for this preview. I have been eager to get this up, but good intentions did not prevail over a very busy week and weekend.

I was so excited to get to do this session. My son is friends with their son, and they are a lovely family in so many ways. I was grateful to get the session in last weekend and glad they were flexible enough to move the session up when all of the sudden we were under a tornado warning! They live on a beautiful property that has many options for lush, vibrant backdrops, but the stars of these pictures are the faces.

"F" family...enjoy your preview!

Carroll Preview (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-06-10T23:12:00.002-04:00

On Sunday morning, though rain was threatening, I managed to squeeze in a wonderful session with a fantastic family. There were a few drops here and there, but nothing that kept us from having fun while I captured the joy and love they have for each other.
There is such innocent beauty in capturing a child looking lovingly at a parent or just relaxing in their presence. Those are treasures for sure!

Carroll Family...enjoy your sneak preview!

Stendardo Family Preview (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2010-06-09T21:22:00.002-04:00

I don't often do sessions in the city, but last Saturday I met the Stendardo Family at Fairmount Park for a beautiful morning session. Unfortunately, the area we had planned to use, around the Horticultural Center, was blocked off for a race of some sort. I'm not sure why that event didn't show up when I searched for events in the area, but luckily we were able to find a nice place close by.
It was a hot one, but a little shade here and there, and a nice breeze helped dramatically. All in all it was a great morning with a great family!
As you preview the session, make sure to catch the last picture of one of the cutest pouty faces I have seen in awhile.

Stendardo family...enjoy your sneak preview!

Need A Smile Giveaway Winner Session - Lupo Family

2010-05-31T23:26:00.006-04:00

Back in December I had a giveaway for a free session to a family that was in need of a smile. The winning family was the Lupo Family. If you missed my post on why they were selected you can read it here. Since the winter was a snowy mess, we decided to schedule the session for the much more beautiful and warm, Spring.
Last weekend I finally had the pleasure of meeting this lovely family. The smiles were abundant and the location was gorgeous. I have been wanting to do a session at this location for awhile and I was so excited when they agreed that it sounded like a lot of fun.
The Lupo kids were not shy at all and were both cooperative and full of ideas on where we should take pictures. As we moved around the area, they collected flowers for their mom and before the session was over she had a beautiful bouquet.
It was such a joy to be able to give them this session and I hope they will cherish these images for many years to come.

Lupo Family...enjoy your sneak preview and thank you for sharing your time and story with me!

Lindeblad Family Preview (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2010-05-25T15:00:00.002-04:00

My last session in the DC area was with a lovely new family I had never met or worked with before. That is always fun because I love meeting new people. The session was being held at the grandparents' home because of their fantastic property. Oddly enough, because we all know how small this world can be, the grandfather taught for 40 years in Miami where I both grew up and taught for 2 years, and we had fun talking about people and places we had in common.

The girls had fun playing outside during our session, especially in the shade of the beautiful trees on the property. I love some of the playful moments that I was able to capture. It is awesome when families have fun together and I just get to be a bystander with a camera.

Lindeblad Family...thanks for sharing your family and time with me. Enjoy your sneak preview!

Dufresne/Smith Family Preview (Philadelphia Area Family Photographer)

2010-05-24T23:40:00.003-04:00

Here is another session from my time in the DC area. This shoot allowed me to catch up with another friend from college and have the opportunity to meet her beautiful family.

We met at a working mill and the kids had a great time running around and exploring the grounds. At times we were certain someone would end up in the water, but fortunately that didn't play out as part of the day.

The four kids in the pictures are cousins and thoroughly enjoyed being around each other. It was a fun, playful, laid back session and it was really wonderful to see my friend again.

Dufresne/Smith Families...enjoy your sneak preview and thanks for your patience!

Richardson Family Preview (Philadelphia Area Children's Photographer)

2010-05-24T16:42:00.002-04:00

One of the fun perks of my job is traveling to see friends and having the honor of taking pictures of their beautiful families. Last weekend I was able to reconnect with two friends from college and do just that. Lucky me!

The first was a friend lovingly referred to as "Fusco" during our college days. It was her last name then and many of us had nicknames of that kind, including me. It was so wonderful to see her and get to meet her family. She has three handsome boys and a baby girl that is pure sweetness. What a joy it was to photograph all of them. I can hardly wait for her to see her preview, so I will keep this short.

Richardson Family....enjoy your sneak preview!

Greeves Family - Take Two (Philadelphia Area Children's Photographer)

2010-05-22T12:22:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I returned to the DC area to do some photo shoots for people I know in there. It was a gorgeous weekend and certainly one of the highlights was getting to see this little beauty and how much bigger she has gotten since I took pictures of her and her parents back in the fall. You can see that session here.
We met early Saturday morning at the Jefferson Memorial. She was having a great time crawling and scooting around. What a happy baby! She was great entertainment for the folks coming to see the memorial.
It was wonderful to get to spend time with her and her family again. Happy Birthday to Miss "A" who will turn 1 in just a couple weeks. She will certainly be a beautiful, sweet birthday girl.

Greeves Family...enjoy your sneak preview!

The "H" Family (Main Line Family Photographer)

2010-05-13T14:02:00.003-04:00

This weekend I had the pleasure of working with the "H" Family. The session had two wonderful purposes. One was little Miss Caroline's first birthday and the other was to get a few shots of a beautiful growing belly that will soon add another member to this wonderful family.

We had a gorgeous day to work with, though the wind was a bit gusty at times. Caroline had a little camera phobia to overcome after a recent trip to Disney World prompted her to be a little afraid of big black cameras in her face. But, oh the fun we had! Caroline makes the cutest little scrunched up face and her natural smiling face could easily light up a room.

I dare you to look over these pictures and not smile!

I can't wait to spend some more time with this great family again when they welcome another beautiful little girl into the world in a few weeks. How exciting!

"H" Family...enjoy your sneak preview!

Griffel Family (Chester County Children's/Family Photographer)

2010-04-30T11:06:00.003-04:00

My second session on Saturday was with a good friend, her husband and adorable twin boys. Back when I was an elementary school teacher she was one of my most gifted student teachers and we soon became friends. It has been such a joy to see her become a successful teacher, wife and mother. And it was even more of a joy to get to capture some special moments for her and her family this past weekend.

The boys, though identical in appearance, have such unique personalities. While one was all about smiling and looking at the camera, the other avoided it like the plague. But, I love a good challenge!

Except for the gnats that I mentioned in my previous post, we had a great time and I am sure the boys took a lovely nap later on.

Griffel Family...enjoy your sneak preview!

Maxim Family Preview (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-04-27T10:45:00.002-04:00

Saturday was a beautiful Spring day and my first session greeted me with smiles and enthusiasm. The Maxim family was such a joy to be around. Their boys are precious, and so cooperative even at 7 months and 2 years old. Though there seemed to be a bit of an issue with gnats during my sessions this weekend, they took it in stride and had fun playing and enjoying themselves in the ways they usually do when there isn't a photographer around.

I'm sure you will agree that their love and joy is evident. I know I say this all the time, but I really do have a wonderful job. Who wouldn't want to spend their time capturing such precious moments!

Maxim family...enjoy your sneak preview! So much more to come in a few short weeks.

Baby Luke (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2010-03-17T22:30:00.002-04:00

I cannot tell you how much I have been looking forward to photographing this little guy. Why is he so special you ask? Well, that's simple...he's my newest nephew!

He is the sweetest little thing and his mommy and daddy could not be happier to have welcomed him into the world. It makes me smile just watching them with him. He has that wonderful baby smell and just loves snuggling up. Love it!

Spending time with him makes me so much more eager to meet our own baby boy. As my sister in law says, "The boys will not only be cousins, they will be friends."

Baby Gabriella (Delaware County Newborn Photographer)

2010-03-04T08:57:00.007-05:00

Recently I had the pleasure of traveling down to the area where I used to teach elementary school, to meet a precious baby girl named Gabriella. She was one of the most cooperative newborns I have had in awhile, because she slept nearly the whole time I was there.
She had the most beautiful skin and dark, silky hair. It was obvious why her family was so deeply in love with her.
What a pleasure it was to work with this lovely family! I am so thankful the snow did not manage to keep me from "our date."

"M" Family...enjoy the preview of your session!

Need A Smile Giveaway Winner

2010-02-02T23:59:00.002-05:00

As many of you know, in December I held a giveaway. This giveaway was special because I wanted to gift a session to a family that was truly in need of a smile.

I received many nominations, and they all touched my heart. It was not an easy decision to make because there are so many great families out there that have dealt with tough circumstances in the last year or so. But, a decision did have to be made and I am proud to say that the winning family was the Lupo Family.

The Lupo Family has three energetic, beautiful children and their mom (the family photographer) has made it her mission to cover their walls with images of the joy they have experienced together over the years. Before Christmas in 2008, their digital camera broke. Mrs. Lupo was thrilled when she found out that her husband's company gave all the employees a digital camera as an early Christmas gift. As usual, she would be able to take their traditional Christmas picture in front of their tree using her tripod and the camera's timer.

They deeply treasure that picture today because sadly it was one of the last pictures with their much loved husband/father. At the end of January last year, Mr. Lupo collapsed one evening. He was a healthy man with no signs or symptoms of illness or health trouble. Though his wife and medical personnel did all they could to try to revive him, they were not successful and he passed away. It was declared a result of heart arrhythmia. And, the hearts that were left behind were broken.

As you can imagine, the last year has been extremely difficult. This was a sudden blow to a young, happy family. The children were 3, 5 and 6 years old at the time of their father's death. Though surrounded by loving family and friends, the day to day struggle to adjust has been the biggest challenge. Mrs. Lupo continued to try to take pictures of important moments in her children's lives until their new digital camera also broke.

So, when our mutual friend Gail read about my giveaway, she immediately wrote to me about the Lupo family and not only their need for a big smile, but also for some updated pictures of their beautiful family.

I can't properly express how excited I am to meet up with them this Spring and do a fun, family session. Mrs. Lupo told me that she has never won anything and this certainly put a smile on her face. Yeah!!!!

Miss Callie (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2010-02-02T23:31:00.005-05:00

Meet Callie! She is a vibrant young lady who has begun to do some acting and modeling work and needed to update her headshots.
She was SO excited to get her pictures done and I loved that enthusiasm. I think she will continue to do well because she has a terrific, fun personality and is very down to earth. And, personally I think she has a very a natural, Dakota Fanning type look.
Good luck Callie!

The "G" Family (Chester County Family Photographer)

2010-02-01T10:47:00.007-05:00

This family has been SO patient in waiting to see their pictures. Becky (the mom) is the graphic designer that did my logo/watermark, etc. She did a wonderful job and I am thrilled with the results. We exchanged services and I met her family at Hershey Gardens at the end of October to do their family session. What a beautiful setting! Everyone had a great time and it was the perfect Autumn day.
Because it was one of my extremely busy times of year and they weren't in a big hurry for their pictures, she graciously told me she would wait until after the beginning of the year when things settled down.
So, finally, here is their preview. Hopefully it will make all of us feel a bit warmer (and probably even more eager for Spring).
Thank you Becky for being so patient and enjoy your preview!

Baby "J" Preview (Chester County Newborn Photographer)

2009-12-16T23:53:00.007-05:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting 6 day old baby "J" and his loving family. He was such a good baby. He wanted to be awake for much of the session, but that was fine considering he was happy and alert.
He was born into a family of huge Phillies fans and was even named after one of the players. I loved the way he "posed" for me in this giant baseball mitt. What an adorable baby!

"S" Family...enjoy your preview!

Caruso Kids Preview (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2009-12-12T00:46:00.009-05:00

What a great time I had this week during a fun, playful session with the Caruso kids. I was definitely kept on my toes times 4. It was great getting to know the unique qualities of each child and trying to capture that in a short period of time.

Caruso family...enjoy your preview!

In Need of a Smile? (Giveaway)

2009-12-03T01:36:00.004-05:00

Do you know a family, a couple, a child or anyone for that matter that could use a pick me up in the form of a FREE photo session? If so, I want to hear about it.

I have been so blessed by this business and all the wonderful people I have had the sincere pleasure of working with and this Christmas season I want to share that blessing.

Maybe you know of a family that has been struggling with illness or job loss, and family pictures would bring some joy back to their hearts and faces. Whatever the reason, if you know someone deserving I want to hear the story.

From today, December 3rd, until December 13th, I will take submissions. Please email me at susanfordphotography@gmail.com with the story of why your nominee should be the winner of the free session. Please be specific. I don't need to know every little gritty detail, but you need to convince me that your nominee is the most deserving. "They are good people" won't cut it. You don't have to be a spectacular writer or perfect speller, just a person who cares enough about someone you know to tell me their story in a persuasive way in the hope that they will be given this gift.

I will choose a winner by December 15th.

Please spread the word about this giveaway by email, Facebook and word of mouth as you see fit.

I look forward to hearing about some amazing people in the coming days and putting a smile on the face of the winner(s).

Merry Christmas!

Drabish Christmas Preview (Philadelphia Area Children's Photographer)

2009-12-01T14:50:00.009-05:00

My second Christmas session while I was in the Morgantown, WV area last week, was with my dear, sweet friend Anissa's little beauty. I took her newborn pictures just a few short weeks ago, but she is growing fast and her momma wanted me to do her Christmas pictures while I was in town.
It is such a joy to get to capture the beauty of a friend's child and this baby is stunning. Get ready to want to pinch her cheeks as you look through this preview.

Enjoy, my dear friends!

Glover Preview (Chester County Children's Photographer)

2009-11-30T22:57:00.006-05:00

Last week I headed to my mom's for a beautiful change of scenery and a little R&R. While there I was able to reconnect with a friend from high school and take pictures of her beautiful little girl. She was all dolled up in her Christmas attire and had so much fun showing me all of her favorite places to play and hang out on their gorgeous property.
What a joy it was to meet her and spend some time "playing" and capturing her sweet and sassy personality!

Glovers...enjoy your preview!

Stewart Newborn Preview (Philadelphia Area Newborn Photographer)

2009-11-23T15:17:00.010-05:00

Sweet baby "A" may only have been a few days old during our session but she was definitely not a sleepy newborn. Her mama tried all the tricks but she wanted to be awake and see what was going on. Fortunately, we wore her out eventually and managed to get a few shots of her beautiful face before she was up again.
She is one lucky little girl because she is loved beyond measure. Her family could not be happier to finally have her around. There is no doubt she is their newest reason to be thankful this Thanksgiving.

Stewart Family...enjoy the preview of your "sleeping" beauty.