There are certain sessions I walk away from simply BEAMING, completely confident in the way the images will turn out and totally satisfied with the overall experience. It’s in those moments that I am most overwhelmed with thankfulness for the gift of photography and my role in it. This family + first birthday session for sweet River was one of those moments; not a big surprise if you’ve followed my relationship with the Links over the last few years. There is a story here that is dear to my heart, which makes sessions with them all the more wonderful… and really we just had EVERYTHING working for us!

First off, they are an incredibly good-looking family, am I right? Second, they’ve got major style. Then factor in the perfect weather (overcast but still bright, just how I like it), River being on his best behavior (smiley, happy, quirky faces, etc.) AND the fact that we are all comfortable since this is our 4th session together…. and you get results like these 😀

If you remember, or for those of you who are new to following Kira Whitney Photography, the Link family originally booked a session with me via a Groupon (when I first moved to Kansas City I had one open for only a week). They bought it with the intention of using it for a maternity session, but sadly ended up losing the baby. We did a couple’s session instead but, awhile later I had the absolute pleasure of doing Brittany’s maternity session and then sweet River’s newborn photos last year!! So, you can see how incredibly special it was to now get to do his first year birthday session <3

Troy and Brittany were raving about this season of parenthood; how River is learning so many things each day and is so excited to try new things. They told me about how his personality keeps coming out more and more and their eyes lit up just as much, if not more than when Brittany was pregnant and waiting for him and when they first got to meet him. Their story is beautiful and inspiring, but is coupled with the way they live their lives and treat each other… if I were to have kiddos someday, I hope to have a family dynamic like the Links.