On Wednesday, I headed off to the beach with my friend, Madeline, and her three grandchildren.

Keegan

Faith

and Maddie

I’ve had the opportunity to photograph Faith several times, beginning when she was not much older than Maddie.  So Faith knows me and is very comfortable with me.  Faith is a calm, sweet, and well-mannered little girl.   I’ve only met Keegan a time or two but have always been impressed with how good he is with his sisters.  He is very affectionate and helpful.  I haven’t seen Maddie since she was much younger and I was amazed at how much she has grown.  Maddie is as vocal as Faith is quiet.  She has an incredible vocabulary for a 3 year old.  Maddie talked and sang the entire way to the beach . . . and back.  She kept me well entertained, but I’m afraid her siblings were on the lookout for duct tape to tape her up

We wanted some group pictures of the kids and some of the two girls in their white dresses.   I tried some posed portraits early on, then just let the girls play while I sat in my beach chair and snapped away.  Here are a few that I picked out for a sneak preview.

Madeline and I both love pictures of children from the back, so I did a couple of variations of back pictures.

After taking the picture of the girls from behind, I asked them to walk slowly toward me.  This one shows Maddie’s personality so well.  Why on earth would you walk calmly and sedately down the beach when you can sing and march?  Maddie even made Faith, who wasn’t feeling well, laugh a time or two.

And there is nothing better than a good, sandy, beach kiss to end a session.

I had a great time at the beach with Keegan, Faith and Maddie.  I took a LOT of pictures, so I’ll be editing for quite a while.  Hopefully this sneak preview will keep Madeline happy for another day or two.