A Day in the Backyard with the Gagnons

Pizza and Smores

image from family documentary session of mother holding and looking at daughter with father and son in background

Where do I start? I've known Sarah since I first moved to Madison, WI so many years ago. We took several art classes together and stayed in touch after I moved away to continue our conversations about fiber arts, adding home repair and parenting to the mix as well. Recently, I took a trip to Madison to second shoot a wedding with the extraordinary Anda Marie, and while I was there I had an extra day that I got to spend with the Gagnons. We spent a casual day lunching, antiquing, and backyarding. Sarah and Dave have built an incredible backyard landscaped with gardens, chickens, play structures, and a brick oven over the years in their spare time when they haven't been developing these awesome games. Lucky for me, Dave fired up the wood-fired brick oven and threw on some pizzas. We picked raspberries as we waited, and enjoyed smores after we had finished up. I so very badly wish this family lived closer to my family.

Image of mother looking at daughter while on a swing
image from family documentary session of mother holding son while picking raspberries
image from family documentary session of mother of looking at son who is eating a raspberry
image from family documentary session of boy smiling and partially covering his face with his hand
image from family documentary session of mother holding daughter in a chair in a playhouse
image from family documentary session of a girl climbing on playhouse
image from family documentary session of girl climbing in playhouse with drawn tattoo on hand and mother in background with tattoo showing
image from family documentary session of boy climbing a rope net
image from family documentary session of daughter looking down on father making pizza
image from family documentary session of boy putting his finger on his eye
image from family documentary session of girl
image from family documentary session of mother watering her garden
image from family documentary session of parents holding children who are playing
image from family documentary session of parents holding children who are playing
image from family documentary session of parents holding their kids on their shoulders
image from family documentary session of mother and son sitting on swing looking at each other
image from family documentary session of a little boy's dirty feet
image from family documentary session of a boy eating a smore with marshmallow stuck on his face
image from family documentary session of a girl sitting on the top of wooden pallets
image from family documentary session of a girl's bare feet sitting on a wooden pallet
image from family documentary session of woodfired pizza
image from family documentary session of girl eating a smore

Newborn Eleanor with her Family in Iowa

Rudy has a new best friend

image of mother and father with newborn baby and dog

My little brother was born when I was 12. He was my "Bubba," and I carried him around on my hip like he was my own. We shared a room, and I was his favorite until I left for camp the summer he turned two. Many years later, I watched him as he played with my daughters and looked forward to the day when I could see him with his own. Needless to say, I love this little family.

Katie is also a photographer, and she is incredibly witty and has the best smile. She's the perfect addition to our family. Miss Eleanor Pearl (aka Lenny) already has her mother's goofiness. Seriously, she has the funniest smirks and a killer side eye. Rudy seems to be adjusting well to sharing his humans with a new tiny human, and I'm pretty sure he and Lenny are going to be BFFs. With each addition to the family it gets harder and harder to live so far away. Can't wait to hold you again, Lenny!

image of mother and father looking at eachother while mother holds a newborn
image of mother holding newborn and father standing nearby
image of mother and father with newborn baby
image of mother and father with newborn baby and dog
image of mother and father with newborn baby
image of mother holding and looking down at her newborn baby
Close up image of a mother carrying a newborn in one arm and holding a pacifier in the other hand
image of mother and father with newborn baby
image of mother and father with newborn baby
image from above of mother warming up newborn's feet
image from above of mother and father and newborn baby
image of mother and father with newborn baby
image of father holding and looking down at newborn
image of mother and father with newborn baby and dog with windmill in the background
image of mother and father looking down at newborn baby while dog is looking up at baby