It has been over two months in the developing, but Très Bébé now has a new look and a new structure. After poring over every detail of the site and our business, we have found it helpful to make some much needed upgrades. If you are familiar with our work from before, you will notice some changes have taken place as you poke through our new website. But don't worry, our focus is still the same. We are more dedicated then ever to creating beautiful real life portraits of your everyday moments.

Now, since I am first a mom, and since the weather has been less then desirable to outside play and we finally got some sun today, I decided to declare today a play day for my kids. After Mommy got some much needed business done this morning, we headed to the park to take in some of the delicious sunlight and just unwind. And it was good. For all of us. Somewhere between the giggles on the swings and the socializing, Emily had a scare. And big sissy Ariana was right there to lend a shoulder and some words of comfort. I love that.

And, lastly, I can't end this post without sharing with the whole internet world how awesome I think my husband is for patiently enduring my never-ending requests and building me a website that I love. Mr. Coates, you are just plain yummy.

So, please, poke around, check out the site, and if you love it be sure to tell your friends. And if you haven't become a fan of ours on Facebook yet, be sure to mosey over that way to join in on our discussion and have a chance to win a fun little family date, on us.

Happy Tuesday everyone!

It seems like it has been forever since my last blog post, and I am feeling a bit rusty. We have been working on some major changes that will soon be coming to Très Bébé Photography, and we can't wait to share them. In the meantime other stuff, like blogging, is taking a bit of a back burner—but only for a little bit longer. ;)

However, there is one thing that we just have to share right now, and that is our latest family photo shoot. We absolutely love capturing our everyday life through portraits; however, even photographers have to hire other photographers if they actually want to be part of the pictures—at least for non-posed photography, anyway. So, we decided it was time to figure out who we were going to hire.

That really got us to thinking. Who would we want to hire? That ends up being a tough question because we know so many wonderfully talented photographers that we just love. So how did we decide? We looked at three factors, in order of importance.

1. 1st – Photography Style: Our passion is photography that captures real, everyday moments. We don't want posing or anything fake; we just want photos of us being us. We want photos of moments that tell at least part of the story of who we are right now: the silly expressions, the giggles, the kisses, the fact that we just enjoy being with each other and hanging out. You get the idea. Time changes things so quickly, and we really want to remember these moments. We needed a photographer that understood that and knew how to shoot that style of photography.
2. 2nd – Likeablity: We wanted to choose a photographer that we felt comfortable around. We wanted someone who was real, but relaxed. In short, we needed to like them, and so did our kids. Why? Because, beyond the obvious reasons, it really does change the images we get. When we are comfortable, we are more relaxed and naturally able to simply be ourselves. And that is a big deal.
3. 3rd – Money: And since we still have yet to strike it rich, and we have several little people that help drain our bank account faster then a sieve, we also needed someone that we could afford. Now, I put this factor as last for a very important reason. It is last because it is the single least important factor in our decision making. I can here the nay sayers already protesting, but it is totally true. We are willing to pay for what we value, and the greater the value, the greater the importance, the greater our willingness to part with our money. So, even if we had to save our money for several months, or even several years, to be able to capture some of our precious memories, we would do it because it is important to us. Think of how much money you spend on your favorite drink, treat, or beauty treatment in any given month. Yeah... And capturing some of our family moments for our children to have forever is far more important, at least to us. ;)

So, after thinking it through, we decided to go with the talented Chris Stewart of Jen Stewart Photography. Chris was fantastic during the shoot and was so fun to be around. With their permission we are posting one of our favorite shots from the session, and you can see the rest on their blog by clicking here. Thanks again, Chris!

Most couples will never have to dive into the emotional waters of what is commonly called infertility. However, for what is estimated to be nearly 10% of the American population it is indeed their reality. Infertility can be a heart wrenching, expensive and emotional journey into an almost surreal experience of doctors, medications, and various procedures, all with one dream in mind: a baby.

Sarah and Barrett know first hand about the challenges that infertility brings. After trying to conceive on their own with no success, they finally turned to the medical world for help. Eventually Sarah was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), a problem that is estimated to plague 1 out of every 40 women. Undeterred by the difficultly that lay ahead, Sarah and Barrett began their journey into the world of infertility treatment, which for Sarah meant regular shots, daily medication, and medical supervision to help increase their chances to conceive. In just the first round of treatment Sarah found herself pregnant with their first son, whom they named Nate. When Sarah and Barrett decided it was time to try for baby #2, the process was not quite as simple; it took a couple of rounds of treatment before they were able to get pregnant with their second son, Zack. Then when it was time to try for one last child, Sarah would find it the most challenging experience yet. After months of treatment, more powerful medications, and the near destruction of her ovaries, they finally conceived their son Jaden. And then, with their hands full of three very lively young boys, Sarah and Barrett thought their little family was complete.

In February of this year my heart leapt with joy and tears filled my eyes when I saw Sarah's status on Facebook:

Nate: $2,000; Zack: $7,000; Jaden: $10,000..... Getting pregnant 100% naturally, unexpectedly, for FREE?! PRICELESS!!!! Yup, we are expecting #4!! Due Sept. 10th... 11 weeks today...here is our littlest Plants! So beautiful! :) God still does miracles!

Sarah summed it up beautifully. God obviously had a better plan. And arriving at Sarah and Barrett's house and resting my eyes on little Timothy for the very first time was indeed a precious gift. So sweet and snuggly, baby Timothy is indeed a reminder that nothing is impossible for God.

Barrett and Sarah, thank you so much for allowing me to come into your home and share your story. You have such a beautiful family, full of amazing energy and wonderfully handsome kiddos. Enjoy your pictures!

Click here to see the photos...

Well, the problem with being sick is that work has a way of piling up on you. And that includes my blogging, unfortunately.

So, without further ado the incredibly patient Jenna and Justin's family introduces their newest member: Toby. He is sweetness and adorable baby goodness all wrapped up in snuggly. He kind of makes me want another baby. Kinda.

Jenna and Justin are two of the most laid back parents I have ever had the pleasure to meet. Their household is so full of energy, creativity and fun moments—pretty much every kid's dream. Watching moments of intimacy between them touched me deeply.

Justin and Jenna, you are two truly beautiful people who have three of the most precious children imaginable. Thank you for allowing me to have a front row seat for a couple of hours. Enjoy your pictures and your slideshow! Here are a few of our favorites.

Click here to see the photos...

We may be among the last few people to learn of the existence of a lovely place called Apple Hill just outside Placerville, California. After learning about it from a good friend and client we decided to give it a try this year, and we were totally not disappointed.

Apple Hill consists of about 50 different farms offering various activities and products. We brought along some family members and friends and decided to make a full day of it. We had apple pie, drank apple cider, picked fresh apples, and just relaxed. The girls also enjoyed getting to watch apples being made into pies and even got their faces and arms painted. Needless to say it was a pretty full day full of fantastic experiences, but the best part was getting to share it with family and friends.

Here are a few of my favorite images from the day. :)

Click here to see the photos...