Meet the Smith family: Emily, Zander, 6 month old Ari and dog Arnold. (Incidentally, I was told Arnold was named after Arnold Palmer.) What a pleasure to photograph such a lovely family. Not only were they an exceptionally beautiful lot, but they were patient, easy to work with, playful, loving and magic in front of the camera. It's rare when a baby that young is so attentive and easy to get engaged in a picture. And, as you can see, Arnold is a natural.

We staged a morning shoot and planned to capture the family informally in their bedroom. With natural light from the windows above their bed bouncing all around their white room, the images took on a soft, surreal look which felt ideal for a sweet family morning in bed.

Emily wanted to take pictures in several rooms throughout the house to have a record of their home while they are raising young Ari. As you can see, we covered the master-bed room, the nursery, kitchen alcove, living room and outside the front of the house. Everywhere I looked was picture perfect.

Thank you Smith family for sharing your morning with me.