Auden’s Fourth Birthday Portraits | Arcadia Park | Fort Worth, TX

If you’ve been following me for any length of time then you know how I like to take new portraits of my boys every year for their birthdays. If you’re new, then welcome to the birthday series! My youngest son, Auden, turned four over the weekend and we had the best time celebrating him! Last year, and even the years prior, i’ve taken Auden’s birthday portraits at an indoor studio. However, since we had some 60° days this past January I decided to take advantage of the warmer weather and take his portraits outdoors. We drove right down the street from our house to Arcadia Park where we frequently take walks. After we arrived we headed straight to Auden’s favorite spot- the bridge.

Photographing my children in their natural element doing what they enjoy produces the most organic and candid images of them. These always end up being my favorite! Whenever we take walks Auden loves to find the biggest rocks he can find and throw them into the creek. He could do this for hours if I let him! After that we took more pictures in the tall golden grass. Here his new goal was to find the longest piece he could find and bring it home with him.

Lately i’ve been really inspired by film photography and the nostalgic, vivid images they produce. Digital will always have my heart, of course, but I wanted to try something new and see how I could produce a “film look” through digital. Motion blur has also become a popular trend. I decided to play with my settings and get some blurred images of Auden dancing around. While the results don’t normally coincide with my regular style of shooting, I really love the way a lot of these images turned out! I just adore the way his chocolate brown sweater brings out his sweet eyes. And the way he smiles with his entire body.

I would also like to point out, that the season, location and outfits you choose deeply affect the overall mood and aesthetic of your session. My soul typically thrives on light, pastel colors and lush blooms rather than naked trees and dead grass. So this was very out-of-the-box for me! But these photos remind me of Taylor Swift’s ‘evermore’ album, and in that I take great comfort. So if you’re thinking about having photos done soon it’s important to keep these things in mind when planning your session.

Now, let’s segue back to Auden! My little four year old loves to be outside and make new friends. Popcorn is still his favorite food. He enjoys riding in the car with the windows down. And he loves monster trucks, Bluey and most of all Spider-Man. He’s achieved so many milestones this year and experienced many “firsts.” This year was certainly one for the books.

It’s crazy to realize that our days of diapers, potty training and strollers are now behind us. Before we know it the toddler phase will be behind us, too, and Auden will be in school. It makes me sad knowing I only have a year and a half left of him being at home with me everyday. But i’m so grateful for the opportunity to be home and raise my babies while simultaneously doing what I love most. Cherishing every last second that I can and holding on tight to every moment!

Happiest of birthdays to our Auden Jude! We love you forever! “Smoochy kiss!”

xoxo Mommy

Sweater: www.zara.com

Check out more of Alyssa Michel Photography’s work by heading over to the portfolio. Want to reach out about your own portrait session? You can do so by contacting us through our contact form. I cannot wait to hear from you and learn more about you and your family!