A look back: Among the bluebells mini session

Dancing in the sea
Dancing in the sea

Now in the fullness of summer, spring feels like a sweet memory when we looked eagerly for the first leaves in the trees and then delighted at the explosion of color and sweet smells. Yumm. This spring was also marked by one of my favorite and sure to be a perennial mini session in the sea of bluebells covering the Hallerbos Forrest. I hope you all had a chance to check it out this year.

One day of mini sessions quickly became two and in the end 15 gorgeous families joined me in the woods for this special event. I am happy to share some of the photos with you today. Enjoy the breath of fresh air. 🙂

Some time for us
Some time for us
Play!
Play!
Ring around the rosies
Ring around the rosies
Blossoms
Blossoms
Exalt
Exalt
On a stroll
On a stroll
Breezy
Breezy
Just the girls
Just the girls
Looking back
Looking back

First look: Ieva and Mathias got married

Time stands still
Time stands still

I can scarcely think of a greater honor that being asked to photograph someone’s wedding. Your big day, and unless you are Kim Kardashian, certainly one of your most photographed ones! Ieva and Mathias are one of those couple that embody all the beautiful things about being young and in love. Sweet, light-hearted and above all, incredibly devoted to one another. I had a great time getting to know them! While respecting the privacy of the ceremony, I am happy (and proud) to share some of their fun and moving portraits. Cheers to this wonderful couple. Cheers to love!

May I have this dance
May I have this dance
Twirl
Twirl
Merry and Bright
Merry and Bright
Timeless
Timeless
Get over here :)
Get over here 🙂
Hand in hand
Hand in hand
Handsome
Handsome
Now break it down!
Now break it down!
Veiled
Veiled
From this moment
From this moment
Sunshine
Sunshine
A classic
A classic
True love
True love
The fun lies ahead
The fun lies ahead
Enjoy the ride
Enjoy the ride

A look back at our first annual apple blossoms mini session: Six families, three pairs of wet socks and millions of apple blossoms

This buds for you
This buds for you

It really was magical. Stepping out into the orchard with the heady smell of apple blossoms and buzz of bees at work. Green grass, pink and white buds, light rain and then sunshine. It was a gorgeous April day!

Thank you so much to the six adventurous families who joined me for this day out in Limberg at the PiPO organic orchard. Such a fun time was had by all. I am looking forward to bringing this experience full circle this fall, in the same location, to see our darling buds fully grown into bright apples. Another day in the fields awaits. 🙂

Fly
Fly
Bright eyes
Bright eyes
Roar!
Roar!
A girl and her boy
A girl and her boy
Big sister
Big sister
Fall in to me
Fall in to me
This moment in time
This moment in time
Boink!
Boink!
Rain
Rain
Love
Love
Lift off
Lift off
Flower girl
Flower girl
Dreamer
Dreamer

The ultimate vacation photos with Localgrapher

Go Local
Go Local

Even as a photographer, I am loathed to drag my big camera out for family vacations. It just does not do getting lugged from sight to sight, thrown around with sandy beach towels and jostling with iPads, jars of baby food and books as precious carry on. That might be the reason that most vacation moments are either stuck in my head or on my iPhone. Not that I am in them anyhow. What a pity!

That is why I was so excited to be contacted by a fledgling start up called Localgrapher. An idea born in Prague when a solo traveller contacted the founder, Matej, to be photographed around his city. Just exploring, taking in the sights and enjoying her adventure. Since this inspiration, Matej has put together a team of photographers (myself included) in dozens of cities. San Francisco, Hong Kong, Vienna, Sao Paulo, etc – a dreamy list indeed. You can leave your camera behind and instead be photographed by a friendly professional who can also give you some great tips on what to do in their city. Why didn’t I think of that?

Check out their website and you might find a (very embarrassing) video of myself talking about what to wear for a photoshoot.  Urgh, definitely more suited for behind the camera work. Travel, have fun, get amazing pictures taken. Ta da!

Our family album: Amongst the Apple Blossoms

A meeting
A meeting

Ok, I could not resist. I mean I have been preparing for these blossom mini sessions and hey, I have a nice little family I like to take pictures of so why not get a jump on the fun and a little practice at the same time! We head out to scout the location and enjoy some beautiful spring weather. We had an amazing time and I can’t wait to get some of these pics up on the mantle. If this does not convince you, I don’t know what will. Three spots left! Just email bearanddragonphotography@gmail.com to reserve your place.

Happy blossoming. 🙂

Scream!
Scream!
Dandelion girl
Dandelion girl
All the world for me
All the world for me
seriously, I love these two
seriously, I love these two
Swing
Swing
Most handsome
Most handsome
Soft
Soft
Contrast
Contrast
Sweetness
Sweetness
Movement
Movement
Blooms
Blooms

Happy birthday (merry christmas) to my little man! aka the bunny sessions

xander xmas blog-2
Happy birthday bunny rabbit

Its better late than never, no? Second baby guilt was setting in over a month after Babatwo’s first birthday came and went and still no photo session. Sorry little man! So I took a pause from my business editing schedule  (you know who you are) and had a blast with my little man playing with some Christmas goodies, laughing and carrying on like we do.

Ah my little man, you are such a big personality. Like momma in so many ways and sure to be a driving force in our family. Love you more than words bunny rabbit!

Peep
Peep
Snuggle with me
Snuggle with me
Yeah!
Yeah!
Berries
Berries
Angel cheeks
Angel cheeks
Eeeee
Eeeee
All of my heart
All of my heart

Out of the box: A little something special for the holidays

Comfort
Comfort

From time to time I get special requests that are out of my typical assignments. One of my favorites would have to be the special session I held with Chou & Chou nursing covers. Such a fun day with babies, models, sets and snacks all orchestrated by the lovely and talented Pam Chou. We had a blast and love the pictures that are now up on her website.

Christmas is just around the corner so if you know any nursing momma’s or mommas-to-be then I would definitely check out these beautiful nursing covers. Chic, versatile, and soft, they will save you from that less than glamorous “sitting under a tent” feeling when you are nursing out and about. So give some love to a fellow Brussels mom and entrepreneur!

Contact
Contact
Play!
Play!
The woman herself. Hi Pam!
The woman herself. Hi Pam!

First look: Maternity at home with Helene and Philippe

At home
At home

When Helene contacted me, she said she was looking to do a maternity session that really captured her day-to-day life as she got ready for baby number one to arrive. Something relaxed, intimate and beautiful. So we set a plan to hold the session at her home and to also step outdoors to catch some of the fall air.

Working with Helene and Philippe was absolutely wonderful. A beautiful home and a lovely couple. Even a very sweet (and very energetic) dog named Juncker to round out this growing family. We loved the result and hope you do too. Enjoy!

This is us
This is us
These are the days
These are the days
Big brother
Big brother
Real life
Real life
How sweet it is
How sweet it is

Things to do with a toddler or child in Brussels: Harvest at Marie’s Garden

Marie's Garden-8
Sprouts – obviously

If you have been following along with this blog, you might have noted my almost unhealthy preoccupation with the changing of seasons. Apart from the transitions of light quality, I would say the thing I look forward to the most is the coming and going of favorite seasonal fruits and veggies. After many a nudge, I finally managed to get myself and the littles out to Marie’s Garden in Overijse to get our hands dirty and take part in the bountiful harvest of fall.

A beautiful day and such a wonderful time wandering the 10 hectares of land. We discovered so many of our favorites. Butternut squash, late summer raspberries, rhubarb, leeks, gigantic sunflowers and of course PUMPKINS! When you arrive, you get a simple set of instructions: harvest where you see a sign, no eating in the fields (oops!) and off you go with your wheel barrow, bags and scissors.

In addition to having a great time in the fields, I was truly in awe of the beauty of the surroundings. So inspired that I am now in the process of confirming (fingers crossed) Marie’s Garden as a very special photo session location. It will likely be an upcoming Sunday this October. Drop me a note if you would like to take part.

Either way, either by bus or car, find your way to this slice of heaven and partake in the many splendors of fall.

Where: Marie’s Garden: Valkenweg 116, 3090 Overijse, Belgium (just 10 minutes outside of Brussels)

When:

– Mon : closed
– Tue : 13.30 – 17.00
– Wed : 13.30 – 17.00
– Thu : 13.30 – 17.00
– Fri : 13.30 – 17.00
– Sat : 10.30 – 17.00
– Sun : 10.30 – 16.00

Pumpkin girl
Pumpkin girl
Hard work
Hard work
Belgian gothic
Belgian gothic
A touch of home in the golden poppies
A touch of home in the golden poppies
Make a wish
Make a wish
Jewel
Jewel
Sunshine
Sunshine
My two

My two
A day's harvest
A day’s harvest