This year was Melissa and Greg’s older daughter’s eleventh annual birthday session.  Each year, Melissa and Greg schedule a special portrait session to document the new birthday milestone for their daughters.  Everyone gets to have an individual with the birthday girl, and they also get an updated family picture.  I think this idea is brilliant!  You can view more family sessions here.

The tradition runs deep with Melissa and Greg’s family!  They have been doing this tradition since the birthday girl was a tiny size that fit inside the hood of a red Chico State sweatshirt.  This red Chico State sweatshirt also attends each birthday session, and a picture is taken with the sweatshirt on.  Today the sweatshirt is looking more their daughter’s size and not an oversized item anymore.  One more traditional item to attend these birthday sessions is their family dog.  She is an excellent listener and lover.  I can see how she has managed to get into these pictures!

Melissa and Greg, it was so nice to meet your beautiful family and to document this special time in your lives.  I love the traditional birthday pictures your family has been taking.  I always love an updated family picture, and I think this is a wonderful way to make your daughters feel extremely special and loved on their birthdays.   I am going to have to work on my dog training skills, because I am so impressed with how well your dog listens to you.  I am so excited for you to see some of my many favorites from your spring birthday session in Bidwell Park.