“there’s a place in your heart and i know that it is love”

Big families make my heart happy.  The lovely matriarch of this particular big family contacted me via Red Thread Sessions, an amazing organization that connects photographers with newly adopted families!  I was so happy to photograph this wonderful family on Long Island!

The Van Nostrand clan recently expanded by one special little girl, Mattea, to become a family of 15! Yes, Mattea has a DOZEN brothers and sisters, and the most wonderful mom and dad.  All 13 kids were adopted from either South Korea or China.  I was in absolute awe at how incredibly easy and fun it was to photograph this large family, and how I would have never known Mattea had only been in this country for 2 months at that point.  She blended in seamlessly with her loving brothers and sisters, and we all had an absolute ball playing in the gorgeous autumn afternoon.

BIG shout out of THANKS to my lovely assistant for the day, Allison!  You were such a big support to me, and I’m so grateful for your generous help.  Thank you!!!