If this is a the technical definition of ‘sister’ then I would argue ‘little sister’ needs a definiton all its own. It might go something like this:

little sister, -noun; female offspring, prone to lifelong torment of older sister including profound levels of mimickry, stealing of prized possessions including clothing, shoes, and jewelry, never-ending admiration of older sister reaching obsessive levels, and last but not least dramatic personality traits which are known to cause great duress to older sister.

I just finished processing two shoots in a row that included sisters and it got me thinking about my life as a little sister.

I happened to be a proud, card-carrying member of the unofficial Little Sisters club. To this very day I do things that totally annoy my older sister. I can say without hesitation that these annoying things are the reason why I drive her crazy and why she loves me so much. It’s a wonderful gift to have an older sister. She is someone who you will always admire. She is infallible, omniscient, and worldly. From birth to old-age she will be your one and only fashion-muse. She’s someone who buys you the perfect gifts and never forgets your birthday. She leads you unknowingly on good paths through life. She’s your biggest fan and most honest friend (“your butt is getting big. Sarah”). My sister is those things and so much more. I love you, Erin. Thank you for letting me torment you all these years!

The series of images above really encapsulates the definition of a little sister for me. Thanks to Mia for illustrating this idea so well. [Full disclosure: Mia was not coaxed or directed at all in this series of images].

Enjoy the rest of this shoot featuring two super-fun and gorgeous little girls, big sister Kiyomi and little sister Mia! Finally, thanks to mom and dad, Kim and Taj for a very fun afternoon!

SISTERS: KIYOMI + MIA

LOCATION: at home in Oakland & Lake Temescal, Oakland

I love how Kim’s home was decorated; bright, cheerful bursts of colors mixed with warm woods and vintage-y details.

Jumping in the car and heading for Lake Temescal.

Just when I think I’ve met the kid with the longest eyelashes in the world, another one comes along. Kiyomi has some amazing lashes!

A gigantic smile from Mia.

Thanks again to Kim, Taj, Kiyomi, and Mia!

A year ago I had the pleasure of photographing Sasha’s 2nd birthday. It was a fun, kid-filled event full of costumes and Halloween-inspired cupcakes. I was really excited to see the girls again and even though I see it all the time, I’m amazed how fast kids grow! Enjoy a few photos of these incredibly cute girls!

Thanks to Chris, Steve, Sasha, and Laney for a fun morning! Happy (early) Birthday, Sasha!!

You might recall that Hazel had a bad cold on the day of the shoot. We were unable to reschedule because Mary, Marshall, and the kids were about to embark on a gigantic move across the country to New York. On top of that we had a somewhat condensed shoot and dad could only join us towards the end. The deck was stacked against us be we made the best of it.

I felt terrible for little Hazel and really didn’t want to force her through a session. But with a little nudging and a (sweet) bribe, she was willing to participate. I dare wonder what we would have achieved on a normal day for her. She’s such a gorgeous little girl with an incredible array of expressions. On this particular day, she had a mix of serious frowns, thoughtful expressions, tiny little smiles here and there, and a touch of vulnerability because she really just wanted to be in bed. To say the least, she suffered through the shoot like a champ. Bravo, little Hazel.

All that and I haven’t even mentioned her tiny brother, Felix. Seriously, have you seen cheeks on a little guy cuter than this? I’m pretty sure he’s one of the most adorable 6 month olds in existence and hands down he has one of my favorite smiles of 2009.

Thanks to Mary, Marshall, Hazel, and Felix for the enjoyable afternoon shoot. I wish you many happy adventures in New York! Please don’t be strangers!

[don't forget the slideshow, it's at the bottom of this post]