Laniers on the blog - Topeka, Kansas Family Portrait Photographers

I spent some time with John, Vanessa and Eva in their home. Eva was the star of the show!



 She loves those fingers!


 She loves Stu!


 Nite Nite Dolly!
 Eva reads me a story!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Abbi and Freddy's Engagement session - Beautiful country engagement session - Topeka's Best Wedding Photographer

Image
Freddy and Abbi’s engagement session was such a joy to photograph! We spent the evening on a gorgeous property that couldn’t have been a better fit for them—tall grass swaying in the breeze, golden sunlight dipping low on the horizon, and even a few hay bales that made the whole scene feel warm and timeless. These two are so fun and light-hearted together; you can see their chemistry in every laugh, every smile, and every playful glance. One of my favorite parts was when they climbed up on an old classic truck—it added the perfect touch of rustic charm and felt so true to their personalities. What really stood out, though, was how much of their story we were able to capture. Freddy and Abbi are high school sweethearts, so we pulled a pair of desks out into the field as a nod to where it all began. It was such a unique idea and made for photos that are both meaningful and playful at the same time. Watching them laugh and tease each other in that setting, it was clear we were capturing n...
Read more

How to Prepare for a Photo Session - Topeka's Best Family Portrait Photographers

Image
Select outfits that will make for a timeless portrait. Choose practical clothing items, and keep the location and time of year in mind.  Select clothing items and accessories that are not too distracting or that you will have to adjust often during the session (think long necklaces or ruffled tops on a windy day).  Keep in mind the weather, wind speed, and humidity/chance of rain.  If you have littles, bring them some snacks to help give them incentives during the session.  This can help us to get kids to cooperate and make or break a session.  If it is windy, wear your hair up.  Trimming your bangs/hair slightly to keep them out of your eyes is a great idea, too! Use product like mousse, gel, pomade, and hairspray to tame your mane!    Pick shoes that will be easy to walk in at the location of the session.  For example, high heels are not recommended for sunflower shoots, but would look great in an urban/downtown ...
Read more

Interview with Mattie Shaw - Jeff West Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
We had such a great time photographing Maddie’s senior pictures! She goes to Jeff West, and we started her session out at Shawnee Lake. The light was beautiful, and it highlighted her freckles, smiles, and laughter perfectly. Maddie is so photogenic, and I loved how natural she looked in every shot. We also brought out her guitar for some really cool photos that showed off her personality and style. After the lake, we headed to a grungy, industrial spot right at golden hour. The sun gave us the perfect backdrop while Maddie showed off her awesome hip-hop dance moves. From there, we wrapped things up in NOTO, where live music was playing in the background. As the sun went down, the lights of the arts district created such a fun, vibrant atmosphere for the last part of her shoot. What stood out most about Maddie was her confidence and great attitude. She’s such a smart and fun person, and it was a blast to capture all of that in her photos. To make it even better, our friends from Knox...
Read more

Nova Lea's Newborn Session - Interview with Mom - Topeka's Best Newborn Portraits

Image
Nova was an absolute joy to photograph! From the moment I walked in, I couldn’t help but joke that her hair must be a wig—she had so much on top of her head! She was just amazing to work with. At first, she was a little fussy, but she quickly relaxed and settled in, making it easy to capture her sweet personality. It’s always such a special experience to photograph a newborn, and Nova did not disappoint. Tori and Hunter are completely in love with her, and it really shows. You could see the pure joy and happiness in every glance and gentle touch between them. Photographing this little family together was such a treat, and the images we captured truly reflect this special moment in their lives. It’s sessions like this that make me love what I do—getting to preserve these early memories for families forever. T.H. Peterson: How did you come up with Nova’s name? Tori: I had seen the name Nova online and thought it was really pretty. I also knew that Hunter’s uncle, who he was very clos...
Read more

Interview with Grace Miller - Seaman High Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Grace’s session was such a blast! She is such a beautiful girl with so much personality, and her funny expressions kept me smiling the whole time. I told her she really should be in theater because she knows how to light up the camera with all the different faces she makes. I photographed her last month in the sunflower fields, and I knew then how fun she would be to work with again. This session was no different—it was just perfect. She’s so photogenic, and we ended up with so many amazing images. Out of all her outfits, the dress she wore was my favorite. It had this timeless, vintage vibe that made her look like she stepped right out of the past. Between her bright, beautiful smile and her strong, serious expressions, she gave us such a great mix of looks. We’re so excited to share just a few of our favorites from her session! T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school? Grace: I don’t have any set plans for after high school. I would like to go to college, but I don’t ...
Read more

Interview with Hannah Olson - Washburn Rural Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Hannah’s senior session was such a joy to photograph! We started out at a farm where she could be in her element with her horse. You could instantly tell how much riding means to her—it’s a huge part of her life, and it showed in the way she lit up around her horse. She has such a natural presence in front of the camera, and her beautiful smile made every photo shine. From there, we headed out into the country just in time for golden hour. The light was perfect, warm and glowing, and it created such a beautiful backdrop for her photos. We ended the session at Kaw River Park, where Hannah not only posed by the water in the setting sun but also got right in. Not many seniors are willing to do that, but she was all for it, and the images turned out phenomenal. With her parents there cheering her on, it made the evening even more special. I couldn’t be happier with how her pictures turned out—they truly captured her personality and passion. T.H. Peterson: What are your favorite classes t...
Read more

Interview with Cash - Shawnee Heights Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Cash’s senior session was such a fun one! We started downtown and captured some great shots with the city vibe, then wrapped things up in a beautiful country setting near the Governor’s Mansion. The evening light was perfect, and it really brought out the warm, natural feel of the photos. Cash is incredibly photogenic, which made my job easy, and every shot seemed to come together effortlessly. I’ve had the privilege of photographing Cash and his family for several years, so it was really special to see him again for such an important milestone. I was impressed with his athleticism and could tell he’s been putting in a lot of hard work at the gym. Through all his accomplishments, he’s still the same friendly and respectful young man I’ve always known. I truly enjoyed spending time with him and his family, and I’m excited to share some of my favorite images from his session. T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school? Cash: I am still exploring all of my options and I have...
Read more

Interview with Brody Haas - Washburn Rural Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Brody’s senior session was such a great time. We started downtown Topeka at sunset, and right away he had the best smile. He’s got such a friendly look that makes him easy to be around, and we laughed a lot as we went. The light that evening was perfect, and it felt like everything lined up for his pictures to turn out amazing. After downtown, we went over to Kaw River Park and got some shots by the water. The sun was shining through just right, and those ended up being some of my favorite photos. Brody was so easy to work with, and his pictures are some of the best senior photos I’ve taken this year. T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school? Brody: My Plans after high school are still undecided but I want to attend college for forensic science. T.H. P:   What classes are you glad to be done with? Brody:   I'm glad I finished most of my math and english classes as they were super hard. T.H. P:   A teacher you like at Rural? Brody:   I really ...
Read more

Interview with Macey Dempewolf - Seaman High Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
We had such an amazing time with Macey during her senior session at Gage Park! Even though it was a shorter session, the time just flew by because she was so much fun to be around. We started at the Carousel, then moved to the Rose Garden and the pond, and every spot was perfect for her. She has such a happy and positive energy—it really made the session so easy and enjoyable. Macey is such a beautiful young lady, inside and out. You can tell she’s smart, grounded, and full of life. Her personality just shines through in every photo. Honestly, we didn’t want the session to end because we were having such a great time! T.H. Peterson: What are your plans after high school? Macey: My plans after high school are to attend college at Washburn University and graduate with a degree in nursing. T.H. P:   Classes you're glad to be done with? Macey:   I will be really glad to be done with math and history! T.H. P:   Dream job? Macey:   Labor & Delivery Nurse T...
Read more

Interview with Skyler Tolin - Class of 2026 - Topeka's Best Senior Portraits

Image
Skylar’s senior session was an absolute blast! We headed downtown and made the most of a parking garage and the alleys behind it, and wow—what a perfect setting for her personality to shine. Skylar is such a sweet young lady, so smart and photogenic, and she brought her beautiful smile and infectious laugh to every shot. From the very beginning, we just clicked, and it made the whole session flow so naturally. She was completely engaged and excited about the process, which made capturing her true self so easy and so much fun! We really wanted to highlight what she loves, so we focused on her sports—basketball and volleyball—and those images turned out stunning. And let’s talk about her hair for a second—it was like it had its own glam team! Every time the wind hit just right, it gave us those perfect fashion-shoot vibes, and it was absolutely gorgeous. Skylar, you crushed this session, and I can’t wait for you to see how amazing these photos turned out! T.H. Peterson: What are your p...
Read more