Cate was OH so adorable in her plaid coat and ribbon-adorned UGG boots. In between last year when we saw her for her 2-yr family photography session and now, she had developed a passion for purple (my favorite color too!), so mom had her decked out in a SERIOUSLY cute purple outfit! Cate was just as energetic and mischievous as last year, and a whole lot taller. (Now how cool is it that as a family photographer, I get to watch families grow year after year?!)

Last year, we had gone north to Baker’s Park in Frederick, Maryland and this year, for her 3-yr family photography session, as soon I showed Cate’s mom a previous family photography session at Waters House in Germantown, Maryland, Cate’s mom immediately knew that was what she wanted.

Even though we were two weeks past the peak fall color date, we still totally lucked out with beautiful yellow and orange foliage. Some of my favorite toddler portraits, though, are the ones of Cate up by herself in that enormous tree (dad keeping a watchful arm’s length distance below). Cate’s mom and dad say that was her first time up in a tree – her idea! Brave girl!

Like last year, Cate’s mom chose to document this year’s photographic memories in a custom-designed album. Stay tuned for some photos of their finished storybook album, and check out last year’s classic album here.