Tiny basketballs and hundreds of Michael Jordan shoes greeted me as I entered the Candiano household.  It was obvious right off the bat that little John Carter was born to be a star.  Specifically, a basketball star.  His father John played on the basketball team for Manalapan High School as his mother Jill cheered him on from the sidelines, pompoms in hand.  Jill and John were married two years ago and had John Carter last month.

Born on February 21, 2012 at  7 lbs 13 oz, John Carter instantly became the center of Jill and John’s world.  With his handsome face and bright blue eyes, who can blame them!  From the moment I saw this little boy smile, I was smitten as well.  I spent the afternoon photographing John Carter among the things he loves most, his basketball shoes, hand-stiched blanket, and his parent’s arms.  I am excited to share some of my favorites from the day with you.  Enjoy!

I started by capturing the adorable details in John Carter’s nursery.

Beautifully decorated with blue walls and jungle animals playing sports, this room is perfect for John Carter.

John Carter’s dad, John, has an incredible collection of Michael Jordan shoes.

For John Carter’s first look, we placed him in a padded Michael Jordan shoe box, surrounded by a few of John’s favorite pairs.

John Carter even has his own pair of Michael Jordan sneakers!

John Carter, you are a SUPERSTAR!!!

The day was so nice, we went for a short walk in Jill and John’s backyard.

Between looks, I always suggest the mother feed the baby to keep them full and happy!

HOW SWEET!

I love how large Jill and John’s wedding rings look compared to John Carter’s tiny feet.

LOVE.

We ended with a few classic black and white photographs of John Carter before he fell asleep.

Thank you Jill and John for allowing me to meet and photograph your precious little gift, John Carter.  I can’t wait to see the star I am sure he will become.