I met Jackie when her little family won my very first BEAUTIFUL contest!

It’s ALWAYS bittersweet when we get together – because the little boy that brought me into their lives – is no longer walking on this side of heaven.

So – family photos are HARD for them. Waking up and getting through each day is HARD for them.

Remember what I said about GETTING THE SILLIES OUT!?

Oh – you want to take pictures at a little castle in the woods? I guess. If we HAVE to.

SUCH an amazing little castle!!

Jackie – while I don’t personally KNOW how hard family photos are for you – I see it. I feel it. Thank YOU for asking me back into your lives even after all the hard things.

YOU ARE STRONG. YOU ARE BRAVE. YOU ARE LOVED.

Remember Nate? He was my assistant at Chelsea & Patrick’s wedding!

He came with me to Tarra & Adam’s wedding last month too!

I HIGHLY recommend hiring TWO photographers for your day – I simply can’t be in two places at once!

ADORABLE! ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE!!

SO MUCH CAKE – EVERYWHERE!!

Nate – THANK YOU so much for coming along with me this fall! You did a GREAT job!!

That sweet pup! We had to bring her out for a few more shots!

I mean – THAT LIGHT! SO AMAZING!

We saved the BEST for last!!

Liz is a Doctor Who fan – so much so – that she brought the NEW Doctor’s outfit WITH her for senior photos!

This property – it’s got EVERYTHING!

“Right now, I’m a stranger to myself. There’s echoes of who I was and a sort of call towards who I am.

And I have to hold my nerve and trust all these new instincts. Shape myself towards them. I’ll be fine. In the end. Hopefully. I have to be.”

The Doctor

I won’t pretend to be a photoshop master – not even close! BUT – that sky is 100% REAL in that exact moment – and the TARDIS – that was added in. Or was it!?

EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE PHOTOS – my dream location!

Little alien creatures – see – that TARDIS isn’t photoshopped!

LIZ!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to spend the evening with you! Maybe I’ll see you next year when we make our annual REN FAIRE trip!!

Liz messaged me after talking with her yearbook advisor!

She wanted REAL senior photos – thanks so much for referring her to me Amy!

A girl and her dog – it’s a beautiful thing!

Windy? Cloudy? Sprinkles? NOT A PROBLEM!!

ALSO – CAN WE SHOOT HERE ALL THE TIME – EVERY TIME – FROM HERE ON OUT!?

THAT TREE! THAT LIGHT!!

SO GORGEOUS!!

I love white birch trees – I want to wrap this property up in my pocket and carry it around with me for ALL THE SESSIONS!

Stay tuned for the REST of Liz’s senior session – because I couldn’t STOP taking photos!!

I photographed Chelsea’s wedding earlier this fall and realized that her brother Cris & his wife Traci were also clients of mine – more than five years ago!

They contacted me after the wedding for a family session!

The last time I saw her – other than at the wedding – she was just a little tiny thing!

She was about THAT size!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!

HOW ADORABLE IS SHE!!

Sometimes – when the focus isn’t where I was hoping – it’s STILL a BEAUTIFUL photo!

I LOVE THAT ONE!!

OH MY WORD – she LOVES her big sister!!

THOSE LITTLE TEETH!!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!

I CAN’T. SO CUTE!

Cris & Traci – THANK YOU for asking me to capture your BEAUTIFUL family!! I hope it’s not another 6 years before we see each other!

Did you know that senior guys really aren’t THAT hard to take pictures of!?

Give me an old red barn – and I’m a happy girl!

Spencer – thanks for being AWESOME! Find something you LOVE and do it well!!

The last time I saw Emily – I was photographing her wedding! EIGHT years ago!

I knew she had a little girl – but I didn’t know about this adorable little guy!

When I pulled up to their house and saw this MILKWEED field – I screamed a little bit! A WHOLE FIELD OF MILKWEED! A DREAM!

ALWAYS let them be little – it gets the sillies out!

OH MY HEART!! I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

That shot MIGHT be my FAVORITE!!

And a tiny ladybug to end the night!

Emily – THANK YOU SO MUCH for having me over! Next time – let’s NOT wait 8 years!!

You might recognize Kristi & Patrick – they had the SURPRISE wedding in September!

They wanted to spend some time AFTER the wedding to get some shots together!

I absolutely ADORE that shot!!

And that one – and that other one – and the one after that!!

GORGEOUS!!

SWOON!!

I LOVE that barn – it might be my new favorite place to shoot!

Kristi & Patrick – THANK YOU for making the trip to Mansfield!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

Kristi & Patrick – THANK YOU SO MUCH for coming down to see me! I JUST LOVE YOU GUYS!

FOUR years ago I took Jake & Tara’s wedding photos – and NOW their baby girl isn’t so much of a baby anymore!!

She wasn’t so sure of me – just her momma!

FINALLY – some smiles!

Jake & Tara – thank you for making the drive down!

Big brothers – smooshy faces – giant kisses!!

Lynae – thank you SO much for bringing your family for your FIRST photo session! I hope to see you again soon!!