*C* FAMILY

Filed under: an hour in the life,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,nature,portraits — admin at 2:08 am on Monday, January 31, 2022

Heather has become a favorite client of mine!! Am I allowed to say that!? Because I just did!!

SO – I was SO excited when she got her mom a GIFT CERTIFICATE for Christmas last year!!

We scheduled for August but had to reschedule for September – which worked out BEAUTIFULLY!

FALL IS MY FAVORITE COLOR!!

THE GRANDKIDS!!

THE GUYS!!

THE GIRLS!!

OH!! THOSE FACES!!!!

THE SWEETEST LITTLE FAMILY!!!

THE CUTEST COWBOY EVER!!!

I can’t stand the cuteness!!

The light was SO gorgeous that night!! The people – the property – EVERYTHING!!

Heather – thank you SO MUCH for asking me to spend the evening with your family!!

THIS IS US

I’ve been taking photos of Myrana and Tyler and her family for several years! Their engagement and wedding and their first pregnancy. I saw them last summer for a creek session AND a silhouette session and LOVED the photos we got!

Myrana had announced that they were pregnant with baby #3 last fall! She had told me that their due date was the end of April – right near Fitzy’s birthday. A little girl. A little girl that she had prayed for.

I was thinking about her in April and decided I should check on her FB page to see if their little one – a girl – had arrived yet.

I was heartbroken when I checked her page to find out that their daughter Prestynn Mae was stillborn.

I once had a momma who delivered her 20 week old baby reach out to me asking how I dealt with the pain of our loss.

We lost our babies at 10 weeks. They were alive. They had a heartbeat and then it stopped. I did not hold their body. I did not see their face.

I don’t know the pain of losing a child after holding them. After seeing their face. After waiting 9 months only to deliver them and hand them back to the doctor.

Staying in the maternity ward to recover but without your child in your arms. I don’t know that pain.

Myrana and Tyler have their hope in only one thing. Jesus. They know that she was welcomed into heaven into His arms knowing ONLY love.

HOWEVER – that doesn’t make the day-to-day surviving any easier.

You want family photos to be happy. Smiles. Joy!

But what do you do when a part of your family is missing – forever?

There is still joy in life and you find it – even if it’s for a moment.

You throw rocks with your little boys. You hug them tightly and kiss their faces.

You find strength in each other’s arms. You lean into each other like never before.

You hug your “little” brother.

You look at that little face and you smile.

You look at the world through their eyes.

You try your best to enjoy the miracle of now with the ones that are in your arms.

You celebrate the people that have made it through so much life together – easy times and hard times.

You make sure to include her in your family photos because a photo without her in it seems too empty.

You say her name. Prestynn Mae. When people ask how many kids you have – you say 3.

You talk to your little ones about their little sister.

You somehow navigate your own grief and help them with theirs.

You don’t pretend to be strong. You are strong but strength also looks like crying when it hits you.

You say that you miss her. You say that it’s a hard day – or week – or month – or year.

You find joy in every place that you can. You tickle your kids.

You give them smooshy kisses.

You hold that little and big brother and tickle him to get a real smile.

Myrana & Tyler – like I said – I don’t know the depths of the pain you are going through.

I admire your strength and your voice. You will never let her memory die.

We will never understand SO MANY things this side of heaven.

Thank you so much for allowing me into the spaces of your life that capture the joys and the hurts.

MACY & JUSTIN

Filed under: an hour in the life,creek exploring,just because,lifestyle,love,marry me,portraits,silhouette — admin at 1:10 pm on Saturday, January 29, 2022

We stopped for a few silhouette shots before making our way into the waterfall!

PERFECTION!!!

I LOVE THAT ONE!!!

Sometimes I have a hard time believing that I’m in Waverly NY and NOT Hawaii when I’m in this waterfall!!!

OH MY WORD!!! I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS SHOT!

MAYBE EVEN MORE IN BLACK & WHITE!?

GORGEOUS!!

PERFECT!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOTS OF THE EVENING!!

Macy & Justin – thank you SO MUCH for spending the evening with me!!

THANK YOU for getting IN the water – you guys are the BEST!

I hope to work with you again soon!

 

MACY & JUSTIN

Filed under: creek exploring,just because,lifestyle,love,marry me,portraits,silhouette — admin at 12:15 pm on Friday, January 28, 2022

Macy messaged me about an engagement session! She and Justin were getting married in October and wanted to have a little push out of their comfort zone before their wedding photos!

PERFECT!! We met at Waverly Glen – because there is a GORGEOUS waterfall there!

Before we got IN the waterfall – we explored a little bit around the park!

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

SWOON!!

We climbed to the top of the waterfall and it was VERY worth it!!

SO BEAUTIFUL!!

OH MY WORD!! SO BEAUTIFUL!! Make sure to come back for the rest of the session – because they get IN the waterfall!!

 

 

BARDEN FAMILY

Filed under: baby barden,bardenisms,my family,portraits — admin at 11:47 am on Thursday, January 27, 2022

Every year – my friend Megan Hampton of Megan Hampton Photography photographs us with Mom Mom & Bacca!!

Enoch didn’t have shoes on – because it’s SUMMER and shoes aren’t a thing in summer – SO I had to help him across the rocks! And I LOVE these photos!

I cannot BELIEVE that they are 10 and 8!? WHERE DOES TIME EVEN GO!?

In October of 2022 – we will have been together for TWENTY YEARS!? This man loves me SO VERY WELL!!

Every year might be the last year that I can carry him like this – so I’ll keep doing it until I can’t anymore!

MEGAN – thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to come photograph us! WE LOVE YOU!

 

THIS IS US

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,an hour in the life,babes,creek exploring,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,love,portraits — admin at 12:03 pm on Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Amy and Bryan were given a GIFT CERTIFICATE when that sweet squishy baby was born!!

PSA – GIVE GIFT CERTIFICATES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!! THEY WILL LOVE IT & YOU WILL BE GIVING THEM AN INVALUABLE GIFT!!

OKAY – back to this GORGEOUS family!!

Amy had asked if her sister and niece could join in on their family session for a few photos!

THE SQUISH!!

OH MY HEART!!

Every time – people don’t like the “look at each other” prompt – but it’s ALWAYS my favorite!!

She wasn’t the smiliest of babes for our session – turns out that she had an ear infection when we scheduled this – BUT – I love this shot!!

SO SWEET!!

Dad and his girls!!

THE SQUISH!!!

There’s a HAPPY face!!

Amy & Bryan – I am SO happy we were finally able to schedule a time that worked out for all of us!

Thanks for being flexible and understanding! I hope to photograph you all again soon!

 

 

 

*T* FAMILY

Filed under: an hour in the life,creek exploring,family,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits — admin at 12:27 pm on Tuesday, January 25, 2022

You would think that scheduling photos with my best friend and her family might be one of the easiest things to do – but every year we have to reschedule several times for one reason or another BUT every year it works out perfectly in the end!!

GORGEOUS!!!

Missy and the girl she has been dreaming about for over 20 years!!!

Grace is 3 and her brother is 10 and she’s NOT much shorter than he is!! We’re all wondering just how tall she will end up being! I think she will be taller than me!

Aiden and his BIG brother!!

Missy and her boys!

I LOVE THOSE ONES!

LOVE those ones!!

Isn’t she just ADORABLE!?

Missy & Cody – you know how much I absolutely love you – but I will say it again – I LOVE YOU!!!

It’s absolutely crazy to me that because of THIS blog right here – we have each other!!!

*M* FAMILY

Filed under: an hour in the life,family,farmlife,just because,kiddos,lifestyle,portraits,silhouette — admin at 12:05 pm on Monday, January 24, 2022

I LOVE my annual session with this family!!

I absolutely ADORE those shots!!

RING AROUND THE ROSIE!!

Swinging photos are some of my favorite photos!!

EXACTLY what childhood is supposed to be like!!!

He speaks to the animals!!

I love EVERYTHING about those last few shots!!!

Karla – THANK YOU so much for spending the evening with me! I LOVE our sessions!!!

SELAH

Filed under: . babies . babies . babies .,babes,family,lifestyle,newborns,portraits — admin at 1:06 pm on Friday, January 21, 2022

LOOK AT THIS SQUISHY BABY!!

Our friends Bethany and Perry had their sweet baby girl in August!!

Baby rolls are my FAVORITE!!!

Isn’t she just lovely!?

FAVORITE!!!

That little nose – her profile is so gorgeous!!

Bethany & Perry – I am SO happy for you both! Selah has already grown so much since this session!!

Thank you for asking me to photograph your sweet girl!!

DEWERT WEDDING

Filed under: family,lifestyle,love,marry me,wedding — admin at 12:04 pm on Wednesday, January 19, 2022

On the morning of August 21st – I got a text from my friend and fellow photog Megan. She had a client who dabbled in photography and had a very small backyard wedding that night but her kiddos were sick and the groom was undergoing treatments for cancer and didn’t want to risk exposing him to anything extra. Megan wasn’t available either. I texted my in-laws and worked out childcare because Jared also had plans that night.

I was able to make it!

You know that I love all things about photography – weddings – family sessions – newborns – births – seniors. ALL OF THEM.

BUT – being asked to photograph intimate backyard weddings – especially this one – ones in the midst of hard times – it’s a humbling and moving experience.

Dylan and Rhonda have a beautiful home and a garage full of all the things he loves – classic cars being one!

They went into the garage to discuss the order of the ceremony with the officiant and their son.

I loved the reflections and composition of that moment.

Dylan and Rhonda chose August 21st as their wedding date because it was their 21st anniversary!

SO MUCH EMOTION.

There were several people that wanted to be there but couldn’t. FACETIME is one of the greatest inventions EVER!!

Those are my favorite shots from the evening – you can FEEL the emotion.

A handmade gift – among the many they received.

Before I left – I wanted to make sure to get some photos of Rhonda & Dylan together in front of their beautiful home they’ve built!

On October 14th – Dylan passed away after a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer.

I didn’t know them at all really. I spent a little over an hour with them on their wedding day – but I cried when I read it.

You can FEEL the love in these photos and I knew how much he loved and was loved.

Rhonda – I am happy that our paths crossed and I was able to be there with you and give you these photos to remember that beautiful day – however I am sure the memories are already vivid in your mind.

THANK YOU for welcoming me into your circle – if only for a little bit of time.

I know that you have an amazing support system surrounding you and I pray that you feel God giving you His strength.

Next Page »