I met Shaina YEARS ago when I photographed her daughter Hannah!

I was SO excited when she asked me about photographing her intimate wedding in their backyard!!

WITH THIS RING.

I THEE WED.

Sometimes family photos do not work out the way you thought they might!!

Shaina – thank you SO MUCH for asking me to spend your wedding day with you!!

I can’t WAIT to meet that new little guy soon!!

 

 

I met Desiree through Missy!! They’ve been friends for a very long time!

I got to our session a little early so I captured a few “getting ready” photos!

THIS is the moment she realized that her baby boy is taller than her!!

I’m SO glad I was able to get that on camera!!

I spent the morning photographing girls willing to get IN the water and ended my day photographing girls in waterfalls!! IT WAS A GOOD DAY!!

Desiree – thank you SO MUCH for asking me to photograph your beautiful family!!! I can’t WAIT to see where we go next time!!

I have been photographing Ella since she was SIX MONTHS OLD!

And THIS year – she’ll be graduating!!

She wanted a few shots in the snow – so I kept her on call for a snowy day!

Those shots MIGHT be my FAVORITE!!

GORGEOUS!!

But wait – THOSE might be my favorite too!!

ELLA!! Thank you so much for braving the cold! I LOVE these photos!!

BUT – she didn’t ONLY want snowy photos – so we waited for summer too!

Her mom told me she HAD to get a shot of us together – because I’ve been capturing almost her entire life!!

That shot on the left was my favorite for a VERY long time – and it still is!! It wasn’t posed – just a perfect moment in time and it opened my eyes even more to capturing life as it is without forcing anything. My friend Mike made a GIANT cloth portrait from that print and I gave it to Ella years ago. Seeing these two photos side-by-side reminds me that I’m living out my dream job!!

BRAVING THE SNOW & THE CHILLY CREEK WATER – Ella – you’re my favorite!!

Ella – I am so happy that I’ve been able to watch you grow up!!

Whatever you decide to do in life – make sure you love it. Find that thing to do and do it well!!

When I met Amy – her daughter Ella was only 6 months old. She was the smiliest – brightest blue-eyed – fieriest red-haired little baby!!

This is her TODAY!?

She’s a SENIOR this year!!!

I worked closely with Amy at Phoenix Rehab. One day she said to me – we didn’t plan on saying anything until a little later – but you’ll need to know why I’m feeling the way I am.

I’m pregnant and SO VERY SICK and it wasn’t like this with Ella. I said – maybe it’s twins!?

She said – WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT!?

After her first ultrasound appointment – she came into the office and slammed the photo face-down. She said – LOOK AT THE PHOTO!!!

Baby A & Baby B!? TWINS!? Yes. Twins!!

SISTERS!!!

It’s SO hard to believe that the little babies I photographed at every chance I had – have turned into these beautiful young women.

I babysat them often for Amy. And NOW – they’re watching MY kids for me!? HOW CAN THAT BE!?

Those are my favorite!!

And just as a reference – here’s a shot I took when they were little vs. today!!!

We ALWAYS grab a shot of the twins together!!

Amy – Ella – Addy – Mady – THANK YOU so much for spending the morning with me AND getting IN the water!!

I love that I’ve been able to capture your WHOLE LIVES!!! THANK YOU ENDLESSLY!!

 

 

Stephanie & Zack Martin were kind enough to offer their SUNFLOWER fields for local photographers to use!!

There were several nights that 3 of us were there using the same field some of the time!

I LOVE being a part of a community that encourages instead of competes.

The patterns in nature are BREATHTAKING!!

Remember – you might have been planted at the same time as someone else – but you’re not blooming yet.

Your time will come.

Zack & Stephanie – THANK YOU ENDLESSLY for your generous nature! SO MANY people were given the photos of their dreams!

I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL NEXT YEAR!!!

Jillian and her family were my LAST sunflower session of the season!!

We usually do fall photos – but she saw the sunflower field and said – I’ve ALWAYS wanted photos in a sunflower field!!

BROTHERS!!

I LOVE THAT SHOT!!!

SO MUCH SO that I want to put it on MY wall!!

I can’t imagine having a studio – I would have SO MANY of your amazing faces on my walls!!

Jillian ALWAYS wanted sunflower photos in her wedding dress – so she brought it along!!

Jillian – thank you SO much for asking me into your lives year after year!!!

We NEED to make 2022 the year we get together for dinner and NOT just pictures!!!

 

 

SERIOUSLY!!! The sweetest!

The sunflowers were on their way out – but Amanda REALLY wanted their family photos in the sunflowers!!

THOSE SMILES!! I’ve been photographing this family since that little guy was a brand new baby!!

SWOON!!

OH MY GOODNESS!! SO ADORABLE!!

AMANDA – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to capture every year of your lives!!

Dani asked about a creek session for her kiddos. She told me that she wanted photos of them just BEING KIDS in the creek.

She was waiting for her husband to come to our session while I took the kids down to the creek and took what she told me very literally.

They most certainly got IN the water!!

I MAY have encouraged the muckiness – because it photographs so well!!

They got a “little” wet!!

You can still get family photos when the kids are soaking wet!!!

I love looking at things with a different perspective!!

Thankfully – my favorite creek isn’t far from THE sunflower fields!!

Dani!!! Thank you SO much for spending the evening with me!! I can’t WAIT to photograph your family again!

THE RED HAIR!!!! I LOVE RED HAIR!!!

SO SWEET!!

The last time I photographed them was in a field – not with sunflowers – but a field nonetheless!! For their engagement – which I think is over TEN years ago!?

GORGEOUS!! Jess was really hoping to get in on the sunflower field sessions!! Thankfully we found a time that worked for both of us!

Jess – thank you SO MUCH for bringing your sweet family out for sunflower photos!!

I hope it’s not another 10 years before you’re in front of my lens again!!

 

 

In early August I got an email from Nathan about hopefully capturing his proposal – stealthily!

They were from Boston and were coming to Cherry Springs State Park to view the meteor showers in mid-August.

There was a small window where he wanted to propose. But he couldn’t set it up under a photo session ruse – because he was pretty sure she would figure it out!

He found me on THE KNOT and it worked out that I was able to make it the day that he wanted to propose!!

I got to the park early and walked around to scope out my options!

There is something really historical about this cabin but I can’t remember what it is!

I found spot on a hill behind some long grass to hie until the moment came.

I waited in my car until they got out of their car with all their picnic goodies and made their way to the spot.

Then I got into position!

They chatted and cuddled and just enjoyed being together.

THEN it was THE moment!

I love that she reacted before he could even get on his knee!!

SHE SAID YES!!

I waited for Nathan to give me the nod that it was okay to come out of hiding!!

SO MUCH HAPPINESS!!

Isn’t that ring PERFECT!?

I LOVE THOSE SHOTS!!

That’s the spot where I was hiding and waiting!

OH MY GOODNESS!! Can I shoot here EVERY DAY!?

I suggested that they go ahead and eat dinner and we’ll just keep taking ALL the photos!!

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!

It started to rain just as we were finishing our session so it was PERFECT timing!!

Nathan & Gracie – I had such a GREAT time being able to capture this moment for you both! I wish you the BEST in your lives together!!!