I’ve been taking Heather & Ben’s family photos for 6 years – I think!

This year they asked me to come to their new house & property – WITH A CREEK!

Do you know how I feel about creek exploring!? It’s our new favorite thing to do in the summer!

But – this wasn’t a summer session!

This creek has seen a LOT of changes this summer & fall – and LOTS of flooding!

We’ve hiked through the woods for our past two sessions – climbing boulders – trekking through the moss & mud – but this year – they are officially my adventure family!

Chilly hands – momma always makes it better!

Do you see the fog on his glasses – those little things – they’re my favorite!

The coolest part about their new property – Ben grew up here – so he gets to relive all his childhood memories & make new ones with his kids!

Tune in tomorrow for the rest of their session!

GORGEOUS!! AND the wind died down – just in time!

STUNNING!!

I ADORE that shot!

Time to get warm by the fire!

Such a precious moment – again – so much of photography is being in the right place at the right time!

Karen – THANK YOU SO MUCH for asking me to spend the afternoon with you!!

I wondered how Karen knew me – turns out I took her daughter’s senior photos – THIS daughter – only NINE years ago! NINE!

Waiting – impatiently waiting for the ceremony to start!

Can you see it? Can you feel it? SO MUCH EMOTION in that moment!

Time to get BUNDLED up and ready to brave the chilly weather & winds – because when you have a BEAUTIFUL view right out the door – you GO OUTSIDE & GET THE PICTURE!

SUCH A GORGEOUS FAMILY!!

I got a message from Karen on FACEBOOK – hoping that I would be available for her intimate wedding in October!

Can I confess something to you?

When I first started this business – intimate weddings were NOT what I wanted. Because successful photographers book BIG events. BIG weddings! LOTS OF HOURS! ALL THE WEDDINGS!!

Can I tell you how differently I look at them now!? Don’t get me wrong – I still love the BIG WEDDINGS – the 6 or 8 hours spending the day with you!

But I have come to really love the small weddings. The intimate ceremonies. Spending a few hours with you and the people you hold most dear on one of the most memorable days of your life!

We were really hoping to have the ceremony outside – but that WIND and the chilly temperatures kept us inside by the fire!

I dressed for the occasion – so I took a little walk with THE DRESS!

I absolutely ADORE the getting ready room at Pine Cradle Lake!!

She LOVED that dress!!

I might have a little too much fun with those reflection shots – but I JUST LOVE THE PERSPECTIVE!

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS!!

Stay tuned for the next two installments of Karen’s BEAUTIFUL wedding day!

ALWAYS with that giant smile! I JUST LOVE HER!

ALWAYS LET THEM BE LITTLE! LET THEM BE SILLY!

They have a picture from their wedding on these steps – six years ago!

We tried ALL THE THINGS to get him to sit still and smile. But sometimes – it doesn’t work. But the shots you DO get are REAL & BEAUTIFUL!

ONE LAST ATTEMPT – and it’s better than ANY looking-at-the-camera-smiling-shot!

And because she really wanted to show me her mask!

AND the side she designed! WHICH IS MY FAVORITE!

I used to post all these photos on FACEBOOK for you to see – and then I changed the process so that you see the bulk of your session in the blog post!

When I posted a handful on FACEBOOK – Amanda messaged me and said – HOW DID YOU GET THESE!?

When the parents are having a rough time because their little ones aren’t listening and aren’t sitting and are ALWAYS ON THE MOVE – I’m pretty sure they leave hoping that maybe there might be a handful of good shots. JUST A FEW.

When a parent says – WERE WE EVEN AT THE SAME SESSION!? HOW DID YOU GET THESE!? THAT’S MY GOAL. Because I know. I’ve been there.

I’ve had a kid with a lollipop in his mouth – nearly screaming – the entire time – and yet – they are HUGE prints on my wall – because that was our life then.

And through the eyes of someone else – someone who knows what to look for – where to be – someone who is not IN that frustration with you – you see your family and your life through their eyes.

And you see the beauty – when you convinced yourself that it couldn’t possibly be there.

That’s what I want to give you – AN HOUR IN THE LIFE of your family. A new perspective to your every day.

Amanda – thank you SO MUCH for asking me back into your lives each year!

I can’t believe that I’ve been photographing this family for TWO years already!

It seems like just yesterday that I met them in their backyard with a fresh baby boy!

Those shots – MELT MY HEART!!

Are you smiling yet? Because if you’re not – there MIGHT be something wrong!

This guy – he was ON THE MOVE THE ENTIRE TIME!!

I remember our family photo session when Enoch was two – it was a ROUGH one! He has a lollipop in EVERY SINGLE shot – or is reaching for said lollipop in EVERY SINGLE SHOT!

Thankfully – I get it. I have an ON THE GO kiddo – so I know.

THAT SMILE – it’s so very contagious!! STAY TUNED tomorrow for the rest of their session!

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!!