So maybe you've already booked your session and maybe you haven't. BTW, if you' haven't we still have a few spots in the Styled Sessions with Everyday Beauty Co. on October 21st and it is going to SO. MUCH. FUN. You can find more details about those sessions here. Anyway, so you have your session booked, and now you realize you have the perhaps overwhelming task of figuring out what in the world everyone's going to wear. I usually get questions about what to wear so I *finally* sat down and thought about what makes a great look for family photos. And because I'm not a big fan of micro-managing and telling people exactly what to wear because I think fashion is such a fun extension of personal style (and I don't want to tread on yours and make it just like mine because it's part of what makes you YOU), I broke it down into concepts and tips and elements to think about as you create your look rather than "wear this and this and this." So here is what you need know about putting together outfits for your family, whether your kids are two and four or you have five kids in their teens and twenties, or you're doing a session with your grandbabies (how fun is it that one of our Styled Session was booked by grandparents for photos with their grandbabies!) . ANYWAY...There are three major components to creating a collective look that you’ll love:
COLOR PALETTE
TEXTURES & PATTERNS
ACCESSORIES & LAYERING.
Let me break it down for you and explain each of the different elements in detail.
COLOR PALETTE
Let’s start with color palette. I recommend choosing at least two or three base colors to use as your foundation. Start with one person’s outfit and begin building your color palette there. It’s a good idea to just pay attention to what colors you love when you start. Don’t overcomplicate it and think too much about the big picture when you’re choosing your color palette. Nail down what you love about the colors of that one outfit, and build from there. After you’ve picked your two to three base colors, I recommend branching off into complimentary tones for the rest of your outfits. Think about paint swatches and how you often have a lot of colors in the same family. Don’t try to match your base tones exactly. Instead go for complimentary tones that are in the same family as your base colors, but perhaps a lot lighter or darker than your actual base color. The goal is to have a lot of tonal diversity within a fairly tight color palette of two to four base colors. One tiny diversion I highly recommend: It can be fun to add one well-coordinated "wild color" into the mix to add interest. This can work without being overwhelming when you use great textures to balance it out, which brings me to my next component of creating your look...
TEXTURES & PATTERNS
Well chosen textures, patterns, and fabrics are truly what will take your outfit choices and color palette from good to great. Fabric texture and pattern are a big deal.
Let’s start with texture. Here are a couple of examples to explain what I mean about fabric texture: soft flowy dresses; highly structured suits; a lace tunic; thick, comfy oversized sweaters; semi-structured button down shirts; fluffy faux-fur vests; soft and thick plaid button-down shirts; dark and fitted classic jeans; worn-in style jeans with knee rips; a tweed jacket with arm patches …the list could go on and on. The point is, these fabrics all evoke a different feeling. A suit instantly brings the class to a portrait, while a flowy floral dress makes a portrait feel inviting and accessible. You want a combination of fabric textures to make your collective family look interesting and engaging. Mixing soft or flowing fabrics with structured and stronger fabrics photographs fantastically, and I highly recommend it. I do not recommend putting everyone in a similar texture (for instance, everyone wears a button down shirt). Even if the colors are perfect, it’s a bit boring because there’s no textural interest.
Now let’s talk about pattern! I LOVE to see a great splash of bold pattern within a family’s outfit choice. Here’s an idea for how to incorporate pattern without feeling too overwhelmed: When you’re choosing your first outfit from which to build the rest of the family’s look, make it a strong pattern and pull the colors from the pattern as your base colors. If you’re the only female in your family, or you’re even one of two of the only females in your family, it’s a great idea for this pattern to be your outfit (but not a must of course). I’m loving the current floral craze (or is it just me who’s obsessed?! ;p) so picking out a floral dress or skirt for yourself can be a fun way to start building outfits for the rest of your tribe. Don’t be afraid to incorporate more than just one pattern into your family’s look. Bring in a second and third more understated pattern to compliment the look. If you feel like the secondary patterns might be a touch bold, throw a solid colored jacket or vest over it so you just have a bit of pattern peeking out to add interest. Which brings me to my third category for creating a collective look for your family that you’ll love...
ACCESSORIES & LAYERING
Accessories. Ya’ll, accessories are the bomb dot com. Statement heels, suspenders, hats, bold necklaces, vests, bowties, headbands, scarves, big earrings, you-name-it. Accessories add interest and are a great way to bring more texture into your look. I have yet to see an over-accesorized family so please feel free to go crazy. Maybe don’t all wear hats or the exact same accessories, but incorporating one or two fun things into every person’s outfit isn’t overkill. Add that jacket, cardigan, or belt to layer, and you’ll be good to go.
OTHER LITTLE TIPS
One simple thing to stay away from when dressing the fam is tennis shoes (think shoes that look like they belong on a runner or athlete or someone about to do a workout). I know they’re comfy and everyone’s favorite, but it’s usually best if they aren’t invited to your photo shoot. It won’t hurt their feelings if it’s just this once. ;) The one exception I’d make for this is if you’re going for a sort of urban grunge feel and a leather jacket is involved. Or if, you know, you own your own tennis shoe line. Then you get a pass.
Another tip, especially if you have older kids that are similarly sized, is to make sure not every single person wears jeans, or if you do at least try to break it up with colors/washes/wears/styles that coordinate well. Or just be sure to add lots of layers and accessories to keep the collective look engaging.
And because visuals are the best help of all, I threw together a quick Pinterest board of family session outfits done well to get your creative juices flowing and to help inspire you to create a look that you love for your family!
One other note that’s specifically for those who’ve signed up for the styled session that Everyday Beauty Co and I are holding on October 21st is this: Be thoughtful of the space when you’re planning your outfits. It is GORGEOUS and so many looks will photograph splendidly here, but there’s a couple of things that might not look quite right in the space because of it’s aesthetic: Bold and rich colors are fantastic, but stay away from fluorescents and overly bright fresh colors and styles…things like lime green, bright aqua blues, hot fluorescent pinks, etc won’t look great in the space. Instead go for deep forest greens, soft and muted light blues, deep wine colors or soft vintage colored pinks. Pastels will look great. Jewel tones will be stunning. Fall colors will look fantastic. Darks tones and light neutrals will be gorgeous. Mainly just nothing that looks like it belongs in a fluorescent and balmy 'welcome spring' catalog.
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Awhile ago I got to have this stunning 2018 senior in front of my lens, and what a fun evening it was! After we met for her consultation, I was struck by the way Caroline carries herself with a unique poise and self-assuredness. Taking her portraits was nothing short of delightful, and I'm so excited to share this little peek into her session!
Crushing pretty hard on this darling bike/dress/floral crown ensemble!
^ One of my favs! ^
Caroline, it was such an honor to capture this sweet season of life for you!
SPECIAL THANKS:
HAIR & MAKEUP | Tonya Kauffman
FLORAL CROWN | Roxanne Yoder
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These photographs were made the day after Jordan & Elizabeth’s wedding. Because of the location of their venue in Long Island and their wedding day schedule, there was no way to get portraits at the Brooklyn Bridge Park on the actual day of their nuptials, so we met the following evening about an hour before sunset. The Brooklyn Bridge Park area holds so many of their significant memories, from sitting on the rocks by the water and chatting when they were first getting to know each other to Jordan’s epic sunset proposal. It would have been so wrong not to come back to their little spot in the city, and I'm SO glad they made the effort for these portraits!
"Just Married" looks awfully good on these two.
Obsessed with the back of Elizabeth's dress!
You just can't beat a classic, black-tie vibe for groom portraits. New fav!
...and Elizabeth killed it (as per usual)! The camera loves this girl.
Love this one!
*little photographer sidenote* While I had initially been hoping for traditional pretty sunset photos, I think God just understood what we really needed and gave us something better – overcast skies and a bit of fog. I LOVE the hazy look of fog in portraits. I’d been to this spot two years before on a weekend evening at sunset and this area looked nothing like it did the night we did Jordan & Elizabeth’s photos. It was packed with people hanging out and wandering the boardwalk (which is a photographer’s nightmare when you’re trying to shoot for location). I remember trying to get one photo that evening without random strangers in the backround and it was a challenge. The overcast skies and mostly empty boardwalk were a gift straight from Jesus. The perfect fog hovering just above the city skyline without obscuring it was Him just showing off. ;)
...the real them! ;p Adore these two!
Night photos, I like you. We should hang out more often.
Lady Liberty in the distance...
Love the sentimentality of the shot above. Jordan and Elizabeth had the coolest first dance and this was one of the moves from it. It was Jordan's idea to do the pose and I love how it turned out.
...sooooo, I knew there was NO way I was going to be able to fit all of their wedding day photos AND these portraits into one blog post because blog size restrictions (boo!), so their WEDDING DAY blog post is still coming! Until then, if you dig wedding day slideshows I highly recommend you check theirs out here!
JORDAN & ELIZABETH'S WEDDING DAY SLIDESHOW
P.S. BIG thank you to Rachel of C&R Creative Studios for second shooting their wedding day with me!
FLORAL DESIGN | Dream Flower Shop
GOWN | Lotus Bridal
GROOM'S ATTIRE | Foresto Tuxedo
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TJ & Maggie said their "I do's" just a little over three weeks ago, and I've been so excited to share this little peek into their wedding day!
As usual, the day started with photographing the little details, and Maggie's sparkly and sophisticated blush and gold details had me at hello.
Maggie's namesake is her grandmother Margaret. This gold, engraved "M" ring was hers before it was passed down to Maggie.
Such a sweet moment when her father saw her in her dress!
Maggie was quite possibly the most thoughtful bride ever. She'd had gifts and notes for her parents, her maid-of-honor, and her mother-in-law.
Reading TJ's note to her...
...and opening the gift he gave her (a photo of the two of them)!
First Look!
This was such an incredibly sweet moment. He was losing it, so she was losing it...and this is why I loved wedding days so much.
Love this color palette!
Maggie was an absolute vision!
Looking dapper!
How adorable is little Jack?!
Taking the trolley? It's more fun. The bridal party was chauffeured to the church and back in this fabulous mode of transportation.
Overcome again when she walked down the aisle...
The new Mr. & Mrs. Miller!
TJ's brother Shaun was his best man. If you know Shaun, you won't be surprised that during his speech he had everyone cracking up, but he also honored TJ for the quiet and sacrificial ways that he has been there for the people in his life and impressed how deeply impactful TJ's sacrifices have been. Shaun's sincere gratitude for who TJ is as a person was evident, specifically as he spoke of the the ways TJ had been there for him as he battled cancer over the past year. The little practical ways we show up for people end up being the really big things that make the difference in someone else's life. Shaun honored TJ so well for the ways he has been a quiet hero.
We sneaked outside for a few photos with that perfect bit of last evening light.
First dance as Mr. and Mrs. (and dying just a little over the shot below)!
Father/daughter dance!
Congrats you two! Such an honor to photograph your day!
SECOND PHOTOPHAPHER | Jessica Photography
FLORALS | The Flowerman
VENUE | Nationwide Hotel & Conference Center
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If these two aren't the cutest, I dunno what is...
It's almost the end of June now and over coffee the other day, Roxanne and I were reminiscing and I asked her when she and Keith actually met. Get this...it was barely a year ago. June-ish of last year. They MET. Ya'll, God can work miracles practically overnight, and you can find yourself blissfully catapulted into a whole new season JUST LIKE THAT. In HIS time. Seeing these two walking this fun and joy-filled season is so encouraging. It's easy to feel like there's a lot of "not yets" in life, and I'm just reminded all over again that God doesn't take a vacation from being God. He's always who He is, and whether we see it, believe it or are expectantly hoping for it or not, He is up to stuff, cleverly weaving our little life thread into His grand story. That's great news on days when hope levels are low, and our perseverance feels like it's stretched a bit thin.
So back to Keith and Roxanne...
They first met at church, and wound up in the same small group. They connected immediately and talked often. Four-five months in, their ability to NOT think about the other person was becoming increasingly challenging. There's nothing quite like when you first start to figure out that you are falling in love to make you feel like you might be losing your formerly very rational mind.
In the interest of full disclosure, they did have some hurdles to overcome to even start dating. Not that you'd ever know it or even guess it, but there's a bit of an age gap between these two. Before they started dating, they both needed to process a bit before realizing that their age difference simply didn't matter at all. The most important things, like where they were at in their individual walks with the Lord, was scary awesome similar. That's a bit rare, and they were wise enough to know that, so they jumped. Because that's what you do when God puts someone utterly wonderful and completely surprising in your path. You say 'yes' and things you thought mattered - they fade away so quickly that you wonder how you ever considered them a hurdle at all.
If you know Roxanne at all (she's a floral designer), then you know it's no surprise that she showed up at their engagement session with a gorgeous basket full of peonies, which of course delighted my little photographer heart to no end.
Have I mentioned that it makes me just so happy to see these two so happy?
^ THIS ^
...this is the magic that happens when you have sunshine and rain at the same time. In the words of William Paul Young, I think God is especially fond of these two.
Can we take a quick sec to talk about Roxanne's engagement ring?! I love that it's a pearl!
So wanna know what was going on behind the scenes for these shots? We were just sure (based on weather apps), that the sprinkling rain was going to be stopping anytime...but it just kept raining...and turned from sprinkling into POURING.
These two were SUCH champs about it too. We'd wanted to get some shots inside the gazebo, so we decided to go get those while we waited for the rain to subside.
...and of course they rocked these too.
Every once in awhile, a photo will happen and it will evoke this feeling that reminds me of something true. The photo above is one of those. As soon as I saw it in post-processing, I was reminded of something Ann Voskamp says in The Broken Way. She says that "love is a roof." Truth is, Roxanne was fighting a cough that night, Keith was drenched, and sometimes life isn't anything like you expect it to be. And when it isn't, sometimes, often times, most times, you just need someone to be a shelter for you. "Love is a roof" and these two are that for one other in a hundred practical little ways already.
Coffee to the rescue, the evening came to a close on a warmer (and drier) note.
^ another favorite ^
Love this custom engraved journal that Roxanne had given Keith when they were dating.
Congrats guys! So fun to have you in front of my lens and so very excited for August!
Jon & Tammie tied the knot just a little over two weeks ago and I'm beyond thrilled to be sharing this little peek into their special day! Jon and Tammie are both from the midwest with only an hour and a half drive separating them. However, as fate would have it, they first met one another in faraway Thailand. Go figure, eh? Though they met in Thailand, it was several years before their casual acquaintance morphed into a serious relationship. They started dating and though I'm sure they'd be the first to tell you things weren't perfect, Tammie expressed how completely different Jon was from anyone she'd ever met. This relationship was simply RIGHT, and it led them to this wonderful Friday evening in June when they promised to love each other for a lifetime. Enjoy this little stroll through the memories of their day!
Tammie chose a romantic color palette of light blue with soft pastel pink accents.
Getting ready...
First Look!
Crushing on this lovely bouquet by Root Design Company!
Tammie, you are just so very lovely!
How cute are they?!
Floral Confession: As a general rule, I'm a lover of color in bouquets, but these bridesmaids' arrangements made a strong case for all white florals with greenery. Stunning! I LOVED them!
Love the shot above. I usually photograph this floral/shoe/dress detail shot a tiny bit wide and then crop it in post-processing to just showcase the details, but I couldn't resist leaving this one a little wider to keep Tammie and her two sisters' expressions (on either side of her). Felt like a classic sister humor moment and who doesn't love those?! ;)
One of the things that came up repeatedly during speech time at the reception was how gifted Tammie is at relating to children, which deepened my appreciation for this moment that had happened earlier in the day.
Jon keeps Tammie laughing...as you can see...
CLASSIC...and too funny not to share. ;p
Sunset...
At dusk, Jon and Tammie headed out on...*wait for it*
...a BOAT!!!
Jon and Tammie, congratulations! I was so honored to photograph your day!
2ND PHOTOGRAPHER | Tiffany Reiff Photo + Design
FLORAL DESIGN | Root Design Company
VIDEOGRAPHY | 714 Media Productions
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Oh, guys...I'm just beyond excited to share this stunner of a wedding with you today. Richy and Alyson's day was lovely in every sense of the word, from every thoughtful detail that Alyson had meticulously seen to in advance, to the moment when they were standing in front of one another doing their best to hold their emotions in check in front of their friends and families as they promised each other a lifetime of unconditional love. Lovely - all of it!
Alyson and Richy chose The Pinnacle in Grove City, Ohio as the backdrop for their wedding celebration...and what a lovely canvas this venue is for a wedding day!
Alyson's long time friend Chen was her *man* of honor!
Alyson gifted her bridesmaids with these cute robes!
Alyson's mother helped her into her dress...
Alyson was an absolute vision in her stunning gown from White of Dublin.
HOW FUN is this bridesmaid (+ man of honor) reveal?!
Love this shot of Alyson!
Toasting to the groom!
(...yes, in case you were wondering, I'm shamelessly digging classic black and white vibes for groomsmen photos.)
Alyson surprised Richy with this beautiful watch.
Oh, you know, just Richy casually killing it during his groom portraits...NBD.
Can we just take a moment to note that Alyson created this beautiful calligraphy welcome sign herself?! Told ya this bride saw to every single detail. ;)
The big moment...
During vows...easily my favorite moment of the day. I love it so much, and it reminds me of how Richy proposed. He'd had the ring for a few weeks, but one day they were in the middle of an argument and I love that instead of planning this big Pinterest-perfect proposal, he did something much more courageous, meaningful and significant:
He moved towards Alyson while they were in the middle of a disagreement...and proposed right in the middle of what felt like a relational mess. Isn't that exceptional, and doesn't that say something incredible about the love they share? It's easy to extend love when we agree with others. It is much harder to commit to keeping your heart open to connection with someone when you disagree with them. ...and he did, and they are, and instead of proposing when everything was perfect, he proposed when it wasn't. I love that so much because it means that they know love isn't always easy, and they are ready to love each other through the hard moments, and it makes THIS moment, the one where they vowed each other forever, deeply powerful.
The new Mr. & Mrs. Zhelezny!
First dance as Mr. & Mrs.
Congrats Richy and Alyson! It was such an honor to witness your day!
SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER | Mindy Danelle
VENUE | The Pinnacle Golf Club
FLORAL DESIGN | Madison House Designs
CAKE | Cakes by Cecile
HAIR & MAKEUP | Madison Mikl
VIDEOGRAPHY | Andrew E. Weber
INVITATION SUITE | Ink & Ivory
BRIDAL BOUTIQUE | White of Dublin
BRIDESMAID’S DRESSES | Wendy’s Bridal
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On any given date night, you'll find Adam and Sami exploring the city, likely with coffees in hand (black for him and an iced caramel macchiato for her). Sami wasn't sure if they'd ever been on a date that didn't involve a stop for coffee at some point, so it would have been downright criminal to NOT stop and get coffee the night of their engagement session.
Someone...please, anyone, note the sign in the window because it was practically made for them.
Sami is a vivacious soul. This girl's smile and personality has the capacity to amp up the energy and atmosphere in a room the second she steps in. She brings a hope-infused positivity to her world. Quite simply, in an anxious world, she is delightful and refreshing.
Well if they aren't just so darn adorable, I don't know what is.
My absolute favorite moment from the other evening’s session was when these two answered my question about how the other had changed them. Sami said that Adam has changed the way she sees herself. Raise your hand if you’ve ever believed a load of crap about who you are, how you look, or attached your value to your appearance, gifting or lack thereof, personality, you-name-it. Cause I have too. I could see it, you know? When she said it…that Adam has changed the way she sees herself. She said she didn’t use to have much confidence. Love will do that. It will straight up change how you see yourself. Isn’t that so the heart of God? And isn’t it so cool how He uses people to change our perspectives of ourselves? To show us the truth about who we really are? God is just so unendingly clever and generous in the ways that He extends His love to us. Sami has changed Adam too. She is vibrant and free-spirited and Adam said that she’s helped him learn to relax, loosen up, chill, have a good time…and to be a little more chatty. Love will change you, and it should and it’s a good thing. Moral of the story: Let your people love you. Just let them love you. And be humble enough to receive their love. It’s pride and fear that makes us hold on to the lies. We think we need the lies to keep us motivated to change, but it’s really the Truth that sets us free. Adam and Sami can testify.
You two - it was beyond fun to spend the evening photographing your charming selves. Can't wait to see you guys tie the knot come September!]]>
Sometimes sparks fly instantly, and other times relationships need to be given a few years to find their way into being. Marvin & Judith had been acquainted through mutual friends for quite some time before being bitten by the proverbial love bug. I actually quite love the way Judith tells their story, so I'm going to share tidbits from her reply when I asked her about how they'd met and fallen in love...
"My fiance and I met years ago through mutual friends, though incidentally we were both dating other people at the time. We lived an hour from each other but would bump into one another from time to time and always got along well, though our periods of singleness did not overlap very well. Unbeknownst to me, he started becoming interested in me and started praying about it. During this period I was busy with work and doing international disaster response nursing."
*PAUSE*
Yes, I paused the story because YOU GUYS, I just need to elaborate a little about what Judith does for a living. She's an international disaster response nurse, which means that she functions as part of a team that heads to the center of unfolding humanitarian crises and sets up emergency medical clinics. Wherever the world is falling apart and the very places most people are fleeing, she boards a plane and heads for the epicenter. Hurricanes, cholera outbreaks, war zones, you-name-it, she goes. What she does is seriously, no joke. On any given day, she can be heading to her regular nursing job in Canton, receive a call and be on a plane within twenty four hours. Talk about holding your life loosely and living it for the good of others...pretty sure Judith has this down.
So back to Marvin, and the love story unfolding...
"Finally after months of praying about it, while I was in Haiti treating cholera patients and helping provide hurricane medical relief, he received the go ahead from God to pursue a relationship with me. Within several days of returning from Haiti, we met up for coffee, ended up talking for hours, and the rest is history. :) A couple months after we started dating, I was deployed to the Middle East to help set up an emergency field hospital in a war zone for nearly a month."
Okay, sorry, but *PAUSE* again...it wasn't just the Middle East. It was Mosul, Iraq, and if you've been following the news at all you'll understand why this was a much bigger deal than Judith even makes it sound in their story. *unpause*
"Saying goodbye for that long, going into a dangerous situation, and being surrounded by the horrors of war definitely worked to affirm and intensify our feelings for each other. That's when we started realizing that we really didn't want to do life separately any longer."
*PAUSE*...again. Sorry (not sorry)...it's too sweet of a detail to pass up. At their engagement session, Marvin shared that the moment he was most proud of Judith was when she stepped off the plane coming home from Iraq.
"After dating for a whopping almost five months, Marvin proposed after getting me out of bed by throwing snowballs at my window. As he stood there on a ladder outside my room and I hung out the window with snow falling down on us, he asked me to be his bride. I had to ask him if he was serious, because I was so surprised, and because who proposes while standing on a ladder? He assured me that he definitely was serious so with that bit of information, I quite willingly agreed to be his wife."
"I'm certain God has been creating us for each other all of our lives, it just took us a long winding road till we were finally ready for each other. I'm also certain that life with the man who proposed to me that night on a ladder, through a window, in the snow, will definitely being anything but normal and boring!"
*and we know this chic doesn't do normal or boring* ;)
Kind of adore the series of shots below. Marvin has a roguish sense of humor and keeps this girl laughing on the regular.
One of my favorite moments at their session was when Judith spoke about the moment she was most proud of Marvin. She said there were many moments she was proud of him, but the one that popped to the forefront of her mind was a time when he'd quietly picked up the tab for a veteran, no questions asked. Sometimes we think we have to be as awesome as Judith is and jump on a plane to be able to make a difference in this heart-breaking world, but I just love what SHE highlighted when she said what she did to Marvin: sometimes being a hero just means opening up your eyes to the world right in front of you and being courageous enough to give in beautiful, everyday, practical ways like Marvin does. I love the way these two were both living generously before their stories collided. Isn't God so clever at pairing people up?
Congrats, you two! It was truly an honor and a delight to spend the evening photographing a peek into your story. I can't wait for July! ;)
They said their "I do's" on a warm, sunny day in July, back in Miriam's hometown where they'd first met.
Miriam gave Kevin an album full of photos of memories they'd made together since they'd met. I thought it was a perfect gesture and a lovely way to remember and look back on all the little things they had experienced together along the way.
Miriam and her mom having a moment not long before she walked up the aisle. The emotion and magnitude of the day can hit at any given time, and this was sweet to witness.
Just married! (...and one of my favs from their day because look at those faces)!
The reception!
Father/daughter and mother/son dances...
...followed by quite possibly the coolest first dance I've ever seen! They killed it!
Congrats again, you too! So fun to look back at these memories from your day!
Special thanks to Jessica Photography for second shooting with me!
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Nick & Jenna first met in 2012 while they were attending Butler University. Choir was just another class that both of them needed to check off of their lists. Little did they know that choir, of all places, was where they were about to encounter such a delightful plot twist to their stories. Don't you love how the best story turns come in the most everyday, unexpected moments? I think God loves to keep us guessing and does it this way on purpose. Call me crazy, but I think God has a sense of mischief and humor when it comes to writing out His kids' love stories. He loves to surprise us with good gifts when we are least expecting it. Nick and Jenna are that - good gifts from God to one another. They started dating several months later, and the rest is history.
Nick proposed in 2016 at one of their favorite parks in Indianapolis. He saw to every detail and even arranged for Jenna's Columbus-based family to travel out and celebrate with them right after he had proposed.
Jenna is a radiant soul. You can feel it when you meet her. She is soft-hearted and kind and full of life. She is a teacher, and after meeting her it makes so much sense that God would call her to shepherd little hearts.
At risk of gushing, I so love photographing people who've found one another because fun and laughter are their normal. I think it's so healthy for fun and laughter to be a regular thing in our lives. It can help keep us rooted in the goodness of God. Having fun can be deeply spiritual because God invented laugher in the first place. It can be a unique way of connecting to His heart. Photographing people like Nick & Jenna feels like a sort of calibrating reminder of who God is - joyful, full of laughter, entirely GOOD.
Jenna, you are stunning.
Congrats again, Nick and Jenna! So excited for July!
All love stories are special, but theirs warmed my heart because Richy and Alyson don't hide the imperfect parts of their journey, which has me thinking they'll be starting their marriage off on the right foot.
These two initially met online, and first hung out on - wait for it- Valentine's Day weekend. Isn't that fun? They hit it off right away, and were officially dating about a month and a half later.
They spent the summer together, falling in love, and working at helping each other make good life choices. Alyson talked about a time when they hadn't been to church in a number of weeks, but motivated each other to go one Sunday. That weekend their church just happened to be holding baptisms, and though they'd had no intention of being baptized that day when they woke up, God clearly had other ideas. They both chose to be baptized, and though it was a significant moment for them each individually, it was such a sweet gift that they were able to experience that moment together.
Alyson is a huge fan of craft beer, so many a date night was spent trying out local breweries. Richy and Alyson were on a brewery tour when they first came across North High Brewing. It quickly became a favorite spot of theirs, so when Alyson mentioned that she knew Gavin, one of the co-owners of the brewery, and that she was hoping to photograph some of their engagement session there, I was delighted! I do love new and unique locations, and this was not only that, it was also a part of their story.
We photographed the first part of their session midday before the brewery was open, then met up later that evening to finish their session and catch the pretty evening light at Jeffrey Mansion.
Gotta love those shoes...
Richy and Alyson, you guys were just too much fun to photograph. Thanks for trusting me to capture this season of your story! Can't wait for the big day! ;)
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Can we talk about Jordan & Elizabeth for a quick second? Because Jordan and Elizabeth are some of my favorite people, and talking about them is all kinds of fun. I honestly don't remember when I first met Jordan...only that I got to know him a bit better because him and my husband Pete hit it off while they were both living in New York City back in 2009. Pete moved back to Ohio, married yours truly, and his friendship with Jordan was something he would mention with sentimentality every now and then when something would remind him of some crazy adventure or stunt he and Jordan had pulled. Last year, Pete and I trotted up to NYC for a weekend. Pete had contacted Jordan to see if he'd be in town, and that's when we got to meet Elizabeth for the first time. In two days flat, we fell almost as in love with her and her daughter Vanessa as Jordan clearly was. Elizabeth is the kind of person who is good, kind, humble, and genuine...and she has this way of being all of those things while still calling things as she sees them. I kind of love that about her. Her and Jordan are a brilliant balance to each other.
A few months ago, Pete got a text from Jordan one evening: "She said yes!" Jordan had *finally* proposed in one of their favorite spots in New York City, and even arranged to have one of their friends photograph it for them (nice move, Jordan ;). Since they'd already been planning to visit us in Columbus, it was the perfect opportunity to photograph their engagement session. As always, we had a grand time with them, and taking their engagement photos was no exception. Enjoy this little peek into their love story!
I often recommend that couples do two outfits for their engagement session. For their second outfit, Jordan and Elizabeth opted for a vintage look and it was so. much. fun. to photograph!
I'm not sure how dancing on the bridge started, but it did, and I love how these photos depict their relationship...fun, spontaneous, and a little goofy.
Next stop: diner. Because finishing out the evening with a milkshake was a must. ;)
I love this last series of photos. Technically, I had told them we were "done" shooting, so they were goofing off and these are some of my favorites...because it's real and ridiculous and wonderful and you can feel how much fun these two have together.
Guys...I can. not. wait. for your big day next year! It's been such a privilege to witness your story!
It's no secret that what I love most about photography is the stories of those I'm invited to photograph. One such story was my cousin Kassandra's.
Months ago she called me, long before we talked about a photoshoot, and unfolded a part of her story of which I'd been completely unaware. I've known Kassandra my entire life. And not just casually either. She is family and friend, but before that first conversation I had no idea that she struggled with an eating disorder. As we chatted and she told me about her journey into recovery, I discovered, not surprisingly, that eating disorders lurk unseen in the shadows of many lives. Having an eating disorder has nothing to do with your physical size and everything to do with your mental state and perspective. You can be extra thin or extra thick and not have an eating disorder. You can look perfectly healthy and get two thumbs up from your doctor and have an eating disorder, because it's about the way you see the world.
In the conversations that followed, Kassandra told me about how she'd struggled with the monster "ED" since junior high. Lies love to weasel their way into our perspectives at vulnerable times in our lives. They tell us untruths about ourselves, others, the world around us, and unless we know to meet them head on with Truth, we become slaves to them. She was unequipped to fight the lies, so a cycle of binge eating, dieting, and clean eating became a way of life for her. She would feel better about herself when things were "going well" but the root of the issue remained because the lies will ALWAYS demand more. Always. True freedom isn't found in being "thin enough" or "the perfect size."
Kassandra's journey into recovery didn't happen magically or overnight. It happened slowly, painfully, one step at a time. It began with calling the lies what they are: LIES. You would think that recognition of the lies would be all it takes, but it's not enough to just know something is a lie. You must learn to fight those lies every time they come into your mind. This is a complicated and messy war. I say 'war' because recovery is not a one time battle. Picture it like territory that belongs to you. You own land on paper. Freedom is YOURS, and though you never meant to allow lies to come in, they did, and they've overrun your life. The war begins by taking back the land that belongs to you one battle at a time, one area of your life at a time. Even after you've taken the "big cities" of your life, you'll have to fight them out of the "villages" and "border towns" of your territory. Fighting lies in your life is as messy as war always is. It's never neat, clean, or easy. It is hard and painful, and you'll win some battles and you'll lose some battles.
I think there are two keys to fighting well:
1) Learn to be kind to yourself. I've got news for you: Jesus isn't mean. He never uses the language of lies. He is for you, and learning to value His Voice above the voices of the lies is step one and step two and step forty five and step four hundred thirty nine. If you grew up religious, this is gonna be a tough one for you because we think condemnation is conviction. It's not. I know because I've felt both. Conviction is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced. I felt the KINDNESS OF GOD so strongly in those moments. Who but God can make you feel so truly loved and valued while pointing out deficiency? Conviction is amazing and awesome and something I actually want to experience more not less. True conviction from God leaves you empowered to change. A tip about condemnation: it comes coupled with fear, anxiety, and powerlessness. It always takes a stab at your identity, and never brings hope for change. You need to learn to recognize the spirit of condemnation, and turn away from it completely when it tries to speak to you because it's not the voice of God. We think we need to give ear to condemnation because some of the things it tells us are "technically right." What we fail to understand is that even if condemnation is telling us things that are correct technically, by listening to the the voice of condemnation, we are allowing it into our lives. Even if it brings "correct facts" with it, it will never bring the power to change. What it will bring is discouragement in droves. I've found that the temptation to listen to condemnation in my own life comes from a place of fear that I won't ever "win the battle" if I don't "take control of my life." Newsflash: You do not need more control. You need need more trust that God will come through for you. He is more committed to you winning your war for freedom than you are. And that's great news, especially on discouraging days when our own strength is failing us.
2) Stay in the fight. That doesn't mean you are constantly swinging your proverbial sword willy-nilly and racing hither and yon trying to do, do, do. That's just stupidity that's probably driven by fear. Winning a war is STRATEGIC. Sure, there are going to be times when you have to fight a battle longer and harder than you have strength for. That's a given. But a big part of staying in the fight is learning to rest really well. Rest in the fact that God has your war. ASK HIM where you are supposed to be devoting energy to win your fight. Then devote your energy to that thing. Check back in with Him for your battle plans regularly. This is a long war, not a skirmish, so manage your energy and rest when He tells you to. Don't waste your energy fighting battles He never called you to fight.
Eventually, you can and will drive the lies out completely. I'd be lying if I told you the threat won't always exist. The lies will always be looking for a way back into your life and territory. The beauty is that in the process of learning to fight the lies out of your land you will become someone you never anticipated you could be:
STRONG. WISE. COURAGEOUS. BOLD. FEARLESS. UNASHAMED.
Kassandra is a living testimony of this truth. She shares about her on-going recovery journey over at Authenticity & Grace. She'd be the first to tell you that she still has her days. The lies still come calling, but they aren't camped out in her territory anymore. That's the beauty of fighting all of the hard battles for freedom: You develop the ability to fight off a lie and send it packing even when it ambushes you unexpectedly. Freedom isn't the absence of struggle. Freedom is quite simply embracing the Presence and Truth of Jesus as enough in the midst of struggle.
Kassandra, thank you SO much for inviting me into your story. You are deeply beautiful, and it was such an honor to photograph you.
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Alli is an artist, and a very good one at that, so it only felt appropriate to start off shooting her session in Short North Arts District.
Alli has spent her past few summers working as a caricature artist at the zoo. Recreating Disney characters is another way she shares her talents with the world.
I love the way artists see the world and paint it back to us with their medium of choice. Alli is young, but she already shows such an infinity for painting and creating, and I can't wait to see where life takes her.
We shot the second part of Alli's session at Whetstone Park of Roses. The roses are absolutely stunning this time of year!
Favs! Love her smile in these!
One evening we met them for dinner at an old train station that's been converted into a delightful little hotspot for families to hang out, complete with restaurants, vendor booths, shops, and a small stage for events. We snapped a few photos outside before we headed inside the station to let the kids play.
Below: The sibling version of hugging at ages six, four, and two. It was a bit more like tackling, but their hearts were in it, and I'd say that's what matters.
Altogether, it was a splendid evening chasing these little munchkins around the train station. I was thrilled to finally meet the famous Daniel. He's been blogging for years now and tales of his shenanigans have provided me with hours of entertainment. I was quite looking forward to meeting him. He gave me a giant hug when we met, and I had a genuine fan girl moment. I briefly felt quite special, but he also showered the rest of our crew with hugs (pictured below making Lori's day with his sweetness). This one does know how to work his crowd.
Daniel happened to be the lucky one getting swing rides from his dad. Lucas and Raia crashed that party post haste, determined to get in on the action.
Fun fact about parenting three kids under six (not that I really know, but I hear and believe because the evidence speaks for itself): Time to yourself is, well, limited at very best. What makes this not just bearable but a good adventure is having someone to ride the roller coaster alongside you, with all the crazy twists and turns life throws your way. Tony and Nicole have been married for twelve years, and it shows in the best kind of way. Pinterest and social media will sell you a crap story about marriage. Don't buy it for a second. Real love isn't some sort of perfect life. Real love is someone who stays on the roller coaster with you when life sends you over a crazy hill that makes you wonder if you're going to make it through the turns you couldn't have seen coming. Tony and Nicole know a lot about riding the roller coaster well. Is that a thing? Because they've totally made it a thing - riding life's roller coaster well. There isn't much about their life that's easy. In the few days I spent with them, I walked away so inspired by how they LIVE. They get up every morning with perseverance and courage to a story that is full of challenges. I know I'm being all dramatic, but thinking about stories makes me think about heroes. What makes people heroic is the way they show up, stay, and don't give up living a life that isn't about them. That's how you live a beautiful story. Tony & Nicole are living a story that is genuinely beautiful, and it's inspiring. Generally though being an inspiring person isn't glamorous in actuality. It is inspiring because it is difficult and it's being done in spite of seemingly insurmountable challenges. This is the kind of courage that matters long term, that still shows up when you zoom out and look back in twenty years.
Who doesn't love a carousel ride?
Love these shots of Raia and Nicole!
Nicole and her family are originally from New York City. Her parents are retired and spend several months each year living in Israel so they can be closer to their grandbabies. The kids adore them, and their presence provides a bit of respite and margin for the kids sometimes battle-wearied parents.
Raia's eyes are my new favorite. Just saying.
The whole gang!
These shots make me smile. They were singing to Daniel, running through a ritual he knew well, and the delight was palpable. Having grandparents like these means you are automatically winning at life.
The kids' evening ended with one of life's greatest luxuries: ICE CREAM.
Heaven comes in a tiny cup. Or so it would seem.
Based on Lucas' expression, Raia should most certainly be worried for the cone in her hands.
Partaking of the sacred cream is a responsibility Lucas obviously takes quite seriously.
Photographing this family reminded me how life can be simultaneously simple and complicated, beautiful and messy, hard and GOOD all at the same time. I left wanting to embrace life as fully as they are. You CAN face heart-boggling challenges and call life good at the same time. It's not one or the other, and they are in the thick of rocking what it means to do a simple/complicated, messy/beautiful, hard and GOOD existence. ]]>
Did you know that carrying a dream might be the most difficult, healthy, and beautiful thing you'll ever do? Because it might.
Carrying a dream is a whole lot like being pregnant, only dreams don't generally come with due dates that can be neatly marked on calendars.
Dreams come with tension.
"Follow your dreams."
"Go for it!"
"Make the jump."
...and all of the other pretty motivational quotes you can Pin to your heart's content.
(I've heard it all before and so have you.)
I don't mean to be cynical because there is truth in these lines. There IS a time to do all of the things that the Pinterest quotes recommend. Life does require action, but I actually wanted to talk about a very specific kind of dream today:
There are dreams that we have. Then there are the dreams that are actually a part of who we are. They are hardwired into our DNA. I tend to think of them as the dreams that God instilled in us.
The tension that makes dream-carrying painful is when you are hardwired with a dream, but life isn't giving you a landing space for the dream inside of you. So you carry your dream and your world gets heavy with it and you can no more make it reality than a pregnant woman can make her baby come into the world.
This girl has been carrying a dream for flowers, but it goes so much deeper than just creating pretty floral arrangements.
It's about touching people's souls with beauty that surpasses words. It is not just flowers. It's really a kind of way that she worships God. It's a way that God reaches through her and puts His fingers on the hearts of others and extends His love. That's what I just love about Jesus. He is endlessly creative in the ways that He loves people. He deposits His creative ideas into people, and when they do their thing, His love is released into people's hearts.
Worship is not something you do at church. We should really get that out of our religious heads. That is a teeny, tiny fraction of worship.
Worship is the way you live your life and do your thing and extend the gift God put in you to the world around you.
I've noticed this belief within myself and within other creatives. We feel our art deeply. We know when something isn't quite right, and it drives us crazy. We know we are called to more, so we chase it. We hunt for fulfillment within our own creativity. I don't know about you, but whenever I do that, I come up exhausted and empty.
There's this chic I know who's like forty something and awesome. Her hame is Rhoda and one time I sat in her kitchen after she'd just baked bread that smelled like heaven, and something she says a lot came to mind just now: "It's simple. We overcomplicate things all the time." She was talking about Jesus and faith and following God. We make it so much more complicated than it actually is.
You are called to offer the gift that God put in you to the world around you as an act of worship.
It is that simple.
Even when you don't have the perfect landing spot for your dream.
I forget this all the time. Things don't have to be perfect for me to worship God with what I do. That doesn't mean your dream for more is not His heart. You know better than to believe that lie. We just short-change our right-now life when we forget that it is enough to steward our gift by offering in the small ways we can today.
Roxanne does such a good job of offering in ways that she can in her present moment. She works at a floral shop part time, but she is constantly giving flowers to friends and people that God puts on her heart and taking and making opportunities to do what she's called to do. Even though she feels the tension of carrying a dream for something greater, she hasn't forgotten that it is simple.
Worship is our uncomplicated expression of God's goodness.
Roxanne expresses with flowers. How you express might be organization or administration or loving your kids or leading well. It doesn't define you. It is just how you release who God is to the world around you.
As a creative I have a constant bevy of projects and ideas in my mind. When I have incorrect perspective, they become heavy. They burden me because they become things I must do as a definition of self, rather than what they were originally meant to be: an expression of love, worship, and who God is.
Do yourself a favor and don't turn your worship into work.
Let your work be worship, and you might just find yourself holding something the hamster wheel of doing-it-all can never give you: fulfillment, joy, peace, and all of the other stuff that apparently comes as an epic package deal with the Spirit of God.
P.S. The truth is that I wanted to share so much more of Roxanne's story. People's stories have so much depth. This woman has deep faith, and I might share a snippet of that part of her story one of these days too, but today's post needed to be about how to really LIVE, practically, in the middle of an unfinished story when the tension of how it will all work out remains to be seen.
Hugs, Roxanne. Glad I've gotten to see this latest chapter of your life unfolding up close. You are walking it all with so much courage.
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Daniel & Dimare tied the knot nearly two weeks ago today, and it was a celebration to remember. They first met at a friend's house warming party, and though the spark was instant, it was a few weeks before Daniel messaged Dimare to see if the connection he'd felt could be something more. It didn't take them long to realize that they'd found the real thing, and on Saturday, the 18th of June, they promised each other a lifetime of learning how to love each other well. It was a beautiful day, and I'm excited to share this little peek into their wedding story!
The day started off with Dimare and her sisters and mother getting their hair and makeup done at the always fabulous Virtue Vegan Salon.
By the way, I have to give a little shout out to Virtue, specifically Jessica. She was the stylist behind Dimare's gorgeous wedding hair and makeup, and she happens to be the one I trust to cut my hair as well. It felt like such a small world when Dimare and I discovered this as we were chatting about wedding plans a few months ago. I adored the style and look Jessica gave Dimare, but that's not shocking, because Jessica always does an incredible job. And she is the sweetest, so sitting in her chair is winning all around.
From the salon, they headed to the church to finish getting ready for the big day.
First look - I always love these moments!
Daniel surprised Dimare with a gift.
Judging by her reaction, I'd say he did well!
Ceremony!
As they were getting ready to say their vows, the pastor turned to Daniel to say his vows first. Dimare jumped in and asked if she could go first, knowing that if Daniel went first, she'd likely be too emotional to get through hers. Everyone laughed, Daniel obliged, and Dimare made her promises first.
...and sure enough, after Daniel said his vows, Dimare was emotional.
Their first dance was followed by past stories and kind words from their maids of honor and best men.
Daniel's sister Kara was overcome during her speech, so Daniel joined her for moral support. Kara's words were a beautiful affirmation of the journey her brother has been on. She spoke of how when Dimare entered Daniel's life, she knew it was something special because of the way Daniel changed in wonderful ways. Love really does bring out the best in people, and Kara's words were a reminder to always see people the way God does - with eyes of love. It has the power to change everything.
Triumphant! He beat her to the punch smashing cake in her face, but she flung cake at him from a few feet away and hit him squarely in the face. Like a boss.
Dimare's grandmother surprised her with a necklace during the reception.
Congratulations, Daniel & Dimare! It was an honor to capture your day!
See Daniel & Dimare's wedding highlights slideshow HERE!
Special thanks to Jessica Photography for second shooting!
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I first got to know Mindy a little over a year ago through this wonderful thing called The Rising Tide Society. She is a fellow photographer, so we've shot weddings together on occasion over the past year, and she's become someone I feel blessed to call a friend.
Macaroons are one of Mindy's very favorite things, so naturally they made an appearance at their photoshoot. Because what celebration would be complete without macaroons from the always delightful Pistacia Vera?
You should know, wine of any kind is not Cody's favorite thing, so when they toast, Mindy cracks open the bubbly and Cody pops open a Mountain Dew. Mindy did make him try a little sip of hers again, just to be SURE he didn't like it. He was less than impressed, and opted to stick with his Dew.
We finished out the session with a few photos in a wheat field as the sun was setting.
Checking out their polaroids!
Cody and Mindy, it was an honor to document this milestone for you! Happy 5th Anniversary!
Colin graduated last month. Throughout his last year of college, he'd been diligently hunting for a job, but somehow every opportunity he came across ended up falling through - until last month. He was offered a job in...(wait for it)...Wisconsin.
Now that may seem like no big deal, but Colin and Andrea's lives are rooted deeply in central Ohio. Both of their families are here, so the idea of moving, while exciting, also pulls on their heart strings.
Sometimes God's timing is astonishingly short notice. They felt confident that this opportunity was from Him, so their last month has been a crazy whirlwind of graduation, packing up their lives, moving Colin to Wisconsin, AND planning the remaining details of their wedding day while Andrea is in Ohio and Colin is in Wisconsin. As I was listening to their story throughout their engagement session, I was struck by how at peace they seemed through all of the change they've been experiencing. That's the beauty of walking with God. You get to have peace in the middle of crazy circumstances. They do, and it's a beautiful thing to witness.
Colin and Andrea are major fans of sunsets. It's been their thing for ages now. Colin even proposed on a lake at sunset. Although the clouds were greedy that evening and hid the sunset, they got engaged anyway, because circumstances don't have to be perfect for a moment to be everything you dreamed of. The clouds were more cooperative the night of their engagement session, and these are some of my absolute favorites from their shoot.
Congratulations, Colin & Andrea! So excited for your big day!
I met Ashley only a year ago, which is a little crazy, because it feels like I've known her longer than that. Over the last year she's become a dear friend. She's also a photographer, and her and Matt are expecting as well, so these days, we have a lot in common! She was actually one of the first people I told that I was expecting. We were headed to a photography conference in D.C., and when you have eight hours of road time, secrets tend to find their way out. ;)
When Ashley texted me with the news that they were expecting a few months ago, I was so very ecstatic for them. We promptly decided to start going for weekly walks together in an effort to keep the pregnancy weight gain at appropriate levels. I've loved this little tradition we've started, and she's been such a gift from God.
She and Matt had been planning to do anniversary photos to celebrate their second year of marriage, and since Pete and I rather desperately needed to update our photos, it was a perfect opportunity to swap sessions.
One of the things I've noticed as I've gotten to know Ashley better over the last few months is how she talks about Matt. They've been married for two years now, which is plenty of time for the "magic" to wear off and the difficult realities of marriage to set it in. We've spend a lot of time together, and I don't think I've ever heard her say a negative word about him. It's not that she's gushy or inauthentic or putting on a front. She's real about the fact that they don't always agree on things, but whenever she speaks about him or their relationship there is always this tone of deep, genuine gratitude that comes through.
What they share is all of the best elements of love combined. It's the fun, crazy-about-you kind, but it's also stable and grounded. And the best part is, they actually KNOW how special what they have is, and they fight to protect it. That's rare and beautiful.
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This past Saturday I got to witness as this love story made its mark on these two hearts. Tim and Kelly met less than a year ago, which is proof that when it's right, it's just right.
Their day started off bright and cool, a perfect May morning for a wedding. They had opted to start their day a bit earlier than usual with their ceremony at noon, so portraits began early.
Kelly chose to get ready at her parents' home. The house was full of her good friends who'd come to celebrate the day with her.
Love the shot below! Kelly's eyes are a dream to photograph.
Some of my favorites right here because they are so HER. She is fun and more than a little goofy, and I love her uninhibited way of doing life.
Her skirt was the kind that was practically begging to be twirled in...so she obliged.
Such a sweet moment during their first look!
How cute are they?!
With their friends...
Loved this shot of Kelly with one of her matrons of honor!
Kelly shares a special connection with these two little people. She's been a nanny to both of them, so having them there with her on her wedding day meant so much to her.
Caught her twirling in between portraits!
The ceremony...
The new Mr. & Mrs. Martin!
Tim and Kelly - HUGE congratulations to you both! You guys are so good for one another and it was such an honor to witness and photograph your day!
I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times – lower your expectations. I do believe those can be wise words of advice, specifically when it comes to relationships with others. Frequently we hope for people to come through for us in some way or another, and for whatever reason, they don’t. What follows can be anything from mild disappointment to absolute heartbreak to anger to resentment. Such fun emotions. I could ramble on about relationships and expectation, but the deeper issue here is HOPE.
“Hope deferred makes the heart sick.”
...according to Solomon and everyone who’s ever encountered disappointment.
I bumped up against a wee bit of disappointment this week. Nothing earth shattering, and chances are if you ask me about it next week, I’ll have an airhead moment and not remember the particulars of what was bumming me out. Still though, disappointment feels very real when you’re smack dab in the middle of it. So I’m part way through this little bout of hope deferred, and it has me thinking about digging deeper. When our hearts are dashed, our instinct is to pull back, give in to resentment towards God or life or people, despise that we hoped for more in the first place, call ourselves naïve for thinking we would have more relationally, spiritually, financially, emotionally, you-name-it. Those are obviously poor responses, but what is the right response when our hearts feel a little broken by life and circumstances? How do you walk out practical, everyday hope that makes room for breakthrough? Because we are about breakthrough. We are about God changing things.
I think belief is an avenue for change – for breakthrough. Change is needed and good and God’s heart. I believe eternal hope is the well from which powerful hope flows, but too often we claim we have hope, and perhaps we do, but it doesn’t translate into a life of active belief in what God is actually saying for the here and now. I know we don’t live in a perfect world, but sometimes we postpone victories that God intended for now because we succumb to mindsets that relegate God’s Kingdom to only some distant future reality. We fail to partner with God by believing what He is saying about our present by assuming everything He says applies only to “someday in eternity.” I know it feels hard when your experience isn’t matching what God is saying is His heart. I KNOW. Trust me. But we aren’t supposed to give up hope. We’re meant to stay so close to His heart, tuned in, listening to what He is saying so that our hearts can navigate the deep waters of sadness and disappointment. How we navigate hope determines our trajectory in life.
Connecting to God’s heart in the middle of the mild and severe disappointments of life is imperative to walking hope deferred in a way that keeps your heart healthy instead of sick. It is only His redemptive perspective on this world that can keep our hearts beating hopeful for a world that is chaotic. Having a hopeful heart that believes what He says is the catalyst for great change.
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I had an absolute blast with my nephews while I was there. It had been YEARS since I'd been down to see them on their own turf. They come to Ohio on a fairly regular basis, but I noticed that I connected with them more this time. Naturally, I had to analyze why it was this way, and I came up with two reasons: 1) I was the one on "vacation" so I wasn't trying to juggle regular life responsibilities in addition to hanging out. 2) When they come to Ohio, they are quite old enough to create their own party. They have cousins their age, so they all disappear and have wonderful adventures while the older crowd sits around and eats copious amounts of food while delving into deep/meaningful/ridiculous conversations about who-knows-what (life, spirituality, politics, personalities, football, business).
So while I was in Arkansas, we played Take One and went running on their dirt road and every morning they'd come out and sit by the fireplace to warm up and wake up before breakfast.
Tyler showed off his mad chef skills at the ripe old age of ten (move over Gordon Ramsay).
Cameron proved that you can be more responsible at twelve than you are at twenty-nine (I'm the one needing to move over in this case).
Chase reminded me that life is party if we just hang out with the right people (Chase is the right people).
Lincoln provided epic levels of hilarity and cuteness all week.
Baby Jackson was of course everyone's favorite to cuddle, so he got his very own photoshoot.
Quick little word about my sister Karen. She is many things - smart, fun, kind, focused on what matters. She brings a practicality to life that keeps those around her grounded. I think we live in a world that loves to shine the lime light on the "free-spirited creatives" and exalt their spontaneous way of life as being some sort of ultimate. While I'm obviously all for celebrating creativity, I think "the other half" gets overlooked all too regularly because they aren't sharing blog posts of their latest DIY project. Karen and I's personalities are wildly different, but the week that I spent with them, I witnessed first hand how incredibly valuable her gifting is to her world. She has created and fought for good structure and positive routine, and because she's done this, the world that she is responsible for is calm, peace-filled, and free of chaos. It is not a slavish commitment to routine, or a refusal to be flexible. It's a well-built foundation from which she and her people can live with healthy levels of spontaneity and freedom. She would be the first to tell you her world is far from perfect, but the atmosphere she has set is one where peace is an unwavering presence. Peace and stability is of the loveliest and most important gifts you can give to those you are called to serve. Karen gives these so well that it's easy to assume that those qualities just magically appeared. They didn't and they don't. She brings them every day with faithfulness, and the impact she is making is palpable when you spend a week in her world.
I'm hesitant to write this one out for the world to read because I think I might be part of a minority here, and we all know that whatever the case, being in the minority usually feels vulnerable. I'm going to try to keep this short, because Lord knows the minute details of story call my name and I follow their alluring little voices down rabbit trails on an entirely too-routine basis. I wonder if there's therapy for the overly-detailed? I could probably use it. Anyway, here's the general gist of my story without all of those fun little details you really don't need:
BEING A MOM HAS NEVER BEEN MY DREAM.
It's never held its own spot on one of my many lists of goals, dreams, and curiosities. Pete and I have had this conversation many a time, and it's honestly less that we haven't wanted kids, and more that we've been reluctant to relinquish our independence. We've been married for going on six years, and the fact is the last half of a decade has been fantastic. We love our life.
The truth is that I am simultaneously naive and hyper-aware of the challenges of motherhood. For most of my life, really all of it, my internal response to the idea of motherhood for my own life has been, "Thanks, but I think I'm good."
I actually think it's perfectly fine for people to opt not to have children. I certainly understand the choice, because bottom line, like it or not, is that the not-sure-I-really-want-kids camp is the one from which I come. I could go into the whys, but that's a conversation better suited to a summer night of honesty around a campfire with friends who are safe for the heart.
So what changed, right? If we think it's fine not to have kids, and it doesn't sound like we really want kids, why are we having one?
*Massive bunny trail ahead. This might actually be like Main Street in Rabbitville. I promise I have a point.*
I hate churchy and religious-sounding stuff (blech), but there's this story about this guy name Jacob in the Bible. It's in Genesis. This guy Jacob is in a tough spot. He tricked his brother out of something super important when they were young. His brother got mad and was planning to kill him (overreact much?!), so Jacob ran away, and literally started a whole new life with relatives in another land. This is years later. Jacob is now married, well off (camels and donkeys were apparently a big thing), and has a passel of kids. Then God tells Jacob he's supposed to go home. There's a lot of drama in the leaving, but Jacob and his village (for real, if you read it, it sounds like he was moving a village so we're going to call it that) are approaching his presumably still-angry brother's territory. Jacob is stressed. He's sent gifts ahead to let his brother know he's coming, hoping presents will help smooth the waters (smart move, Jake). It doesn't look favorable when his brother's response is to gather four hundred men to come meet them. Sounds a wee bit like an army. Jacob prays, and reminds God that this was His bad idea to return to the motherland. Actually, Jacob was substantially more mature with his wording, and I really loved his prayer. He thanks God for what He's done, he is humble, he asks God to please save them, and he reminds God of what He promised. That's my favorite part. He reminds God of what He promised. It does so much for our souls when we repeat the promises God has spoken over our lives back to Him. It's like going to the chiropractor for our souls. Worry and fear will throw you out of whack every time. Reminding God of things He said is free soul therapy. It's not a quick fix. Therapy never is. It's what we do for our long-term health. (That was a bunny trail from the original we took, and it was free. You're welcome. Back to Jacob.) So Jacob prayed, and later that night he sends everyone across the river and he stays on the other side. This "guy" shows up, and they wrestle. I really wonder how that went down. Did the "guy" just show up and be like "Hey man, you wanna wrestle?" Or was it like a crouching-tiger, hidden-dragon sort of thing where he just hits Jacob out of nowhere? (Never actually saw the movie so no idea if this reference is appropriate or not.) I will ask Jacob about this over coffee in heaven someday, assuming he’s not too busy herding his camels. Anyway, they wrestle all freaking night. No joke. Who has the energy for that? Turns out the "guy" was God. Zero idea how Jacob managed to stick with God in an all-night wrestling match, but he did. So dawn comes, and it says that "when the man saw he could not defeat Jacob, he struck Jacob's hip and put it out of joint" (a.k.a. when God cheats at wrestling). Jacob hangs onto Him even after the hip incident, and God tells him to let go. Jacob bargains and says "I will let you go if you will bless me." This story just keeps getting weirder. Who asks someone they just fought with to bless them? God does bless him though. All of that was for this itty-bitty takeaway:
WE ARE MEANT TO WRESTLE WITH GOD.
God doesn't want our fake submission. I think He'd rather have us hang onto Him, refuse to let go, and demand, like Jacob, that He bless us. We'll likely come out the other side with two things that give purpose to the wrestling: HUMILITY - Jacob limped away from that fight with a bum hip, even though God says in the text that he "won." He really did win though because the other thing Jacob walked away with was a NEW NAME.
WRESTLING WITH GOD WILL CHANGE YOU IN THE BEST WAYS.
It will be ugly and you will get your butt kicked, and if you're any good, He'll throw your hip out so He wins. The humility is the gift that comes in the process of wrestling it out. God owes us nothing. He didn't have to show up to fight with Jacob. He didn't have to bless Jacob. He doesn't have to bless us, but He wants to.
If you are wrestling with God on something, don't stop. The process will humble you, and you will find yourself changed and called by a new name when you are through it. You will be different on the other side, and that is a good thing. I think Jacob's late night wrestling match was the catalyst for him to become who God meant for him to be all along.
I think our personal wrestle with God is the catalyst for us to become who God means for us to be too.
Back to our story.
So my wrestle for about four+ years now has been kids. I know a lot of you won't get this, because having kids IS a dream of yours, and I genuinely believe that it is a beautiful dream, but for me having kids has felt like a death sentence to MY dreams. I think more than anything, that has been the rub. It is less about not actually wanting kids, and more about fearing what they will do to my admittedly wonderful world. There is the ugly, selfish truth. Yikes.
The wrestle was that I sensed Him telling me that this was something He DID have for me. It would be one thing if I hadn't heard Him speaking to me about having kids, but that wasn't the case. Over the past few years He's made it abundantly clear that I need to release my death grip on control. It's been such a fun process. I'm kidding. Letting go is dreadfully painful, and I could write a whole blog post on just that. He was actually super nice about it though - like He knew my heart needed to be warmed up (or de-iced) to the idea. And it really has, which is pure craziness and straight-up miracle. The thing about wrestling with God, is that even when you lose you win. The point is engaging with Him so that He can change the way you think about things that you really don't want to think differently about. Getting your mind changed is as dreadfully unpleasant as it sounds - like wrestling through the night, but it really is worth it.
I eventually and finally got to a more soft-hearted place. Pete and I softened to the idea of having kids simultaneously, which has been such a gift. It's never been the kind of thing where one of us was ready and the other one wasn't, and I'm beyond grateful for that.
This space of having let go of needing control is so much happier. It's not magic though. When you choose a path because you're being obedient to what you feel like God is telling you to do, it doesn't mean you aren't still you. When Pete and I found out we were having a baby, we were excited, but honestly, I'm not really sure if it hit either of us until our twenty week ultrasound a few days ago. Pete is much more grounded, but I am used to having big feelings about everything, and when twenty weeks of pregnancy go by and your internal emotional response is showing virtually no activity, you honestly feel a little weird, especially when the standard response to pregnancy from most of the universe is, understandably and rightly, high levels of excitement. My best friend told me that the fact that we never really freaked out was a definite sign of grace, so that was something.
Then we had our twenty week ultrasound, and it was so dang cool you guys. For the first time since I've been pregnant, I actually felt connected to this little human, and you have NO idea what a gift that is.
WE'RE HAVING A BOY!
And heck yes we found out. We promptly went shopping after the appointment with the intention of buying one outfit. We bought six. And the cutest newborn shoes that no child of that age actually needs or will likely even agree to wear. Oops. Hashtag #classicnewparentmove But it was fun, and I feel really grateful, because it feels like we've turned another corner in this mind-changing process.
Shout out to my sweet friend Janelle who gifted us with the cutest pair of little Hunter rain boots in the smallest size she could find. Our kid is mud-puddle ready! ;)
I doubt I will ever be the hardcore awesome mom type who has her act together.
I don't think it's me, and I'm starting to realize that maybe that's okay. God was never trying to push me into some sort of mold that doesn't fit me. Trust is probably the name of the game, here. Perhaps motherhood need not be what I've made it out to be either - as my friend Bethany reminded me when she shared this post on her blog. Maybe God actually does know what He's doing. Who knew?!
To wrap up this way-too-long blog post, if you're trying to trust God with something - if you disagree with Him about something, just know that I feel your pain. Wrestle it out with Him. It's worth the fight, even when you lose, probably especially then. He has this way of bringing us joy in the most unexpected places. Fight it out and don’t let Him go until He blesses you with that new name and the grace to see things in a new way.
Huge thank you to my sweet friend Ashley of Ashley D Photography for the photos in this post! It had been far too long since Pete and I had stepped in front of a camera, so having a little one was motivation to finally make it happen, and Ashley gave us such a fun experience!
Two weeks ago I got to spend the morning with this little charmer. Jaxson recently turned one, so it was time for him to step in front of the camera to document just how dashing a fellow can look at the ripe old age of twelve months.
Such a little gentleman in that bow tie!
How adorable is this sign that Jaxson's mom Krista made for his first birthday party?!
Jaxson had surgery when he was six months old, which is a pretty tall order for such a little guy. You wouldn't know it with all of his happy smiles, but his road hasn't been without obstacles. It's interesting though - have you ever noticed how the best characters in great stories always have the most to overcome? It's often completely unfair and beyond their control, but the way these characters rise to the challenges before them makes them the best of the best - even though it's no fun to walk a road that's more difficult and complicated than the world around you. It's why we love the great characters in our favorites stories - because of how they rise to challenges and how it changes and molds them into the incredible people they are. I think maybe Jaxson and his parents are these kinds of great characters, and it leaves me feeling privileged to have crossed paths with them.
This kid. He really is the cutest thing!
Krista, it was so fun to spend time with you and Jaxson. He's adorable, and you're an incredible mother. Thanks for trusting me to capture this little snippet of his story!]]>
We wandered around Bristol's hometown, and photographed her in back alleys and side streets. We had a beautiful sunny spring afternoon. It was a bit blustery that day as well, which can be challenging sometimes, but I LOVE the way wind can add movement and life to photos.
One of Bristol's current favorite books...
I heard once that sunglasses make everyone look 80% more awesome. It was a joke, but I thought it was hilarious and a little true. Bristol's mom spontaneously took off her shades, and put them on Bristol, just for fun, and I nearly died at the level of cuteness that ensued. She suddenly looked like some sort of street fashionista - only mini. And we all know everything is way cuter when it's mini. All the heart eyes, kid. You make my job too much fun.
That smile!
Becca totally wasn't planning to be in photos when she came to the session, but when I asked her to hop in for a quick shot with Bristol, she didn't hesitate or give me a line about how her hair and makeup isn't done, or that she's in yoga pants and a t-shirt. She just bear-hugged her little girl, which brought on giggles and I adore the realness of these shots.
Bristol brought the journal she got for her birthday along, so naturally we captured some fun shots of her doing her thing. And how cute is that little messy bun?!
Being goofy!
She's in dance lessons right now, so we stopped outside of her studio and she showed me some of her moves.
My favorite part of the day was when we were heading to the car after we had finished up - Bristol announced that this had been fun, and that she wished we could do this every day. It completely made my day, because that's my heart every time I do a session. Photos don't have to be a stiff and formal affair where we try to pull off some sort of inauthentic version of perfectionism and "look just right." They should be a celebration of who people are. It should be fun. You should feel seen, valued, loved, and like the amazing human being you are when you step in front of a camera. That's the heart of why I take photos - people need to know that they're amazing. I think sometimes we as adults are too "grown up" to receive being celebrated. I know that can be my tendency. I think maybe we believe it's silly or arrogant to receive love or be celebrated, but in reality, those who've learned to receive love are often best at giving it away. The fact that Bristol could say in her sweet and childlike way that this was fun for her, had me thinking that she's likely great at loving others. We should probably all be more like the open-hearted kids around us. I bet they'd teach us a lot about love if we'd listen.]]>
Pregnancy looks so good on you, Em.
Love the photo on the left below. Hans is in a constant state of witty, so this is a pretty typical scene for these two.
Crushing on this pic just a little. My friends are cooler than your friends. Just saying! ;)))
I adore these handmade earrings Em created for the session. Yes - CREATED. She designs jewelry, and her collection never fails to inspire me to step up my accessorizing game.
Just stunning.
Hans and Em, you are going to be incredible parents, and I can't wait to meet this little lady of yours!
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I got to spend a full week cuddling this little man. It had been years since I'd been to Arkansas to visit my sister Karen, so the entire week felt like a giant gift. We waited until Jackson was six days old to get him in front of the camera, and he was unbelievably angelic.
Can we just take a moment to appreciate crazy baby expressions?! How cute is his little pout!
And this is the HUGEST smile I have quite possibly ever seen a newborn wearing...mouth open, eye-crinkling...crazy kid!
Chase, always full of affection, popped into the photoshoot to give his new little brother a quick peck.
I fell in love with the afternoon light coming into their hallway.
These are some of my favorites from the whole shoot. Lincoln is not quite two years old and had just woken from his nap, and came in search of his usual post-nap attention and snuggles.
More pics from the session can be seen HERE.
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Tim and Kelly met last summer at a friend's wedding. I remember the day that she stopped by my house and told me about her weekend and this guy she'd met. She was doing her very best to be even keel about the whole thing, but the bottom line? ...She really liked this Tim guy, and there was no suppressing the twinkle in her eyes.
Many a Facebook message and phone call later (Tim lived a few hours away so meeting up was a bit difficult), they decided to give the connection they'd formed a fighting chance to become what it really wanted to become - a real relationship.
Three short weeks before Kelly was scheduled to move to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute, they went on their first date.
Kelly has said that they've had such a unique and non-traditional dating experience, but it's been so right for them. Kelly moved back to Ohio around Christmas, and it wasn't long before Tim proposed.
If you've known Kelly for five minutes you've probably seen the expression she's wearing above. Fact: in real life and at the e-session she has a plethora of delightful and hilarious facial expressions that she'll pull out at will. I couldn't resist sharing just one.
I love for engagement sessions to feel like I just peeked in on what a real date night is like for a couple. Tim and Kelly love books so we wandered into the local library.
As a general rule, life is better adventured together, and when you find someone whose brand of funny matches yours - good times are bound to ensue.
Down the street from the library was a little coffee shop, complete with a wide variety of delicious chocolates.
So we'll end on this note because it's one of my favorites. I honestly have no idea what was cracking them up because I was across the room with my long lens, but they completely lost it and I wonder if it wasn't a little therapeutic. The back story is that their weekend hadn't been without stress. Sometimes the best thing to do is just escape for an hour or two. Laugh together. Remember what's really important. Have a little fun and you might just come out with new perspective and a heart that's been lightened.
Tim & Kelly, I'm beyond excited for your big day! You two are meant for one another, and it was so fun to have you in front of my lens!
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Arlyn & Niky's wedding day started out bright and beautiful. The often gray skies that tend to blanket central Ohio during the winter months were nowhere to be found, as though the sun knew February 27th was a day to be celebrated.
I usually start a wedding day photographing all of the pretty little details and I instantly fell in love with Niky's golden shoes, fur trimmed fingerless gloves, classic pearls, and the tinges of pink sprinkled throughout.
Niky's mother helped her into her dress...
...and her bridesmaids contributed the finishing touches.
Love her classic look in the shot above!
Note the little tinge of pink in her skirt! Niky's dress was a custom creation, and she requested a subtle layer of pink tulle added to her skirt!
Hugs from dad after he saw her in her dress!
First look!
Niky surprised Arlyn with a box of cigars.
After their first look, we headed down the street to a charming old train station where the rest of their portraits were photographed.
We wandered around the old train yard and I fell in love with some of the spots we found!
How cute are they?!
Ceremony...
Niky's mother, father and bridesmaids said a quick spontaneous prayer with her moments before she walked down the aisle.
The new Mr. & Mrs. Miller!
Sunset photos are always my favorite!
Reception!
The bride traded her golden heels in for a pair of fur slippers. Good choice, Niky! ;)
Cake war!
Arlyn and Niky had an extended speech time and it was clear how beloved these two are by their family and friends.
Elvis even made an appearance and demanded a dance with the bride! (She happily obliged!)
Love this last shot of Niky. I think it encapsulates how beloved brides feel on their wedding days, not just because they've found their favorite person, but because all of their best people have come together to celebrate with them. Weddings really are the icing of life.
Congratulations, Arlyn and Niky! You two are meant for one another and it was an honor (and a fun one at that) to witness your day!
TO SEE MORE OF ARLYN & NIKY'S WEDDING DAY WATCH THEIR HIGHLIGHTS SLIDESHOW!
SPECIAL THANKS TO TIFFANY REIFF DESIGNS FOR SECOND SHOOTING THE DAY WITH ME!
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Meet Daniel & Dimare. They first found themselves introduced at a friend's house-warming party. Before the party was over, Daniel had taken note of the beautiful girl with the charming sense of sarcastic humor.
Later that evening, when they all decided to head to Waffle House for a little late night adventure, Daniel really wasn't interested in going, but he was interested in Dimare, so he told them he'd drive them over.
Dimare was feeling the good vibes too, so before the evening was over, she tried to get his number - but Daniel was still playing it cool. They both went home "numberless" and Dimare thought that was the end of things...
...until a few weeks later! Daniel couldn't seem to get her out of his mind, so he did what you do when you don't have the girl's number - he messaged her on Facebook. God bless the internet and second chances. Numbers were exchanged, and an evening out together was on the books.
They went on their date in a delightful old truck that Daniel was fixing up. It was all a bit of an adventure that evening, but that's what makes love grand - the unpredictability of life and the knowledge that you're in it together.
Daniel has since sold the truck, but he still has a thing for old vehicles so they brought this fun red beast of a pick up to their engagement session to commemorate the night of their first date.
Adore the shot below!
A few months ago, Daniel made their love official. He proposed in the little white arbor at Whetstone Park of Roses. She gave him a wholehearted "YES!"
You are stunning, Dimare!
Congratulations, guys! So happy for you and can't wait for June!]]>
Corina was a gem to photograph. I love everything about this chic. She is her own person. Completely. I know every seventeen year old is special, but I think Corina has this quality about her that takes originality to another level. She takes any mold you might be hoping to put her in and tosses it out the window. She loves what she loves, is who she is, and does it all with a sort of quiet determination.
She’s not your average chic. Not even close. She's tougher, by far. (No offense to all the rest of us whose tails she could definitely kick.) She is strong, inside and out. The interesting part is that she's also incredibly observant. Maybe that's what makes her a fabulous artist. Her dad was bragging about the logo she's created for one of his businesses, as he should, and I was thoroughly impressed with the art that she made.
Something I came away with from the session is how brilliantly varied femininity can be. I love the version of femininity that Corina embodies. She makes me proud of how unique and awesome women are. I think sometimes femininity gets labeled as all things pink, frilly, and dainty-to-the-point-of-fragile. I love pink, but I really, really dislike that representation of women. Maybe that’s why I loved capturing Corina so much.
She wears her strength more boldly than most, and this takes courage, because it’s so much easier to blend with the wallflowers than to be who you are. That Corina lives this at seventeen has me thinking her future is bound to be bright. It takes some of us a lifetime to figure out how to be ourselves. Not this one.
Corina, it was such an honor to have you in front of my lens. I think you are a stunning human being.
H&MU: Tonya Gorby
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Photo Credit: Jewel Gingerich
We live guarded lives.
I wonder what great misfortune, or ten thousand small ones, taught us to build high walls.
We live guarded lives.
Was it that we felt overlooked too many times and stopped believing in our own quirky magic?
We live guarded lives.
Convinced we have nothing to offer, and if we did, it would be ridiculed anyway.
We live guarded lives.
Afraid.
We live guarded lives.
But it is lonely here.
We live guarded lives.
Superior. We won’t speak our needs.
We live guarded lives.
Safe and hollow.
We live guarded lives.
Because it’s easier than being seen.
We live guarded lives.
Prisons, our guarded lives.
We live guarded lives.
We hold our own keys.
We live guarded lives.
Freedom - our own choice to make.
We live guarded lives.
High and mighty (and craving something close).
We live guarded lives.
Because we deem it safe.
We live guarded lives.
We weary quickly.
We live guarded lives.
So fear holds the pen in our stories.
We live guarded lives.
Because someone hurt us once.
We live guarded lives.
Angry.
We live guarded lives.
Blaming.
We live guarded lives.
We are missing our very lives.
We live guarded lives.
When the truth is simple.
We live guarded lives.
Try. Trust. Hope. Repeat.
We live guarded lives.
Because we don’t believe the best about people.
We live guarded lives.
We let Shame’s lying tongue corner our blood-redeemed hearts.
We live guarded lives.
Because we don’t know The Truth.
We live guarded lives.
Cynicism strangling our hope.
We live guarded lives.
Waiting.
We live guarded lives.
We call ourselves independent.
We live guarded lives.
There is a time to appear from behind our carefully constructed facades.
We live guarded lives.
To avoid pain, when in fact, we are the wounded bleeding out.
We live guarded lives.
As though it will save us.
We live guarded lives.
When what we need most is to be undone.
We live guarded lives.
LOVE DOES NOT.
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love trumps all. It holds people close, opens arms wide, shares of itself freely and frequently. Love is a constant stream, a wildly raging river of unguarded affection. Love is the antidote to a guarded life. Love received is love that can be poured out. High walls may hide us from probing eyes and unkind judgments, but they also hide us from those who would love us well and unconditionally. Out from behind the walls is the only way forward, the only way towards true saving. See, death is this army marching for your fortress, and your walls won’t hold it out and your supplies won’t last the siege. The only way to saving is to take courage and step forward and face the million reasons you wanted to hide. The lies marching for you don’t stand a chance when held up to The Truth. Out from behind your walls. You are brighter and better than you ever dared hope.
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Anyway, this post actually wasn't meant to be about that, but I thought I'd give you a little peek into what's been going on with me the last week. What I'm actually sharing today is a project that I helped a friend with in December. This couple is adopting and as a way of raising money they're selling these adorable engraved wooden photo calendars! They've sold the majority of the calendars, but they still have a few left so I thought I'd share the promotional photos I took of these charming calendars.
If you're anything like me, and always find yourself buying a calendar for the new year in mid to late January, this is probably for you. The wooden clipboards are 5.5" wide x 9" tall x .5" thick. The loose leaf style pages are 5" x 7" so after you've used the clipboard as a calendar for the year, it can be used as a spot to hold your favorite 5x7 portraits OR you can order your own unique calendar refill pages from Artifact Uprising that will fit this custom engraved wooden clipboard.
Enough on that! Go buy a calendar and help Nathan & Christina bring home their baby in the process!
Have a splendid weekend!!!
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Today on the blog are Justin's senior photos! Over the last few years, I've had the privilege of photographing Justin's older brothers' senior photos when they graduated, so when Mary (his mother) called to schedule Justin's session, I was delighted.
Justin was loads of fun to have in front of my camera. He has an easy smile, a fun personality, and there is an air of genuine kindness about him. All of these factors made for a brilliant afternoon of photographing this mile marker in his life.
Justin carries himself with confidence and ease. I love the photo above because his comfortable confidence feels tangible.
Justin and his sweet mother at the session! (It's tradition to get a photo of her with graduating son!)
So fun to spend the afternoon with you guys! Justin, congrats on your final year of high school!
Around two months ago, on a sunny autumn day, I sat outdoors across from this beautiful soul, and listened to her story. We were meeting to chat through the details of the session that she and her husband had booked to celebrate their decision to start the adoption process. I am nothing if not story-obsessed so I asked her about their journey to adoption. She told me about the last few years and her unexpected battle with health difficulties. I'd share more, but stories are infinitely more lovely coming from the lips of those who've lived them.
You can read their story here.
As I heard more of her and Nathan's journey and after photographing their session and seeing the strong love they share, I found myself wishing there was something I could do to make this next step a bit smoother for them. They're both incredibly hardworking individuals, but last I checked, adoption is an expensive endeavor, and they are facing a bit of a financial hurdle. I felt a bit helpless until an idea came to me one morning. After running it by the hubs (he's a great filter for my crazy) and not meeting the usual raised eyebrows or kind cautions, I contacted Chris and Nathan and ran the idea by them. The rest is history and over the next few weeks, we worked with some amazing vendors to put together the CUTEST little product. And yes. I am intentionally being coy, because you should click over to their website to ready their story and FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE SELLING.
It's adorable. And practical. And the perfect Christmas gift for all of your hard-to-buy-for people. And as you buy that gift for your people you will simultaneously be working to bring a family together. This is winning at life.
Just saying. Okay. Sales pitch over. Seriously though, check it out. ;)
Nathan and Chris, thank you so much for allowing me into your story. I am beyond excited about what God is working out in and through your lives, and it's been an honor to have a front row seat to this chapter. Can not wait to meet your little one!
Thank you to all of Chris & Nathan's sweet friends who jumped in to offer their creative gifts for this session! Your touches did not go unnoticed!
MAKEUP: Janelle Yoder
WAITING FOR YOU SIGN: Monica Gingerich
HAIR: The Spa At River Ridge
]]>Joy and grief can play in the heart like a poignant harmony, absolutely unique and exquisitely lovely.
No one wants loss. Grief is a note we all hope our hearts never have to play. This wedding though...it taught me what an incredible song can be played when people allow joy to meet them in the middle of loss and to hold it all, to accept it all - the joy and the grief - and simply live each day with an open heart and let the melody that plays, play. That's what Jamie and Audrey have done. That's what they did on their wedding day. And it was one of the loveliest things I've seen.
Congratulations, you two. I was so honored to witness your day. The love you share is nothing short of incredible.
This was a locket that Audrey's father had given to her for Valentine's Day when she was seventeen.
It was obvious that Audrey was quite the beloved friend, sister, sister-in-law.
The buttoning up of wedding dresses is no joke, so when the last button was done up, there was a celebratory shout!
Pinning on her veil...
The locket from her dad was fastened to her bouquet. It was a beautiful moment, but let's no pretend it wasn't hard. It was.
Jamie gave Audrey a letter and surprised her with a stunning bracelet.
I love these shots of Audrey on the front porch. This is their front porch. This is the farmhouse they're living in, and I love the sentimentality of Audrey having portraits of her on her own front porch.
First look. Jamie's excitement was almost uncontained. Such a fun moment!
Sweet friends of theirs gifted Jamie and Audrey a limo to chauffeur them around for the day!
Ceremony...
Audrey's oldest brother Eric gave her away for the family.
Jamie adores this girl. Love the shot below, because he's wearing it in his eyes.
...and they're off to their reception!
The bride and groom arrived at Tuscany Hall to join their guests for an evening of celebration shortly after the sun had set.
Yup. Best day ever about covers it.
First dance.
Jamie lost his father when he was quite young, so they had set up a beautiful memorial to remember their father's on their special day.
It was a splendidly fun evening, full of laughter.
Audrey's nieces surprised her with a poem that sent everyone into gales of laughter.
The evening came to a close when the bride and groom were farewelled by their sparkler-bearing guests.
...and so their story began!
P.S. I had SO many photographs I wanted to blog from this wedding, but couldn't fit them all into a single blogpost. If you'd like to see a slideshow of more photos from their day, you can view that HERE.
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How cute is this little family of three four?! ;)
She was giving us the cutest expressions - full of mischief.
Big thank you to Tonya for her styling prowess and forethought in bringing one of Ava's favorite things: chocolate milk. To say that Ava was in her happy place with the chocolate milk would be an understatement.
Congrats on the new little one coming in May, Kyle and Mel!
(See more of their session highlights HERE)
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Michelle is an incredibly sweet girl with a sunny smile and an adorable giggle...
...but she's not to be messed with. Note the photo below. She's her father's daughter and loves guns and hunting.
At the session consultation her dad proudly told me how she'd shot her first deer last year. ;)
Michelle, it was so fun to meet you and have you in front of my lens! You are a beauty through and through!
Hair and Makeup: Tonya Gorby
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Niky loved to sing, so she'd signed up to play at the local county fair, but she still needed a band for the gig. Enter Arlyn. Niky's father knew of Arlyn and the band that he played with, so he introduced them one Sunday, and they all agreed to play the fair in a few months.
So Niky practiced with Arlyn and the band but she didn't think much of it. Of course she thought Arlyn was handsome, and friends would tease her about him, but he was the quiet type so she just did her singing thing and never made any assumptions that anything more was going on in the head of the cute guy who - in her words, "stood in the back and played guitar like a boss."
They played the fair, and it went so well, that Niky asked Arlyn if he'd play with her at an open mic night at a winery. He of course agreed because who in their right mind wouldn't take the chance to see this girl again. He was from another town, so he'd drive to her house on Sundays and they'd spend time practicing and somehow Sundays were becoming his favorite day of the week.
They played the gig at the winery, and when it was all over that evening, in the way Niky would because she is bubbly and energetic and so full of life, she just quipped that it was sad that it was all over. Arlyn jumped in and told her they'd just have to find other places to play. She told me that put a near permanent smile on her face as they drove to meet friends for dinner.
Before the evening ended, the strong, silent-type guitar player had asked out the the big-hearted girl with the blue eyes who'd captured his heart.
Niky is seriously the sweetest thing. When Arlyn asked her out, she was so surprised that she asked him, "Are you sure?" She told me she was so nervous on their first date that her normal chatting self disappeared and she was sure Arlyn would change his mind about her. No shock, he didn't and she said when he asked her out a second time, the nerves had disappeared, and it wasn't long before they'd both fallen head over heels.
Arlyn and Niky have a laid back, fun kind of love.
Turns out this strong, silent type also keeps Niky laughing.
I love these shots because Niky said that a lot of the in-between real talks, the kind that you begin to truly know someone, happened as they'd be driving.
Arlyn and Niky, thank you so much for trusting me to capture this chapter of your love story! Can't wait for your big day!
HAIR + MAKEUP (...and style perfecting and constant hair fluffing and shirt pulling and laugh inducing): Tonya Gorby
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Treston is passionate about music, particularly jazz. He plays the saxophone, so naturally I had him play for a minute while I shot. It sounded beautiful and reminded me how important it is to bless the world around us with the gifts and passions we have.
Love the shot above!
Happy Senior Year, Treston! It was so fun to have you in front of my lens!
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PHOTO CRED: Jewel Gingerich
There hasn't been a single day in the history of the world that shame has played fair. Get used to it. Know that shame lies because it's what it does. The way I see it, we have two choices:
1) Hide...which is what shame wants us to do, and convinces us we must do, because if people knew our truth they would run. They would point fingers. We'd be exposed for all that we are or aren't. The respect, love and connection that we were made for would be withheld. At least that's what shame says, so we wither beneath its accusations and carry on in our isolated way. We tell ourselves it's better this way. Safer for sure. Never mind that the fear and loneliness are killing us slowly, paralyzingly us.
2) Choose courage. Notice I didn't say "be courageous" because I'm betting few of us actually believe we are courageous. Courage, by nature is always the harder choice. It's always going to be the uphill path. It's choosing to run full force into what we feel could end us, or at very least change us. Courage is not courage at all without risk. You can't be called courageous if there is nothing to lose.
Awhile ago I read Steven Pressfield's The Lion's Gate. The book is a collection of firsthand accounts re-telling the events of the Six Day War from the eyes of those who sat in the halftracks and advanced into gunfire. There was a particular part I found especially fascinating. It was told from the perspective of one of the leaders who were part of the initiative to advance toward the Old City. Pressfield recounted the commander's thoughts when he expressed that regular soldiers without someone to lead them will simply hide. It's not that they lack courage. They lack leadership. When you see your comrades enter a house to take it from the enemy and they don't come back out, unless someone is there to tell you to charge the house, you won't. You won't mean to hide, but you'll dodge some gunfire, find a place that’s safe, and instead of moving forward, hours later you'll still be holed up in the same spot, paralyzed by fear and inaction. It's not that you intended to hide from battle. It's not that you lack courage. You simply need someone to keep your perspective on the importance of that battle, and command you forward. I wonder if courage in our everyday life isn't this way. Vulnerability is always going to be the hard route. It's the one where you end up with a bullet in your person. It's always easier to just duck your head, hole up in a safe place, and pray no one finds you.
But this is not our destiny. This is not how we live great stories.
However you are hiding today, whatever you feel makes you unworthy of love and connection - it isn't true. Of course it will be risky venturing out, but the reward is dual:
1) You will know you lived with courage, whatever the result.
2) Allowing yourself to be seen and known for who you truly are is where connection can truly happen. This matters. This is what we were made for, after all.
Move out of hiding. There is Someone calling you out of your hole and telling you to move forward. There are no guarantees of safety, but He does see the big picture. You signed up to follow Him after all. So follow Him out of hiding, and trust Him to keep you safe. He might. And He might not. But everyone knows that what's most important about a soldier is who he is when everything is coming down around him. Let's be the kind of people who keep our wits about us in our everyday lives and don't let the chaos of others words and perspectives keep us from living courageously. Who we are and the stories we choose to live matters.
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This beach isn't far from Whiskey Island, where Dan and Kristen first met.
Whiskey Island is the kind of place you want to find yourself on a summer evening in Cleveland. There's corn hole and volleyball and boats docked at the marina and it's summertime at its finest. You'll go with a friend who's meeting another friend. The other friend will bring some of her friends. And that's when you'll meet him. Sparks will fly and you'll find yourself dancing the night away in another part of town with this friend of a friend of a friend. And life will never be the same again.
I think the beauty of love is that we open ourselves up to needing someone else. It's not about weakness or demanding that another person complete our world, but it is about being strong and confident enough to be vulnerable and share our hearts and lives with someone.
Great love is always a choice. Only those who are truly strong have the courage to allow someone else into their heart. I love seeing strong people have the wisdom to choose to live life with open hearts. That's Dan & Kristen. Love is always going to be a little messy, but that means you're doing something right.
This past June, Dan proposed to Kristen, and they're committing to a lifetime of being strong for each other, keeping their hearts open, and moving forward together. I think that's beautiful and the best kind of courageous.
Love the shot below - Kristen, you are stunning!
Sometimes the sunlight hits the camera just right and magic happens!
I think we might've had the best view in all of Cleveland that evening as the sun was setting over the water and lighting up the skyline. It was beautiful.
Congratulations again, Dan and Kristen! It was too much fun having you both in front of my lens! Can't wait for August!
]]>*Huge thank you to my stylist Tonya for all that you did that evening! You go above and beyond and I kind of adore working with you.*
First up were Gabe & Brittany and their adorable little blue-eyed boys!
Those eyes though!
Instead of doing a traditional senior session, Hailey decided to join us the evening of the The Vintage Sessions, and I'm so glad she did!
She was stunning and worked the camera like a pro!
So fun to have these precious kids in front of my lens!
Love these shots of them with their mom!
Love both of these shots!
I might have died just a little over how adorable Mia and Lily are!
Happy Tuesday all!
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I love this time of year. I love the way God made autumn to be this big show off. Leaves could just turn brown and shrivel up, but no. Autumn knows how to make an exit, and she is certainly the most fashionably courageous of all the seasons and I love her for her audacity.
The first time I trekked the uneven stone path that leads up to our house, it was autumn. It was rainy and cold that day, but the leaves were making up for the lackluster Ohio weather and showed their finest to sell me on the little cape cod on Northridge. It worked. We bought the house with the overly orange glossy hardwood floors, the terrible yellow kitchen, and the tiny bathroom. We closed in mid-January, worked evening after evening for five weeks through the dead of winter to move in Valentine's Day weekend of 2014. Things have changed so much since then. Life is different. The house is different. We are different. The little cape cod has a front porch with a ceiling fan now, compliments of Pete. It's probably my favorite place in the whole world. I listen to crickets here, and drink my wine, and talk to Jesus, and dream about the future here. The last few weeks I've been waiting on this tree. I've been waiting for it to look the way it did when we first met two years ago. Today, she is close. The yellows have put on orange and tinges of red are present and there's a thick carpet of all of this glorious wonder covering those uneven stones we walked that first day. I asked if I should rake it when we got home tonight, and Pete gave me a wholehearted 'No!'
We needed to enjoy it just a bit more. We needed to remember. We needed to not rake up the reminder of how faithful He is.
We only looked at houses on that one day. For people who've been house hunting for months, you know what a gracious miracle that was. The door swung right open. The move into Columbus felt random. Why look in Clintonville? Most of our lives were back in a small town just outside of Columbus. It wasn't this big thing, moving, but it also didn't make a lot of sense on the surface. We were following our instincts. We've loved everything about this little spot we get to call home in a cape cod on a quiet street with the houses all close together.
I still don't know why we live here, just that it's right. I keep waiting for God to bring us the next piece of the puzzle, or to move us again. Maybe life is more like chess than we realize. Maybe it all feels random and backwards if you don't know the game. I know we have choice, and were made to choose. I guess I just like that I feel like Someone Else has a better game plan than the one I've worked to construe. I'm feeling it in the leaves these days - His faithfulness. It's hard to put a finger on what a move of twenty miles can do to change a soul. I guess maybe it's all in the positioning. Like chess. Like quitting a job with a dream and no plan (did that three years ago).
Moral of the story? I don't have all of my answers. I can't explain in solid and logical terms why twenty miles into the city has been grace and gift and much needed change. What I do know is this: you might be two whole years into a choice you made and still not have answers. You might be missing puzzle pieces. You might not have had that "aha" moment just yet. You might be waiting on the next step He hasn't shown you just yet, but don't forget that if you followed Him here, He's likely leading you somewhere.
My brother in law said this thing one time that stuck with me. He said to follow the peace.
So it's autumn and we are two years in and the leaves are turning that color again and the peace is still here even if the puzzle pieces aren't. If you have the peace, than receive it as gracious enough to hold you until He shows you what's next. He will, because He's a good Father who doesn't hide from His kids.
I loved the pretty coral that Leanne chose for her bridesmaids. It was so vibrant and colorful and fit her summery wedding so perfectly!
The fourth ring you see on the left was a promise ring Allen gave her early on when they were dating. How sweet is that!
Leanne simply glowed. I wonder if there's anything as lovely as a woman who knows she's beloved by those around her. Leanne was and is.
Stunning!
First look! Photographing these moments never fails to make my heart happy!
Her eyes are just unbelievably beautiful.
All the pretty ladies!
The shot below might be my favorite of the day! They're just the cutest!
The ceremony...
Repeating their vows...
Someone's happy...and for good reason!
And away they drove! Congratulation, you two! So fun being a part of your day!
Baby yawns are the cutest!
The photos below were actually shot early on in the session. Mike had just gotten home from work and Brody was having a bit of trouble settling down and sleeping for us, so Mike parked out in the nursery with him for a while to get him to sleep. I love this photo because it feels like the kind of moment that's real and everyday. It felt like the kind of scene that Ashton might see often if she peeks through the nursery door. The everyday moments just might be the ones most worth remembering.
Love these shots of Ashton and her little man.
Mike and Ashton, thank you for letting me into your home to capture this sweet new season for you! Brody is so precious!
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I met Ashley back in March, when #tuesdaystogether was just starting. We've swapped shooting dates for each other since then, and she's quickly become a good friend.
How cute is her 'SMILE' tattoo?!
Ashley has been in business for quite a few years, but she told me recently that she's never had formal headshots taken, so we decided to remedy that situation. We had such a fun morning trotting around Schiller Park and the side streets of historic German Village. Perhaps I should say 'I' had such a fun time. Ashley was brilliant in front of the camera, but like most photographers, she'd rather be the one behind the camera getting the shot than in front of it.
Love the shot above!
A little 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' vibes going on!
Thank you so much for trusting me to capture these shots for you, Ashley! So grateful to count you as a friend!
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Kaitlyn is a senior at Tree of Life. She loves sports so soccer, softball, and cheerleading are a few of the ways she channels her energy.
Your are stunning, Kaitlyn!
Kaitlyn brought an umbrella to her session as a prop - she wanted a few shots with it just for fun.
As it turned out, the umbrella ended up being a necessity. At first it just sprinkled a little...
...but then the rain picked up...
...and then it turned into a deluge!
Kaitlyn rolled with it like a pro and I love how these photos turned out. So often life doesn't hand us what we expect or even want. Kaitlyn was hoping for sunshine that night and instead she got rain, but she didn't complain. She rolled with it, and her photos turned out unlike any other senior session I've shot before.
It's raining in more than Kaitlyn's photos right now. It's raining in her life. Her mom was recently diagnosed with cancer, and their bright skies have become overcast. There is nothing easy about the road they're all walking these days. I know it's a bit indulgent, but I look at these photos of Kaitlyn and I feel hope for beauty in the midst of all of the difficulty raining down on them. No one picks a rainy day for a photo shoot. No one picks cancer. They are different things altogether, but maybe if there can be incredible, unique beauty in a rainy photoshoot there can be incredible, unique beauty in a rainy season of life?
This girl knows what to do with rain. You don't let it steal your joy, your spark, your spirit, your courage.
Our willingness to step out into the deluge and turn our faces upward can open our hearts to receiving good gifts in the middle of all of the craziness.
Kaitlyn, you are lovely. You are bold and brave and strong and beautiful. You are all of the things. Don't lose heart when the raindrops hit hard. God is making something really beautiful out of you.
MARCUS + ANDREA
Love the unplanned shot below...dads teach us how to do all kinds of things, including chomping into apples with all of our almost two year old might.
#likeaboss
Snuggly moments are the best to photograph.
So much cuteness. I couldn't get over Bennett's curls.​
NICK + INNA
One of my favs of Inna and her little man Lucas.
Sunflare for the win. And isn't Sophia just stunning?
Love the one below of Nick & Inna! Marriage is good. Proof below.
NIC + LYNETTE
How precious are Jaxson and Kaden? I won't tell you how long Kaden had to work on picking the particular apple we told him to pick for this photo, but it evoked giggles and that's always a win.
OSCAR + JEANINE
And no, I didn't tell Gianna to balance an apple on her head, but it was too adorable not to photograph.
Put them inside a truck and all kinds of pretend scenarios will arise. Adventures will commence. Fun will be had.
Fun little tidbit for you: The evening of the session just happened to be 16 years to the day that Oscar and Jeanine first met. Their September 22nd of 1999 was one of those days that started out ordinary, but took a dramatic, life-altering sort of upturn. Don't you love a good plot twist when you're least expecting it? I'm pretty sure God does. It's a great story. If you know Jeanine, pull her aside sometime and beg her to tell you their story. It will be time well spent!
MEET DARYL + KATHI
So you guys remember The Truck Story right? If you don't, go read it. You need to hear about how this beautiful little gem of a bright red truck found it's way to our photo shoot. This is Daryl - the chap we stalked across town because we'd fallen in love with his truck.
This is him and his sweet wife Kathi. I can't even tell you how much their presence blessed me that evening. These are two people with busy lives who took the time out of their schedules to come and share their truck with us that evening, and I can't get over how generous and big-hearted they are.
I have lots of favorites from the session that night, but this one might be the one I love the most. I can't look at this picture without feeling so blessed. Have I mentioned that people are wonderful? Because they are. Daryl and Kathi were a living, breathing reminder that this world is a really great place to be. You guys are amazing. Thank you again for spending the evening with us. It meant more than you know.
One more thing. It needs to be said. My sweet friend Tonya styled this session for me. She did SO much work to pull these sessions together. She chased props down (although not quite as literally as I did with my little truck escapade!), pinned ideas, made calls, bought last minute gifts, entertained kids while I photographed their parents, constantly rearranged the set to make my shots better, wrote thank you notes, and saw to so many details. She is AMAZING. I can't imagine what a mess it would have been without her help. And she's just plain fun to work with. Tonya, thank you. You're a boss, and I pretty much adore you. So excited that we get to do this two more times this week!
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I think it's because I believe that these sessions marry the things that so many moms think they can't have when it comes to photo shoots. I created these sessions for you. I thought about what you deal with, and the fight you go through to get your people in front of the camera. I was having a conversation with a friend the other night, and we talked, and she felt the same things that you all feel. Prepping for a photoshoot as a mom is hard work. It is a WHOLE thing. Immediately your mind goes to outfits, and how to pull everyone's look together in a way that's perfect. And then you think about your two year old, and how he likely isn't going to cooperate. And then there's the fact that your husband would just as soon let the photo shoot go. And then there's that stubborn baby weight that ain't nobody got time to lose when they're chasing kids around and it feels like the nail in the coffin for why you should just let it go. Because it's HARD. Because it's work. Because it takes emotional energy that you don't know if you have. Next year, right?
Listen guys. I hear you. I feel you. I've been inside that head of yours, and I get it. I think the thing we fool ourselves into thinking is that we need to be perfect for photos to happen. We don't. Perfection is not the point of family photographs. Or at least it's not the point of mine. It is about capturing life and relationship and your imperfectly beautiful right now existence. It's not about having the cutest Christmas card so all your friends ooh and aah. (We're totally gonna shoot for that fun photo, but it's not the point.) It's about freezing time and remembering the way big blue eyes stare up at you, and how darling her grin looks with teeth missing, and they won't be this age forever, you know?
Don't let Pinterest fool you into thinking the reason for photographs is perfect outfits and props and all the stuff. That stuff is fun, sure, but we miss it when it becomes the point of the session. It's about FAMILY. It's about love. It's about being able to pull these photos out someday and remember who you were as a family in 2015. Wherever you step in front of a camera, it doesn't have to be mine, just DO step in front of one with your people in the season that you're in. It's worth it. Your 2025 self will thank you, if you're here. And if you aren't, those photos will mean infinitely more to those who love you. Your grown children will thank you when you're all digging through old photographs at some Christmas in the future. You will laugh together over what you thought were the best outfits at the time.
Photos are like the evidence that there's been this glue of sticky, messy love holding us together all along.
Forget all of the excuses. Put on the clothes that live in your closet. It doesn't need to be perfect. You don't need to head to Anthropologie for a new outfit, fun as that would be. Get in front of a camera with your people. It's about belonging, and documenting that belonging. It's about remembering what love feels like when a chubby palm wraps its whole self around your one finger for a bit of balance.
Forget perfection. You heard me. No one needs another overly starched photograph of everyone looking just so. But remembering the way love and family felt in this season? That matters and that's why you get in front of a lens.
If this crazy photo rant was for you, you'll find a link HERE to do something about it. Photos matter. Documenting your right now life matters.
I write to me as much as I write to you, so know that the words of admonition spilling out are the ones I'm desperately trying to live lately...
Live TODAY. Live in the moment you are in. Love your people well.
Forgive more quickly.
Pause. Enter into the gift of whatever your moment is giving.
Turn off your phone. Close your laptop. Go on a walk and BE in the moment.
If that which you are worrying over won't matter in a hundred years, shelve your concern for the moment and embrace that life is a GIFT that we miss when we hurry.
Put relationships first.
This is Joan and her people. I met them six weeks ago before that ugly six letter word cancer had decided to blaze itself unwanted across the headlines of their beautiful life. I wonder if cancer ever comes expected. They were in the middle of LIVING, see? Kaitlyn was having her senior photos taken (coming to the blog soon!). Colin and his sweet girlfriend had just gotten engaged. Life and living were in full swing, and no one was expecting that their right now lives would be dealt an ugly hand they'd be forced to play.
You know what's amazing? I look at these photos and these are people who are fully alive in the midst of the difficult hand they've been dealt. It is one thing to speak of joy when all is well. It is another to live in joy as a reality when all of the things we thought were certain are pulled out from underneath us.
I have a feeling Joan and Bill are living their right-now lives more courageously than most these days.
Joan started treatment five days ago, and she's rocking the CUTEST haircut.
She told me she's determined to go to Kaitlyn's soccer games. This is a woman committed to living the moment she is in with courage and gratitude, and something about all of it just wrecks me...
I suppose it's the bravery that I see rising up in all of them - the way they're all pulling together and supporting each other.
"We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God..."
-Hebrews 6:18-20a (MSG)
There are only THREE remaining session spots left for this fall's STYLED MINI SESSIONS!
CLICK FOR MORE INFO ABOUT THE SESSIONS
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Rowan Ruth arrived into this world like a living, breathing reminder that life is beautiful and so good.
She was 19 inches, born at ten to five, and her middle name was borrowed from her grandmother.
Proud big sister Bristol learning the ropes of how to hold her brand new gonna-be playmate at two weeks new. Grow up quick, little one. Your sister has the energy of...well...a two year old, and there are adventures to be had together.
In truth, it took little miss Rowan awhile to be coaxed to sleep for her photos. While her mother rocked her and fed her and was awed at her ability to stay awake, I followed Bristol and her big blue eyes around the house as she went about her daily two year old adventures.
I think there is beauty in every phase of life, from two days old to the moments when we're grandparents, but following Bristol around for a little while that afternoon gave me new appreciation for the beauty of the two year old. The world is all new and feet are fully found and everything, EVERYTHING, must be tested and tried and pushed and challenged...
With all of the two year old might, things will be climbed upon...
...boundaries will be peered over
...our tippy-toes will be utilized and doorknobs will be reached​
...because at two we know nothing but that the world is our oyster so exploration and taking the challenge of running after it all is our current life purpose. And at two it should be, and it is good and beautiful and healthy and absolute craziness for the parents who have created an environment where exploration is safe. Following Bristol around had me thinking how right Kara and Preston are getting it. I'm sure they don't feel that way every day, but I saw so much goodness and HEALTH in Bristol.
I hear that some seasons of parenting are harder than others and I wonder if we don't lose sight of how right we're getting it when every little thing is being challenged and boundaries are pushed. Growing up is hard and guiding a life as it grows up is even harder, and I look at Bristol and she is everything she should be. She is bold and brave and the fact that she's trying out her wings at every turn means that she doesn't question her roots, which tells me her parents are loving her well.
Love the shot below!
Congratulations guys! You have two beautiful daughters, and I'm so happy to have documented a snippet of this season of life for you.
NOW BOOKING FALL STYLED MINI SESSIONS!
A little bit of crazy never hurt anyone right? That's probably not true, but roll with me on this? Let me set the stage for how I got I here.
A month or two ago I decided to get very intentional about the fall family sessions that were going to start rolling in come September, October, and November. I've done fall family sessions year after year. This year, I wanted it to be different and better for everyone. I wanted to create sessions that would be everything my clients wanted without all of the hassle. I wanted sessions that were FAST, FUN, STYLED BEAUTIFULLY, and with a LESS IS MORE mentality. So I set out to create sessions that were all of those things.
There's a lot that goes into planning a great session, and one of those things is the styling. After chatting through our options with my stylist Tonya, we settled on three different themes for the sessions. One of those themes was The Orchard. As we sat and brainstormed we became completely attached to the idea of having an old truck as a part of the apple orchard theme. It would be the centerpiece, the crown jewel, the inspiration point around which we would stage the session. There are SO many great ways to have fun and photograph family moments around a good truck. We started pursuing leads for different cute old trucks, but nothing seemed to be working out. One was in the shop for repairs with no guarantees of when it would be out of the shop. Another was road-worthy but had to be trailered in because the state refused to grant the owner a title for his work of art.
I wasn't quite at the end of my rope, but I was getting close when I saw the gorgeous 1953 Ford sitting at the stoplight in Marysville on a sunny Sunday afternoon. This is pretty much how it went down:
Me to my long suffering husband: "Look at that CUTE truck."
Pete says nothing but looks over to check out the latest object of my obsession.
Me again: "I wonder if he'd let us borrow it for the mini sessions."
Pete, still silent. (He's a good listener.)
Me, blathering out crazy ideas: "We should follow him." (BECAUSE THAT'S COMPLETELY NORMAL AND NOT CRAZY AT ALL.)
Pete, still quiet.
The light turns green.
Still quiet, Pete calmly drives by our intended stop (the gas station - which, by the way, we had just pulled a U-turn to get to so we'd have the fuel to get us back to Columbus).
I'm thinking the truck will stop soon. It has to right??
WE FOLLOWED IT ALL THE WAY ACROSS TOWN, YOU GUYS.
I know. I don't know what exactly we were thinking either.
Finally we get to another stoplight, and cool as a cucumber, Pete pulls up next to this bright red little beauty and asks the gentleman in said truck (who thankfully also had his window down) if he ever rents out his truck. Pete explains that his wife is a photographer and she loves it and needs a truck for an upcoming shoot.
The man in the truck says, "No" and before my heart even has time to fall he finishes his statement and says, "I like to give it away."
And then the cars behind us are honking like mad because the light turned green again, and the man tells us to pull into a parking lot up ahead.
We do. He gets out and he shows us his truck and we tell him what we need it for, and he is all kinds of generous about letting us borrow it.
I get his email address and phone number. We confirm dates. He says if he can't be there, his brother will bring it. I'm floored at all of the generosity. People are awesome.
I snapped a few photos with my iPhone, and on my way home, I thanked God because I know this was Him. This is just like Him to arrange something so unlikely, so easy to miss, so entirely and completely ridiculously fragile. We should have missed that truck eight different ways. We shouldn't have taken a wrong turn earlier on our way out of town. We shouldn't have pulled a u-turn to get fuel. I shouldn't have noticed the truck in the first place, and Pete shouldn't have been up for following a crazy whim, and the owner of that truck shouldn't have been so insanely generous.
A lot of life doesn't work out and I don't know why, but it's moments like these that have me convinced that God does really know us. I know you can say it's coincidence. I know it can't be proved. I think that's the beauty of it.
If you haven't signed up for the Styled 2015 Mini Sessions, I recommend checking out The Orchard session. It's going to be loads of fun, and I'm beyond excited to get photos of you and yours with this little gem of a God-given truck.
I've been thinking of you a lot today. We both know what today was supposed to be. The day you were dreaming of turned into the day you were dreading, and here it is, September 5th, warm and sunshiny and unassuming like it doesn't know that it's killing you that it's here. I've been hoping you're finding yourself carried by Grace today. I'm hoping you're feeling especially loved by The One Person who will never, ever leave you or forsake you. I'm hoping He reaches through and speaks to you today in a hundred little ways about the good plans He has for your life. Thank you for being courageous enough to step in front of the camera a few weeks ago. I found you to be so very brave and so very beautiful.
There is so much of life for which I have no answers. I don't have answers and reasons and neat boxes with labels to stuff the bad things into so I never have to feel them again. I've wished I did. I often think our best bet is to just look up. When we look up, our hearts open to received the good things He is giving, and somehow in the middle of everything that's broken, something beautiful starts to grow.
I hear you're doing that - looking up - and I think there's a new sort of you that's grown even more beautiful through this sadness.
I know you know because you are making brave decisions every day, but I just wanted to say that your story is beautiful and it is so far from over. Something more beautiful than you can imagine is growing out of the broken places, and someday you'll find that where there were pieces of a shattered life there's now a garden.
Keep showing up to your story, because it's a good one, and the best is yet to be.
Thank you so much for stepping in front of the camera for me, Zoë. It was an honor to take your portrait, and I truly can't wait to see the good things that God has up His sleeve for you. You are loved.
- DG
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These two lit up the screen the moment they stepped in front of my camera. They're crazy about each other, and the fun they have together is the kind that makes you happy to be around them.
I was asking Elizabeth about how her and Jordan met and fell in love, since this was the first I've gotten to know them. She said she and Jordan met at a party for Jordan's sister-in-law who was a friend of Elizabeth's. They hit it off instantly. Jordan called her the next day and asked her out. They went out the next week. Six months later they were engaged. Nine months later they were tying the knot. One year later and here they are, sparks still flying.
To celebrate their anniversary, they decided to spend the evening beside a winding creek on a special spot of land the belongs to Elizabeth's family.
They pulled out a bottle of champagne from their wedding, broke out their custom champagne flutes, and toasted to an amazing first year of adventuring together.
These two love cake. Threats of revisiting wedding memories and smashing cupcakes in faces were made, but a year later, they've learned to behave - and Jordan's defensive hand has gotten quicker.
Love the shot below!
We photographed a few fun details from the wedding to celebrate the milestone.
Jordan & Elizabeth adore their two dogs and wanted a few shots of the four of them.
The dogs had spent some time in the car waiting for us to finish up with the first part of the session so we thought they'd earned a little run in the creek.
The beauty of love is that it just keeps growing and expanding and deepening. It really is possible to fall more in love with someone every single day. These two are one year in and going strong, and it has me all encouraged about the beauty of long term love, the kind that holds hands and calls home about dinner and picks up dirty socks and isn't giving up on the crazy goodness that it found at a party for a mutual friend a few years back.
Jordan and Elizabeth, thank you for allowing me to capture this milestone for you! You guys have the kind of spark that I see often at engagement sessions, but one year later you so clearly haven't lost the wonder that love is, and I think that's special. I think it can become so easy to take the brilliant person in front of us for granted the longer we're around them. We forget how our world turned upside down when we met them. You guys haven't forgotten, and it has me all "Isn't love great?!" Love is great at two days just met, or twelve months married, or twenty years of navigating the journey, and I loved documenting your right now.
STYLED MINI SESSIONS
This September and October I will be hosting Styled Mini-Session dates! It's going to be all kinds of fabulous, complete with fun and stylish props in charming locations. If you dread the schlep that family photos can be or just want to have a photo you actually like gracing your annual Christmas card this year, this is for you. Sessions are designed to be family friendly, but are open to couples as well. If you want to update your photos and get a little mini-anniversary session all your own, this might be the perfect opportunity. Full details are in the works and will be released THIS WEEK, BUT if you want to be on the list to get the details BEFORE they're released on social media and the session slots fill up, message me HERE, type in your name and email address, and paste this into the message section: ADD TO FALL STYLED MINI-SESSION EMAIL PRE-RELEASE. This will give you first access to the session styling options (There will be three themes and they are awesome!) and give you the chance to pick the style that's your favorite before the session slots are filled. OH, and the first five people to sign up are going to win something fun to hang on their walls...but those wins will likely be people who signed to get the pre-release email. So SIGN UP. *FYI, signing up for the pre-release email does NOT mean you're committing to reserving a spot. It just means you'll get the info a little before everyone else. OH, and we're having a canvas giveaway each evening! Told you these sessions were going to be fun. Anyway, enough rambling from me. Happy September all!
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When I jumped into photography with both feet a few years ago, I discovered something about myself that I really didn't see coming. I love business. I love the art of discovering what sells. I built my business by paying attention to what was selling and what people liked. I don't regret that for a second, because I found that I loved what others loved too. I don't feel like I sold my creative soul in any way, shape, or form because I genuinely liked what other people liked too. That said, I have this sense that it's time to make art differently. It's time to hold all of my tried and true creative processes to the fire and burn away the junk. I need to do this to grow. It's the next step.
I've learned so much by watching others over the years. I've followed the blogs, watched Jasmine on Creative Live, and taken in Katelyn's tutorials. I am so incredibly grateful for these beautiful and big-hearted educators who are so generous with their experience and with their very hearts. They give from the right places and for the right reasons. There is one thing that no tutorial, Creative Live course, or workshop can do for me. That thing is finding my creative voice. Finding your creative voice isn't found by observing others and it's NOT found in your Instagram feed taking in all the pretty. It's found by learning how to PAUSE and actually see the world around you. I'm beginning to wonder if making truly original art that is your own style doesn't start with unplugging. When you see the way everyone else shoots it, you shoot it that way too. You don't mean to, it just happens. On some level it's okay to show up and deliver a product, but what if we decided to show up for the reason we were hired in the first place:
For our creative vision.
For our ability to paint a picture of what we see in a moment.
If you are an artist, LEARN. It's great to learn from others and to pull from all of the resources out there. I believe with my whole heart that creative community makes us better. We are so much stronger together. God bless the internet, because it's given us access to learn tricks and tips that we would likely would never have learned without it. The internet helps us be better business people and it gives us the tools and tutorials and articles to be better at our craft.
BUT...
I'm not sure it's always helping us be truer artists.
There are a few things I plan to put into practice as I continue to shoot this summer and fall to give the artist in my soul some much needed floor time.
- Clear space. Art happens when we slow down. Art happens when we TAKE TIME. It's not about carving out the perfect window at the perfect time. My best art happens when I follow inspiration IN THE MOMENT. I know it's not always possible, but part of learning to be a truer artist is to give the artist within you floor time when she asks for it.
-Spend WAY less time on the internet and on social media. You need to know that I genuinely LOVE social media. I do. I think it is what we make of it, and when we use it for good, it can encourage and bless people. I've been blessed and encouraged by others over and over again via social media, so this is NOT a rant against social media, because I'm a fan. BUT. I know me, and I know how I sometimes let a really good thing occupy a part of my life it was never meant to occupy. So maybe, just maybe, if you're struggling to find your creative voice, unplugging from social and plugging into your very real life that is worth living might be the answer. If you can get off social completely for a season, I think that's probably ideal, and I bet it would be liberating, but for a whole lot of us who are running businesses and using social media to market and share our work, getting off completely just isn't practical. I won't be getting offline, and I'll likely be posting as much as I usually do, but I do plan to spend less time browsing. One way to be intentional about this is to choose a portion of your day or week or month that you WILL be on social media. If you're like me, the second you decide you can't have something, you set yourself up to want it. Instead of saying what you won't do, decide what you will do. For instance, you will be on social for ten minutes at noon, and that's it...or whatever works. I'm working through how I'll be implementing this. One misconception about social media and internet time is that those who post a lot must be online a lot. That can be true, but often the entrepreneurs and good business people that you see posting a lot aren't spending a ton of time observing other people's news feeds. They post their content because it's a wise business choice, and they engage with intentionality when they are online, and then they get offline and back to making art. Anyone who posts valuable content online knows how much work it is, and generally they're so busy creating art and prepping new content that they don't have time to be stuffing themselves with online junk food. They're too busy doing the hard work that it is to make art and show up to their own lives. I'm preaching to myself here. I've been the worst of the worst. I love Instagram. I do. It is my giant bowl of ice cream at midnight. If you want to make better art, get off of social media, and go do something else. Live YOUR life instead of devouring the lives of others online. Living YOUR life is like eating vegetables. At first it might seem not nearly as fun and tasty as that big bowl of ice cream on the couch at midnight, but if you keep showing up for your life and eating your proverbial vegetables, you will be SHOCKED at how great you feel. SHOCKED. You know what else? Your regular little life will suddenly open up before you and pure inspiration from your everyday existence will whisper beautiful ideas about how you could make art with your life. It will be an idea you didn't see on Pinterest because someone else did it. This is how you start finding your creative voice.
- Try new things. Travel if you can. If you can't travel far, travel close. Wherever you are, there is a place in your city or county that you haven't been yet. Go there. Be an adventurer and instead of posting your experience to Instagram right in the moment, let your time marinade. Take your actual camera with you, and take the time to allow the place to speak to you.
- Take more photos and take fewer photos. Take more photos where you wouldn't have even brought your camera before. Slow down and take fewer photos where you would have taken a million before. Wait for your moment. This is a big one for me and likely my hardest of the challenges.
- Make art just for you. This can be glorious and wonderfully terrifying with its lack of parameters. Just go MAKE.
- Try a new form of art. I'm trying watercolors. I want to take a calligraphy class, but haven't moved on that one yet. Don't worry about being good at it. Just play.
- Pick a favorite photo of yours that feels true to your creative voice and have it printed. Make it a canvas or giclee print or frame it up. One of my all time favorites print styles for art to express creative voice is Artifact Uprising's Signature Prints. I love these prints so much, and it touches my love for minimalism and whitespace with its thick white borders that give your photo room to breathe. However you decide to have it produced, when you make that art that feels like you, it's important to turn it into something tangible. There's something about a photo in print that makes something feel finished and legitimate. Spend the money, even if all you can afford is a 4x6 print. The inner artist that did the work to make the photo deserves the recognition of simply having it accessible tangibly.
- Stop trying so hard to make it perfect. Let it be a little raw and untamed and messy. Make it wild. Keep it weird like Austin. Find risky. Push the envelope. You don't have to post and share it, but do make it. If you don't make it, you can't know if you'd like it.
I'll finish out this little rant with this thought:
Art is meant to be adventure. Art is an expedition into uncharted territory. Adventure means risk. If your art lacks an element of risk, it is likely lackluster, not necessarily in the eyes of others, but it will be to your eyes because you know you aren't being an artistic adventurer. It's not about producing something that is different from anyone else as much as it is about learning the art of exploration and being true in the way you communicate artistically by doing the incredibly difficult and courageous work of finding your creative voice.
Go be brave, you little trembling artist, you. Find your cave, find your life, and make your art because it was what you were born to do.
*Special thanks to my friend Christy. I met her nearly a year ago and second shot for her. I literally spent one day with this woman, but we've been Facebook messaging buddies since and her influence challenges me to be a better artist and she was the one who got me thinking through this. She's genuinely living what it means to approach art and life as adventure. Christy, you make me want to be brave, and I'm thankful.
(Photos from this post are a mixture of DSLR and iPhone photos from Pete and I's adventures along the California coast last year.)
]]>On to the rest of their day...
Jake and Abi opted for a midday celebration, so their day started off bright and early. Abi and her bridesmaids and family prepped for the wedding at a lovely little house tucked into the end of a cul-de-sac, before heading to the church.
I ADORED Abi's understated take on a traditional flower crown. It was so perfectly her, and all kinds of charming.
Sweet notes from the bridesmaids were scribbled onto balloons for the bride to read as she was having her hair and makeup done.
One of the things you'll note if you're paying close attention is that Abi's dress seems to magically change throughout the day in different photos. And, no, she didn't wear two dresses. She found the darling dress pictured above online, and fell in love with it...but something wasn't quite complete. She took it to Holly's Unique Weddings and Gowns and the two of them crafted a plan to make a truly original creation that fit Abi's personal style perfectly. Holly made a few alterations to the dress above and created an unattached skirt that could simply be donned after Abi put on the dress she'd purchased. It was the perfect blend and exactly what Abi wanted.
Abi was an absolute vision - as evidenced by the looks on her bridesmaids faces as she was getting ready.
Love this shot of Abi with her sisters. It was one of those in-between moments during formals and it turned out to be a favorite of mine.
Abi with her new sisters-in-law.
Abi was so very lovely.
Prayers with friends before making her walk down the aisle.
They had a meaningful time of worship and their parents surrounded them and prayed for them before they said their vows.
They painted a canvas as a symbol of unity.
The new Mr. & Mrs. Marrah!
Below is a shot of Jake and Abi with all of their siblings.
Their reception...
Heartfelt speeches were made by the bride and groom's family and friends.
Spontaneous dance parties broke out...
The bride and groom honored their grandparents by giving them each a rose.
This was a sweet moment. Abigail's name means 'Joy of the Father' and her dad shared how Abi has been a joy to everyone around her from the first day she was born. He blessed her, and it was simple but so very significant. Everyone who knows Abi will tell you - she really is a joy to the world around her. It's not what she does as much as who she is. Her father's speech was beautifully affirming and communicated that truth so well.
...and off they went!
Here's to the happiest day of Jake and Abi's lives! At the end of the day, all of the things that make a wedding day truly beautiful aren't the perfect florals, and just-the-right wedding dress, and finding that last piece of perfect wedding decor (though we did love her gorgeous florals and her just-right wedding dress and her little wedding decor touches) - it's people. It's relationships. It's being surrounded by those you love and who love you and who know the journey you're on, and Jake and Abi were. Congratulations, guys! It was so fun to capture your day!
SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER | Ashley D Photography
BRIDE'S DRESS | Holly's Unique Weddings & Gowns
FLOWER CROWN & BOUTONIERRES | Sophia Arroyo
HAIR & MAKE UP | Milca Rhodes
BOUQUETS | Anderson Farms
FLOWERS | Ruth Beachy
VIDEOGRAPHY | Jack & Taylor McClintock of G&P Productions
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Life isn't always like that you know? Breathless moments aren't as common as you might think, but when they come around, they're extraordinary and so worth the time we spent waiting for them.
Jake and Abi met young - when they were in the eighth grade.
Their families spent many happy moments together over summers. and all five of the Martin kids and all six of the Marrah kids spent those weeks well, making the kinds of friendships that last into adulthood.
Life was good, and somewhere during those summer days sparks flew between Jake and Abi. They dated. And then they didn't. And then they did. Because sometimes it just takes all of us a little time to find our way, know our hearts, and find the path that our feet can feel right about taking.
Fast forward to 2014. They're dating. While Abi's family is moving across the country, relocating from their life-long home in Virginia to sunny Las Vegas, she is heading to Columbus to attend The Ohio State University - conveniently located in Jake's home town.
They date, but Abi tells me it will be a long while before they get married - they're in school, life is busy, it just makes sense to wait awhile...
...until it doesn't make sense anymore. Until you forget why you're waiting to walk down an aisle when you've found the person you always want to be found standing next to.
So he buys a ring because when you know, you know. And on a cold winter night he sings her a song and asks her to be the one standing next to him for the rest of his days, and all of those best laid plans take a back seat because life's BEST moments often don't come on our timetable.
She says yes - fast forward - it's July and they're saying the big, real forever 'YES' now.
You know, I've only known Abi a year (she's my 2nd shooter on most wedding days), but I've never seen her this happy.
Jake is goofy and keeps her laughing and that'll be the best antidote when there are rough days.
Jake and Abi had a midday wedding and it was so important to them to be able to spend as much time with their guests as possible, so they opted to do the photos of just the two of them AFTER the reception was over. Because Abi is also a photographer, the photos were important to her as well. I loved that this gave her the best of both worlds. Abi loves photos that are free spirited, romantic, authentic, adventurous. When she heard there was a creek where we were shooting their formals, before I even had a chance to ask her if she wanted to venture into the water, she asked if she could. Woman after my own heart right there.
If you've followed this blog long at all, you're probably wondering where the rest of their wedding is...you know, the part where they actually said "I DO" and all. I'm doing something a little differently with this wedding. Tonight I'm blogged the peek into their creative shoot. Tomorrow I'm sharing the part of their day that everyone else saw and experienced - getting ready, the ceremony, the reception. It just felt right because I had a lot of photos from their creative shoot, and it was going to end up being a HUGE blog post if I shared it all at once. So I'm giving it to you in two segments! Check back tomorrow for the rest of their story! And enjoy!
SECOND PHOTOGRAPHER | Ashley D Photography
FLOWER CROWN & BOUTONIERRES | Sophia Arroyo
HAIR & MAKE UP | Milca Rhodes
BOUQUETS | Anderson Farms
VIDEOGRAPHY | Jack & Taylor McClintock of G&P Productions
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It's been around three years since I quit my day job at an accounting office to pursue photography. Back in the day, as I jumped into the world of art, photography, and running a business, it felt (and still does actually) like I didn't have the time to do all of the things that I wanted to do creatively. I have more ideas and inspiration than time to execute them all. I believe this is simply the nature of creativity, and I am learning that you need to simply TAKE THE TIME to execute the ideas that make your heart sing. It is SO easy to fall back on the excuse of "I don't have time" ...and I get it. You don't. I don't. We don't have time. This is not a mandate to go make ALL of your ideas happen, because let's face it - not all of our ideas are that great. We aren't meant to pursue every creative whim that strikes us. Unfortunately, too often we fall into the trap of waiting for that ideal moment to make our creative dreams come to life. Chances are, that ideal moment may never come around. I have found that most often art and creativity do not happen when everything is perfect and we have time. They happen in the fringe moments when life is crazy and we choose to make art anyway.
One of the little things that makes my heart sing is pretty presentation, so today on the blog I'm featuring the Keepsake Boxes that I send out to my wedding clients. These little boxes started off a bit more simply than this and they keep evolving over time. No two are the same, and it's a fun little way that I get to experiment and be creative.
I know it's small and kind of ridiculous, but it makes me insanely happy to send off pretty little boxes with prints, chocolate, and a cute little custom wooden USB.
Happy Wednesday folks! Make space for something that makes your heart sing today.]]>(Read more about how they fell in love HERE.)
The earrings were Kate's something borrowed, the vase was her something blue, the perfume was her something old, and the pearl necklace was her something new.
A sweet note from the bride's sister Marilyn who poured so much of her creativity into George & Kate's day.
George picked out Kate's wedding shoes for her. How sweet is that?! He modeled back in Kenya and he loves to dress with 'swagger' (to put it in his own words) so it's not unusual for him to give Kate little tips on what to wear.
Maid of honor, sister, and the lender of Kate's something borrowed.
First Look!
Kate chose an old train station in her hometown of Barnesville, Ohio as the location for their portraits. She'd always loved the station so it felt right that their wedding portraits would be there.
Love this shot of Kate. She carries herself with so much elegance.
Pearls are always a good choice.
They hand painted beautiful little signs like this for different areas of the wedding.
Love this moment between Kate and her niece.
Loving the legit sun flare happening in the candid moment above.
The wedding took place at Kate's parents' home, and it made me realize all over again why I love backyard weddings.
Their ceremony was a beautiful blend of cultures. They had their Kenyan names displayed on the backs of their chairs. It was a simple and lovely way to honor George's culture.
Their family members that were present surrounded them to play blessing over their marriage.
They danced their way back down the aisle as the new Mr. & Mrs. Kasoa!
The theme and feel of the wedding was exactly as the bride intended: relaxed, casual, and fun. Kate comes from a large family, and the whole affair felt like you'd simply been invited to spend the evening as a part of the camaraderie that exists within their family culture. It was lovely. They set out yard games, and guests mingled in the yard and enjoyed the beautiful evening until dinner began shortly before dusk.
Because of the way wedding days usually flow, I don't often get photos of a bride alone in the reception, so I l think this photo of Kate taking in all of the details that came together to make their reception beautiful is special. Wedding days fly by so quickly. I love that she had a chance to walk through before dinner began and really take it all in.
Sunset photos are always a favorite of mine.
In Kenyan weddings, there is a tradition of "dancing in" the bride and groom. George and Kate were "danced in" by his relatives and friends, and it was sucha fun and unique moment within their day.
I enjoyed that the clear tent allowed for the atmosphere of evening to be experienced in all of its pretty phases. I especially liked the blue colors of dusk and the way it showed up in all of these photos that were taken before the evening turned dark.
There is something so very inviting about lights in the evening, about gatherings with friends under the stars, and celebrating love.
They even set off a few fireworks before heading to the dance floor.
It was a perfect evening in all of the best ways.
Congratulations Kate and George! You two have such a beautiful love story, and it was an honor and a pleasure to photograph your day!
Special thanks to Mindy Danelle Photography for second shooting the day with me!
VIDEOGRAPHY | Black Red Media + Kate & George's Wedding Video
TENTS, CHAIRS, LINENS | Arise Tents and Events
The bride wanted to extend her gratitude to a few family members who used their gifts and talents so generously to make their day incredible:
Marilyn Yoder - sister of the bride 'for being the most amazing and creative planner!'
Katie Troyer - cousin of the bride who contributed all of the beautiful florals
Kristina Yoder - cousin of the bride and owner of Dream Day Wedding Services for coordinating the ceremony
Sarah & Ruth Mast - for the delicious food they made for the event
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I should have blogged about this back in April but I tend to be dreadfully lazy about editing, blogging, or doing much of anything with my personal photos, so I let them sit untouched for a few months. The inspiration for finally pulling these images out of the dusty recesses of my hard drive was a visit from friends. While we were in NYC, we spent most of our weekend with Pete's old friend Jordan, his girlfriend Elizabeth, and sweet and spunky seven-year-old Vanessa. We had such a great time with them and told them they should come see us in Columbus sometime. This past weekend, to our delight, they took us up on that offer, and we showed them around Columbus. Their visit inspired me to dig back into the photos of our trip, so I thought I'd share a few frames of what I saw through my lens while I was in NYC.
I went a little crazy playing with double exposures on the trip so you'll see a lot of those in this post. It was fun for something different, and I love the way double exposures allowed me to communicate more of the story. The image below was a combination of the blooming trees of springtime on the street where Pete used to live in Brooklyn and - wait for it - a trash can with the name of said street. I like the contrast of the beauty of the trees with the texture and grit of the print from the can. I feel like that's life and New York - beautiful and ugly in a single breath.
I love this shot of Elizabeth and Vanessa. Elizabeth is a good mother, and it shows up in little and big ways in everyday life. This photo is honest and real and I think maybe sometimes parenting is just about giving them a hand to hold over a railing as they take a route that looks adventurous to them.
How gorgeous are Jordan and Elizabeth together?! I snagged a few photos of them before dinner one night this past weekend, and couldn't resist sharing a few here...look for more towards the end of the post!
I had fixated on the idea of visiting Jane's Carousel, so we rode the carousel and spent the evening meandering along the water in the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge.
Pete wasn't half as bored as he looks in this photo... ;p
Fun side note: You can rent Jane's Carousel as a wedding venue. Who knew?! (I've officially added it to my wedding venue bucket list of places I want to shoot. Long shot? Probably. But that's why they call it a bucket list. If you're looking for a fun and original venue, look no further.)
Another fun double exposure...
This was a fun shot for something different. To execute it better, I needed a tripod. (I was looking for a sharp bridge and motion blur from Pete walking.) Alas, my tripod was at home in Ohio, so I did the best I could without my handy dandy tripod and trigger. #nerdalert
Grand Central and more double exposures.
This shot of the clock and the flag is probably my favorite from the whole trip from an art/communication standpoint. It wasn't particularly intentional. I was just playing, and I liked the flag and the clock, and somehow after I'd framed the two shots together it felt really powerful. America...the time...I guess the photograph to me felt like an invitation to pray for this beautiful, breaking country of ours. If you're as nerdy as I am and want a print of this image, message me and I'll hook you up.
Last evening, Pete and I were chatting about having spent the weekend with Jordan, Elizabeth, and Vanessa and we decided that this must be what it feels like to have a little vacation right at home. We relaxed, chatted, ate Nutella crepes, browsed North Market, enjoyed Shakespeare in the Park in German Village, stayed up late watching Impractical Jokers, and sipped Moscato by the Scioto Mile fountains. Our life is rarely this idyllic so we savored the time and experiences with friends, and this week we're back to reality.
Isn't Elizabeth stunning? She's one of those rare people who is so delightfully AUTHENTIC. What you see is what you get. There's no pretense or putting on airs. In a world full of people paranoid about what everyone is going to think of them, desperate to carve out and project a perfect image, Elizabeth just is who she is. She is humble, confident, kind, and a person of incredible strength and character. I am honored to know her. After the first evening we'd spent with Jordan and Elizabeth back in April - it was the first time we'd met Elizabeth - Pete told me, "She's so good for him."
I love the way God rescripts what we think are our biggest failures and turns them into epic stories of redemption - the kind that leave your jaw hanging open at how good He is. Jordan found home and calling when he moved to New York City years ago. He coaches little league and impacts the hearts of the kids he coaches year after year by doing the hard work of showing up, investing, and developing relationships that actually change the trajectory of these kids' lives. It's a big deal, but in the midst of the everyday grind of life there's nothing glamorous about it. It's hard work, but it's hopeful work, and it's work he's called to do. It matters in the long run because one person showing up day after day, year after year, is how you change a generation. You teach them by example what it looks like to be present and to not leave. Jordan is doing that in a quiet, everyday sort of way.
Guys, it was so fun to have you here. We enjoyed every second of it and hope to see the three of you again soon!
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From the moment I sat down and chatted with her mother Gayle about Ariana, I was excited to share her story with you. Gayle and her husband Kevin made the decision to adopt around fifteen months ago. Adoption can be a long and difficult adventure, and Gayle expressed how very led her and Kevin have felt throughout the entire process.
They were able to meet Ariana's birth mother and sister before Ariana was born, so they've been so blessed to hold Ariana in their arms from the very beginning.
Ariana's arrival into this great big world has been a bit rough. She had some health difficulties and spent thirteen days in the hospital before she was able to come home. She's still struggling a bit so say prayers for her and her parents when you think of them. She's had some additional pain that the doctors have said should wear off as time goes on, but it's made for some long and sleepless nights for these new parents. Most nights she spends in the arms of her parents, so Gayle and I couldn't believe how wonderfully she did for her newborn session. I usually try to photograph newborn sessions within the first ten days of birth, because it tends to be much easier during those first few weeks. She was over three weeks old and still having health struggles that made her cry a lot, so the fact that she was such an angel for her session was a definite answer to prayer.
I love these shots of the three of them in Ariana's room.
One of my favorite parts of this story is the way it worked out to name their new little bundle. Before she was born, Gayle and Kevin sat down with her birth mother and sister and out of the three our four names that Gayle had jotted down as options she liked for naming her little girl, 'Ariana' was a name that her big sister had picked out as well. It's the little things like picking the same name that are wonderful reminders that God really does know what He's doing and cares about the smallest details of our lives.
Congratulations, Kevin and Gayle! Ariana is beautiful, and I was so honored to capture this chapter of your story.
This little face. I can't even deal.
Happy *early* Birthday, Laila! You are adored!
COMING SOON...
STYLED MINI SESSIONS
This September I will be hosting Styled Mini-Session dates! It's going to be all kinds of fabulous, complete with fun and stylish props in charming locations. If you dread the schlep that family photos can be or just want to have a photo you actually like gracing your annual Christmas card this year, this is for you. Full details are still in the works and will be released in the next month or so, BUT if you want to be on the list to get the details BEFORE they're released on social media and the session slots fill up, message me HERE, type in your name and email address, and paste this into the message section: ADD TO FALL STYLED MINI-SESSION EMAIL PRE-RELEASE. This will give you first access to the session styling options (There will be three themes!) and give you the chance to pick the style that's your favorite before the session slots are filled. FYI, signing up for the pre-release email does NOT mean you're committing to reserving a spot. It just means you'll get the info a little before everyone else. OH, and we're having canvas giveaways! Told you it was going to be fun. Anyway, enough rambling from me. Happy Tuesday all!
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Yes, Jack is most definitely shoving dirt in his mouth in this photo. I kind of love it because it is nothing if not a quintessential one year old boy moment. This was right before he was swept up and the dirt was safely removed from his hands and mouth (because he does in fact have loving parents who don't let him snack on dirt from the wood pile).
I feel like this is his 'Yes, I-also-model-on-the-weekends' look. So cute!
Happy Belated Birthday, Jack! So fun to have you in front of my lens again!
COMING SOON...
STYLED MINI SESSIONS
This September I will be hosting Styled Mini-Session dates! It's going to be all kinds of fabulous, complete with fun and stylish props in charming locations. If you dread the schlep that family photos can be or just want to have a photo you actually like gracing your annual Christmas card this year, this is for you. Full details are still in the works and will be released in the next month or so, BUT if you want to be on the list to get the details BEFORE they're released on social media and the session slots fill up, message me HERE, type in your name and email address, and paste this into the message section: ADD TO FALL STYLED MINI-SESSION EMAIL PRE-RELEASE. This will give you first access to the session styling options (There will be three themes!) and give you the chance to pick the style that's your favorite before the session slots are filled. FYI, signing up for the pre-release email does NOT mean you're committing to reserving a spot. It just means you'll get the info a little before everyone else. OH, and we're having canvas giveaways! Told you it was going to be fun. Anyway, enough rambling from me. Happy Thursday all!
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(FYI, the chocolate photo is because chocolate is always a good idea.)
ANYWAY...
There was a time in my life when this quote would have annoyed the heck out of me. 'All those things I always wanted to do' felt like such an overwhelming concept to even contemplate. Sometimes it still does. When people would ask me about my dreams, it made me feel small and want to hide and exit the conversation. I didn't know what I wanted to do, and sometimes I still don't.
People say to 'dream big' and I think that's true and great and I fully support that statement, but most of us who've lived the better part of our lives afraid feel incredibly queasy around that statement. Dreaming big is for idiots, entrepreneurs, and people without common sense. We have a practical life and bills need to be paid and ain't nobody got time for stuff that's never going to happen. Fair enough. The realists do have a point. My point is that if you're new at the whole dreaming thing like I was am, maybe it's better to start small. I think learning to dream can be like exercise or running a marathon. If we try to dream a giant dream without training and dreaming a hundred little practice dreams along the way, when the chance at our big dream comes along, we won't be ready for it because our hearts aren't conditioned to take on that much risk. Dreaming is hard work. Dreaming involves believing, and it is so much easier to live whipped by life. Things go wrong all the time. I got a parking ticket at my photo session last night. I calculated, and the meter couldn't have been empty for much more than ten minutes. Our water company decided that they needed to change out our meter, and though there had been some contact about changing it out, the other day, randomly, they decided to shut our water off. I discovered this shortly after 6:00 when their office was already closed for the day and there was no way to get someone out yet that evening. No shower for me that night. I could go on about life and stuff and the way things don't always flow the way they should, but that isn't my point. My point is that belief is hard. Dreaming even the little dreams is hard. Just keeping your head above water is hard. The way I see it, we've got two choices. Most of us spend our lives treading water. We're expending effort just to stay above the surface. We're working really hard at survival, so why wouldn't we change up our strokes and try swimming somewhere. I'm not saying it's all going to be great or better or perfect, but at least you will have explored the possibilities. You'll get stronger in the process. You'll realize that it's not so much about the fulfillment of a dream as it is the way you view life and possibilities and who you become in the process.
In 2012 I scribbled out as many dreams as I could find words for onto a big yellow notepad. Some of the things I wrote down were really possible. A lot were long shots that are pretty unlikely. Some of them were frivolous and fun and ridiculous. Others were meaningful and significant. I'm not sure where that list got to but writing it down did something for me. It created this sort of map in my head. I can't go after all of these dots and dreams on this map in my head at once. There are too many dots, and timing on some of the dreams I have will have to be perfect, miraculous really.
Dreaming is not about taking on a list of to-do's. Heaven knows we have enough of that already. It is about giving our hearts permission to engage with who God has created us to be by writing down all of the randomness that makes us come alive. Start there. Start by writing down the last time you felt really alive. And then ask yourself why you felt alive. Pull on the clues and the strings of your heart until you know who you are. The world needs people who know exactly who they are and what they're called to do and aren't afraid to draw maps of where they aren't yet.
I'm going after one of my dots on the map this year. One of my frivolous and fun dreams was to run a full marathon by the time I'm thirty. I've run eight half marathons, but a full marathon looks daunting to me. I don't know why I decided I should run it before I turn thirty. Who knows what my 2012 brain was thinking, but it's been on the map in my head that way for three years now, so I figure I should roll with it. I turn twenty-nine this October. Which, by the way, is COMPLETELY WEIRD. I haven't had any sort of crisis about it, but I keep wondering if I will. Anyway, I digress. Back to marathons, dreams, and making maps in our heads. Earlier this year I read this book and Donald inspired me to live a better story. In much more eloquent words, he conveyed that he conditioned himself to start living a better story by starting small and living better "practice" stories. I'm running this marathon for three reasons.
- It's a dot on the map in my head. It's been a dream since before I knew how to put dots on the map in my head.
- I want to live a better story. I don't know if this will help or not, but I figure it's worth a shot.
- I want a challenge. I want the risk of trying something I'm not sure I can do. I want the possibility of failure, and I want to push myself farther than I have before. I suppose I think I'll find out all kinds of unpleasantness about myself along the way and I'm hoping that the process flushes more fear and doubt out of my system.
One last word about dreaming and drawing maps. It's not so much about where you go or the dreams you dream or what you accomplish. The point is who you become in the process. We won't take any of our fulfilled dreams with us when we die. The fact that I ran a marathon, if I'm able to, won't matter. What I will take with me is who I became in the process. That's why we dream. We dream because it changes us. It invites us into who we are meant to become as people. Success or failure all comes out in the wash in the end. Who you become is what matters, and dreaming and drawing dots of where we aren't but might like to be can help the process of becoming.
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When she arrived that evening, Kelly filled her in and asked her if she would be open to stepping in front of the camera for a little photo session before they went out for the rest of the evening. She said yes and gave Kelly a big hug, and off we went to photograph and celebrate this season of Chelsea's story.
Chelsea went off to college a few years back, and life slowly but surely wore her down until she'd reached a breaking point. Sometimes all of our determination and will power isn't enough to keep us going, and our breaking point becomes the place where we are finally willing to To Be Rescued.
Being rescued is this humble and desperate place that doesn't feel particularly wonderful at the time, but it can become a gateway to the less scripted, Abundant Life that we were really meant for. That's been part of her story. Sometimes it all needs to fall apart for us to find our way. And in the end, we are better off because of the breaking.
Chelsea is fun-loving and free-spirited and doing the hard work of learning how to be fully herself in the skin God gave her.
She is all kinds of lovely, from her heart to her eyes to the way joy she gives joy expression.
Chelsea was a ballet dancer until she tore her ACL a few years back. That's actually how her and Kelly met. Kelly had torn her ACL as well and they met each other in therapy. I love the way God surprises us with beautiful gifts in the midst of unpleasantness. No one enjoys tearing their ACL, but running into someone who ends up becoming a good friend down the road is a gift that it's worth opening our hearts for when it would be easier to be frustrated that the unpleasantness happened in the first place. Most of the battle is keeping our hearts open to receive His goodness.
Life is never going to give us perfect. Knowing that becomes empowering when instead of letting difficulty harden our hearts, we learn to live with Hope. Hope can keep us anchored when all hell is breaking loose. It keeps us going when it would be so much easier to quit. Hope keeps us in the game when all the odds aren't in our favor. Hope is divine, really. Hope is The Person of Jesus.
Chelsea has found Hope and it shows. Life isn't perfect. She has bad days and sometimes they're all strung together to make a bad week, but Hope is this trump card that we get to pull on our bad week, and it means we always win.
Here's to friends who keep us laughing, remind us our stories are beautiful on the hard days, and who surprise us with their generosity and the way they refuse to let the change in us go uncelebrated.
Thank you for stepping in front of my camera, Chelsea. You are radiant.
If the concept for this session stirred your heart - the way one friend reached out to celebrate another - and you couldn't help but think of someone who you'd love to encourage and celebrate, I'd love to hear from you. People's stories matter, and it's often in the middle that we lose sight of the beauty of our own stories. Most people step in front of the camera at high points in their lives, and I get that. Thing is, I think we most need celebrating and encouragement when our stories feel forgotten, when we're wondering if God hit the pause button on our life, walked away, and forgot to push play again. When we most need to step into the light is when the baby weight is still clinging stubbornly to our midsections, when the breakup has us believing we aren't worthy of love, or when that dream job we thought we were getting fell through. That's when we need reminding that our stories aren't over.
I believe photography is a tool God has put in my hands to remind people of how much He loves them and that their stories - broken, bent, or stalled on a lonely highway in some desert - are beautiful, significant, and not even close to finished yet.
I'd love to partner with you in blessing the socks off of your friend and celebrating them wherever they are in their journey. I am committed to protecting their hearts above all. Stepping in front of the camera is a vulnerable experience under any circumstances, but especially when life feels uncertain. We will discuss each situation individually and determine how to best celebrate and encourage your friend in a way that feels safe and will be a positive experience for them.
Contact me here and tell me their story or just get more info about sponsored sessions.
Can't wait to hear from you!
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Josh & Karrie's day was so many kinds of beautiful, from the exquisite details of the bride's wedding gown to the gorgeous florals and the perfectly mismatched bridesmaids dresses to the groomsmen and their on-point sock choices. It was all so lovely, but nothing topped the beauty of the love that exists between Josh and Karrie. Enough chattering from me. Take it in for yourself.
This would be that moment when she was out of the car and her bridesmaids were all getting their shot because that's what you do when your friend is looking all gorgeous on her wedding day.
I know I'm going to say this more than once in this post, but Karrie was so very beautiful.
Fabulous sock choices, boys.
The bride sketched up her own design for her wedding gown and took it to a private seamstress to have it tailored.
I adore this shot of them before the ceremony. We got Josh safely positioned behind this brick pillar so they could exchange their gifts without seeing each other.
Karrie is a graphic designer and an artist with an attention to detail that showed up in million little lovely ways as they planned their wedding.
Such a sweet moment in prayer with her bridesmaids before she walked down the aisle.
This is the quintessential world of the bride on her wedding day - tucked away until ceremony time. She was peeking her head out because there's nothing like it being your wedding day to make you want to see what's going on. A moment later she was shooed back inside because Josh was around the corner.
The atmosphere of their ceremony was heartfelt and meaningful. They had a mixture of the traditional wedding vows coupled with vows they'd written to each other on their own. Do yourself a favor and click over to the link at the bottom of this blog post and check out their wedding video by Black Red Media. You can hear their vows, and it's the sweetest thing. ;)
This was the part where the groomsmen played a prank and pretended not to have the rings when they were asked for them. They all dug through their pockets and finally the last groomsmen produced the rings, and everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief that gave way to laughter at their mischief. Friends who have you laughing when you should be nervous are always a win.
Fun fact: The grove they chose to have their portraits photographed was also the spot where Josh proposed, which made it even sweeter.
Yup, that happened and sent everyone into gales of laughter.
I get it. It's not your traditional wedding photo, but it was a real and unprompted moment that was so them...goofing off, Josh causing trouble, and reminding Karrie of one of the reasons she fell in love with him in the first place - he keeps her laughing. The fun they have together is the kind that you're lucky to find once in a lifetime.
The happy couple and their bridal party, enjoyed a leisurely ride on an exceptionally charming, horse-drawn covered wagon to their reception.
There were so many lovely details to this backyard reception.
Josh & Karrie are a spunky couple. They're the kind of people who live spontaneously, and love with their whole hearts, and feed each other cake like they mean it.
Most of the day was overcast, but the sun peeked out for a few minutes before it headed below the horizon. When God gives you sunshine, you say thank you, and sneak out of your reception to take a photo to remember His goodness.
They spent their evening chatting and laughing the night away as friends shared memories with them and their guests.
The candles burned down low, and joy was thick in that place.
They danced their first dance under an open sky, surrounded by friends.
They lived their wedding day like they live the rest of their lives - to the fullest. When the groomsmen good-naturedly tossed Josh into the backyard pool, like only true love can, Josh talked Karrie into ending the evening with a tandem jump into the backyard pool. It was what love should be: an adventure.
The wedding was a beautiful reflection of these two souls: fun, free-spirited, spontaneous, and full of love and laugher.
Congratulations, guys. Your day was all the right kinds of crazy and wonderful.
Be sure to check out Josh & Karrie's wedding video by Black Red Media!
2ND SHOOTER | Abigail Martin
VIDEOGRAPHY | Black Red Media
HAIR | The Beehive Hair Salon
MAKEUP | Rig & Co.
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I’ve found worry to be the sort of guest who sneaks into my home without me noticing. I’m unaware until I find the rooms of my heart and mind in utter disarray because she’s come in, camped out, stolen all peace with her busy fretting and constant list-making of negative possibilities. She’s rude and subtly obnoxious and always operates under the assumption that she is the best one to be in charge. She’s never helpful. She only points at what must be done or what could and should be done, and as you jump to her demands she distracts you with what else must be done. She steals the joy of your day with her hovering.
She’s hideously logical and ridiculously illogical at once. Her logic will point at you and what you’re called to do and throw you on a measuring scale with your calling and alone on that scale you’ll always come up short of what you’re called to. She’s right. Alone, you’re not up to what you’re called to do. Her lack of logic is every bit as cruel. She’ll torment you with unlikely possibilities of ruin.
She’s never to be trusted. She is in no way a friend. She pretends to have your well being at heart, but her presence paralyzes. She is an emissary of fear, one of its subtle subjects that we pretend is okay and normal to have around our dinner table at night. She is an ugly adversary and as we see her for what she is, venomous and bent on keeping us tied in anguished knots, her mask disintegrates and her hideous nature is revealed. We can’t afford to have her around wrecking our Tuesdays with her lies.
I’ve found that she doesn’t take a hint. She won’t leave just because you don’t like her. She mocks my attempts to argue her out my door.
You know what else I’ve found? She can’t hang out with Jesus. His Peace is her kryptonite. It will send her running every single time. It works for the logical fretting and the over the top fears. Worry scuttles for the hills at His arrival.
Worry pestered my Monday and shook me awake with her demands on this Tuesday, and I’m thinking I’m over it.
The best way to keep worry out is to keep a constant other Guest in her place. He’ll hang out and He’s kind and His Peace is illogical too. Don’t stress so much about how to get worry out. I’ve tried fighting her on my own and that never goes well. Invite Peace in, and worry will leave because she just can’t deal. Problem solved, Tuesday saved.
Philippians 4:6-9
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Enter Mr. George Kasoa Nzivo.
Katie's parents had a heart for the orphaned of Africa and took steps to make a difference several years back. It was on a trip to visit the orphanage her parents had founded when she first met George.
Love often has this way of sneaking up on you when you least expect it.
After she'd returned to the States from her trip, Katie & George started messaging each other. When she was back for a visit a few months later in August of that year, it became apparent that some sort of something that looked a whole lot like love was definitely in the air. Those weeks in August flew right by, and Katie found herself heading back to the U.S. of A all too soon.
Leaving your favorite place in the world is hard enough. But when that favorite place now holds your favorite person, a whole new ache for home sets in.
Smitten with 5,000 miles between you and your favorite person isn't the easiest thing in the world. January they were back together again for three solid weeks of togetherness.
It was in April when Katie was back on Kenyan soil that George had had enough of only getting to see Katie every third month. So he did what any reasonable man would do. He drove her two hours up a mountain, had a T.I.A. moment or two when their vehicle got stuck in a few riverbeds, and when they finally reached the top of the mountain, George was....wait for it...
ARRESTED.
I know. I didn't see that one coming either. And neither did Katie who was on the verge of tears as George was being inexplicably forced into handcuffs on the top of this mountain they'd just spent two hours ascending. Life took a much-needed upturn when as George was kneeling down and 'being handcuffed' he pulled out a beautiful, ruby red engagement ring and proposed. The entire scheme, police car and almost-incarceration included, was part of his plan to propose.
She said YES.
Because when you travel two tumultuous hours with someone and he almost gets arrested, you become even more sure of what you already wanted - him, and his drama, his sweeping romantic gestures, and all of the getting stuck-in-the-riverbed moments in between.
George is in the States now, and they're tying the knot next month. And while Katie's heart is still for Africa, she's found a person who will always be home no matter where she finds herself.
Congratulations, you beautiful, crazy lovebirds. You make me believe in love all over again.
]]>Happy Tuesday, everyone! George & Katie were all kinds of fun to photograph last night, despite Ohio's bi-polar weather conditions. I can't wait to share their whole story, but for now, enjoy this little peek into their engagement session!
Dying just a bit over the romance of this shot.
Ohio's weather was more moody than ever and gave us beautiful sunshine in one moment and a torrential downpour (not pictured) a few minutes later.
That's all for now! More to come!
And a random tip for all my photographer friends out there: If you're wondering if the protective glass UV filters for lenses are worth it...they are! I pulled out my 70-200mm mid-session and heard a terrifying crunchy noise coming from my lens. I opened it up before I had time to watch my lens' little life flash before my eyes and THANKFULLY only the filter had broken. My lens was fine, the session went on, and I was feeling UBER thankful I'd sprung for the filter last year. If you're on the fence, make it happen for any of your lenses that are worth protecting.
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I think wedding details are like the frosting of a wedding day. Sweet, lovely, indulgent. At least that's what they are for me. I love spending time photographing the little touches that make up the fringes of the story. I love accessories in life and at weddings. So here's a different sort of wedding post for you. It's an all icing kind of night. Just straight details for you. Some days you just need to dip your finger into the bowl of frosting and ride the sugar rush.
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This is my sister Amy and her fiancé OL.
If you've ever crossed paths with Amy, you'll know that there's really no one like her. She is color and energy and whipping up a party in two seconds flat. She's smart and she's driven. Most of her life she's worked full time as a teacher and balanced a second job on evenings and weekends. And then there was the season that she added getting her master's degree to the mix. Amy is the queen of making things happen. Most of the time, there's not a lot of uncertainty with her. As soon as her path becomes clear, she takes it. I admire this about her, because it's a quality I lack. I spend a lot of time wondering what I want and wringing my hands when I stumble across a path I think might be good. Not Amy. She weighs her options practically, prays about it and gives Jesus dibs on the decision, and then she moves forward and doesn't look back.
OL Kelly is one of the world's more quietly exceptional people. It's not that he's quiet. He'll chat with you. In fact, he's the life of the party and more outgoing than Amy. What I mean by 'quietly exceptional' is that it will not be wildly obvious to you right at first how deep OL's strength runs. Those are the best kind of people, by the way. The secretly exceptional. They're like deep water, and they're the kind of people you want in your universe. Beneath the layers of personality, if Amy is the whirlwind of action, OL's strength is the calm in the middle of it.
I don't want to go into OL's story too much, because it's his to share, but suffice it to say this man is an overcomer. Around eight years ago he was hit by an oncoming car, caught on the wrong end of someone else's decision to drive drunk. The wreck should have killed him. He spend three months in the hospital, and was told it was unlikely he would walk again. Last year he ran his first half marathon. He is passionate about justice for others because he has known injustice.
I've heard that stories have these pivotal moments in them. They're often difficult to pin down as they happen, because it takes life a bit of time to stir in this new ingredient and show us that what's been added has altered our lives forever. That was Amy and OL. They met just over a year ago. A mutual friend thought they should be introduced, and she was quite right.
One of my favorite things about my work is hearing how two people meet and find each other to be the most wonderful thing on God's green earth that they've stumbled across. Most of the time, I hear this at engagement sessions and over coffee after the story has played out. With Amy, I got to watch it play by play, and let me tell you, it was so fun to witness. Last summer, OL made the trip up to Ohio to meet the parents and the rest of the crazy Miller family. I remember one evening during that trip, Amy and I were standing in the laundry room and she told me she wants to go on record: she thinks she's marrying him.
And she is.
Please note the 'OL' in the backround. It was too perfect (and entirely unplanned) not to have a little fun with it!
One of my favorite parts of this story is the melting of Amy's heart. I'd say it started with OL, but this story is so much bigger and better than two people. For Amy, OL is like the icing and the evidence of what God has worked in her heart over the last few years. Her ship has come in. Their ships have come in. For a long time, without ever meaning to or even knowing she was doing it, Amy had shut out the idea of allowing someone near her heart. Life's circumstances play tricks on us sometimes and without ever knowing it, we swallow ugly lies whole and believe things that aren't from God at all. I watched as over a period of several years, Amy's heart thawed and came alive and she let God teach her what was true. He did that teaching in the kindest and most subtle of ways. Unhurried. I think sometimes we look at others and think it all happened for them at once. It's never like that. There are always the years of thawing. Amy and OL are finding each other at forty and forty-one, and I think this makes their story sweeter. If your road is long, keep on. Amy and OL can tell you. It is God who makes every story good. The ship coming in is sweet, but the process is the point. Without process, your ship has no harbor in which to anchor. So if God is building your harbor and you see no ship on the horizon, trust Him. Let Him keep on with the hammering and the building for a ship you can't see. He can.
Back to Amy and OL. They're moving and buying a house, and she's found a new job in his area, and she bought a dress. I know these seem like normal things, but the way it has all fallen together for them feels like Fingerprints of the Divine because it is. That is the best of life I think - the experience of God in normal things that aren't normal at all because He's in them. And He has been in the fabric of their story since day one, and I wonder if He isn't pulling a Barney Stinson and self-fiving on this one.
One of my favorites.
I loved this whole set of these two. We shot in the courtyard of Navarro College and everything was blooming, green, and beautiful.
Our last stop was at one of Amy and OL's go-to date night spots in Corsicana. Napoli's is frequently where you could find them chatting away the evening.
Also, Napoli's has the best limoncello cake EVER. I know. I sampled. Okay, I had a whole piece. Perks of being a sister and being allowed to crash the date.
Guys, I'm so excited for August 1st. And for after August. I love that this is just the beginning. Congrats! Love you both...and OL, you are all kinds of perfect for Amy. Glad to have you join our tribe.
]]>I thought photography was "it" for me. Not in a bad way, but in an I-love-this-so-much-I-just-want-to-do-it-more kind of way. I wanted to focus EVERYTHING that I had on building a great photography business. And then I hit this internal wall. I still loved what I did, but a portion of my energy had shifted and I felt at a loss about what to do with myself.
It's been in the neighborhood of eighteen to twenty months ago since I hit that wall and scribbled an answer to a question in a journal filling up daily with more and more words. I couldn’t seem to stop the writing. The words spilled out of me, and Barnes & Noble’s journal sales went up and still I kept on.
The question: For what do you have energy?
And the word that popped out was WRITING.
So I kept on, less as a discipline and more as a way of being (read here: surviving). I process by writing. I find out how I feel about things as the characters make their way onto the page.
I don’t write perfect things. I don’t write out theologically correct things. I write from my heart, and because I write from my heart, things come out bent and broken and a little twisted sometimes.
I’m not here to be theologically correct as much as I am here to BE with honesty.
You need to know this. I don’t think the world needs another blogger. I’d rather not add to the noise. But I do want to show up for my life fearlessly and know that I gave it one hundred percent. It’s not so much about making a splash as it is about showing up to our own lives and doing the thing that needs to be done because it’s in us to do it.
So when I write, I want the words to honest. I want them to encourage. I want them to inspire and empower. I want them to humble us both, and make us stronger. I want the words to be raw and untethered. I want them unreligious and light on those churchy buzz words and heavy with God. I want them to put their little sans serif arms around you on the hard days.
So that’s it. I just wanted to tell you that I’m adding more words to this photography blog. I’m still documenting people’s stories, and that’s not going away cause I still love it like I love cheesecake…all day, every day. (Not really, but I would I if I could get away with it.)
Really the only thing that’s changing for me is the landing space for some of my words. Some of the words are going to find home here in this little corner of the big, loud internet.
I hope the words find you and hug you hard on the days when you need it most.
]]>Someone else is getting blessed. Someone else's life is fuller, richer, and better because of your efforts.
Currently, I'm on the receiving end of this unwarranted goodness, and I feel so incredibly grateful.
A little over a month ago, I noticed that one of the photographers that I admire was part of a new initiative to promote community over competition within the photography industry, as well as among creatives as a whole. I was immediately drawn to it, and thrilled when I saw that there was a group meeting locally in Columbus.
I met with this beautiful group of women and left feeling so encouraged. There's so much power in growing together, encouraging each other, exchanging knowledge, and seeking to empower others to be better business owners, photographers, and artists while being transparent that we still have so much to learn. I walked into Fox in The Snow that Tuesday not knowing a soul and left feeling like I'd met people to grow alongside. I've already felt so blessed by the friendships that are taking shape.
One of these friends is Mindy. This past Saturday we got up at the crack of dawn to swap head shots, drink coffee, and nerd out a bit on the inner workings and behind the scenes that goes into making beautiful photos.
Mindy, you are so lovely. On the outside, but on the inside too. Your spirit is sweet and genuine. That's something that can't be faked. I love the kindness, generosity, and sincerity I see in you.
We had fun. We learned and grew, and I left feeling a little less alone in the world. And it all started because someone somewhere took a step of faith for the good of others.
Check out more of my friend Mindy's work over at MindyDanelle.com.
]]>Their day arrived with a bit less sunshine in the forecast than they'd been hoping, but the rain held off most of the day and the sunshine in their hearts more than made up for the moody Ohio rainclouds.
These shoes won my heart. Enough said.
Sisters + best friends + now both have played the role of maid of honor to the other. Husbands aren't the only people we're lucky enough to grow older alongside. God made sisters and friends for the journey too, and growing and experiencing new things together has been this ever-changing comfort zone because the other is along for the journey. Here's to new phases of life, ladies, and walking beside each other in fresh seasons. I adore you both.
The word you're looking for is radiant. She was the very definition of it. So lovely, Carm.
I love the getting ready process. I love the way it inevitably feels like this celebration of who someone is. I love the way delight becomes this tangible presence in the room. I love the looks on faces happy to be celebrating this moment with the bride. Life is so beautiful, and relationships are the heart and soul and substance of its beauty.
This would be the moment when Aaron's sister saw him in his suit and happy, I-can't-believe-it's-your-wedding-day tears found their way out the corners of her eyes.
First look and Aaron's face says it all.
And now her face says it all.
It encapsulates so much of what I love about witnessing the moments when a bride and groom first see each other on their wedding day.
One of my favorites!
Carmen and Aaron's style is modern and classic, so I loved that the way this clean, architectural space created a perfect canvas on which to paint their romance.
This might be my favorite of the new Mrs. Hilbert.
Because I believe life + photos should sometimes be a little quirky and a lot of fun.
Bridal Party.
Something they don't tell you is that sometimes the moment right after the moment is the one you really want. There's the photo of both of Carmen's brothers giving her a peck on the cheek, and she'll get that one too...but this was the moment right after and the spontaneity of it makes it my favorite.
Can we just take a minute to honor women everywhere who have tromped through grass in heels?! It's a whole thing. It is a minefield and a danger zone and asking-to-get-your-ankle-twisted. So here's to all you brave souls out there who've navigated green pastures on wet days. I salute you, because heaven knows most of the universe is deeply unsympathetic. Your pretty heels make my camera happy. I'm hoping that'll be enough to keep you going next time your heels think their purpose in life is to be your personal tent pegs. I feel ya.
Because Carmen and Aaron's nieces are just too adorable not to share. Also, Nora has Aaron wrapped around her itty bitty fingers.
So happy to have joined the Mr. + Mrs. club.
In case you missed it, Carmen loves sparkle and bling (which makes my photographer heart love her even more).
Such sweet moments during the maid of honor's speech, like icing on cake or the whipped cream on top of a good latte. This moment was just a taste of a relationship that's good all the way through. The tears in Carmen's eyes tell the truth that words are just scratching the surface with these two.
Carmen's father had kind words of blessing for her and her new groom. He validated Carmen as a person and noted many of the wonderful qualities that she brought to their home growing up. He noted her generous spirit and the way she loves to give gifts. It was all true and a worthy tribute.
They fed each other cake...
And fought a little...
And made up and cleaned up the damage they'd done...
...and it was a good day.
For them, I'm thinking it was the best of days, with only the promise of more good days to follow the brilliant one they'd just experienced.
Congratulations Mr. + Mrs. Hilbert! You two are brilliant together, and it was an honor to witness your love story.
We were out for dinner a few months ago and she asked about head shots for a new venture. I delightedly agreed. Ashleigh is fairly non-traditional, so I knew we'd have a good time and she'd be happy to let me go after a creative version of traditional head shots.
In case you haven't caught on, she's loads of fun.
The photo below might be my favorite from her session. You are stunning, Ashleigh!
Thanks for stepping in front of my lens, Ashleigh. You are truly unique and absolutely lovely!
‘Follow Me’ is an invitation to do things differently, unconventionally. It is an invitation to tune to the channel of His Voice and follow.
It is the farmer who throws all his eggs in Jesus basket and trusts Him to not break the eggs.
Spoiler Alert: Jesus will totally break your eggs. I’m just going to clue you in right here, right now. Jesus breaks the eggs. He does. Mine have been broken a time or two, and I know a fair amount of people who have handed Him all their eggs and there lives are a hot, scrambling mess. Putting all your eggs in with Jesus is NOT A GOOD TIME. Let’s just keep it real, shall we? Let’s not pretend Jesus doesn’t make a mess of our lives when we follow Him. If that offends you, you should probably tune out now. In fairness, I’m not sure how much of it is Jesus and how much of it is life or us. Jesus has a personality though so we tend to blame Him. And since He became Your Basket Carrier when you intentionally turned the eggs over to Him, it’s easiest to blame Him since you did trust Him with your eggs. Either way, life happens. Eggs break and last you checked, Jesus was supposed to be holding them.
On a sidenote, if you’re one of the ones that feels like they’re eggs are already broken so you actually have nothing to hand to Jesus other than hands covered in yolk, you are a step ahead of the rest of us. For real. Who or what broke the eggs isn't actually the pivot point in the story like we think it is. The brokenness can feel like our whole universe. It can fee like the defining factor of our lives. We wring our hands about all that we did wrong to break the egg, or we get hung up being bitter at life because it broke the egg, and now we can’t hand it to Jesus and we feel paralyzed. The status of the egg being handed to Jesus is quite irrelevant. Hold up yolky hands and give Him the mess of you. You were gonna get scrambled and broken anyway.
What I’m trying to say is that the point of life is not to get through it with your eggs in tact. Who needs an unscrambled egg in a basket anyway? Scrambling feels like hell. Being in the frying pan is not what we signed up for. HELLO. We signed up for being safe in Jesus basket.
Seriously, it’s the parts where we are in the frying pan that things get dicey. All of my ugly runs all over and there is usually a lot of sizzling (read here: whining) and on some level I think it’s okay. Sizzle to the heavens when it hurts.
Just don’t let go of this one thing:
Hang onto the truth of Who He Is.
A neat, perfect, unscrambled life was never what we wanted anyway.
We wanted Him. We wanted purpose. We wanted lives that were poured out that mattered. We didn’t sign up for the scrambling, but we can trust Him through it. Jesus will use anything. That is how good He is. He will use anything that life throws at you. Whatever broke you, scrambled you, landed you in a mess in a frying pan that you did or didn’t choose, He will make it okay. Actually, He’ll make it better than okay. He’ll make it epic. He will make your cracked, breaking, egg-shells-everywhere life better than good. I don’t know how, but He does. He'll serve you up, and on the other side of all that brokenness and frying, you'll thank Him because somehow through all of that ugly you'll be used for good. You'll tell Him how brilliant He was and how much vision He had and how ridiculously generous He is to include you in His breakfast routine. And you'll mean it and you'll feel that goodness as deeply as you felt the sizzling.
Happy Tuesday. The Good News is always awesome, but some days it's just enough to keep you going.
Be okay with the breaking.
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Allen & Leanne had known each other as friends for a little while, about four years actually, before he asked her out. Leanne positively glowed when she told me how he'd made the good vibes and chemistry in their relationship official by asking her out...at the beach. She said it was the most romantic evening. 
They spent the next year together, falling more in love as the days went by.
Christmastime rolled around and they found themselves in Nashville, vacationing with Allen's family. It was there, in front of the Grand Ole Opry, that Allen asked Leanne if she'd spend the rest of her days with him.
Love this one!
Allen + Leanne are truly crazy about each other. I saw it in all the little ways that are hard to put a finger on because they're subtle. It's the way they are together, the little looks, and the obvious vibes.
Congratulations, you two! Adventures are better together, and I'm so happy you two have found each other!
]]>This session made my artist heart happy for multiple reasons.
Kelly is a beautiful soul and being with her is good for the heart - specifically mine. She's a ton of fun, and little adventures usually transpire when we're together.
The vision for this session started intentionally as we were sipped down coffee at Barnes & Noble one day this past winter, and she explained what she had in mind. She's attending Moody Bible Institute and there was a specific concept she was after creatively. As we brainstormed the vision evolved, and we found ourselves chattering excitedly through ideas. Kelly has a heart to help those who've been victims of sexual exploitation. That's why she's attending Moody - it's an intentional step in a direction that she feels called to make a difference.
The name Kelly means 'warrior' and occupying this identity in a spiritual sense has been a huge part of her journey. This session was simply a way for us to celebrate this journey and process in a creative way.
So lovely!
One of the easiest lies for us to swallow as believers is simply that we are less than, not good enough, or arrogant to go after the things that God has put before us to do. Believing that we are exactly who God says we are can be half the battle...or at least the part of the battle at which we're meant to swing our swords. Belief is a big deal. It shapes our lives because we move and act and make decisions from what we genuinely believe in our hearts about God and about ourselves. When we cling to the truth of what God says above all that lies that feel so true, we are warring well.
​Kelly will be the first to tell you that warring well, clinging to the truth, doesn't always feel as pretty as a picture. Often warring well shows up like tears on cheeks, and teeth gritting, and letting go of the ugliness we see in our own souls and simply trusting that what Jesus did? It's enough. It's enough to cover all that we aren't, because this story was never about us being the hero anyway. This has always been His story, and He's invited us into His grand tale, and the war is just to believe we have a part and with trembling hands have the faith to pick up a sword and believe The Truth That Sets Us Free. This is what it means to war.
On a creative sidetone, I had a bit of fun playing with double exposure for the shot above. (In other words, this is not a Photoshop trick. It was shot this way in camera.) It's not something I do much, but the mixture of the lace, sword, and her eyes was unique so thought I'd share this one here too.
Kelly, I'm so proud of you. I love your honesty. I love the way you sat across from me at my yellow kitchen table and didn't sugar coat that you'd made some bad decisions that left your heart feeling a little mangled. You are not your bad days. You aren't your best days either. You're who God says you are every single day, whether you're warring well or feeling a bit lost. The best news ever is that it really isn't about us. You are a beautiful part of His story, and I can't wait to see how your thread in this plot plays out. Keep fighting the good fight.
Photo: Gingerich Photography
My mom and I are about as different as night and day.
She is focused, organized, and great at seeing the details but not getting swallowed whole and eaten alive by them (like yours truly).
She's smart. She will research random house products that she's thinking of purchasing with the diligence of a scientist seeking a breakthrough discovery. For real. Ask my brother about that time he and my mom were together and he happened to be contemplating a wastebasket purchase. He will tell you, she got scientific about those waste cans. I'm poking fun, but let's be real - she's my first call when I need advice about this stuff.
She values authenticity in relationships. I love this about her. It's one of my favorite things. She doesn't bother with the fake stuff.
She's a rockstar Bible teacher. My theory on why she's awesome at this is that she totally nerds out on digging into historical context, then takes what she learns and instead of shoving information at you, she teaches by asking great questions and giving you just enough information to invite you to think and find the answers. The x-factor of her teaching is that at the very root, she mainly just wants to know Jesus more deeply, and she just invites you to join her. It's pretty awesome. Now you want to attend her class. You're welcome. Advertisement over.
My mom could have been a CEO. She could have been a general contractor too. Don't even get me started on all the renovation projects she's helped all of us kids pull off. It's never been a question of whether or not she'd have what it takes. She always has. She's that kind of woman. She could have been a CEO, but instead she chose to raise eight opinionated kids. Spoiler: She's apparently crazy? I, for one, am super glad that she is.
Lately I've been thinking a lot about what makes a life fulfilling. At the core is Jesus, and I found Him a few years back, but I'm still trying to work out the whole fulfillment bit. I get it that He loves me and all, but working out what I'm supposed to actually do with the time I've been given is another thing. On some level, giving away the Love I've been given needs some practical wings to take flight. I think it's probably pretty simple, because most of the good stuff isn't that complicated, it just takes me a really long time to get it. I think one of the layers to living a life of purpose is living it poured out for others. At least that's what I hear. I haven't worked it out yet. Obviously, because you generally don't talk about things you've got worked out.
I'm pretty sure my mom has though - gotten this giving thing worked out. She is constantly pouring out her life. When Pete and I bought a house fifteen months ago, she was the one who was always there working into the night with us during those five weeks of renovation. She flies to Texas whenever my sisters move, not because they ask, but because it's how she rolls. She watches her grandkids routinely. She often asks me if she can help me with anything, and if she sees a way she can, she'll just jump in and do it. There's never anything in it for her.
Sometimes you need to wear truth in front of you. One day this un-tested snippet of truth was hitting me hard so I put it on pretty kraft paper. Because that's what you do when you're holding a truth and you haven't found practical wings for it yet.
One of my favorite quotes is by Simon Sinek, who, by the way, has given several TED talks that you should check out on a day when life is less that inspiring. It'll get you all fired up. It'll be fun. Anyway, the quote:
"Don't give to get. Give to inspire others to give."
I loved this so much when I read it the first time. People who give genuinely, inspire. My very loose definition of genuine service is actively working for the good of others when there is nothing in it for you.
You know who benefits most when genuine giving happens? THE GIVER. I know. Counterintuitive, but I think it's true. Think about a time when you've given and there was truly nothing in it for you. No feathers in your cap, Facebook likes, or mental I-owe-you's in the bank. Nobody even knew about it. Felt good, didn't it? When you give genuinely, it is you who receives. You get a bigger heart in exchange for what you gave away. You get filled with joy in exchange for the part of yourself that you gave. You can't pick up a bigger heart and some joy at the grocery store. God knows, most days I wish it were that easy. Forget the peanut butter, I need some joy. Giving is at its best when it costs us something. Life gets really free when it's not about us anymore.
I think that's been my mom's best kept secret that she hasn't talked about because people who live things out don't need to talk and obsess over them like the rest of us. Mainly, I just feel grateful. Grateful to have been on the receiving end of all of her giving, yes, but more than that, her lifestyle of actively working for the good of those around her when their is nothing in it for her is highlighting my own path to freedom. And this is inspiring.
Mom, thank you. Thank you for not being a CEO, even though you would have been awesome at that and if you decide to go for it, I'll be first in line to cheer you on. It sounds cheesy, but I'm writing this with tears in my eyes, because it's not about the stuff you gave as much as the way you chose to live a life that wasn't about you. That is such a big deal in a world that is shouting over each other for attention. Truth is, if you'd chosen a different path, I know you would have still brought this truth to whatever area you'd have chosen:
It hasn't been about you.
You've lived quiet. You've lived fulfilled. And more than all of those people whose books I've read and whose podcasts I've listened to and whose mantras I parrot...you've inspired me most. Thank you for giving because it's helping me get that up is down, and that a life spent on others is really fullest. Love you.
And Happy *early* Mother's Day!
-deborah
]]>One positive bit is that all this white stuff reminded me I never posted sweet little Ian's one year session! So in honor of what I'm hoping is the last snow of The Winter I Though Had Past...here's Ian!
SO adorable!
There were also balloons... ;)
I adore this shot. His teeth + that little bowtie = perfection!
Balloon pushups. It's a thing. Just go with it.
I love the shot below because it captures exactly where he was at with embracing the fine art of the toddler..i.e. learning to walk. He was so close, but still hanging on to fingers like a little biker to training wheels. A few weeks after his session I saw his mom had posted the cutest video of him doing this wobbly toddler run down their hallway. He wasn't walking. He was definitely running, or trying to. I think the seaman's terms for this is finding your legs. Ian's since found his legs like a champ.
Brooke, motherhood looks so good on you.
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So on our way to their date (the one I was crashing/stalking), we stopped at this underpass for obvious reasons.
Karrie, you are just lovely.
She might've slapped him a little. I don't doubt it was entirely warranted. His expression suggests that he might have been looking for the attention. (For those of you not up on social norms this is what unprompted flirting looks like. Make a note. If a chic likes you enough to slap you, you've definitely got a shot. Just saying. That dating tip was free. You're welcome.)
Fun fact about Josh: He is a brilliant storyteller. Not even kidding. Had I known the gem of storytelling goodness that awaited me when I asked them about how they met/fell in love/etc, I would have gotten out my iPhone and recorded the tale as a voice memo so you all could hear it for yourselves. Alas, I did not, so I shall have to retell it as best I can...
They're both from different parts of the state of Ohio, but first met in New York City. Josh had moved to NYC for a year to help out with a local book distribution ministry. Karrie, along with a group of others, was in town to help out with an annual week long Bible school the mission was hosting. They spent the week hanging out among friends, with no particular interest in one another until one evening when they found themselves next to each other during a group game. They hit it off and spent most of the game in their own world disturbing the peace with their laughter. They had fun, but she went home, and that was that...for the time being anyway.
Yet another reason these two are fantastic: This photo. It's so them. I'd barely noticed the ballerina before they'd skipped across the street and struck their best I-am-a-lovely-ballerina stance.
We moved on from the colorful underpass to The Book Loft in German Village. The Book Loft is a charming little spot with a labyrinth of tiny rooms full of books. It's the sort of place you can get lost for hours.
There was room devoted to the arts and as we walked in Karrie mentioned a painting called The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. So they went hunting through books and found her painting...
So getting back to their story...after several months of not being able to get Karrie out of his head, Josh hatched a plan to see her again. Karrie is an artist, so Josh contacted her and commissioned her to do a painting for him to give to his mother for Christmas. Smooth, eh? Of course he offered to come pick it up, rather than have it shipped. No matter that it was a bit of a drive to get there. He and a friend of his arrived to pick it up, and what was meant to be a painting simply exchanging hands turned into a four or five hour event where he and the unsuspecting buddy he'd dragged with him inadvertently ended up spending the afternoon and evening with Karrie's family and friends. Much to his delight. Unfortunately, Karrie was a bit under the weather that day, so though he'd seen her, he still didn't quite have what it took to ask her out. So back to New York he went, and he hadn't gotten the girl.
It's a whole thing, being without someone after you've figured out that you'd really rather be with them.
He pined for a few more months before finally calling up his mom one day. Smart boy. Mothers have this intuitive way of reading between the lines and discerning what to say to simply help their kids find their way. After his conversation with his mom, Josh decided to fast. And on the day he was fasting he gets a call from this friend inviting him to play in a sporting event in a few weeks. The kicker? The event is in Karrie's hometown. Josh was ecstatic. (Sidenote: that fasting and seeking God bit that Josh did is a whole thing too. Total God moment in their story, and I love it.)
That weekend, they finally got it figured out and stopped leaving all the chemistry unspoken.
So back to their date! After The Book Loft, they wandered into a little coffee shop nearby.
This book was an impromptu prop they found in the coffee shop. Note the title and the accompanying look of terror in their eyes. Marriage is good guys. Promise. ;)
This would be that moment when she flicked a bit of her tea at him and disrupted the uber studious environment at the coffee shop, and suppressed giggles ensued. I think love makes us all a little crazy and uninhibited, and the world needs more of this sort of happy disruption.
The last stop on their little day of adventuring around Columbus was an art gallery, and it might have been my favorite part.
Red shoes = winning. Every time.
I loved what this part of the session brought out of Karrie. She was in her element, her happy place, and you could feel it. She was chatting silk screening and all manner of other artsy things with the artist who happened to be manning the gallery that afternoon. Karrie is truly unique and so talented. She's a painter, and a graphic designer, and her hands leave beauty wherever they land. One of the weddings I did last summer had exquisite, detailed chalkboard signage throughout the wedding and reception. I had so much fun photographing it, and found out later it was Karrie who'd created all of them. She paints beautifully and designs logos (...including the new one that's in the works for me! Yay!) and altogether she gives of herself by blessing others with her art.
Love this one!
Josh & Karrie, thank you for letting me follow you around with my camera for the afternoon. You are such lovely people, and I can't wait for your big day!
Hair + Makeup: Belle Chérie - Styles by Janelle
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Fun fact about Lori and I: it's like we're cut from the same cloth...only we aren't, because if she is plaid, I am definitely paisley. I'm thinking maybe we were made in the same fabric factory so our core fibers are similar because we connect on a deep level, but on the surface we are night and day different. We both like our coffee black and our wine red, but that's where our surface similarities end. Lori is fanatical about sports and politics. I like crafting, DIY projects, and Pinterest. If you make Lori sit down to do a craft, she will wonder why you hate her. Lori is a big picture person, and I get hung up on the details. My point is that community on a deep level doesn't have to be about similar interests, but it IS about connection.
Lori and I connect on a heart level around things like purpose and faith, passion for mentorship, a need for adventure, and the belief that risk-taking is essential to living a better story. I don't make her do crafts with me, and she doesn't force me to talk politics with her. We connect in the areas that make sense for us and don't ask each other to be something we aren't in the areas where our interests are different. I think this is part of developing good community. Understand a relationship for what it is and don't ask it to be something it was never meant to be. This works well for us because we live in different states. Yes, you can have community with someone who lives in a different state. Technology is beautiful and has increased the opportunity for community exponentially. Lori and I talk in spurts and fits, like waves that crash in and then ebb out, but she is one of the strongest connections I have within community.
Lori and I are sisters so we've obviously known each other forever, but the transition from average relationship to meaningful community only happened about seven or eight years ago. It's not that we weren't friends before, but there is a shift that happens when you move from a sort of standard friendship to purposeful community. Both are great, but the connection is different. I think that's what I mean by 'finding your people.' It's not about finding the people who are similar to you on the surface. In fact, it's often so much more fun if they aren't because it expands your horizons. It's about finding people who are okay with you, unthreatened by your process, and are willing to hand you a map instead of answers. With Lori, I've found someone who doesn't just hand me a map, but joins me for the journey.
It should be known that the reason this photoshoot happened in the first place started with our mother updating her gallery wall. At risk of old photos finding their way onto said wall, I told Lori we'd run outside for a quick five minute photo shoot sometime when she was home for Christmas.
I have this dreadful tendency to turn five minutes into fifteen, but Lori was a champ and let me have fun with it even though it was freezing out.
One of the things I love about the holidays (or anytime when my sister Marilyn comes around), is that a particular friend of hers shows up and joins the chaos that is our family...which takes a courage all its own but that's another story. Her name is Tonya and she is wonderful. I bring this up because Tonya is a boss at every creative endeavor she puts her hand to - from the edible art of dessert creation to working makeup magic to painting to furniture makeovers to styling photo shoots. So naturally, when she found out that Lori and I were about to do a mini photoshoot, she ran home to get her bag of tricks and did Lori's makeup. Tonya, you are a rockstar. Thank you for being so fabulously generous with your gifts and talents, and for joining us in the cold and keeping Lori laughing.
Love ya, Lori. Beyond grateful that God made us sisters. You've been a difference maker and a game changer.
]]>This sweet couple tied the knot a few weeks ago on a cold, sunny February afternoon. Enjoy this glimpse into their love story!
Getting ready...
I love first looks, and this one was no exception. It's such a privilege to witness these sweet moments when they first see one another on such a long-awaited and much-planned for day.
On a side note, there was a time when I thought I didn't care for winter weddings. And, yes, I now know that I was crazy! I knew winter weddings could be beautiful, but photographing this wedding truly convinced me. I tend to see everything from a portraiture perspective, and often winter conditions aren't ideal for photos since it's, well, cold, and nature tends to tuck away its most colorful outfits and hunkers down to wait for spring like the rest of us. That said, I genuinely believe there is beauty to be discovered in every season, so when Sharon contacted me to photograph her wedding, I explained that I make shooting portraits outdoors a priority...and of course, her wedding would be in February, and before she signed on to have me photograph her day, was she up for that? She didn't hesitate for a second with her answer, so I knew that not only was she sweet, she was also brave!
I kind of adore the shot below. A gust of wind swept up her train ever so perfectly!
You are lovely, Sharon.
You guys are too cute.
The arched tunnel was practically begging for this photo to happen!
May every bride be surrounded with friends like this on her wedding day. This is what it means to be rich in friendship.
Love this candid moment of Nate and his buddies. Invariably, the moments that are happening "in between" turn out to be some of my favorites.
It needs to be said. These people smiled and laughed their way through photos in very cold temperatures like rock stars and made it look like no big deal. They huddled in coats while they weren't in front of the camera, and I never heard a single complaint. You guys were beyond awesome. Thank you!
Ceremony...
...and a quick little peek at a few of the reception details.
Nate and Sharon had already gone when I saw the sunset God painted to mark the close of their day. I'm thinking this was the best wedding gift given that day.
Nate and Sharon, thank you for trusting me to capture your love story. It was an honor!
Fun fact: Jake is a musician. On occasion, he'll write a song, and play it for Abi to get her opinion and see what she thinks. So one evening they walk into the church where Jake works, and he tells her he wrote a song and he wants to play it for her. This is a fairly normal occurrence so Abi thinks nothing of it when he sits down and plays for her...until the lyrics of the song give away that this is their very own melody and he's wondering about forever...
...of course she said yes!
And yes, this is the piano where he proposed...
These two are adorable even in the "in-between" moments like below.
Yup..total favorite.
The joy is real...so happy for you both! Can't wait for your official e-session in a few months when the weather has warmed up!
So pretty, Desiree!
They were both tearing up as she walked down the aisle...
(I might have too. And I know the Father of the Bride was. I wonder if anyone was not tearing up?!)
They wrote their own vows, and promised to love through the good and bad, and it was evident that though no marriage is without bumps in the road, these two are crazy about each other and committed to loving each other through it all.
Props to this bridal party for laughing their way through very chilly temperatures without a word of complaint. You guys were fantastic!
Friendship...being with your people...it has this way of coloring life fun and meaningful all at once. When it matters less what you're doing, and more who you're with, you know you've found friendships that are worth hanging onto. Jeremiah and Desiree are wealthy in friendships and it showed.
These two light up around each other. They really can't help themselves. It's pretty much adorable.
Love the photo below...when you're laughing too much to kiss, it's a good sign you've found the right person. ;o)
First dance.
Congrats, you guys! It was so fun to be a part of your day. Happy honeymooning and hope your Jamaican Christmas is fantastic!
]]>Congrats, Trent! It truly was an honor to take your senior photos.
Can I get a shout out for all of the mothers out there? They are often the reason milestones get photographed, and why we can look back years later and have something tangible to remind us of important seasons in our lives.
Autumn was quite determined to stay AWAKE for her first photo shoot…
…but eventually the hard work of Being A Full Time Baby took it's toll and she crashed hard...
…on mom and dad's guitar. ;)
Congrats, KC & Raina! Autumn is beautiful, and you guys are going to be brilliant parents. So glad Autumn is home and finally breathing on her own like a champ. :)
]]>She is lovely inside and out, and I am blessed to call her a friend.
One of the things that makes me so very happy, is seeing my friends so very happy.
And of late, Carmen is just that - so.very. happy.
I'll start at the beginning...
A few years back, Carmen told me about this chap she'd met at work. His name was Aaron.
He was tall, handsome, obsessed with Apple products, and he liked cars and more importantly, her, a lot.
Work turned out to be a grand place to be, mainly because they were there together. And if you've ever been in love, you know it's true: the what and where doesn't matter so much when that-person-who-turns-your-world-upside-down-and-right-side-up-all-at-the-same-time is there too.
So they worked, and flirted, and fell in love little bits at a time, and they proved to be brilliant at multi-tasking in these three departments.
Nearly four years later, though they no longer share the same work environment that brought them together, they've figured out that they'll do whatever they have to to prioritize togetherness.
Sidenote: As the youngest child in her family, Carmen occupies the spot as the beloved little sister of all of her siblings. Her fun, laid-back personality brings an ease to her relationships with others that naturally gives people a place to simply breathe and be themselves. She's creative, she loves showering thoughtful little gifts on others, and is insanely good with kids (her four nieces adore her).
Earlier this year, Aaron and Carmen spent a week in Florida vacationing with his family. Aaron is a self-proclaimed dreadful secret keeper when it comes to exciting things like rings in pockets, so he entrusted the ring with family on the flight south, to keep himself from proposing on the plane, ahead of his scheduled plan. Along the shores of Lake Eola, the time was finally right and he asked Carmen to spend the rest of her life with him.
She said yes, and as of May 2015, there will be a new Mr. & Mrs. Hilbert in town. ;)
Fun Fact: Aaron built this guitar. Yes, you heard me correctly. He built it. Carmen glowingly told me he plays brilliantly as well. Apparently there are those who play well, and those who build well. And then there are the anomalies like Aaron, who can play AND build well.
Carmen and Aaron fit each other so well. His intensity, focus, and passion for all things done with excellence is perfectly balanced by Carmen's laid back, fun approach to life.
Guys, I'm so incredibly excited to witness the beginning of this next chapter of your lives. Can't wait for the big day!
]]>- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
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Meet a girl who shines even on the cloudiest of days...
One of the things I thought I detested about the onset of winter in central Ohio is the way everything gradually drains into muted tans and earthy browns. Coupled with the often gray skies, I tend to avoid color drained fields this time of year in favor of a still-bright tree or patch of green grass here or there. Then I walked through one of those muted fields with Emily and I realized that all they needed was her - rocking that perfect maroon dress and dark hair.
Emily, you are beautiful outside and in. Can not wait to share more!
When Sarah called me a few months ago, I saw it right away - His fingerprints all over their lives, working in them and around them to change this world.
Let me start at their beginning.
In autumn of 2011, I watched and photographed as they promised each other a lifetime of love before their family and friends. Now, three short years later, God is weaving new beauty into the fabric of their lives.
When I sat down with Sarah at her consultation, I asked her to tell me their story. Adoption is an awesome choice - brilliant, beautiful, and courageous - just like bringing a new life into your family the traditional way. Both are choices, both beautiful, both courageous, but adoption is unique in its process, and those who adopt never find themselves there without intention.
I love the way God works in our hearts, and we have no inkling of what He's doing until months and years later. As is so often the case, Sarah told me that as she looked back at their journey towards adoption, it all began with a simple shift in perspective. Almost two years ago, they took a class called…PERSPECTIVES. Go figure, right? ;) And it did. It shifted their perspective and they began to think differently and pray differently. They began to see themselves as part of God's story, even if they didn't yet know how their role in His story looked.
Sarah told me that she started to see things about adoption popping up randomly in her life. She'd see a sign here, or a Facebook post there. She told me that November is Adoption Awareness Month. In a quiet and subtle way that all of the ads and promotion in the world can't orchestrate in a heart, God had made her truly AWARE. It was late one night, unable to sleep, that she was captivated by a simple photo of a child she saw on Facebook, that she knew this awareness was something.
On the way home from a Christmas gathering, this awareness turned into a conversation between her and Gid, that led them to an adoption seminar in March. Sarah grinned at this part of the story, and told me that coming home from the adoption seminar "Gid was pumped."
They started the lengthy application process in late spring.
Chosen.
That's what this child is.
On purpose, with fierce intention.
Chosen, not just by Gid and Sarah, but by a God who would go to endless lengths to love this one child through them.
Their paperwork is completed and submitted, and now they wait...
…and sometimes that's difficult, because when your heart has been given a dream and a promise, waiting for that dream to take on skin is a test of faith that's a great deal harder than you'd think. This is their in-between…so they celebrate what God has promised before it's fulfilled because that's what faith does. It celebrates because it sees the big picture even though all the pieces of the puzzle aren't together just yet.
…and in our 'in-betweens' God often throws in these beautiful pink sunsets, just to remind us what He's like.
He's good.
And He's bringing the missing puzzle pieces of your dream together. So just trust, and enjoy the sunset He's painting for you as you wait...
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NEVER REGULAR.
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I'm not sure who coined this phrase, but whilst editing this quick little peek into Hannah's senior session, the words above are the ones that kept coming back to me. They describe Hannah so well.
She is very much her own person. Beautiful, confident, and unique, she carries herself with a self-assurance that is a hallmark of true beauty.
…and don't even get me started on her hair. Love, love, love it!
Hannah, I so enjoyed taking your photograph. Can't wait to show you the rest! ;o)
Makeup: BELLE CHERIE ~ STYLES BY JANELLE
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These two are crazy in love and way beyond excited for Christmas this year. Not so much because it's Christmas, but because they'll be saying their vows on December 20th, making this their first Christmas as Mr. + Mrs.
Their love story started sweet and young when they were both still in high school. For them, four years later, the chemistry and magic of first love has only deepened and grown stronger, and they couldn't be more excited about saying yes to spending the rest of their days hand in hand.
Fun fact: the bike was Jeremiah's gift to her at her high school graduation. I love the history these two have together, so it only made sense to include the bike and take some photos along the road where they spent countless Sunday afternoons going for bike rides over the years.
In the interest of full disclosure, I might be a little biased about this couple. A few years ago (four to be precise), I married Jeremiah's oldest brother, Pete. Jeremiah is the youngest of his siblings, and is affectionally known as "the kid" around home. Somewhere around the time Pete and I got married, Jeremiah started showing up with this cute little burst of energy and color name Desiree hanging onto his arm. She is a gem that we all fell in love with, and I couldn't be happier about getting to officially claim her as my sister-in-law in a few months.
So usually this is one of those shots that I toss because it's the moment right before "the moment"…but it was too cute. It reminded me of what falling in love is like. It's this fun anticipation, this sort of I'm-sure-but-I'm-not-sure feeling that happens when love first ignites. These two still have that chemistry going on between them four years later. Adorable!
As the day was fading and the chill of the autumn evening was setting in, we headed off with coffee and mugs in tow to get a few more photos.
These turned out to be some of my all-time favorites. I loved the way this part of the session captured another dimension of their relationship. The first part of the session reflected just how fun and whimsical and spontaneous they are together. And they really are! But there's another side of them together that is calm, quiet, and free to just BE. It's that place of safety and being HOME wherever you are because you're together.
Congrats guys…so incredibly excited for December 20th!
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First look!
And no, you're not imagining things - it was overcast, and then the clouds couldn't hold in their rain any longer...
…so the bride and groom escaped to shelter, happy and not in the least bit phased by Ohio's moody weather.
So beautiful, Diane!
All the pretty ladies...
Tim and his buddies are golf enthusiasts. ;o)
A little quality time with the flower girl.
On to a little peek at the ceremony. This was a sweet moment as the Father of the Bride gave his daughter away.
The rain had finally finished pouring out its heart, so we snuck outside for a quick few photos with this darling car before the reception.
Reception...
And they laughed as the candles burned down low...
As they drove off, God painted the skies in pink, purple, orange, and yellow, and it felt like a declaration of His goodness to His kids.
Congrats, guys! So fun to capture your day!
Stuff never rarely goes the way we expect it to. My journey into "rebranding" has been no exception. All of the experts say to hire the experts. And I think they're right. But sometimes just because it's smart, doesn't mean it's RIGHT.
I used to think "branding" was a logo, website, and visual identity. You sensing a theme here? I thought branding was all about how everything LOOKS. I'm a photographer, so I am incredibly visual. I feel strongly about design and presentation. For understandable reasons. These things are important.
Over the past months, I've come to understand something that I never grasped before. Branding is not a logo. Branding is not a website. Branding is something much deeper, stronger, and less tangible than a visual identity. A brand is who you are and how people feel about you. (I read that somewhere…maybe Seth Godin?) Good branding starts not with a cutesy logo and a whim, but with a core understanding of WHY. A pretty logo and website without a clear WHY and a defined purpose, is like a mansion on the sand. Gorgeous, but always at risk. Understanding your WHY, in business and in your personal life, is paramount to navigating the literally endless decisions that you will face throughout your life. Define and understand your WHY and you will have a plumb line, something to measure against, and ask yourself, "Is this consistent with the purpose that God has clearly laid before me?" We get guilt-ridden and obligated when we misunderstand ourselves. Life is FULL of great things to do, but God didn't call you to just do good stuff. He called you to BE YOU. To show up as yourself, and offer uniquely to the world around you in a way that only you can. (Think I learned that from Emily P. Freeman's book A Million Little Ways.) You ARE created and redeemed to do something amazing with this one life you've been given. When you don't fight the good fight of getting to know your true self, you'll have no Inner Compass guiding you, and you will end up lost. TRUST ME. By the way, if you're lost right now, don't stress and for heaven's sake, DON'T GIVE UP. Sometimes we have to get good and lost to get found.
So what's my point with all of this?
Fighting the good fight to DISCOVER who you were created to be, is perhaps the most important battle of your life. Not just for your life, but for the lives of those you'll effect. There is no magic formula, but there are keys that can help along the way:
-Find others who are fighting the good fight and DO THE JOURNEY TOGETHER. I can't overemphasize the importance of this. Having those who understand where you are and can encourage you along the way can be the difference between giving up and keeping on, keeping on.
-Know that breakthrough is REAL. You will not always feel stuck and lost and uncertain.
-Shame hangs out in the dark, so step into the light and be vulnerable. That doesn't necessarily mean making an announcement on Facebook. But be real with your people.
-Embrace failure, and stop letting it define you. A life well lived will have LOTS of failures on its resume.
-Take risks.
-Seek counsel.
-Stay grateful.
P.S. New visual identity is in the works. That's fancy talk for "I'm getting a new logo." Not a new brand…a new visual identity. Think of it like a new outfit. And we chics do dig new outfits. Can't wait to share more…cause I like pretty stuff. ;o)
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Becky's golden sparkly heels had me at hello.
Becky gave Jason a card before the first look.
She had him in happy tears before he'd even seen her...
It's moments like these that leave me feeling so incredibly blessed to do this job. I often find myself grinning madly or tearing up behind my camera. These moments are so incredibly priceless, and witnessing and photographing them is such an honor.
On a side note, Jason chauffeured his bride about in the most fabulous car, so naturally photos in said car were a must.
So adorable, Becky!
The bride and groom chose the vineyards at beautiful Breitenbach Winery for their creative shoot.
Love the moment as the bride comes down the aisle...
It bears mentioning that the night before the wedding, there was a torrential downpour. It was nothing short of a miracle that they were able to have the ceremony and reception at the planned location since it had flooded the night before. The ground was a bit soft, and navigating that in golden heels can be difficult, so Jason swept his bride up into his arms as they exited the ceremony as the new Mr. & Mrs. Miller.
The setting for their reception was breathtaking. The back of their tent was nestled up against the forest, with the front of the tent situated on the edge of a quiet pond.
Cake wars...
…and toasts...
…had everyone laughing at present and past antics of the bride and groom. These two are truly beloved by their friends and family.
The evening ended with a surprise fireworks show for their guests.
Bethany was absolutely stunning. I adored the classic, understated elegance of her entire look. She went barefoot, and wore a grace that shone from within.
I fell completely in love with her flowers. She hand-made darling little fabric rosettes, attached them to twigs, and fashioned her very own bouquet.
Scrabble and books are some of their favorite pastimes...
There may have been ice cream. And it may have been Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. And when they say "splendid," it's because it really is splendid. Just ask Jeremy and Bethany whose favorites just happen to be Lemon & Blueberries and Black Coffee. I guess love can get sweeter. ;)
[ FIND THEIR COMPLETE WEDDING HIGHLIGHTS SLIDESHOW HERE. ]
Shout out to the AMAZING Tonya Gorby for...
-brainstorming
-styling
-applying makeup
-hauling and arranging the pretty
-surprising the bride and groom with not just ice cream but THE BEST ice cream
-yelling inappropriate things at the perfect time to evoke giggles
-for all around blessing the sox off of those around you with your extensive skill set
It never ceases to amaze me what new trick you pull out of your bag of skills. Thank you!
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Tyler and Elizabeth wanted a relaxed country wedding, so they opted to say their vows under an open sky at her grandparent's home.
Something blue...
Being surrounded by those you love and sharing moments with your close friends and family is so much of what fills a heart to overflowing on a wedding day.
Something about the photo below captures Elizabeth well. She's relaxed, and affectionate, and caring…down to giving the dog a tummy rub on her wedding day.
First look…
Elizabeth, you are stunning.
Midway through bridal party portraits the father of the bride showed up with some redneck props to spice things up a bit. So fun!
Ceremony time...
Trust issues came out over cake...
…they fought...
…they made up...
…this is marriage, and it looks good on them.
Father/daughter dance…the father of the bride broke it down like only a forty something chap who's braved a hip replacement can. The mother of the bride whispered to me later that he was sure to be sore the following day. This is love, laughs, and pure awesomeness, y'all. You have my vote, Mark.
The father/daughter dance had me laughing, but the mother/son dance had me fighting tears. It was a beautiful moment.
The bride and groom, lost in their own world, and unaware of the other dancers around them…
They danced and the shadows of the day stretched out long, and evening delivered the truth…it had been a perfect day.
You guys are amazing. So blessed to be a part of your day! Congrats again!
Special thanks to Janelle for second shooting!
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Twelve years later, these two know what it is to fight for real relationship, and not just settle for coexistence. They'll be honest, and tell you it isn't always easy. But you'll see it in the look in their eyes when they talk about the way they do life now:
it is so very worth it.
This is Alex. He's ten, and a big dreamer with an eye for details and a passion for football.
Taylor is already a leader. Love this little chic so much. She's loves getting prettied-up, but that won't keep her from playing hard. Taylor is a doer too. She'll make things happen with a grace and ease that blesses and serves those around her.
One of my favorites...
Seriously, you guys. This look. Adrian may have been going for tough, but he nailed adorable.
These two are so grown up…not sure when that happened?
On a side note, I have been SO blessed by "doing life" with my sister-in-law Sherri. She's the sort of person who knows who she is and Whose she is, and she generously shares of herself with her family, friends, church, and lately over at a fabulous new blog called Shift Your Normal. She teaches, shares, and writes from her spirit - the place where she is connected to Jesus. That's what makes her relationships and her life, so very rich…living from that Place of Connection…and that wealth spills over as blessing into the lives of everyone around her. For me, she's been an evidence of Jesus.
Reading is a family hobby, so everyone grabbed a book from home to bring to the session.
Oh, Amari. This girl is like a tiny little burst of intense sunshine wherever she lands. She will win your heart in two seconds flat. There is something within Amari that evokes such a uniquely beautiful response from people.
Adrian is definitely going to conquer the world. He's full of brawn and toughness, but has the sweet sensitivity to pick flowers for his mom...
Since they're a game playing bunch, a little round of Go Fish was in order to finish up the session.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11
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I love the way love finds people. Every love story is beautifully unique, and Cody and Lauren's is no exception. These two first met one another on the street outside an old theater-turned-church in small town Plain City. Cody moved from Oregon, and Lauren was working towards her degree at OSU. They'd both recently started attending the small-town church when Lauren first noticed Cody and casually asked the pastor's wife about him. Several weeks later, Cody's eyes were opened and he saw her for the first time. That Sunday he chased her out the doors of the church, afraid she was walking out of his life never to be seen again. She laughs when she tells this part of the story because he was a bit out of breath when he caught up to her to introduce himself. They hit it off immediately, and the rest is history.
They tied the knot several weeks ago, surrounded by family, friends, and their new community from the theater-turned-church. Love stories may not be playing on the big screen at the theater-turned-church anymore, but the greatest love stories were never in the movies anyway. They're happening all around in real life, and Cody and Lauren's love story is just another evidence of God's goodness.
Starbucks for the bride? Check.
Kisses for his grandmother.
Cody was beside himself with excitement to see Lauren.
Fun fact about Cody: He EXPRESSES how he feels with words, action, and much emotion. So when he saw Lauren in her dress, there was lots of expressing. Such a priceless moment!
His gift to her...
…and she surprised him as well.
Their vows were sweet, funny, and deeply meaningful all at the same time.
Gorgeous and delicious cake made by the lovely and talented Brenda.
The shoe game yielded lots of laughs.
First dance as Mr. & Mrs.
Tired, happy, and with hearts full and shoulders sun-kissed, they were farewelled with sparklers and sent off into the sunset.
Congratulations again, Cody and Lauren! It was an honor to photograph your day.
- Special thanks to Blythe Amber for her assistance in capturing the day.
- Also, shout out to Sarah Helmuth. You know what you did. You are a rock star, and a moment rescuer. Thank you for making everything run smoothly.
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These two are nothing if not crazy about each other.
Last fall, Cody's gift to Lauren for her 21st birthday was a photo shoot of the two of them. They weren't engaged at the time, but after spending a bit of time with them at the photo shoot, I guessed that it wouldn't be long before Cody proposed.
When I heard they were headed to his family's home in Oregon for Christmas, I and all the rest of their friends were thinking the same thing - it won't be long now!
And sure enough, Cody got down on one knee and asked Lauren to marry him on a rocky Oregon beach, surrounded by a wonderfully romantic, photo-perfect fog (photographed by his parents).
This Saturday these two are promising each other a lifetime of love. Congrats, you two! So excited for your big day!
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Elizabeth absolutely glowed all day long…
Her toes were her "something blue."
She wore her mother's necklace as her something borrowed...
I adore when couples decide to do first looks. It is such an incredibly sweet moment to photograph.
…and there is seriously nothing sweeter than the look on a groom's face when he sees his bride.
Drew, one of the two best men, mentioned during his speech that Tyler and Elizabeth just light up around one another…and they really do.
The handkerchief was Elizabeth's great-grandmother's…her "something old."
Ridiculously adorable boots...
That's all for now… ;)
Happy honeymooning, Tyler and Elizabeth! It was such an honor to document the moments of your day.
(Thanks to Janelle Yoder for her assistance for the day!)
]]>- Gary Jennings
This September, these two are committing to spending well. They're investing really…into a lifetime of moments shared together.
Love is a beautiful thing, and the way time stops for no one turns moments sacred.
Soak up the moments and spend love lavishly.
Congrats guys…so very happy for you both, and excited for your big day!
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This girl is one of the most energetic people I know. From cleaning whatever space she happens to be in at the time to going for a run to attacking her studies, she does everything with her WHOLE heart. Including hugs. Desiree gives THE BEST hugs. She hugs you like she means it, and not like it's a polite social obligation.
The photo below was probably one of my favorites from her session because it captures HER. She's this beautiful whirlwind of energy, fun, and laughter.
Last week she hopped on a plane and headed off for a summer of adventure to love on kids at an orphanage in Honduras. And I miss her already, but I'm so excited to see what God has up His sleeve for this girl.
Hugs, Desiree…you are beautiful, and it was an honor to take your photograph.
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She is wise beyond her years, the kindest of friends, trustworthy, and patient.
She loves well. She honors well.
She's really fun, and she gets giggly when she's tired…or anytime she's with her sister Carmen. ;)
She's insanely humble. She thinks of others first. She gives, and she's honest and vulnerable and authentic that sometimes that's hard and not okay.
She's not obsessed with perfection. She receives grace…and gives it.
She's decorates brilliantly. ;)
She rolls with the punches.
She loves flowers and the color green, and she makes the most delectable desserts.
She is all kinds of beautiful, and delightfully herself. She is simply a joy to be with.
Em, you are a treasure. Hugs!
{ hair + makeup by Janelle }
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We spent the afternoon drinking iced coffee and doing what girls do best…chattering and bonding and connecting, while the ridiculously talented Janelle styled their hair and highlighted their natural beauty with her makeup skills.
I'll introduce the others in a few days; today you get to meet Brenda.
Brenda is just 100% Brenda. She's so comfortable in her own skin, and it radiates in the way she carries herself with a sort of restful and laid back quiet confidence. Few things are more inviting than someone who has embraced the shape of their own soul and simply occupies who they're created to be. Brenda does that without even realizing it. She simply is who she is. Being around her gives you the intangible gift of exhaling and being YOUR self, even if it's entirely different from her.
Fun fact about Brenda: She adores Paris. She traveled to the city of love a couple of years ago, and when I asked her about it, her eyes promptly lit up, and she proceeded to whisk the entire room away on a magic carpet with tales of the romance of the city. I'm now dying to go and experience it for myself. ;)
Brenda, who you are is such a gift to those around you. Thanks for the privilege of allowing me to take your photograph. You are simply lovely.
Thanks to Blythe Amber Photography for joining the fun and assisting for the day!
]]>Here's a quick peek at a few of the moments from their day…enjoy!
Brittany looking so very beautiful...
Pretty pink perfection.
Congrats, Jason and Brittany! You two were meant for each other.
(HUGE thanks to Diane of D Beiler Photography for second shooting this wedding with me! Diane, you are epic. Loved every moment of working with you!)
]]>Maybe it's the barrage of advertisements reminding everyone that Mother's Day approaches.
Or the fact that my sister just became a mom again for the fourth time. (Hallelujah for a new nephew!)
When I look at motherhood, and mothers, I see is a whole lot of daily dying to self. I see beautiful, strong women who lay down their everyday lives and tend to a billion needs. They put their own needs, wants, and dreams on the back burner to be broken bread for the littlest and the least. Sounds like Someone Else I know.
Moms say there are little gifts. Like the mom I was chatting with over gyros this week. I asked her what she loved most about being a mom. She thought for a moment, and smiled and said "Having them love you. Having them run to you when you come home." As I mulled it over, I realized how much her answer spoke of Jesus. Jesus gives us life. He loved us first. No strings attached. He just loves. Mothers just love. He only wants us to love Him as He loves us. Freely. No strings attached.
I just can't seem to get past the daily dying part. I think the only way to view motherhood is in the context of Jesus. Truth is, I know…not in the way mothers KNOW, but still from the outside looking in, I can see the sacrifice. I've heard too many stories about what moms go through. The sleeplessness. The exhaustion. The heartache. Pressing the pause button on their own dreams. The sacrifice. And the only way I can begin to understand the choice of motherhood is Jesus.
Jesus sacrificed so we could have life. Mothers sacrifice so we can have life. If love is measured by sacrifice, then mothers…they LOVE.
I hear that she who loses her life, will find it.
So to all of you beautiful, strong women, who are smack dab in the middle of the dying daily, Jesus promised that those who lose their lives for His sake WILL find it. You are amazing, and your unseen sacrifice is that high road they like to call straight, narrow, and hard to find. You are on the right path. You are not lost. He. Is. With. You. FOR YOU. And PROUD of you. He sees your daily courage.
Happy (early) Mother's Day…we honor you for your everyday emptying and being Jesus to the least of these.
What words for those whose mothers have finished their race? There is no replacing that hole. And yet, Jesus mothers US ALL. He will mother where our mothers didn't or couldn't. It is known well that God is our Father…but he is our Mother too. He tends the skinned knees that life deals us when we fall. He kisses the hurt, and promises…it will be okay. Maybe not today. Maybe not even tomorrow. But He promises it will be.
This pretty lady is one of 2014's graduates. She hails from Illinois, so getting to have her in front of my lens for her senior portraits was an unexpected treat. I met her at her brother's wedding last fall, and awhile later she messaged me wondering if I'd be in Florida over Christmas. Sadly, I was not headed for warmer temperatures over the holidays, so I wished her well and a happy holiday and continued to suffer through the brutal Ohio winter. Several months later, I was delighted when I got another email from her wondering if I would happen to be free on a particular weekend in March when she would be near Columbus. I was, and we photographed, and laughed, and desperately attempted to keep from freezing on an unusually chilly March day.
Her sisters rocked swaddling duty in an effort to warm her up in between poses.
Diana, I'm so glad it worked out to take your photos. You and those sisters of yours are a ridiculously fun time. Hugs, and come to Ohio again! ;o)
]]>If you know her, you know that she IS her name...
Her name is Jewel.
She is a jewel, a gem, a diamond, a pearl.
She's come through the fire and she offers something priceless.
Her own experience. Her story.
Jewel and I have processed out the good, the bad, the ugly/beautiful over cup after cup of coffee (or in her case, hot chocolate). I've been changed by her kindness, by her wisdom, by her choice to LOVE with tenacity when it would be easier to simply shrink away from relationship.
Jewel is a writer, a poet, an artist soul.
One way that I understand ART is that it is at it's core, an offering, a gift to those it touches.
Jewel has been sharing, offering, blessing me with her art for years. Awhile ago, I asked her if she'd share her art here too, on this blog. Earlier this week I received a very tentative email from her with a guest blog post.
I am SO excited to share it with all of you.
Her steady presence in my life has breathed grace into my dark corners, and when you hear her heart, it will do that for you too…
PHOTOS BY VERNON MARTIN
Ocean Enough
- Jewel Gingerich
I am not an ocean expert but I hear oceans are full of life. I hear the ocean depths can cleanse itself of many ills. I hear this vast phenomenon covers the majority of the earth’s surface, surrounding the small islands we call home.
The ocean is at rest, yet always in motion. Sometimes I can see the motion and sometimes its still waters hide the life stirring underneath the surface. These uncharted waters of the deep are not shaken as storms rise and winds blow.
The ocean shares its glory by entering our turf. Pockets of water bubble up across our land and invite us to wade in. The faithful tide offers again. A stream forges its way through barren land and I wonder…
Is there more?
I think I was made to swim and this ocean smells, sounds, feels like home. That river I followed led to a body of water more vast than I dared hope.
This is God’s Love and it is an ocean, surrounding us and lapping at our hearts to dive in. When we seek more than the limited scope of earthly life, our abandoned voyage will lead us home. The depths of Love will cleanse us far more perfectly and gently than our own scrubbing ever could. Rest within the waters will restore us. Still waters will strengthen us. Surrender to the process will perfect the pearl in us.
Love beckons from the shore. Pick up the seashells scattered on your sands and listen to the sound of the ocean calling. There is more than mud puddles of Love. There is ocean enough for you and it is here, in the stirring of the waters, where you will find healing.
“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-20 NLT
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Her godfather called me up again this year to document this mile marker.
Crazy how time flies. It feels like almost yesterday that we were taking her one year photos...
By the way, it needs to be said…this is her natural eye color. Is that not INSANE? I remember being awed by her giant big blue eyes last year, but I had forgotten. A-dorable.
At almost two years one is blissfully unaware of just how cool one really is in one's little military jacket.
This darling airplane tricycle belonged to Arileise's grandpa when he was a little boy. Love the sentimental touch it added to the session.
One of my favorites...
I love the way kids play peek-a-boo. They pretend to cover their eyes, and somehow think you don't see them peeking. Precious.
Hugs for Mr. Robert (godfather)...
…because my pink rain boots really must be checked out up close. ;)
Last one…hamming it up for the camera.
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I look at them and I see so much HOPE. So much dreaming. So much happiness.
Happiness found in loving another person is such a gift. Everyone will tell you real love is hard work, and it is. So yes, work hard at loving well; but there is not a thing wrong with basking in the sunshine happiness of being in love.
Congrats, guys…and we'll see you in about a month!
]]>A time to stare out that window and just dream HUGE dreams...
A time to put your hand to the plough already and work.
A time to worship ANYWAY...
A time to wait. Yuck. But yeah. WAIT.
A time to speak it out.
A time to be still.
A time to wonder and wander.
A time to stay the course.
A time to drink. more. coffee. ;o)
A time to jump.
A time to make lists.
A time to walk by faith.
A time to duck your head and wait for the storm to pass.
A time to get your pink rain boots on and just keep moving forward…
Embrace today. Recognize your moments. Don't work through a sunset. Stay focused. Hold it all loosely. Give it all you've got. And then leave it on the field and let it go. It's a beautiful, mysterious life. Let's do this thing...
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Josh is quiet. Reserved, but observant.
Word on the street is that he can fix about anything.
Give him machinery, parts, etc, and he'll transform them into something that works.
He's an innovator.
Thankfully, spring out-battled winter for the upper hand the afternoon we shot Josh's session.
Central Ohio was sunny and on the melt.
Congrats, Josh, and best of luck as you start this new chapter of your life!
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Ian is Matt & Brooke's firstborn. They were married in December of 2012 and a little over a year later Ian joined them to make them Erickson, party of three.
It's always fun to catch sleepy baby smiles...
Having your photo taken is exhausting…ask Ian and Matt. They'll tell you. ;)
Congrats, Matt and Brooke…your little family is all kinds of beautiful.
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This question has haunted my thoughts for weeks now. Rebekah Lyons cited Parker Palmer's book Let Your Life Speak when she asked this question to a whole nation of women at IF: Gathering last month. The theme running through my head for months now is this:
LET YOUR LIFE SPEAK.
You have permission to ignore the lies. You have permission to explore, to become yourself. But that becoming lies on the other side of the-impossible-to-jump-grand-canyon of your own expectations of who you think you ought to be. There's a bridge to becoming yourself. It's called GRACE. It's called letting go. Be kind to your battered heart. You only have as much grace to give others as you've allowed your own heart to receive. The real you…the FULLY ALIVE you is found in taking the risk, releasing your own expectations of yourself, and stepping in faith onto the bridge of grace.
A life of grace doesn't just speak.
It sings.
LET YOUR LIFE SING.
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I know I said I was going to let the photos do the telling, but it needs to be said...
Clarissa could not possibly have been more beautiful. She was truly radiant.
It was a GOOD day…but it wasn't without tears. Clarissa and Evan are starting their journey together in South Carolina. And though her family couldn't be happier for them, they'll feel her absence keenly. Change is beautiful and good and right and…hard...and can often be summarized simply into tears. This papa did a brave job of holding it together, and celebrating, and blessing, and letting go.
Congrats guys…so honored to witness your day, and so very happy for you both!
See more of the images from their day HERE.
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Because it was in fact very cold out, we headed back over to Elizabeth's parents' home to finish out the session around a campfire with some hot cocoa. (Shout out to Elizabeth's father and brother who should most certainly win an award for building a perfectly sized fire in circumstances that were far from ideal. Props...and thank you! Mark and Matt, you rock.)
He's a Colts fan. She's a Cardinals fan. So far their only feud. ;)
Beautiful Elizabeth...
Tyler and Elizabeth's first date was at the Columbus Zoo. When Christmas time came around Tyler took Elizabeth to the zoo again, to see the pretty lights strung up to celebrate the season, AND to ask a very significant question. He proposed by the penguins, and Elizabeth left with a sparkle in her eyes and on her ring finger.
Note the penguin shirt to commemorate the proposal.
Congratulations, guys…so excited for your big day!
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Friends who know our journey, our history, and all the ups and downs and in-betweens of our lives are part of what makes having them by our side on a wedding day so rich, so meaningful. They don't just see the beauty of your wedding day. They know about your difficult places and hard times, and all that you've overcome. Friends are best because they know our hearts. And to be known and loved is the greatest gift.
First look...
Fun fact: Brandon built this truck. As in from scratch. Not kidding. I'd say he's earned the prize for most awesome getaway vehicle.
Gorgeous...
Pre-ceremony Starbucks run. Bride and bridesmaids only. I think yes!
Meanwhile, back at the church, a few of the bride's favorite people had arrived...
This mini-size gent knows how to work his Nikes. Adorable!
Beautiful worship time...
Mr. & Mrs. Miller!
This cake was fashioned with love by the talented Tonya Gorby. Beautiful AND delicious.
Their day ended with a sparkler send off and fireworks. Perfection!
Chris and Brandon, it was an honor to capture the moments of your wedding day, and I wish you both the very best!
Also, a huge thank you to Jessica Photography for second shooting the day with me!
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Tomorrow it's three years since you went to be with Jesus. And you are missed still…always, by the five you left behind.
The truth is that I didn't know you that well. We chatted a bit here and there, but it feels a little indulgent that I write to you on such a difficult day for your loved ones. Timing is a God-ordained thing though. I had the privilege of taking your daughter's senior photos awhile ago, and I just finished processing the images yesterday. Whenever I photograph a senior, I share a post on this blog of favorite photos from their session. It's a way of celebrating an important mile marker in their journey. Kristen's senior portraits are done now - one day before the third anniversary of another sort of mile marker. The difficult kind. I guess I think it's no coincidence that I finished when I did. It was entirely unintentional. Truth is, I had forgotten that tomorrow marks three years that you've been gone. I heard it over the dinner table today. It feels insensitive to say it, but it needs to be clarified that I didn't intend to post Kristen's senior photos on the anniversary of your passing. But it did seem fitting that you should be a part of Kristen's senior year and her photos, because you're a part of them all, even though you're separated for a little while. Kristen's time is now, and it seemed right that a day to celebrate Kristen's milestone falls on a day when we're all remembering you.
When Kristen and I talked about the session, I asked her about herself. She loves the country (like someone else you know), but she and her sister clarified quickly who was the country chic and who was the tomboy. That made me smile, and I loved that they knew themselves and weren't afraid to express it.
She loves trucks too. Specifically her dad's.
She talked about you on the way to the session.
We had fun photographing. We celebrated and posed, and I think you were probably smiling. They laughed at my city-slicker naiveté and educated me on all things country.
Kristen is so beautiful. I think she looks like you.
She is alive to life, and I know that would bring you joy.
She is wonderfully sixteen, and you'd be so proud.
You'd have enjoyed this. We didn't want Kristen's boots to get dirty for photos, so between Joe and Carina, she got from A to B and her cowgirl boots remained unscathed.
You may be physically absent, but you are forever in the hearts of five…and so many more.
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SHOES.
Call it frivolous if you like, but I love me some pretty wedding shoes.
A bride's shoes often tell me a bit about her, or confirm what I already know about her.
Not always. Sometimes they surprise me and that's even more fun.
Okay, so I'm reading a LOT into footwear.
Basically, I love shoes - from stilettos and wedges to pumps and platforms.
Share the joy, ladies. Share the joy. (…let's be honest, I know I've most likely lost the male population by now.)
Alisha's. Note her other gorgeous accessories as well…so pretty.
Kendra's. These shoes were the perfect compliment to her vintage lace dress. Just…YES.
Rachel's. I actually get speechless when I see these. LOVE them. Can't even deal.
Kaylin's. Class and sparkle. Enough said.
Christina's. Purple. And perfect.
Jill's. Minty goodness.
Since we're on the shoe subject, this Father-of-the-Bride deserves a nod for his choice of wedding day footwear. He surprised his daughter by wearing purple dress shoes to match her wedding colors. I'd say he wins the prize, no? ;)
Happy Wednesday, all!
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Remember that love for music that I mentioned? Jason plays the drums, so they brought a customized drum head along for a fun save-the-date photo. Love it!
The box drum, on the other hand, was totally unplanned. Jason just happened to have it in his car. I love happy little photo prop surprises.
Congratulations guys! Can't wait for 7.12.14!
Christmas.
2014.
Lots of "firsts" and new things.
Perhaps it's odd, but as a rule, I'm a big fan of change.
I heart new seasons.
For all my excitement about the changes coming my way this next year, I've got nothing on Matt and Brooke.
They've been married for a little over a year now, and are delightedly anticipating the arrival of a really wonderful change in the form of a little baby boy.
So we celebrated and photographed and had fun with this stage of new life on his way.
Two of these teddy bears are souvenirs from Matt and Brooke's dating years, so it only made sense to get one for baby. The new teddy bear is complete with a recording of Baby Erickson's heartbeat in teddy's foot.
Congrats, guys! Looking forward to meeting your little chap!
They tied the knot on a beautiful day back in mid-October.
Jill and Jerry are a wonderfully fun couple.
So settle in, grab some coffee, and let's go back and relive a little of the magic of their day...
Getting all prettied up.
First look fun!
Making her turn so he could see the back of the dress...
THIS.
I had to include this shot even if it's not the traditional version of perfection. This is classic Jill and Jerry. I can't even tell you how many photos I had of these two just laughing together. They have fun…just goofing off together. It's fun to be around, you know…people who just let loose and have a ridiculously good time being together.
I think we're all a little better off with someone who brings out a bit of silly in us.
And where in the world would any of us be without friends? …here are the bride and groom with theirs.
Ceremony.
Love this moment. Addison's mom and Brandon's dad giving them last minute words of encouragement to walk down the big scary aisle. Fun times. Can I get an amen from all the parents out there?
Not only did they walk, they paused for photos like red-carpet pros (note the hand with a camera on the right edge of the pic on the left). Too cute!
And the beautiful bride…
More-than-a-little happily married!
Reception.
There were so many pretty details.
Wedding cake perfection.
Dinner.
A cake war ensued.
Speeches...
Congrats, Jill and Jerry! It was an honor to photograph your day.
HUGE thanks to the amazing Jessica of Jessica Photography for second shooting the day with me! Be sure to check out more of her work here!
Wishing there were more photos from this couple's day? There just might be. Click here for a link to the bride and groom's highlights slideshow and satiate the desire to take in more pretty wedding memories.
]]>Wynn, like a lot of folks I know, would prefer to stay out of pretty much any camera's line of sight.
But for all his reluctance to step in front of the camera for his senior photos, he was brilliant.
Wynn, I so enjoyed taking your photographs. Hand out lots of those autographs too…because all kidding aside, you're a good person to know. I hope that your senior year is fantastic and filled with lots of great memories.
P.S. Huge thanks to the Scheiderer's for allowing us to use their beautiful barn and pasture...AND especially to Mr. Scheiderer for protecting us from the little calf/cow/barnyard creature pictured below. (I'm not really up on my proper animal verbiage.) The aforementioned creature definitely thought he was a bull ready for the ring. Poor little fellow wasn't thrilled with us invading his territory. This was moments before the thing gathered its courage and did a little mini gallop/charge toward our general area. I would have snapped a photo of that but I was busy trying to maintain the appearance of being unafraid of this clearly non-threatening creature, while also obeying my clearly over-zealous survival instincts to RUN. Bull riding isn't so much down my alley. I know that comes as a HUGE shock. Anyway, SPOILER ALERT: we survived. It probably won't be a Hollywood blockbuster anytime soon, since most of the drama of this story was locked up in my own imagination. But good times were had by all. Sans the cow of course. Tune in next time for more almost-adventures with Deborah...
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Michael has a lot of hobbies, so we had a blast incorporating some of his interests into his senior portrait session.
We'll start off with basketball...
Hunting...
Love these street shots.
His four wheeler...
...and cars!
Michael, it was an honor to photograph your senior portraits, and I wish you an adventure-filled senior year!
]]>And then there are your best friends.
Then there is family...
...where you let down, be yourself, laugh a little too loud, and say what you think.
Kaylin was born six months after I was. Our mothers got each other and our families were together often, so Kaylin and I spent hours building killer forts, getting sunburned, and plotting schemes to sneak home with one another. We fiddled away a good portion of our childhood arranging the perfect set up to play Barbies. Never actually got around to playing with our Barbies, but never mind that. We had fun.
And now she's getting married to a really splendid guy.
...and I see her let down, be herself, laugh a little too loud, and say what she thinks when she's with Drew; and it has me thinking that she's found new family, and it makes me glad to see her happy.
Congratulations, guys! So excited for your day!
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The crisp morning air.
Salty caramel lattes.
The leaves trying on new color.
The way the sky seems to change from soft summery blue to saturated cobalt.
Fall fashion. (My scarves and winter boots always get pushy with me around late August.)
And fall evenings. They've been so perfect of late.
Here's a peek at a session I did for a gorgeous family one night a few weeks ago.
Narnia is from Germany. She and Kevin met and fell in love while he was in the service, stationed in her home country.
They're in the States now, two adored and adorable daughters in tow.
I love these two shots. These daughters are loved beautifully.
Addison is two, and a blonde blur of energetic cuteness.
Kevin and Narnia, thank you for allowing me to peek into your lives with my lens and photograph your sweet family.
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Yesteryear's selfie, even if it was taken with my beloved George, just hasn't been cutting it for awhile now.
The length of my hair is also serving as a reminder that it is time to update. My tresses have traversed a plethora of awkward stages in their quest to reach pre-wedding length. (The hair has reached the shoulders, by the way. This is epic news...and definitely something over which a bottle of bubbly should be popped.)
So the other evening as the hubster and I were heading out for dinner, I asked him to get a few shots for me.
You know what's amazing?
Five feet can be the difference between uncertainty and confidence.
All of the strength and focus that I feel when I'm behind the camera dissipated when I was five feet away on the OTHER side of the camera.
I had forgotten.
I love photography. I love MY perspective on photography. From BEHIND the lens.
I had forgotten how uncertain and vulnerable it can feel to be standing in front of a giant lens and have zero idea if you're 'doing it right.'
It was good for me to be on the other side of the lens, specifically as a photographer.
I'm committed to capturing photos that are genuine. The real you is what I want to see in my photos.
Because the real you is amazing.
It's who your family and friends know and love.
For me to capture that, I love helping you let down the 'am-I-getting-it-right guard' that we ALL have (myself included).
That's how I get magical photos...by helping people relax back into their own skin.
And then I just snap away. ;)
Here's to the bravery of being in front of the lens!
]]>They were fun - and they reminded me why I love coming from a 'big' family.
There's so much energy, life, laughter...and sometimes chaos, but that's just life.
And life really is good, and it's the moments that you realize gratitude for those closest to you that the world comes into focus.
Lovely people.
Because all little boys loves dirt, stones, and anything else that can be thrown or used to dirty oneself.
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Here's a little peek into their day...
These pink wedges had me at hello.
Gorgeous Rachel.
All excited to see each other for the first look...
They painted a canvas to symbolize the joining of their lives.
Love me some reception details.
Fact: food done pretty tastes better.
Ahhh, dessert. We meet again. :)
It was beautiful day spent with fantastic people.
Happy ever after, Matt and Rachel!
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She is pregnant no more. Baby Bristol has arrived. In style I might add.
I believe darling would be the word. :)
Note Bristol's outfit. And the fantabulous chevron blanket below. Both were crocheted with love by her aunt Jewel.
And, yes, this is the Jewel who inspired Bristol's middle name.
For good reason.
I know. Kara knows for sure. And really if you know Jewel at all, you know too.
A worthy namesake if ever there was one.
Baby toes. So unbelievably tiny, adorable, and photo-friendly.
First doll...from her mother.
For as far back as my brain can recall, Kara has had a gifting and a heart for kids. She followed her heart to Ghana, Africa a few years back, and she loved on two sweet little ones that were like her very own.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT LIVING AND DOING AND SIMPLY BEING WHO GOD MADE YOU TO BE. IT'S INSPIRING.
Watching Kara with kids is inspiring. She's in her sweet spot...and it reminds and encourages me to find my sweet spot in God's story too. It is not always easy. Kara worked at a high school for a few years after returning from Africa, and I saw her bless and affirm the sox right off of her students.
KARA IS ENERGY AND SPONTANEITY AND ONE OF THE MOST FUN PEOPLE I KNOW.
...so it is no wonder her students loved her. They responded to her life and energy because she was simply being her God-created self. It's amazing how hard that can be...being yourself. Life happens, and before we know it, we wake up a little lost to who we were really meant to be. I've watched Kara quietly fight back to finding and recovering her true self through the curveballs that life has thrown her way. A few years ago she was at a crossroads, and God brought her a book that led her back to her sweet spot...kids. She's been loving on a room full of toddlers at a daycare for a few years now, bringing them life while teaching them not to go potty in their pants (not kidding...she has the potty-training room...r.e.s.p.e.c.t!)
AND YOU KNOW WHY SHE'S GOING TO BE A GREAT MOM? BECAUSE MOTHERHOOD IS ALL ABOUT GIVING AND SHARING LIFE, AND SHE'S BEEN DOING THAT ALL ALONG.
She'd be the first to tell you that she doesn't have it all figured out. But she's on the right path, and there is grace for the uncertain places, and God is good so life is too.
Kara, I am so proud of you. Bristol is blessed to be yours.
Brand new Mom and Pop right here.
Preston served as a firefighter in Iraq...
While we were working to get Bristol tucked neatly into Preston's helmet, I asked him about his warped face shield. I discovered that the face shield begins to breakdown at nine hundred degrees. He went on to say that when his face mask (not pictured here) started to spider up and breakdown as well (at twelve hundred degrees), they pulled out of that particular fire. He quipped that we'd probably think twice about putting a baby in the helmet if we knew what the helmet had been through. Umm. Yes.
A little Dr. Seuss...because it's a favorite of her mother's.
Packer football is the air these two breathe so they're getting Bristol acclimated early.
Congratulations, guys! So very happy for you!
Kaelynn made her debut on July 22nd...much to the delight of her parents and big sister Bristol.
I'm pretty sure there is nothing in the world as adorable and charming as a tiny baby yawning...as if they have all the reason in the world to be utterly exhausted.
All smiles at the ripe old age of nine days. :)
Congratulations to fabulous parents and a proud big sister. She is perfection.
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They're headed to the chapel in precisely 58 days.
Or so Jill tells me.
Here they are in all of their about-to-be-married bliss...
They may or may not but definitely do love ice cream which officially makes them my kind of people.
People fall in love smiling at each other. People stay in love laughing with each other. -Unknown
These two have the laughing bit down. :)
Congratulations to two splendid people who've found happiness together.
10.12.13 is going to be a good day!
]]>a hockey player and a nurse fell in love.
Meet the gorgeous (and splendidly fun, I might add) Nathan and Alisha.
It was a privilege to photograph their day, and I'm thrilled to share what I witnessed through my lens.
Here is their day from my perspective...
The speech being penned below was delivered brilliantly later that evening at the reception.
It was genuine, heartfelt, and absolutely hilarious.
Alisha, looking oh-so-stunning.
Alisha was helped into her dress in her parents living room...home. It felt so appropriate.
About to head out the door, she paused for lipstick at the china cabinet. This is the wealth of a lifetime of moments at home.
All the pretty ladies.
Guests registered their attendance on a hockey stick. Fun and original, eh?
The bride was blessed with prayer by her friends moments before she walked down the aisle.
The ceremony was held outdoors, overlooking one of the many lakes that dot the landscape of northwestern Ontario.
It was breathtaking.
Oh yes they did! :)
The new Mr. & Mrs.
Oreo hockey stick favors. Naturally.
The skies threatened rain most of the day, but generously held off until everyone was safe and sheltered at the reception.
Krystal, the bride's dear friend and personal attendant. Word on the street is that she's part angel.
Food is my love language. Not sure where I heard that...but YES. Me too.
Fun game: get the hockey puck past the goalie and Nathan and Alisha have to kiss.
The guests were pretty good, so the bride and groom got creative with their kisses.
Nathan held on for dear life as they switched roles and Alisha dipped him for a kiss.
The dessert happiness yielded endless options.
The wedding party participated in a creative and competitive version of musical chairs. The goal each round was to collect a specified item (comb, international driver's license, socks...yes, you heard me correctly) from wedding guests and return to a seat before none remains.
Nathan's elimination, and the best man doing his best-man duties and providing a shoulder. Drama, drama.
It wasn't for the faint of heart. Legit competition here.
Last ladies standing. The final item to collect was a kiss. The bride lost to her friend's mad, kiss-collecting skills. I site length of marriage as the reason for the loss. Judith (the winner) has been married for seven months. Alisha hasn't been married for seven hours. You see the advantage...
Parents. Child-raisers. Cheerleaders. Your roots and the place you can always wing home safe.
They blessed and they released. I think this must be much harder than I can fathom.
It was a lovely day with fantastic people, and such a gorgeous and meaningful wedding.
Nathan and Alisha, you are beautiful together, and I wish you the very best.
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Friends gathered, family congregated, and everyone sampled a bit of their joy.
It is the little moments that make it all so special...
...good coffee to sip while the locks get pinned in place.
...sister artist brushing beauty.
...a friend reading 1 Corinthians 13 to settle your heart and bring you back to the reason for all this celebration.
...a mother who has buttoned up a life and buttons up your vest on your wedding day.
Life is a gift, and wedding days open the eyes to the wonder of it all.
"Matt is the romantic," Kendra says.
And right she is.
Sweet words, thoughtful gestures, and notes are his everyday expression, and it's no different on their wedding day.
Chagrin Falls - home to a splendid waterfall, as well as a picturesque little popcorn shoppe that charmed me instantly.
The best man's speech...entertaining for sure!
There is nothing in the world like a sister.
Matt's father, proudly showing off his homeland's colors.
...and this was Matt earlier in the day.
All I do is take photos. You'll have to draw your own conclusions. ;o)
And off into the sunset they fly...
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Maternity leave has begun.
And because my Kara friend is one of the brilliantly-organized few, she {and all the rest of us} are pretty much just waiting for her little chica to make her much-anticipated arrival. Technically, baby has until August 4th before we can start getting cranky that she hasn't yet graced us with her presence. So we wait. And take photos of the little one's "home" for the past 8.5 months to pass the time and celebrate the miracle of a new little person. Here are a few photos of her {incognito}, her gorgeous mother, and her patient papa-to-be.
Congrats to two fantastic people...can't wait to meet this little lady!
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Stunning, easy going, and fun-loving...
...that's Brittany.
This girl is happiest in jeans, riding a four wheeler, and listening to country music.
AND she likes hot pink. (Let's be honest, that won her immediate bonus points in my book.)
Here are a few photos from the relaxed summer session we did a few weeks go.
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I adore her...and her gorgeous little mop of curls.
Sweetness itself, this one.
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She was too cute...so I grabbed my camera and did a little two minute photo shoot in Grandma's kitchen.
Her adorableness has officially been preserved. :)
...twirling...
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Especially for two country kids who've loved each other since high school.
Rod + Caley promised each other forever in their home church amongst friends and family.
Here they are in all of their wedding loveliness.
Getting all prettied up for the day.
Caley looking SO beautiful. Love her easy smile and sweet spirit.
Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature and our love becomes as coals, deep-burning and unquenchable. - Bruce Lee
Something I loved about these two...they're crazy about each other, but I also saw such an incredible friendship between them. It was beautiful and mature and unusual to see that depth of friendship and ease with one another in such a young couple.
Handsome chap, isn't he?! Caley thinks so.
The gents...
...and all the pretty ladies.
Happy tears are a beautiful thing.
Reception details.
The best man serenaded guests and offered marital advice to the groom by performing his very own rendition of Brad Paisley's "That's Love." He'd only practiced the night before. Absolutely hilarious.
Bubbles!
Yup. They made their departure via tractor. Naturally...because Rod is a farmer, and she grew up on a farm...and well, it's how they roll.
LOVE IT.
Congrats to two wonderful people. You are perfect for each other, and I'm so happy to have photographed your day.
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If this little darling's blue eyes won't win you over, her charming grin will.
She is happiness and energy and what's right with the world.
I just wanted to squeeze her.
I took photos instead and left the squeezing to her mom, dad, and cool godfather Robert.
See her in all of her cuteness below. ;o)
One of my favorites.
Arileise having a good time with cool godfather Robert. :)
Happy 1st Birthday, Arileise!
You are adored.
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These two are all kinds of perfect for each other.
They have a laid back, country sort of love.
Rod is a farmer, like his dad.
Caley grew up on a farm too.
So you see, falling in love came naturally for these two.
The obvious place for their engagement session was the farm where Rod grew up.
Enjoy. :)
On their first date, Rod surprised Caley by picking her up in a tractor.
How fabulous is that?! :o)
These two are wonderfully in love; but they're friends too. Maybe it's that combination of chemistry and friendship that makes them so amazing together...
So happy for you both!
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These two are as kind as they are beautiful.
Kendra has a quiet, genuine sweetness about her that is instantly inviting. She's the sort of person you just instinctively know you can trust.
And she adores Matt.
Matt is a social worker with a huge heart.
Kendra described him this way...
"Matt has a huge, compassionate heart and puts his whole entire being into whatever task is at hand. He is so on fire for God, and that flows into the way he interacts with others and loves me. Perhaps this is getting cheesy, but what can I say, I love the guy. :)"
Here are a few of their photos...
Kendra...you are lovely.
The bracelet was a gift from Matt celebrating two years of togetherness.
Coffee...yes...this does make love complete. ;o)
There is one little obstacle these two overcame to be together. Matt is Canadian. Kendra is proud to be an American.
They found love together anyway. ;o)
Matt and Kendra, you are perfect for each other! It was an honor to spend time photographing your awesomeness! :o)
Congratulations...and I can't wait to see you say "I DO!" in a few months!
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And so very active.
If Jeffrey and the energizer bunny were pitted against one another in a race, my money would be on Jeffrey. ;o)
Enjoy him in all of his cuteness below.
His parents...they're fabulous people.
This little dude is a climbing boss. Don't be surprised if you see him in the news in a few years..."Seven Year Old Prodigy Climbs Everest". We'd put him down, and he'd head straight for the tallest set of stairs. A little explorer, this one. :)
Motherhood looks good on you, Verna.
You three together look a lot like happiness. :) Thanks for letting me document a little bit of your life! :)
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This little sweetheart was born December 17th to delighted and proud new parents.
And they should be.
Ava is their very own little miracle.
Three generations.
"Mother's love is peace. It need not be acquired, it need not be deserved." -Erich Fromm
Such a lovely little family. I adore Ava's expression on the photo below. She must be having a good dream. ;o)
Proud Papa.
Ava wasn't so excited about this shot. :)
Kyle + Mel, congratulations on your splendid family! Ava is beautiful and so obviously beloved!
The weather was perfection. The bride glowed. The groom looked dapper.
Friends and family from Ohio, Canada, and...well, all over, gathered to celebrate with them.
It was my privilege to witness their day, and capture the moments that last a lifetime.
So happy for you both!
Getting ready for THE long awaited day.
As she was leaving to go meet her groom, her friends spontaneously surrounded her and prayed a blessing over her.
Awesome moment.
Ready to see his lady...
Ah, first looks. How I love these. :)
Dress details...the bracelet was a wedding day gift from her groom.
The creative session was photographed in the bride's hometown, charming and colorful Abbeville. I left under it's spell. :)
Beautiful, beautiful bride.
All smiles. :)
Photo credit for the following two shots goes to my assistant (and wonderful husband) Pete! Love these!
A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous. -Ingrid Bergman
Their friends...
To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides. -David Viscott
At the chapel...
Every wedding needs a Lindsey. She was wonderful!
The after party...
Deliciousness.
Fabulous, funny, and heartwarming speeches were made by many.
Candy land. Not the board game. An actual location for their guests to gather 'round and sample sweetness at their reception.
DE-LIGHT!
Laughter. There was much of that.
Love is sweet. Like dessert I think. :)
I wish you both the very best as you enjoy the sweetness of love and life, together.
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So pretty!
Marilyn is one of my favorite people to be around. She's incredibly fun and intelligent. She loves a good debate, and she'll liven an environment (without even trying) posthaste! :)
This portion of the session was done at the library because Marilyn loves to learn. About anything and everything!
She's gifted with an inquisitive nature that drives her to seek the truth.
Marilyn reads voraciously, but Eric Metaxas' biography on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is especially significant to her.
Isaiah 62 is one of her favorite passages of Scripture.
She wears a Star of David from a land that will always be close to her heart.
She has a passion for this country, and for justice to prevail. I've found that the passions of those we are closest to often ease their way into our lives rather unassumingly, and we wake up one day to find those passions have become our own. I, and so many others, have been so blessed by the strength of her conviction.
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