Here’s a rundown of my typical Saturday morning:

1. Sleep in
2. Turn off the alarm I set to wake me up at a time that feels like when an adult should wake up on Saturday
3. Actually get up 30 minutes later
4. Breakfast
5. Enjoy the day

If at all possible, I do not deviate from that schedule; it is what gets me through the week. However, when presented with the opportunity to photograph some pretty adorable children, I promote Step 2 to the top of my list, actually wake up and gladly start snapping away.

That was the case last Saturday when my teaching buddy Erica (what’s up Highland?) asked me to photograph her adorable daughter Adilyn and her newly born son Brody. And if the photographs below aren’t evidence enough that being a grown up and sacrificing a little extra sleep is worth it, then I don’t know what is.

Maybe it’s because I am a teacher, or maybe it’s because it is indeed what I saw and felt while shooting Stephanie and her beautiful daughters. As I was editing, I thought of the words from the book, Love you Forever….

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always, as long as I’m living my baby you’ll be”

You could see in the way that Stephanie looked at her girls, that they are her everything.  It was fun to shoot but even more fun to be a part of!

Just wanted to stop in before my two shoots tonight and share a favorite from a recent Christmas session!

I truly adore this family!

I just adore this family! I say that both as a photographer and friend! Ryan and I laughed so much on this shoot, that we were ready to shoot them again within 5 minutes of the shoot being over. I have been spending a lot of time with Megan and have just become quite attached to that girl! They are the definition of family and I loved every second of capturing their story.

You don’t choose your family. They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them. ~Desmond Tutu

This family is the definition of adorable. I have loved getting to shoot them from the beginning. Lindy and Nate were among my first customers and I have gotten to be a part of each monumental part of their lives since. Engagements, Bridals, Wedding Reception, Maternity, Newborn Shoot and now a one year shoot with sweet Eli. The was so much laughter and joy between the three of them that I don’t think I stopped smiling once. I hope that while you look at these, you don’t either!

The “during” of being thrown in the air…

The after…

Come back soon for a princess shoot you are bound to fall in love with!

People always talk about how strange it is when your friends start having babies and you aren’t…well I’m here to tell you that it really is a little strange. Ashley and I were in band and choir together through all of junior high and high school. We did Rifle’s together when we were in colorguard (we were cool, you don’t know!) and it feels like just yesterday we were practicing in my parents driveway (Ash – still sorry about that toe ring I broke when I dropped my toss…did I ever replace it?). But regardless of how funny it may feel for her to be all grown up, she has a beautiful family and she is a wonderful mother and wife.

Here is Harrison in her husband Ty’s outfit from when he was a baby!

He’s trying to play his daddy’s trumpet…

And here is sweet Dillyn, isn’t she the cutest?

A few days ago, I returned from a Education Conference in Chicago and have hit the ground running since I got back. I had the wonderful privilege of shooting a sweet wedding, had a family shoot, have another family shoot tomorrow and then I leave to see family one last time before school starts! Whew! It’s been busy, but so blessed. While I am working, I wanted to share a few images with you!

First off! Here is a couple of images from my trip to Chicago. I absolutely fell in love with this city and all that it had to offer. I loved learning the history and meeting people, it was such a wonderful trip. I learned so much that I am excited to use when school starts!

These are the sweet ladies I got to go with!

I loved capturing the lives around the city, these boys were so cute!

Here is the famous “Bean” that is in Millennium Park. The light was perfect and I could have stayed here all night if they would have let me!

Here is a family shoot that I am working on – it was by far the largest family I’ve ever gotten to take pictures of! It was so much fun!

I am so excited to share Tania’s bridals with you! This beauty got married yesterday and I cannot wait to show you how beautiful she looked in her vintage inspired gown!

And of course, I had to sneak a few in from her and James’ wedding

I had a shoot today with a friend of mine from high school, Ashley Carthel and her little family! These two kids are too cute!

As I continue to learn about photography, websites, blogging, and simply just living – I want to thank you for believing in me and my heart for people.

You know, it’s an interesting perspective being a photographer, especially when you manage to convince clients to keep allowing you to take their photos at monumental stages of their lives. For instance, Josh and Mallory here.

The two were gracious enough to allow me, a fledgling photographer at the time, to shoot their engagement, bridals (of just Mallory of course) and wedding. It was one of my first ever and I deeply appreciate them allowing me to share that special moment with them.  I’m pretty sure that my battery died and my mom had to go buy and bring me another one just a few moments before the ceremony began. (Hey, hey – I had just started, give me a break!)

Fast forward a few years, and I’m now taking photos of their incredibly tiny and unrelentingly cute baby girl Kambree Kait.  (And I now have more than one battery charged and ready to go when shooting) I think one of the biggest joys I receive from performing this service for people is how I get to share in their happiness as their lives evolve.

Fitness instructor, chiropractor, chef, entrepreneur…and the list goes on. This family is amazing. Not only are they all incredibly ambitious, they are the most good looking family I’ve ever had the pleasure of photographing. And the nicest. I mean really, guys? Leave a little bit for the rest of us. I could continue talking about how awesome they are and make myself seem creepy, but I will just tell you that they made for the most beautiful pictures and enjoyable photoshoot.