Choose real.
Indiana and Michigan wedding and family photographer putting your unique story at the heart of your photos by capturing the completely honest moments.
This past season, November was my FAVORITE month for family photos! And this family is also a favorite! I’m lucky enough to be related through marriage and our kiddos are just eight weeks apart in age. I love their montessori, nature loving mentality and how much they clearly and unashamedly ADORE their daughter. I could absolutely photograph them every day and be just fine with that.
All the feels! I love unique photo sessions…they’re what drew me into photography in the first place. So when I got the inquiry for a Notre Dame session for a couple of alumni and their sweet baby boy, now transplants to Texas, I was all about it! I love the idea of having meaning behind your photos and not only were they choosing a super meaningful location to them, but they also stressed the value they place on real interaction and lifestyle images. Meeting this sweet family was a true pleasure and getting a text after sending the sneak peeks requesting a second session a day later with their extended family was just the cherry on top! I feel so lucky to have been a part of creating these photos for them to look back on and I hope that I will get to meet up with them again in years to come.
One of my favorite things about photography is the way it has brought both old and new friends into my life. This sweet family was a blast to get to know and I was so happy to hear from their mom, a fellow LV alum, after so many years since graduation (gosh we felt old)! The way that this family interacted was such a joy to be around and they are as hilarious as they are adorable. I also loved that they chose to step outside the rural family photo box and have their session in downtown South Bend. It was chilly out, but everyone powered through and I think the photos clearly show, it was worth it!
Sometimes, the stars align and you end up with a family session like THIS ONE! Holy cow. When I first pulled into the drive of this sweet family home (transplants from Hawaii), I knew it was going to be good. The kids welcomed me so warmly and were all so well-spoken and friendly. Then, when Mom and Dad suggested we jump on the ATV’s to get to the truly great parts of their property, I had to hide my own excitement. Their property was a gold mine of perfect fall colors and unique settings that I couldn’t have designed better myself. And so I got to spend an hour with totally pleasant people cruising around taking photos. It was a hard job, but I guess someone has to do it (BAHAHA). Thanks, P Family, for having me out and giving me one of the best family sessions ever.
The first two families of the fall mini session marathon were so different yet equally sweet and amazing! One is a young family headed up by an oncology nurse and fireman (amazing people, am I right?!) and the other is an extended family of adults who decided it was absolutely time for some updated photos (which is awesome and all grown up families should still do). So photographing them back to back was super fun and a perfect start to the fall season.
I just HAD to jump on and share some sneak peeks from this amazing lifestyle family session! I can’t wait to dig into this gallery.
Repeat clients..are. the. best! Few things are more flattering than to have families come back for multiple sessions to help document their family’s journey through the years. When I first photographed this sweet trio, little L was just a toddler learning to walk steadily and paint pumpkins. Now, she’s a fully articulate little girl with an imagination that can put most kids her age to shame. Watching this mom and dad interact with her is always such a true joy; they encourage and nurture her curiosity and imagination in a way that is so wonderful and unique. And while she may look a lot like her dad, she sure has mom’s mannerisms! I truly can’t wait for the next time I get to hang out with this family and take a couple more photos along the way ;)
Once again, I got to hang out with this fun family and their two awesome little boys! Watching them grow from a family of three to a family of four has been so much fun. S is a super chatty and equally adorable little boy who loves to be outdoors. He’s so well mannered and just a joy to be around that it hardly seems like work to take his photos.
Can’t wait for the next milestone and family session with these guys! (Lookout world, because Baby L will be 6 months old!)
Well, I can’t really say enough about this fun family because they also happen to be our best friends! My husband and I have been friends with this awesome couple before we were even married. They traveled all the way to Florida for our wedding and now, many years later, our daughters are absolute besties and our sons, well, they’re too young to know it but they’ll be best buds, too.
I always feel a special privilege when friends trust you take their photos. Its such a special thing to be able to do for people and I always love a chance to get together with them. And of course, my own daughter had to sneak in and take some quick pics with her bestie, too.
There aren’t many things I love more than being able to follow a family’s journey from the very beginning! And this family is a perfect example. I met them when they hired me to document the birth of their second son, who is now over a year old! Following his journey and seeing him turn into such a fun loving and energetic toddler has been so rewarding.
We had a blast on this cool fall evening for their milestone and family photo session. Full of smiles and not wanting to sit still long, we got to go all over the place and find lots of fun spots to shoot in. Mom and Dad surely have their hands full with these two handsome fellas, but there was no shortage of smiles and love. Can’t wait to see them again soon!
There’s no question that I have a soft spot for this gorgeous family. Not only did we go to high school together way back when, but I also got to document their youngest daughter’s Fresh 48 and her entire first year. Now she’s a spunky toddler and we get to do full family sessions out on their amazing property. Not only are their kids absolutely gorgeous, but they’re equally as well mannered and fun.
This was hands down my favorite family session of the season as we had absolutely perfect conditions. Plus, Mom asked for some simple, classic black and whites of each kiddo to hang on her walls and they turned out gorgeous! Can’t wait to meet back up with them for another family photo shoot (or you know, just run into Mom and Baby L at Target…because that seems to happen weekly lol).
Extended family sessions are always so much fun! I love watching young kids interact and when you’re not doing traditional “say cheese” photos, everyone has a great time (and usually lots of laughs). I mean, I don’t know which ones they chose to hang, but I would totally frame the ones with nose picking and scowling. Because that’s real life, right?!
This great group is growing every year and adding more and more babies. I hope I get to keep up with them and document some more fun moments along the way.
