MOTHERHOOD SESSION - South Bend, Indiana Motherhood and Baby Photographer

This session was cup filling and brought me some serious joy in the middle of a really super busy season of life. Sometimes, when things get SO busy, you forget to enjoy what you do. So when the opportunity arose to do this simple, heartwarming motherhood session right in the middle of one of those busy times, I almost didn’t take it on. But something tugged at me and reminded me that sessions like this one were what drew me to photography from the beginning. And guys, I’m SO glad I did it! This mom is so in love with her daughter and wanted to commemorate that bond before her baby wasn’t a baby anymore. This is the most primal and candid type of session to do but also one of the most beautiful. Thank you so much, E and R for inviting me into your home and giving me this jolt of photographic joy in the middle of it all.

THE S FAMILY - Lifestyle Family Photographer in Northern Indiana

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.

indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

BABY SAMUEL - Mishawaka Indiana Baby and Family Photographer

This sweet boy was so sleepy and sweet for his session…and his feline companion was so curious about him! Everything about this time with this newborn baby was just melt-your-heart-adorable. From his loving parents who couldn’t get enough of him, to their cat sniffing and standing up to peak at him in his crib, this baby was clearly surrounded by love.

mishawaka indiana newborn baby lifestyle photographer photography

mishawaka indiana newborn baby lifestyle photographer photography

mishawaka indiana newborn baby lifestyle photographer photography

mishawaka indiana newborn baby lifestyle photographer photography

THE HENECKE FAMILY - South Bend Indiana Family Photographer

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 ;)

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

south bend indiana lifestyle family photographer

S TURNS TWO - Niles, Michigan Family and Milestone Lifestyle Photographer

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!)

H FAMILY LIFESTYLE PHOTOS - Osceola, Indiana Family Lifestyle Photographer

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.

indiana family lifestyle photographer

south bend indiana family lifestyle photography

H FAMILY AND MILESTONE LIFESTYLE PHOTOS - Michigan and Indiana Family and Milestone Lifestyle Photographer

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!

H FAMILY LIFESTYLE PHOTOS - South Bend Family Lifestyle Photographer

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).

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

plymouth and lakeville indiana family lifestyle photographer

GENTRY'S MILESTONE PHOTOGRAPY - South Bend & Mishawaka Family and Child Photographer

Oh Gentry <3

I’ve had the privilege of following her journey since her sweet family moved into their dream farm house that they are renovating. She is full a spice and sugar and has never met a stranger. We snuck in this mini session before her sister arrived and once again, she made me smile the entire time. Her love for life, the outdoors and animals was obvious and she definitely runs the show around there. Even her big, tough firefighter Daddy is wrapped around her little finger!

Thank you F Family for trusting me to document your sweet girls.

Y LIFESTYLE FAMILY PHOTOS - Nappanee Indiana Lifestyle Family Photographer

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.

WELCOME BABY DAWSYN - Indiana Newborn Photographer

This family. Where do I even start?

They were my VERY FIRST family documentary clients! They trusted me before anyone else to capture memories of their sweet daughter in the throws of their dream-house renovation project. They quickly grew to be more than just clients but friends! Fast forward a few years and a few more sessions down the road and I had the privilege of documenting their sweet second daughter, Dawsyn.

I was so excited when I got Mom’s initial message inquiring about newborn sessions and the chance to see their oldest girl become a big sister. After Dawsyn’s arrival, I anxiously awaited the call to come and meet her! And when I did and I walked into their farmhouse, the first thing I thought: “Holy moly, they’re identical!” Dawsyn looks JUST like her big sister! My heart melted immediately. Big sister was so excited to show me her new baby and it was obvious that while she still wanted (and needed) Mom and Dad’s attention, too, she was a huge helper in the family now.

Capturing these moments for this family of four was such a joy and I truly hope I get to continue on their journey with them. Thank you, F Family, for allowing me into your lives all this time.

MOM & MINIS FAMILY - Lifestyle & Documentary Family Photographer, South Bend, IN

Beginning this photography journey has brought me many blessings; some expected and some not so expected. Two of those blessings are the opportunity to volunteer for House of Hopes which is an AMAZING philanthropic photography group and the other is meeting new friends. One of those friends I happened to meet through my work with HoH. While it was a sad situation that brought us to the same spot, I am so grateful that after 12+ hours in a L&D lobby together resulted in a great friendship with another amazing photographer.

When T reached out during one of our many photography and parenting centered conversations and asked if I would be interested in doing a documentary lifestyle session for her and her girls, I was beyond excited for so many reasons. First, her girls are awesome. Like they are legitimately cool kids! Second, I love having the opportunity to document families of all ages. Sessions tend to revolve around little kids and then taper off as they grow up and that’s so unfortunate. So to have the chance to capture some memories of school age kids was awesome! Third, I could totally relate to her reasoning.

She expressed how she was suddenly seeing all of these leaps and bound in growth and maturity in her girls and she recognized that they would soon be entering new phases and she wanted to commemorate the everyday innocence and routine that has been theres for a while now. Watching my own daughter grow at light speed makes me completely sympathetic to this situation and I was more than happy to capture their “normal.”

And so, with all of that being said, I just want to thank T for letting me into her home and her life and capture these moments of homeschool and girl bonding for her! I hope they bring a smile to all of your faces for years to come.