Rachel's In-Home Maternity Session - South Bend Birth, Fresh 48 and Newborn Photographer

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When you think "Maternity Session," you probably think of expecting women draped in flowy gowns standing in the middle of a beautiful field or river. That's been the trend for awhile now and while it does result in some truly stunning photos, I tend to favor the more real and honest moments of a woman's pregnancy. Think sipping decaf coffee while your other kiddos run around happily while you prepare breakfast with your hubby. Sound familiar? Well, let me assure you, it is no less beautiful than the flowy gown photos! In fact, in my eyes, they're even more priceless and gorgeous . 

When I arrived at Rachel's home that she shares with her two daughters and lumberjack husband (no really, he's a lumberjack by trade!), I immediately felt at home. The family's house was so cozy and welcoming and full of bright colors and happy energy, it was impossible not to feel like part of the family. Having known Rachel through her doula work (we've shared birthing mommas multiple times before), we had plenty to chat about. Actually, we probably talked too much because in nearly every other photo, I caught Rachel answering one of my 101 questions! 

Watching Rachel mom is like watching the wind blow: it's natural, effortless and effective. Her girls were so well-behaved and sweet, not to mention they both adore Rachel and their Daddy. My favorite time was when the family played together on Mom and Dad's bed, laughing and giggling in a way that you could just tell happens each and every day. There's no doubt that sweet baby girl #3 will be entering a house filled with fun and laughter and an over abundance of love. 

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BLAKE & KRISTI'S ENGAGEMENT SESSION - Goshen, Indiana Wedding Photographer

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When some people think of engagement sessions, they think of the awkwardness of being in front of a camera. When this couple got in front of the camera, they simply turned on the laughter. I kid you not, this session was so filled with hysteria, we had to work just to get a few images of them NOT laughing!

When I first met Kristi and Blake, I knew they were a fun couple. They were both so open and funny and so intrigued with the idea of documentary photography for their wedding, I knew we'd be a perfect fit to work together. We chatted like we'd known each other forever and it was obvious that they were super excited about their upcoming wedding that they also get to share with their kids. 

What I didn't know, is that they are absolutely hilarious. From the very start of the session, we were all cracking jokes - some more appropriate than others - and having a great time. Despite some dreary skies and the first truly decent weekend of the year, their cheer and hilarity brightened everything right up. As we walked the property, they were up for anything and some of the outtakes, which I will be kind enough not to share here, had me cracking up over my keyboard as I was editing. 

I genuinely can't wait for their beautiful wedding this year and I'm so excited to be a part of it! 

Baby Norman's Newborn Session - South Bend Family and Newborn Photographer

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There is nothing quite like a beautiful newborn girl baby (I mean, I may be a little bit biased being a girl mom, but still). And Baby K was no exception! With her dark, swirly hair, full cheeks and pouty little lips, she could melt even the toughest of hearts. Look out, Dad. You've got a heartbreaker on your hands!

When I arrived to this newborn session, I was already so in love with the nursery and the lighting. When Mom hits up pottery barn for nursery furniture, how can you go wrong? These sweet parents had clearly put so much thought and planning into this girl's arrival. And did I mention how kind and welcoming this family was? As we got to talking, I found out their super exciting story!

Right around the time Mom was having Baby K, Dad (who was the Notre Dame Girl's Soccer Team Assistant Coach) found out that the head coach was retiring. Nothing like having a baby and having your job rocked at the same time, right?! Well, shortly after Baby K's debut, Dad got some insanely exciting news: HE would be the new head coach! What could be better than having a brand new, healthy, happy baby and getting your dream job at one of the nation's best colleges? I think it's safe to say that this story had a very happy ending.

Watching these new parents caring for and loving on their baby girl was so heart warming. Dad would expertly swing Baby K, who loves to be moving, in his arms and mom offered the softest and gentlest snuggles. There's no doubt that this baby girl's days are going to be filled with an abudnance of love and smiles. Thank you for inviting me into your home, Norman family! 

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SHARON & NATHAN ENGAGEMENT SESSION - South Bend, IN Wedding Photographer

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It's not often that the stars align and you get a perfect couple, on a perfect evening with absolutely perfect golden-hour lighting...but that's exactly what happened at this epic engagement session in South Bend, Indiana. The comfort and love these two shared with each other was so special and fun to photograph and makes me all the more excited for their upcoming wedding (sure to be a completely beautiful occasion). 

When Sharon and Nathan and I met to discuss their wedding photography goals this winter, it was obvious that these two were meant to be. Despite having some opposite interests (like the fact that she loves horses and horseback riding and he's, ahem, allergic), they complimented each other perfectly. 

This only became more apparent at their engagement session where they laughed, joked and snuggled. We all know that e-sessions can feel uncomfortable sometimes, but its always my goal to make that a thing of the past and these two easily slid into a comfortable pattern in front of the camera. Between learning how to dip and simply holding hands while they walked, taking stunning photos of these two was a simple task. And can I nerd out photographer style and just RAVE about the epic light we had that night? I couldn't believe the luck we had with these soft pink clouds and gorgeous golden lighting. It was a photographer's dream come true!

I'm so appreciative to Sharon and Nathan for giving up their evening to let me capture some fun photos for them before they take that forever walk down the isle! 

A Day in the Life with the L Family - South Bend Family and Newborn Photographer

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Normally, a Day in the Life (DITL) session includes me following a family around while they do their normal routine and daily activities. This DITL, however, was oh-so-different. And oh-so-wonderful! 

When Mom contacted me and requested photos of her newest baby, it sounded normal enough. Then she added that she wanted to also capture his baptism. Fantastic! Oh, yeah. And all of their extended family will be there during the day and for the baptism. How truly special is that? 

Baby Boy was an incredibly calm and alert little guy and it was obvious from the moment I arrived that this little guy was surrounded by so much love! It never stops melting my heart to see babies enter this world with such an abundance of love. Baby Boy was passed from grandma to grandma, uncle to uncle, grandpa to grandpa and he took it all in stride, just soaking it all in calmly...actually, sleepily!

Next, out came the Christening gown. In case a gorgeous white Christening gown isn't special enough, this one had a whole story behind it. This gown that Baby Boy was about to be baptized in was worn by generations of men before him, including his own dad. To have this amazing gown dawning so much meaning on his special day before God was probably one of the coolest things I've had the privilege of documenting. 

We ended the day at the beautiful church and huge baptism pool where everyone gathered and watched with emotion and pride as Baby Boy was promised to the church and to God. It was nothing short of beautiful and humbling. I felt so blessed to have been a part of it and I truly hope that these photos captured this family's day in an accurate and beautiful way. Thank you, L Family, for including me in this big day!

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T & T Engagement in the City - South Bend Wedding Photographer

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I don't have enough good things to say about this fun couple! When we first started planning their photography goals for their wedding day, I knew this was going to a blast to work with them. So when we decided to go ahead with some engagement photos as well, we were all really excited! We planned a fun, rustic-chic, country session for February. 

[Insert Indiana weather].

For about two solid weeks before their session, we got RAIN. And not like normal spring showers; we are talking torrential, non-stop rain and dangerous flooding to boot. Rather than letting that dampen (bad-pun intended) our progress, this easy-going couple were totally willing to do a 180 and decided to trust me and do a city session in Downtown South Bend. Not what they had envisioned but they were willing to give it a try! 

The day of their e-session was so windy and still really cold, but these two pushed through, laughing the entire time. It. Was. So. Worth. It! First, we took a walk down towards the theatre and documented some hand holding, giggles and cuddles (to warm up). Then, we pressed on to the LaSalle Building where his company did the windows for. Finally, we headed back downtown to get some fun dancing-in-the-street images. They were frozen by the time got done, but in the end, the results speak for themselves. Can't wait for this Plymouth, Indiana wedding in August! Thanks for letting me document your love story, T & T!

SOUTH BEND MICHIANA WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER - TRIBBEY WINTER WEDDING

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This wedding was special in so many ways. This couple has been together for a long time and they have been through so many life experiences so when they reached out and asked me to document their wedding, I was so excited to do it! Seeing their wedding plans and hearing their love story had me so ready for this winter wedding.

This couple was so easy going from the get-go. They were a perfect mix of traditional and unique; choosing to skip out on some of the more old-school traditions but also mixing in the important parts (like including her grandmother's ring and not seeing each other before the wedding). From the moment I got to the venue and went upstairs to the beautiful bridal suite at The Allure in Laporte, I knew this would be a fun day. 

The bride was so laid back and calm and she and all of her bridesmaids were just having a genuinely good time chatting and getting their hair and makeup done. When Chelsea gave out her bridesmaids gifts and some hand written letters, the tears and laughter flowed freely. And the groom and groomsmen were about as chill as they come! 

When the beautiful ceremony started, there wasn't a dry eye in the house as Chelsea recited vows not just to Shaun, but to his daughter, too. It was a truly special wedding ceremony that went perfectly! The reception that followed was upbeat and fun with lots of family making priceless memories with the newly married couple. I was so honored to have captured the photos of the biggest day of this new family's life so far.

Venue: The Allure in Laporte, IN

Dress: Here Comes the Dress

Hair: Maitraya
Makeup: Meg at the Mane Attraction

 

SOUTH BEND FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER - NOTRE DAME BAPTISM

I love getting to capture regular, every day moments for families. It brings me joy to help document the beauty that can be found in simple moments. But I also love documenting big moments, too! And when this lovely family reached out early this winter in hopes of having their family's newest additions baptisms captured, I was so excited! This was going to be epic for so many reasons.

First, it wasn't just one or two babies being baptized...it was FIVE babies. This extended family had decided to get together at The Log Chapel at Notre Dame to have all of their babies baptized together. How special is that? And if that wasn't enough on its own, these babies came from all over the country for this special day...even as far as Alaska. Yup, you read that right: Alaska. 

From the very first moment I arrived, there were smiles and laughter all around. Families greeted each other excitedly and swapped babies while they waited for the ceremony to start. Once everyone had settled into the historic chapel, the service and baptism began and it, too was filled with light hearted laughter as well as tear jerking and heart felt words. Each baby was baptized individually and documenting their different reactions was so special. This was absolutely an event that deserved to be remembered and I am so humbled and honored that I could be the one to do that for them and I hope that these babies will grow up and look back at this moment with smiles and the warmest of memories!

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South Bend Wedding Photographer / Michiana Wedding Photographer - What IS Documentary Wedding Photography

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First, let me explain what documentary photography is in a broad sense: documentary photography tells an honest story through photos. It does not pose. It does not direct. It does not "say cheese." It simply documents the moments, the details, the emotions and the interactions. It tells the story as it happens with nothing posed or fake. One motto I regularly like to tell people is that it places the value in the real rather than the ideal. 

When we apply this concept to wedding photography, it manifests into a few key points:

- It tells YOUR love story.

So often, we see wedding images that are stunning. Beautiful. Breathtaking. And uniform. I hate to say it, but go look at Pinterest's wedding photos and they all kind of blend in together; they are so, so similar! You and your partner's love story is unique and your photos should reflect that. Maybe you are a country couple who loves the outdoors and who wears cowboy boots on a daily basis who show their love for each other subtly and softly. That is what your images should showcase. Or maybe, you're a super quirky couple who loves all things original who demonstrate your love for each other loudly and unashamedly. That is what you want to see in your photos. Documentary wedding photography doesn't pose or modify your love story; it simply captures it in its purest form.

- It shows REAL emotion.

Ironically, seeing as I'm a photographer, I hate being in photos. When someone points a camera at me and says "stop what you're doing and now do this!" I not only feel wildly uncomfortable but kind of annoyed. Now, not everyone has that feeling, but some do. Documentary photography takes most of that away. Rather than trying to force love into an image through traditional wedding poses, documentary wedding photographers simply wait for the love to be shown naturally and then capture it. I know my favorite pictures of my husband and I are the ones where we are laughing and being natural, totally unaware that our picture was even being taken. This is the same experience that documentary photography offers to you. 

- You get the BEAUTY without the effort. 

One of the main concerns from people interested in documentary wedding photography is that they won't get those stunning images. I beg to differ. In fact, I will just let these completely candid images above speak for themselves. 

- It preserves the DETAILS.

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When planning a wedding, you harp on even the smallest of details. Why let those details get lost? You put all of this time and effort into perfecting everything, it deserves to be preserved. Whether it is the groom's grandfather's watch or the bride's "something blue" or even a fun detail like goofy glasses or pre-wedding festivities, these are all HUGE points in your story and need to be shared and remembered. Documentary photography not only captures these details, but makes them a priority.

While documentary wedding photography may not be for everyone, it is definitely something to consider. If you value candor; if you know your love story is worth telling; if you want more time to focus on your wedding day and your new spouse rather than spending hours in front of a camera, then documentary photography is worth pondering. 

SOUTH BEND + MICHIANA NEWBORN AND FRESH 48 PHOTOGRAPHER - BABY B ARRIVES

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I could not possibly be more excited to share this sweet session with everyone. This...was my first repeat momma! In fact, Momma K's daughter's Fresh 48 session was my very first. I remember feeling so thrilled and excited doing her session in January of 2016 and after I left, I was hooked. I knew this was going to be one of my favorite types of sessions. Watching this woman become a mom and seeing her husband become a girl day (come on, admit it, we all know that guys melt over their daughters) was intoxicating in the best way.

Fast forward to November of 2017, and I got to help welcome this family's second baby, this time a son, as well as capture the meeting of his big sister. I can't even begin to express the feelings I had watching this sweet girl who I have now known and documented for two years become a big sister. There were funny moments (like her refusal to touch him initially), sweet moments (like the very first finger touch she worked up the courage for) and all of the stuff in-between. Not to mention all of the mommy snuggles and classic newborn portraits that took up the time we spent waiting on big sister's hospital arrival. This little guy was so alert and sweet...and in the words of his mom, looked like the tiniest old man ever. 

This fresh 48 newborn session was simple and beautiful and something I hope that this family will cherish for a lifetime!

South Bend + Michiana Family Photographer - Gushing Over Documentary Family Photography

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As 2018 hit and I got to organizing my catalogs and organizing last year's client work, I started oggling all of the family documentary and lifestyle sessions I got to do this year. Documentary family photography is still something that is widely unappreciated in this region, but I see it slowly creeping its way onto people's radars. And for that, I am thrilled. I genuinely can't begin to try and explain with words the true level of pricelessness these types of photos provide. But, I'm going to try anyway:

- We live in a world of ideal but we need to start embracing the real.

Every day, we go on our social media accounts and we see the best of everyone. Because lets face it, no one posts the bad parts, the hard parts or the less-than-pretty parts. And we start to think that this is their reality and somehow, ours is less-than. I think we need to change that mentality...and fast! Documentary family photography places the emphasis on the real moments. Our kids change and grow so, so fast and when we look at the posed, "ideal" kids in the photos that traditionally grace our walls, are we really remembering them as they were? Is this an accurate representation of who they are in the here and now? 

I think that photos should capture the essence of it's subject. I want to look at a photo of my daughter and not remember how adorable she was (how could I ever forget?) but I want to remember how, at one year old, she was obsessed with books and at two, she loved animals more than anything and at three, she had the sass and intelligence of a teenager. I want to remember how my guys-guy husband would paint nails, play baker and pretend to be a unicorn just to make her smile. These are the moments that our kids will want to remember. Which brings me to the next point...

- Our kids won't look back at the baby in a bucket pictures or posed portraits and gain anything.

Sorry. I do believe there is a place for portrait work and I completely respect the beauty of it and the skill it takes to create it. However, lets think into the future. Lets pretend our children are now grown adults (sob). When you sit down with them one day and start going through those old photos, which do you think will make them stop and smile? The photo of them wearing their best outfit in a studio chair or the one with their sibling tickling them to tears or when they baked cookies with Grandma? 

Documentary photography captures real moments that tell real stories about your family's life. They document real moments and real relationships. They're a gift that your child doesn't know they want but will be so incredibly grateful for in the future.

- They show our real relationships with those who matter the most.

Some of the people who are currently a big part of our children's lives may not be here to reminisce with them when they're older. People move, relationships shift, life happens. But none of this changes the fact that these relationships and memories existed at one point in time. Having real, raw photos that show what a big part these people play and how much love was shared are truly invaluable. There are few things that mean more to us than the people in our lives and having photos of them will never be out of style. Its a ceaseless gift we can give to our children...and ourselves. 

- And the places that matter the most.

I think this one gets lost in the shuffle sometimes but lets not discount the place. The place we call home. The place we love to take our kids to. The place where you made your favorite memories. Whether you are living in your starter home, your dream home or you choose to do your photos at a spot that your family adores (like the beach, or your favorite park or bowling alley), these places all mean something to you. It doesn't matter if they are old, cluttered or messy because it's all part of your story. Even the stuff you can't stand now will bring a smile to your face later. Don't believe me? Just the other day, we were looking at photos from my childhood home complete with the lime green linoleum that graced our kitchen and my mom burst into laughter and commented how much she hated that floor. That ugly floor that bugged her so much at the time, made her laugh out loud and smile now. 

So you see, photos are so much more than pretty smiles and beautiful backdrops. They're a priceless peak into your past. They're a relationship you never want to forget. They're everything that makes your heart smile. Document your moments; you'll never regret it. 

  

Granger Birth Photographer / Granger Birth Photography - A Letter to the First Time Mom

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I'm not usually one to make generalizations, but now that I am firmly grounded in the "birth world," I am noticing a pattern: most of my inquiries come from second (or more) time moms. And sadly, there's a phrase that I keep hearing from many of them: "My biggest regret for my first birth was not having a birth photographer." This makes me so sad...and also hits home. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was certain that I wanted it to be a sacred, private experience between my husband and I. I didn't want any unnecessary bodies in the room that I did not need and that included a photographer. "Why," I wondered, "Would I need pictures of a moment I will surely remember for a lifetime?" It is with this in mind that I write this note:

Dear First Time Mom,

Congratulations, first and foremost, for putting yourself on the back burner and nurturing this tiny life growing inside you. You are already demonstrating how selfless and strong you are. 

As you continue through this journey towards delivery day, please consider documenting your baby's birth. I know that this already feels like an overwhelmingly epic event and that you are certain you will remember every precious second of it. But please, think carefully. Remember that birth can be chaotic and unpredictable and often, in these types of situations, our brains fail to remember important details. Details like how amazing your support system was and how strongly they stood by your side and helped guide you through the chaos. Details like your amazing medical staff who you will hardly notice in the moment, but who later, you will appreciate more than just about anyone. Details like your baby's first breath and moment meeting you: mom.

Consider your limited perspective. Your sole concentration will be to get through labor and to get your loving hands on that baby. You will be the very first person to look into baby's face, and that you won't ever forget. But what was Dad's reaction when baby was born? Was your manly-man partner overcome with emotion and tears? Was your partner smiling from ear to ear at the site of their new baby? What was your reaction? Did you cry with pure exhausted joy? Did you laugh out loud in elation? These are perspectives that you simply don't have in the delivery room but that you CAN have when you hire a birth photographer.

And moving beyond ourselves and thinking about our future child. How amazing would it be to sit down with your now mature son or daughter and be able to show them their journey into this world. To show them all of the joy they brought with their arrival. To show them how loved they were from their very first breath. Isn't that a gift you want to be able to give?

So, from one once birth-photography-hesitant-first-time-mom to another, step outside your comfort zone. See the value in this amazing experience and the importance of documenting it. Give the biggest moment of your life the chance to be preserved and revisited. 

Sincerely,

A converted birth photographer