Welcome

My eyes have led me down a path I never thought I would take. Although holding on to memories has always been important to me, I haven’t dreamed of being a photographer my whole life. I have, however, dreamed of keeping my kids small and my vacations alive. I have wished to stop time, to hold on to the moment, to bottle up my kids cute faces or the silly things they wear. To some extent, photography allows me to do just that. It has opened my eyes to a previously undiscovered world. It has allowed me to see the world around me with a deeper appreciation. I am constantly aware of the extraordinary among the ordinary and the beauty in the mundane. I don't see pictures. I see stories ... with both my eyes and my heart. I am a wordless storyteller. Thanks for joining me here.

Time Captured

This is a special family. A mom, a dad and four beautiful daughters...plus a few foreign exchange students. 
 Four girls. All from the same parents. Yet each unique and each loved dearly.
This looks like a great engagement picture...except that they have been married for quite some time and are raising several children. I love the way they are looking at each other.
This mom works as a full time teacher. A full time mom. A full time wife. Etc. She has been sick, but is a testimony to the strength and grace of God.
I love belong able to take pictures of families because a captured image is a gift that they can then keep and hold on to for years to come. To relive those moments or to see where they have been and where they are now. Some memories full of joy. Some bittersweet. Some painful. Each picture captures that exact time, those exact feelings and the memories of that day and moment...whether it is a popsicle-faced little boy or a sweet family walking through a difficult time. Many blessings to you all!

Birth + joy

A birth is the beginning of something. A start to life; to a spiritual journey; to new ideas or new horizons. Anyone who has been a part of the birth of a child knows it is a miracle. Simply a miracle and there are no other words that do it justice.

God has given me a passion for women's health. I considered it as a field of study when I was in college, but didn't feel that was the journey God had scripted for me at that time. The changes we go through as we age and as some of us travel through pregnancy and motherhood run deep physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually and I know there is so much opportunity to encourage and to minister to these women.

I had the rare opportunity to capture the first moments of a sweet little girl as she made her entrance into this world at the end of 2011. Really, there is nothing like those first few moments of a birth. Miraculous. Breathtaking. Unforgettable. Sometimes even heartbreaking. But new babies, new life...

Births are amazing.

Out of respect for these parents, I am just posting a few pictures, but I think they need no words.







What in the world have I been up to?

Really....four months since my last post??? Photographers with booming businesses are heavily intertwined with social media. I get it. Blogging, twittering, posting on Facebook - those are all musts!
I am not in that world right now
I love where I am in my business in this stage of life. Sure there are times when I want to dive right in. I see an opportunity and want to put 110% on the line.
But the timing is not right.

And
timing
is
crucial
just
like
in
photography.

There is a time when it is exactly right to close the shutter and capture the perfect shot. Too early or a little too late - still can make a good shot - but not necessarily that perfect shot. A good photographer knows how to anticipate - survey the entire scene, study and understand all of the elements that have to come together compose THE SHOT. Anticipation involves patience, knowledge, a little bit of imagination, plenty of vision - and ultimately ~ it involves action.

For now, my family is my number one priority. That is the biggest job God has entrusted to me - right now. There will come a time - too soon I am sure - when I have less trips to the park, less clothes to wash, less mouths to feed, less books to read aloud, and less homework to help with. Then, I will have more freedom to pursue my own personal interests. Until then, my blog posts are going to be as needed. Maybe a few a week - or maybe a few a quarter. For now, I am okay with that.

If you have hired me to do a shoot for your family, a wedding, or a design project, you can be confident that I will give you my full attention. That is why I am selective and choose to do a limited number of any one of these things each year.

With that said, I haven't posted on my blog in these past few winter months, but I have still been quite busy doing various photography and graphic design projects! Many times, these things aren't what I want to share with the Internet world or would feel completely appropriate. For example, I had the marvelous privilege of taking pictures at a birth towards the end of the year and have wanted to respect the privacy and intimacy of that special family. I am excited to do a short post in the next week or two about that experience and to share some of the beautiful images. I also had the privilege of taking pictures at a beautiful event for a dear family friend who is battling brain cancer in which almost 700 people attended. Again, not images I would share on a blog like this. However also during these last few months, I have LOVED a few down weeks of time with my most important priority - my family and beautiful kiddos! Here are just a few pictures of some of the things I have done photography-wise...

Family Reunions...
Precious Baby JD...

One of two tween birthday parties...
A basketball league...
My three favorite kids in the whole world ;)...

Blessings!

Snips and Snails... [Family]

What a treat to hang out with this family of five! The boys were so well mannered. They wanted so badly to run in the mud and water and chase their dog, but they were so patient. In fact, I should have let them spend more time running and playing and caught them on film that way. Mom and dad you must be very proud of your guys!

I only have one son and he has totally stolen my heart. I cannot imagine what this sweet mom feels like.
 I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving! It looks like you have much to be thankful for!

Happy Anniversary! [Family]

An anniversary is a great time to catch up on family photos! That is exactly what this beautiful family choose to do. Thanks to a beautiful evening and a lovely family, we were able to grab some great shots. Enjoy a walk through the woods!
 Congratulations on your anniversary! May you have many, many more!