Summer Session, North Carolina

    If you have followed me or my life for any amount of time, you know that I love to blog but also it's the first thing to drop when priorities shift. I know there's a million reasons that this isn't smart for business but I also know I am one mom, and a very human one at that. Every day I am sifting through priorities to tackle what has to be done, what should be done and what can potentially wait for another day. Today I am again home with a toddler and a sick coughing kindergartener. This is not exactly a great combination for productivity but at the same time I know that some things must get accomplished if I am going to strive to have a great client experience. I am in the midst of editing, ordering and you guessed it....prepping over due blog posts!

Hopefully this sweet summer session will have you feeling the warmth on this chilly morning! Better late than never right? I can't say enough how much I have LOVED the multi-generational photo sessions I have been a part of this year. For some reason this year, I have had a much bigger group of large family sessions. I adore them because they are an absolute treasure for a family to have!

Here's to Emerald Isle, North Carolina...I miss your warmth, your sun, your ocean and palm trees...can't wait to see you again next year! These are just a FEW favorites from this fun session...

Can you even handle this cuteness?!!

Cousins and friends!

A sibling favorite for sure!

Nana and Pop with all their grands!

Hope this Wednesday has your spirits bright!

Wilmington, Delaware Autumn Family Portraits

      There's truly nothing like a beautiful October afternoon on the East coast is there?! Throw in a new puppy and I am just smitten. These kiddos were thankfully game for throwing leaves and being silly. The internet is this funny place that can either bring people together or push people apart. Thankfully this is an instance of where the internet had a hand in brining this adorable family to me for a photo session! (Thank you local Facebook page where friends recommended me!) 

Do you not love her laugh and first grade teeth?! I ADORE it!

This is where it all begins, love snagging a few portraits of just mom and dad!

Wilmington Delaware, Autumn Family Portraits

 We met early in the morning, praying for the rain to hold off! Thankfully our hopes were fulfilled and the rain didn't come until we were pulling out of the parking lot! I have had the privilege of photographing these kiddos every fall since they were 3 and 1. It's been fun to watch them grow each year and hear what they are into. I am thankful for clients who trust me continually to capture their memories!

Our Ten Year Anniversary and our kiddos!

      The traditional anniversary gift for the ten year anniversary is tin or aluminum. The modern day gift is diamond jewelry. Thank goodness Matt took the modern approach! He surprised me on our trip with a beautiful anniversary band. Today officially marks a decade of marriage for Matt and I! Although it's hard to believe all that we've been through in the last ten years, it also it hard to believe how quickly life passes us by. On this day ten years ago, I really had no clue other than I was in love and ready to dive in with both feet! I can honestly say though that I love Matthew more today than I did that day. It's the kind of love that has been stretched and tested. It's the kind of love that endures. 

    Although today is our anniversary, I had planned to finally blog a photo session of our kiddos from June. I think it appropriate to celebrate on this day a bit of the blessing of these past ten years, some of the biggest blessings being our four children. 

"Children are a gift from the Lord;
    they are a reward from him.
 Children born to a young man
    are like arrows in a warrior’s hands.
 How joyful is the man whose quiver is full of them!"

Psalm 127: 3-4

Can I just confess too that as a photographer, it can be a struggle to take photos of my own kids. This was actually a spur of the moment photo session right before bedtime one night, so I am lucky it worked at all. It was a combination of bribing, being silly and threatening to make this happen :) I confess that I always feel pressure to have amazing photos of my own family but sometimes life just doesn't work that way! I am thankful though for the times that we push through and just make it happen! Have a great weekend friends!

A Sweet 6 months Session

     Life has a way of speeding past us doesn't it? I remember chatting with a mama friend about doing a newborn session and then she said, "we might just wait until he's 6 months for a session." Can I just say that I think that was the best decision ever?! I know those newborn days are sweet but I swear when I say this, the 6 months age is one of my favorite! The personality of the child starts to come through but they cannot yet escape you :) I enjoyed this 6 month session immensely because precious baby J could actually interact with me! I am way more into clients I can interact with, nothing against sweet sleeping newborns. What's not to love about the adorable world travel nursery as well?! I confess I also struggled to choose what to share so hopefully his mama & daddy don't mind me sharing so many! 

 Such a beautiful family!

For some reason this little series of images with daddy are my faves...

A personal fave!

The J Family

   Hello friends! I honestly did not mean to miss blogging for an entire month but I have to be honest about priorities these days. Obviously my business is a priority but going on shoots and servicing clients is first. Blogging is a great way for me to share what I have been up to but it sometimes falls lower on the list and at the end of the day, I just don't get to it! I have missed it though and I will surely have some confessions next week! One of my recent shoots is the adorable J family! I have been honored to photograph them over the last 4 years each fall and document the growth of their children. I love seeing the changes in the kids and things like missing teeth and special manicures just make my day when photographing families! It certainly reminds me to treasure each season with our family because these days are fleeting! 

Do you not LOVE this toothy grin?!

She's such a beauty...Her daddy might need to make a plan to keep the boys away!

   On another note, I feel as though I am in a huge season of growth. Not only has my family and responsibility expanded again, but I am in a personal season of growth. Part of this season of growth is in my creativity and my photographic process. I am pushing myself creatively and trying not get stuck in a creative rut. Part of being a photographer can be that you find a "system" that might work for you but once it feels to familiar or easy, it doesn't feed your creative side as much. I am prayerful that my season of growth spills into my work and is evident!