This month I had two fabulous family mini sessions. Check out these sweet families- the Applegates and the Livelys. Beautiful families. Beautiful children. Sweet love and fun spirits!

Applegates and Livelys, you were all such a joy to shoot!! Thank you for being so fun. One of the best parts about my job is getting to capture the love of family, and your families have such a sweet and genuine love! And your children are all AWESOME!!

This gal is so much fun! We laughed, we danced, played guitar, played w/ vintage cameras, and even hoola hooped (well, not me )!!! I love getting to incorporate a senior’s favorite things/hobbies into their sessions. It’s so fun to document this time in their lives and the things that make them who they are. We got to do just that and enjoyed exploring downtown Raleigh a bit as we did.

Special thanks to Catherine Blinson for assisting me on the shoot… and making me laugh, taking instagrams, and serenading us w/ Maddie’s guitar when it wasn’t in the photos

Maddie and I share a love for vintage cameras!!! She came with her collection and I was excited to see we even have some of the same cameras!  When it seems she can’t be any cooler, she busts out a hoola hoop!!!Maddie, you are fun and beautiful with rad style and gifts! I’m so glad I got to take your senior photos! It was truly a blast!! I’m excited to see what God has for you as you enter the next part of your journey. I pray it is filled with many blessings from Him. Let’s shoot together soon!

What a fun time I had with this family! We had beautiful weather, a great location, and, as you can see, they are great looking subjects! I want to just squeeze these kiddos! And mom and dad, well they kept me laughing (usually it’s the other way around as I try to get smiles and laughs for the camera). I’ve known the Raffertys for years, and it was such a joy to get to document their beautiful family!!!

Chris, Traci, Abigail, Katie, and Alex, I loved getting to spend a little time with you guys and seeing you interact and love on each other. I love how God has grown your family! You guys are awesome and a joy to be around!  p.s. Traci, your hair rocks!

What a sweet mini maternity session I had last weekend!!! Will and Erin are expecting baby Jackson!! I loved getting to capture their sweetness, their love, and their excitement about their coming baby boy!

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” – author unknown

Will and Erin, you guys are awesome!! We are so excited for you both, and can’t wait to meet Jackson. Your heart and home are about to overflow with more love than you knew you had! With the birth of your son comes one of the greatest joys you will ever know…and it will just keep getting better and better (even when he’s a crazy toddler!)!

What a wonderful way to start my spring sessions! With this family. At this location. With these outfits. The day turned out a little colder and windier than we had hoped, but the overcast sky made for a great backdrop to the rad and funky nc museum of art. The Weathers family, as you will tell, are so much fun! They are a genuinely beautiful family with style, coolness, and lots of love for each other!

Jason, Kathleen, Charlie, and Will- I just love you guys! I love the way your personalities go together and complement each other, and how your love for each other is such a beautiful picture of family and the goodness of God in how He gifts us with one another and grows our families! Thank you guys for your friendship. And, we seriously need to hang out all together soon!

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, and the more time that passes, the more things I want to blog about but then I feel so behind that I don’t know where to start. But then I remember… that’s ok! With the holidays came traveling and lots of family time… good times and sad times. It was wonderful to be with my family in Arizona, but then sadly we experienced the unexpected death of Wesley’s sister in law. When our travels were over, we got home and started packing. We then moved up the road into North Raleigh. We’ve been in our home 2 weeks now and we are loving it… though we are still unpacking and wondering if we will ever be done unpacking!  In these last few months, I have felt the nearness of the Lord through the good, the difficult, and the busy. I am so thankful for the love and joy of family, for the hope that comes even when we grieve, for the sustaining provisions of our life and health, and the love and care of others (friends, neighbors, care group, etc.). I have learned that I am continually learning, and that my great God is the most amazing and loving teacher ever. And in the midst of moving I have been continually reminded that this physical house is not my home and the age to come is where my eyes and heart should be set. I have grown in my desire to share my amazing God with others, so they can know the healing and love that only He can bring.

Spring is on the horizon. I’m gearing up for my spring photography season, and looking forward to capturing some beautiful families and their love.

Since every post needs a photo… here’s my big 2yr old w/ his birthday present from the Eicks. Thank you Uncle Craig, Aunt Amanda, and Julia! We love you!