As soon as Ashley, our neighbor and sweet friend, inquired about getting family portraits to celebrate their newest four-legged, furry addition – Buddy, the golden retriever pup! – I was ohhh so excited!  We are lucky enough to live less than a hop, skip, and jump away from this kind-hearted family!  They love to entertain, they’re always up for an adventure, they love to cook and share delicious food, they’re funny and quick to smile, they love to laugh, they’re always up for good conversation… basically the kind of people you only dream of having as neighbors and friends! We had originally planned to meet a week later than this, however, after one look at the forecast for this picture perfect November day, we knew we had to go for it! (Pun definitely intended!) Mustard Seed Gardens made for the most beautiful late fall backdrop for this adorable party of 6, especially so that Buddy could roam and play and snooze whenever he wanted! And snooze he did!  It was so precious to see Buddy snuggle with each of his family members, to see him fall asleep in the soft green grass, to doze in Claire’s arms, and to make us chase him around for photos!  We didn’t let one drop of evening sunlight slip away, and oh my goodness, was it the most lovely evening!  Garret, Ashley, Claire, Graham, Annie, and Buddy, I’m so, so thankful to know you all!  You’re a beautiful family, radiating genuine happiness and joy, friendship and fun times, and so much more!  It was such an honor to photograph you and this special family time, including celebrating your 12th wedding anniversary!  Buddy is one lucky pup!  Sooo many favorites, as you’ll see…can you blame me?!

At the start of each year, I’m always so excited about the months ahead and all that is to come, like meeting new clients, reconnecting with past clients, and photographing weddings, portraits, events, and special occasions!  By early March, the spread of COVID-19 had come to mean school closures and e-learning, staying home, scarcity of essential items, and more.  Little did I know that my livelihood could be so drastically affected.  Soon weddings and gatherings were being downsized, postponed, or cancelled.   I don’t have to tell you any of this, we were and still are in the same boat!  #wereinthistogether  However, it’s worth noting, even if for the sake of one day looking back and revisiting these posts, that our lives changed in so many ways.  To come full circle, as the situation did improve, business and life picked up the pace a bit, albeit with new challenges and precautions.  And while my year was not as busy as “usual”,  it was so, so rich in heart, filling me with even more passion for what I get to do.  My clients truly value togetherness with family, with friends, with loved ones, with pets, and it seemed all the more apparent over the past few months.  There was a point – heck, several points! – during the height of the pandemic that I wondered if I’d ever get to pick up my camera again and venture outside of my home!  Perhaps I was being a little overdramatic, however, with the uncertainty of so much, that’s how I felt.  Luckily, I did get to do what I love, and I didn’t take a single second of it for granted!  When I was asked to photograph this incredibly kind, funny, close-knit – not to mention beautiful!!! – family, I was beyond excited!  We had grand plans for lovely outdoor fall portraits…and forecasted high winds and chilly temperatures prompted us to move indoors.  And it was perfect!  Thank you so much Mill Top for being such a gracious host, especially with short notice!  The warmth and coziness of this industrial chic space was the superb match for the upbeat, spirited, lively personalities of this gorgeous group!  We had the most adorable 4 year old, two precious pups, and a 70th wedding anniversary to celebrate!  Amazing, right?!  So much fun!!!  Bobbi, I cannot thank you enough for asking me to photograph your marvelous family!  It was such a treat!

This family is one of those that make you smile, long after you’ve left their presence, any time you think of them!  Almost one year ago, Jenny and Lucas, along with sisters, Nicolette and Clara, were anxiously awaiting their newest family members!  Soon after Beckett Von and Rowen Rose were born, I had the honor of meeting and photographing their sheer adorableness! Aren’t their names beautiful?! The twins were sound asleep the entirety of the session, which is rather rare for newborn sessions, however, their parents and sisters soaked up oodles and oodles of snuggles and cuddles, and it was the best thing ever!  I was in total awe of this bunch, how easy they made having twins look! And Jenny, you always look completely amazing!  Their love is ohhh so evident in each and every image you’ll see here!

In a few short weeks I’ll be photographing/documenting their 1st birthday!  Wait, what?!  I can hardly believe they are already almost 1, however, as a Mom myself of two little boys who just won’t stop growing, I know all too well of those (sometimes) slow days and (always) fast years.  It seems so incomprehensible when other parents tell you about this inexplicable facet of parenthood, until you’re in the thick of it.  I’ve blinked.  It’s impossible not to.

Fun fact! Lucas has become quite a woodworker and artist!  Not only did he handmake the wood centerpieces on each table for their wedding reception, he also created the twins’ name signs in their room!  Well done, Lucas, well done!  

Nicolette and Clara, you two are simply the best big sisters these two little bundles of joy could possibly hope for!  And the 4 of you together is the most precious thing!  Jenny and Lucas, you know how much I adore you both!  I am so proud to know your family and so honored to catch these wonderful glimpses of the life that you share!  Cannot wait to see you soon!!!

Our paths crossed years ago at a wedding that I photographed, thanks to photographing an event in downtown Indianapolis, where the bride’s father was playing guitar for the dinner guests.  I sent the photos to him, and when it came time to plan his daughter’s wedding, she inquired with me, and the rest is history!   Hello, Steve! Hi, Leah and Daniel!  So when Tami reached out to me a few months ago to photograph her team of amazing, cheerful, hope-filled, and inspirational business women, I was so honored and so excited! (That blog post will be forthcoming, along with many more!) Soon after that, she asked if I would photograph her family for the holidays, I could not wait to meet them!  We met at Mustard Seed Gardens, and it was a chilly afternoon!  Todd, Weston, and Annaka are as kind and warm as Tami, a family that anyone and everyone would want to know and be friends with!  To keep warm, they walked and talked and snuggled and hugged, and it was perfect!  Tami, thank you so much for asking me to photograph your sweet family!  Todd, Weston, and Annaka, it was wonderful to meet you all!  Tami told me I would love you, and she was right!  Scroll through some of my many favorites from our December day!

Feeling beyond thankful for friends who have shared my name with their friends!  Audrey is one of my BFFs. We met in college at IU, and have been friends ever since.  She got me started with running – we completed 2 Mini Marathons together, as well as 1 mini triathlon!  We’ve been to concerts, working out, sharing play dates with our kiddos, and we scrapbooked together before having kids!  So many fun memories within our friendship!  Thanks to her, I was honored to have photographed good friends of her and her husband in 2017.  Erin and Josh’s wedding was incredibly beautiful!  Since then, I’ve photographed engagement portraits, their wedding day, and life with their insanely adorable son, Ansel, from newborn to now 3 years old!  We also happened to visit Santa Claus at the North Pole over Thanksgiving weekend, and we were all there at the same time!  Last weekend, I spent time with this fantastic family, chasing Ansel around the always lovely Mustard Seed Gardens, and watching how his parents light up with him!  It was just the best, and I can’t wait to share some favorites!  Josh, Erin, and Ansel, it’s always a joy to see you guys!  Wishing you a magical holiday season!