How can it be that our baby boy is now 3 years old?! From the first day we met you, Emerson Ray, you’ve filled our hearts in every way! You are snuggly, silly, sweet, soft spoken (most of the time!), sharing, and curious. Each day you amaze us with new words and timely hugs. You love your Big Brother, Remington, and when the two of you laugh together uncontrollably, you make our hearts soar!

You have a sweet shyness at times, that eventually turns to smiles and cute little giggles. And you enjoy entertaining others around you with silly name games.

You love planes, trains, helicopters, semi-trucks, anything with wheels! You especially love cute animals, like baby frogs, baby sharks (doo doo doo doo doo!), puppies, and dinosaurs. Stories and movies and magnetic blocks are some of your favorite relaxing activities. And you love special treats, like popcorn and gummy bears!

When we found out Remington would be getting a little brother, we couldn’t possibly have imagined anyone better than you to grow up and play together! Your name is a special one, not without a story. I remember seeing the name Emerson and loving it. It was fun to write and fun to say. And we loved the way it sounded adding the middle name Ray, after your Grandfather Ray. Daddy found the following quote in some of Grandma Patti’s belongings, and it’s like the pieces fit together exactly how they were meant to be!

“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent people, and the affection of children; to earn the approbation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to give one’s self; to leave the world a little better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived… this is to have succeeded.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

While you have your quiet and serious side, you also have a fun, loud, energetic, and all-boy side! You love rocks, just like your Big Brother, playing in the sandbox, and running so fast with your “strong muscles.”
We love you so much, so much, so much! And we wish you a very Happy 3rd Birthday!!!

It has been such a joy to photograph this oh so adorable family over the past year!  You may recall Erin and Josh’s stunning blush wedding day, featured here and here. They welcomed their snuggly, handsome baby boy, Ansel, last November, and they’ve been completely smitten with him ever since! And I simply cannot blame them! (I still need to share images from his summer portrait session here on the blog…#wintertodolist.)  Erin loves all things Christmas and holiday, so we found the perfect setting to celebrate Ansel’s 1st year!  Happy Birthday, Ansel! You are the sweetest little guy!!! Wishing you and your family a magical holiday season!

Many thanks to the kind people at Altum’s for being the perfect host and festive location for this family’s portrait session! #plantsmakeeverythingbetter

We had a beautiful summer evening for this sweet, adorable, joyful family engagement session!!!  Jenny and Lucas are getting married in just over a week, and I can hardly wait for their big day!  These two are quite a gorgeous pair with their bright smiles and sheer glow that comes from loving each other in the incredible way that they do!  Jenny’s two precious daughters, Nicolette and Clara, and the couple’s two pups, Viv and Meatball, joined in on the fun, and I have so many favorites to share!  When Jenny told me how Lucas proposed, I melted into a giant puddle!  He created the most unique scavenger hunt throughout their home one morning, complete with clues and activities to do together as a family, all leading to the moment he asked Jenny to be his queen and the girls to be his princesses!  Ooooh myyyyyyy goooooodness!!!  As you can imagine, they all said yes!  And that is truly indicative of Lucas’ character.  Jenny describes him as selfless and thoughtful, and I think she can absolutely add creative and fun and romantic to the list!  These two share a love of having a good time, be it together with family or sipping wine on a date night.  They spend time at local parks and enjoying the outdoors with the girls and the pups.  They are simply the best, and I cannot wait to be there as they tie the knot!  J + L, I am sooo happy and excited for you two!!!  

Many thanks to the Indianapolis Art Center for such a perfect location!

  

Since first meeting this family and working with them, I’ve been completely smitten with them!  Juli and Brad are loving parents to two handsome and playful boys, Lincoln and Nolan.  And a few months ago, they welcomed the most precious baby girl, Lydia, to their lives!  She is so beautiful, and just as stylish as her Mommy and the rest of the family!  You’ll just have to see her darling plaid Christmas dress, red sweater with fur collar, and the cutest red shoes!  (And Juli had her own Christmas dress from when she was a baby!) They invited me to their home to capture this exciting time as a family of five, including their sweet pup Milo!  Their beautiful home was decorated for Christmas, so we started with some holiday inspired photos before heading outdoors for some sunshine and playtime for the boys!  Then it was time for Miss Lydia to have some portraits in her adorably chic nursery!  Juli and Brad, thank you so much for the honor of photographing this special time!  Lydia has the best big brothers a girl could dream of, and I just know the three of them are going to be lifelong best friends!  Wishing you the happiest of holidays and a Happy Anniversary too!  Can’t wait to see you all again!  Here are some of my favorites from my time with your wonderful family!  xoxoxo

What a joy it was to photograph this sweet family’s new journey as a family of three!  Well, 5 actually, because we have to count their two fur babies, Edie and Layla!  I met Jeff and Julie a few years ago, before they were engaged, and as soon as I saw them together, I just knew that one day they would get married!  And now they have a precious, beautiful baby girl, Izabella Lucille!  They call her Izzy, and they are completely smitten with her, madly in love with each other.  Over the moon, overjoyed.  It was so adorable to watch them take in each and every moment together!  I could not only see, but truly feel, the awe and wonder they possess.  They happily snuggled each other in their little babe’s woodland themed nursery, in their own room, and in their warm and inviting living room.  It was all just so wonderful!  J + J, you are wonderful parents, and I loved capturing this magical and special time in your lives!  Thank you for inviting me to be a part of it!  Baby Izzy!!! Oh my goodness, you are gorgeous, just like your Momma, and I cannot wait to watch you grow!  You are so loved by your parents and furry sisters!  Let’s take a look at some of my many favorites from their cozy and lovable in-home session!