Yesterday, a pretty little scene popped up into my view and represented something much deeper. Life can get messy from time to time, but there is still beauty within it if we pause to notice. This post is all about a tough day that Chad and I had yesterday, how we worked through it, and what we learned from it.
Read MoreWe surprised our little boy in his bedroom this morning with singing and balloons—two of his favorite things. Here are a few photos and some more insight on this very special family celebration today.
Read MoreBryan and Katie are ready. Bryan has helped Katie prepare as much as possible. Katie has grown this baby to 39 weeks and he or she is due next week! Here's a peek into their current "real life" during this chapter of pregnancy.
Read MoreTime somehow speeds up when there are tiny people under your care. I am going to miss these days. Every single one of them. This is my very favorite self-portrait to date for so many reasons. This part of motherhood is my favorite so far.
Read MoreI've always been a go-go-go person; a plan for what's ahead, onward & upward, must keep moving type of go-getter. But the slow, intentional pace of breathing in each moment is important, too. Right now I desire balance between the two. Why not live in that sweet spot of appreciation & reflection + movement & progress? Why not smell the roses—or whatever's under my nose—as I walk along?
I stood, staring in the mirror at my puffy, swollen eyelids a couple days ago on the morning of my 33rd birthday. I had been crying the night before because in the chaos of spinning too many plates without a break, a whole bunch of unrelated emotions caught up with me all at once and I felt crushed by the heavy weight of their pressure. Ever been there? I'm hoping these three thoughts on WORDS empower you the same way they did me, rocking you out of your "feelings funk."
Read MoreIn 2015, if you had asked me about my life, I would have told you it was boring. We were in the midst of a tough transition that I hope never to repeat. In this post, I highlight some of the reasons we had a professional photographer come document us anyway. The day-to-day scenes of our 2015 did not seem note-worthy at the time and certainly would not have been memorable, had they not been captured for us. These beautiful photographs turned our ordinary moments into cherished memories.
Read MoreEach time I am given the opportunity to photograph an event, I am reminded of the aspects of event photography that I love and that inspire my documentary family work. Whether it has been a youth retreat, baptism at church, leadership conference, fundraising event or wedding, the role of "event photographer" provides the perfect environment to gain experience as a skilled documentarian. Here are the top five ways event photography sharpens my documentary family work.
Read MoreI am a professional photographer, but—confession—sometimes I miss the shot. When people say to me, "Wow, you have a nice camera—you must take amazing pictures," or "Wow, you always take the best photos," I chuckle a little to myself. Let me explain...
Read MoreI was recently moved to tears with the comparison of a sweet moment with my baby in the lobby at church and the insight from a book I was reading about the way God communicates to us. If you currently find yourself in a state of chaos, fear or confusion, I hope this post is encouraging to you.
Read MoreToday on our ninth wedding anniversary, I wanted to share this open letter to my husband. We've lived, laughed, loved and learned together. Sometimes I feel like I fall short of fulfilling my wedding vows, but I know we're in this together. I'd marry Chad again in a heartbeat!
Read MoreI recently started my second 365 photo project. Because I'm adding new photos nearly every day, organizing all of these is important. It would be a pity for all of these images to remain hidden in the digital bowels of my computer forever... I wanted to share a little about my workflow and a few things I do with these images as inspiration for anyone reading. PLUS, get a FREE Chatbook with my referral link inside!
Read MoreToday my firstborn baby is NINE MONTHS old....already. Nine months in, nine months out! Reminiscing has me thinking all about my incredibly smooth, active, healthy pregnancy. I am ever so grateful and feel so blessed to have had such a positive experience. I'm finally ready to share some of the aspects of my pregnancy that I was very intentional about controlling to aid any "smoothness" I may have been blessed with along the way.
Read MoreI've always been a very optimistic person—my glass has never been half empty. But as I began setting my 2017 goals and reflecting on my 2016 accomplishments (or seeming lack thereof), it was as if I had watched the water of my life's glass just evaporate right in front of me and there was nothing I could do to stop it. I began to feel overwhelmed with regret and disappointment at what I was unable to accomplish, even though 2016 was probably the best year of my life. Why? Well, I'm about to get REAL with you and I'm hoping there are other moms—especially new moms—out there, particularly, who will listen, relate with me, and maybe even press on with me.
Read MoreA couple weeks ago, I started my second 365 photo project—a photo a day for an entire year. After successfully completing my first year of intentional photo documentation of my own life, I am absolutely addicted and thrilled to be starting a second year's worth of photos. It was definitely the best decision I have ever made and I want to share three reasons why, in hopes that you (yes, YOU) will start one of your own.
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![My Favorite Part of Motherhood [so far]](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5115225de4b067782b68ffc0/1495642134409-MJQ4Z59HY7GB7DHARPLZ/20170407_DailyDocumentary.jpg)
