The Parker Family

The Parker Brothers... no, not the board game people, the little guys otherwise known as Cade & Broc.  OMG... what CUTIE-PIES!!

I've known Cade & Broc's mom, Stacy, for quite a while now.  She was one of the First Grade teachers when my oldest was in First Grade.  While she's no longer at that school, we've stayed in touch over the years -- and, she's super-sweet.  :)

I've seen her boys grow up via Facebook, and now I had the opportunity to see them in person.  And, they are SO. MUCH. FUN.!!

I have to say, for being boys, they were very willing to smile for me.  While Cade was more shy with his,

Broc let them flow freely!!

We had fun finding our way through the trails at the park.  The boys showed their awesome throwing skills at the creek.  Man, they've got good arms!  I mean, seriously.  I see baseball careers for both of them!  They're awesome!  We spent some time by the creek to do some fun pictures.

I was just happy to see that brothers all act the same.  They love each other one minute, and the next, they break out in a wrestling match.  I see this on a daily basis at my house.  :)

It was a fun day with the Parker's!  They are such cuties!  Oh, and their mommy is pretty darn cool, too.  :)

Enjoy!

Chelsea McKay - Senior Pictures

This was the most meaningful photo shoot for me to date.  Why?  There is a lot of history here.  Chelsea's mom, Stephanie, and I were best friends in high school.  We stayed in touch through the beginning of college, then sort of lost touch.  We reconnected at our 10-year HS reunion, then sort of drifted apart again.  Not by choice... but life just sort of happened.  We both had kids.  We were busy...

As I was on the phone with a friend planning our 15-year reunion, I was told that Stephanie had cancer.  I literally couldn't speak.  I hung up from that conversation & immediately contacted Steph.  I felt like the biggest heel on the planet.  I stumbled to find the words, and she was as calm as could be.  From that point on, it was as if no time had passed between us.  She was a FIGHTER.  She was not about to let this cancer win.  As she told me, "I'm too ornery and I still have too many things to do."  And, she was right!  She fought her cancer for a year & a half.

Near the end, I would go to be with & help take care of Stephanie twice a week.  We had some pretty in-depth conversations, and most of them centered around Chelsea.  Stephanie was such a phenomenal mother.  She gave her everything for Chelsea.  It was during these visits with Steph that I came to really know Chelsea... and what an amazing girl she is.

Being around Chelsea during this shoot was like being with her mother 20+ years ago.  She is a spitting image of her mom, and is so much like her!!

 I just have to say that if Stephanie were here now, she would be SO incredibly proud of her baby girl.  Proud in the ways of her sports abilities (her mother was very gifted in this area as well), her academic achievements, her future plans and just the young woman she has become.

I felt so honored to do these pictures of her.  I couldn't be more proud of Chelsea, and I am so blessed to know her.

Enjoy.

The Anthrop Family

I LOVE this family!

I feel like I've known Ally for forever... when actually, we met via a mutual friend on Facebook.  I have enjoyed her family for the past year, and we finally got to meet each other in person!  And I have to say, she's such a sweetheart!

Ally & Michael are incredibly sweet together.

Their boys...Robert, Jonah, Eli & Jordan are SO MUCH FUN!  I have to give them kudos...I've never had kids more willing to sit & pose for me before!

I'm going to recruit Eli & Jordan to be my assistants.  They had such great ideas!

We did this shoot at Happy Hollow Park in West Lafayette.  What a GREAT location!  So many places to take pictures, but there was a tree that I simply love.  And the tree, paired with this family was just... perfect!

Because this family is so fun, we ended the photo shoot with a Silly String fight!  Each family member was armed with a different color of Silly String.  I was able to catch some great shots amidst the storm of Silly String -- I even got shot!

I'm so thankful for this friendship, and for getting the opportunity to meet such a fantastic family!

Enjoy!

The York Family

The York family came to me via my mom.  Last summer, my mom had an emergency dental situation, and Dr. York (Kristin) was able to help her.  After spending many appointments together, my mom told me all kinds of wonderful things about Kristin!

I was so grateful to finally meet this family after all of the help Kristin has given my mom.  Kristin & Dave are great together.

 Their girls, Ella & Aubrey are just precious!  :)  I had never photographed twins before, and I had a ball!  I love their personalities - and love to watch them in action!

I photographed the York family at my parents' farm.  I think the girls wore themselves out running around the property!  I'm almost afraid to ask if more than one stain stick was needed for any grass stains!  ;)

I had so much fun with this family!

Enjoy!

The Stephens Family

I really wish that my blog could play music.  I'm fairly certain that "It's a small world" would be playing in the background.

Facebook has been such a blessing.  I've gotten reconnected with so many people from my past - Elementary School, Jr. High, High School, College...

 I met Megan in High School.  We were both cheerleaders (go HHS!) - she was a Freshman when I was a Senior.  She was always so sweet -- and not a thing has changed.  She's still just as sweet!  And her family?  Well, it's pretty awesome.  :)

I headed to West Lafayette, and was able to photograph Megan's family at my parents' farm.  It was a little chilly that morning, but we forged through it!  Everyone kept jackets on right up until they needed to pose. Ah, the things we do for pictures...

Megan & her husband Scott are so sweet together.

Their kids, Derrek, Chelsea and Brayden are so sweet!

Derrek brought his girlfriend, Elisha, along.  She's just as sweet... and was freezing!  ;)

It was a great day for pictures, and it was so great to catch up with Megan and her family.  She's a lucky girl!

Enjoy!

The Thompson's

I know you're probably sick of me saying that I just love all of my clients, but I really DO!  I love that I get to spend time with people and listen to their stories.

Vern & Sharon are pretty special.  And not just because Sharon is the mom of one of my best friends (see the Cline family in the previous post... it's Tami's mom!).  ;)  They are such fun people!  And as I've said earlier, the world is just getting smaller.  Vern's son works at the base where my husband does.  We're all connected in such small ways.  I love it!

Vern & Sharon wanted a mini-session... just to get some pictures for a Christmas Card.  I was only too happy to do this.  They're such great people!  We went to a small park in Westfield that I had driven by probably a million times in the last 10 years, and just really discovered this year.

Sharon brought along a gorgeous rose.  She grows them, and she said this was the last one for the year.  It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL, and she wanted to remember it.

Enjoy!

The Cline Family

I'm blessed with great friends.  Once again, this is one of my favorite families.

Tami & I have known each other since our oldest kids were in the same Preschool class (they're in 7th grade now).  Sometimes when we need to get things done, we borrow each other's kids because honestly, 4 boys playing is no more than our original two... in fact, it's almost better -- we don't see them at all when they're all together!  :)

I digress... I had so much fun on this shoot!  There is a property for sale here in town that has THE best barn on it's lot.  I obtained permission to use the property, and off we went.  I seriously want this barn!!

After we played around the small farm, we headed down the road to the Fire Station.  Tommy is a local firefighter, and okay I'll admit it...  I was in awe of the Fire Station.  Those are our local heroes!!  I appreciate EVERYTHING they do!!  

My heart gushed as Tommy showed his boys how to put on his fire gear... and then they each put on the gear - that had their dad's name on the back.

After the shoot was over, I was able to get a memento by posing on the firetruck as well.  This will be a shoot that I'll always remember.  Not just because of the company, but because of what it meant to me.  :)

Enjoy!