Have you ever started something just for fun and it turns out to be better than you could have imagined. Meet my beautiful sister Lizzie. She's currently pregnant with her first baby, a sweet little girl. Way back in the early days of summer, we got an idea and jetted off for a half hour to take the first set of what would turn out to be this amazing series of her growing belly. At the time, we just sort of figured we'd take another bump photo here and there The part that we never imagined, is all the beautiful locations we would find ourselves in as her belly grew. So looking forward to adding at least one more set of weeks photos to this series!!

This is my beautiful cousin and her sweet little family. These baby girls are the cutest sister duo and I just love the names their parents chose from them. Helen and Hannah. When Hannah was about 10 days old, I quietly slipped into their home and spend some time with them, photographing the quite moments... and a few not so quiet ones too. Their backyard is a beautiful forrest with a small creek running through. A photographers dreamland. Thank you so much for inviting me to photograph your family, Stacy and Evan. I love your little family. 

When we set off for the centennial trail that evening, the sky was cloudy and the wind was blowing pretty good. But we just hoped and went for it. But soon after we started, the clouds drifted away and the winds died down. It was such a pleasure to spend an evening photographing this sweet Gonzaga Prep Senior. She's absolutely beautiful and equally as sweet. I think she thought I was a little crazy when I asked her if she was willing to get her dress wet. But she just rolled with all my ideas and was even willing to run a little so we could change locations and get the most out of the golden light. Thank you for letting me take your senior portraits Emily, and I hope you have an amazing senior year!

Have you ever wanted to see a momma with the world's most beautiful smile? Look no further, folks. Because I found her. Meet Denise and her perfectly handsome boy club. They played and then when the boys got tired of being encouraged to smile 600 times, I pulled out a bowl of strawberries and made everyone happy again. You can't look at these photos without feeling happy. Those two boys are absolutely adorable!

​Thank you Wyatt's for letting me photograph your family. I hope you had as much fun as I did!

Sometimes we experience something that we don't realize how profound it was, until its over. We arrived at this cabin on a river on Friday and departed Sunday morning. The bride and groom and their two kiddos. His parents and hers. Her brother and his small family. And us. 10 adults, 5 kids. Every single person coming from a different walk of life. Every single person immediately adopting each other as family. It was a weekend that will carry on as one of those tiny slices of life that warms your soul and forever changes you just a little bit.

Emily and Erik. I'm so thankful to have been there. I love you both dearly. 

Have you ever had a person in your life that you really like and enjoy their company, but they just quite fit into your daily. Someone who every time you spend time together the conversation is great, and the awkward, what do we talk about now, just never happens. You consider them a friend, but they just don't fit into your regular friend slots. For whatever reason. Your married, they're single. They're getting married but you're starting a family. Just different waves of life. But then. (I'm getting to the point) Then all of a sudden, you have your once in every four year coffee date and the stars finally align.

Meet Lisa. And her super dreamy tattooed husband with their sweet little lady baby. Lisa is my once every four year now text almost daily friend. She invited me into their home and let me photograph them caring for and loving on their tiny girl. We just slowed the clock to new born time and let Abby guide the photo session. I left that afternoon with a happy heart.

Just thought I'd do a quick share from the second half of that senior session I did a few years ago. See the first half  here. Janette had the idea while we were romping around in the wheat field that it would be really unique to take some of her senior pics at the fair. So we did. 

Being a photographer is more than just a job.  Its building relationships in the shortest time possible. Its trust. It creating comfort in an awkward situation. Its reading people and knowing when you've got there, when you've broke the barrier of that stiff husband or that uncooperative 4 year old. Its having confidence in your own ability to mold the moment all while photographing the entire thing as it unfolds. Ramble what said you? 

These two people. I gotta say. I love these two people. Meet Tim and Liz Rowsey, my brother and sister (in-law, if I must). These two fell in love and married young. When everyone said they'd never make it, you're too young, they said watch us. They made an epic cross country and comfort zones move to Texas, where they knew very few people and had zero family. They went from the bottom to comfortable living, then gave it all up and returned. Only to start all over again and put Tim through a rigorous education program. Which he DOMINATED! They've had ups and downs. But I can't think of a single time in their almost 10 years of marriage, no matter their struggles, that they weren't a team. Always consistent. Always hogging the couch after Thanksgiving dinner for a snuggle nap, kind of love. 

Today, they've traveled far and wide. They are thinking of families and homes and all that exciting future stuff. Change is in the air for this amazing, strong couple. On new years morning, the three of us threw on our boots, grabbed a blanket and some hot coffee and plopped ourselves into a wintery wonderland and I captured their ups and downs. Their goofy love. His looks and her smiles.  They slowly ditch the coats, tossed the hats, drank the coffee and then when it started to snow, they held each other close and it was right. It was all so good.

Years ago, I did a favor for a friend and took his daughter's senior portraits. It was really fun, and the pictures turned out really great; but at the time I was fairly new to design and didn't give much thought to trying to do more photography. I still love how the session turned out. So tonight I went in search of Janette's Senior Pictures and reedited all of them. Well, half. I took them in two parts. This was our first day.

She told me about this barn that they were getting married at. She was hoping to somehow incorporate it into their wedding stationary. So I had her send me a picture of this barn and the whole thing came together perfect.