Laughter. That is what I will remember most from Emma and Kyle's wedding at Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling this spring. Emma and Kyle have to be two of the happiest people I have ever met. Not only are they madly in love, but it is so clear how much they enjoy each others company. A few things that stood out: Their custom scented perfume and cologne. Super cool and unique. A special scent for their wedding day. Something they will always cherish and remember. How happy all of their friend and family members were too. It shouldn't be surprising though because it's a true reflection ..read more

Over the past couple of years I have photographing more and more in home lifestyle newborn sessions. Or rather baby sessions. Sometimes they are not newborns, but three months old. Which is actually my favorite age to photograph these sessions. This was the second time at the Cross Family home in Hampshire. Just about two years ago I was meeting cutie pie Logan for the first time. Now he is a big brother to the adorable Miss Makayla. She is so precious. She slept the entire session, which is honestly shocking for my sessions. No matter what we try, my newborns are always wide awake lol. St ..read more

Steve and Brooke selected Fabyan Forest Preserve for their spring engagement session. The flowers trees were showing off despite the overcast skies. And you wouldn't even know by the end of the session we couldn't feel our fingers because the temperature had dropped down to forty degrees. Brooke and Steve had a HUGE smile plastered on their face the entire time. Never have I had a bride laugh so much as Brooke. Such bliss!!! She truly embodies a Swiftie. The couple met one year ago this day for their first date. They matched on Bumble and went out for a spontaneous drink that same night. T ..read more

Fabyan Forest Preserve is pretty in every season, but I think my favorite is spring. Early spring has the wild blue flowers everywhere and later spring has random patches of tall pink flowers in addition to the red buds. The Cross Family loves Fabyan so we go there often for their photo sessions. But honestly, all of my clients love it there. It's definitely a favorite. This time we were at Fabyan Forest Preserve for their spring maternity photos celebrating the milestone of their second maternity session. Big brother Logan was more excited about trying to chase the geese or swim in the F ..read more

As a dog mom myself, I completely understand how important your furbaby is and the role they play in your family. They should absolutely be included in your family photos if you want them there. Here are a four tips for including your furbaby in your photo session Arrive early to let your dog walk off some of their excitement and sniff the location. Bring a friend or family member to take the dog home or for a walk when we are finished with their portion of the shoot. I recommend spending the first fifteen minutes of your session with your furbaby. Then give them to your doggie helper. Bring ..read more

Welcome to my series, My Joyful Things! This is the place to come if you want go beyond my about page and get to know me further. Today's topic is Yeti's and Diet Pepsi. Until I got my first Yeti, I never really understood the hype. Then my sister-in-laws and I went to Disney to celebrate my 40th birthday and we got engraved yeti's for the pool. I was hooked! Not only was I hooked. I wanted more. It's all I drink out of these days. There are so many pretty colors I can't help but collect them. Currently I have seven (not pictured is my white one). I have my eye on a few more, like a red so I ..read more

St James Forest Preserve in Winfield is one of my go to spots in winter for family photo sessions. The are areas of lush pines, white fences, a pond and of course the buildings. It's even more magical with snow! For the Sylvester Family's last season of winter, it was a bit chillier than we would have liked. However, we knew the snow would be gone in a day or two so we needed to move quickly. They were all so tough! Poor little Lennon was definitely chilly, but even she warmed up a little to share a few of her adorable smiles. Duncan was chatting away the entire time and smiling more than I e ..read more

After spending an hour with Kim and John at St James Forest Preserve for their spring maternity session, I have no doubt they will be amazing parents. They were so calm their entire session, even with their first born, fur baby Kona, enjoying the beautiful weather. Kona, I learned, was adopted by her parents just as the world shut down for Covid, so she did not have as much socialization in her young life. This makes her a little more cautious around new people. I don't blame you one bit, Kona! She was super sweet though and followed all of the instructions very well!!! As we walked from loca ..read more

You might have heard the terms posed photo or candid photo used before and wondered, "what is the difference between posed and candid photo?". Maybe you have a general idea of what it means. Maybe it's completely new to you. Either way, I'm here to help! Start by asking yourself these questions. When looking for a photographer, what do you seek most from your photographer? Do you want photos smiling at the camera or do you want to capture moments of interaction between you and your loved ones? Knowing this info is a helpful step to selecting a photographer that is right for you! Generally spe ..read more

Odds are this is a your first time getting married. You are hearing lots of wedding terminology thrown out your way, but have no idea what it means. I am here to help! Let's talk about a First Look. The most common first look is between a couple on their wedding day. This takes place before the ceremony. I love a first look for several reasons: You get to talk to one another! This is my number one reason I love them. When you see your fiance for the first time you can tell each other how excited you are and how amazing each other looks. You cannot do that when you are walking up the aisle t ..read more