Holy geez. This summer is a tough one. I may have actually told my mother today I’m giving up. But you know what? That’s not a dang option. That ain’t no … ? I don’t know. I’m trying to be grammatically correct, yet emphatic. Got me? Anyway, I’m going to find some joy tonight and you know what very quickly and easily brings the joy? I know you do.

Pictures!

I’ve had a few sessions recently that have been just sweet and fun and such gentle reminders that there is so much to celebrate in this life. I look at these photos and I just see love. And who doesn’t love love? Photography is such a funny thing for me. I get nervous as all heck (nearly sick, to be honest) before every shoot and then I get together with these absolutely lovely people and I am immediately returned to my slightly less anxious self. And all is well. Because it isn’t about posing people and creating discomfort. My angle is to give gentle direction while allowing families to be themselves. We have enough pretend photos on Facebook already? #amiright?

So I wanted to share a few of those moments with you on this gorgeous summer night (post-‘hurricane of 2017’ for all of you West Michiganders). Mostly, I just need the reminder but I hope you can feel all the joy that came with these sessions as well (and I won’t lie, sometimes I cry too but cameras hide water).

Now, it’s tough for me to schedule sessions into an already very full schedule, but I do my best. And I just finally after months of trepidation launched a Facebook page. You can see more of my favorite work there, and I’d love to have the opportunity to be a part of your life as well if you have a point in time you’d like captured forever and ever. But be prepared to have fun. It’s part of the contract.