there are certain moments...

... moments where i stop and remember. this is why i do what i do. this makes me feel, think, be inspired. and this was one of those times. i'd forgotten all about this shot from a late october wedding until i was just now sorting through the images and as i noticed the photo, it put a big ol' smile on my face. (again). i love life. the beginning, end, and i'm learning to love the middle. life is rich and full of amazing lessons and blessings.



merry christmas, happy new year, and thanks for sharing in my business and my life. i appreciate you!

(safe families)

today i wanted to highlight an amazing organization i'll be working with over the next several months. some of the photos appearing on their blog will be stuff i've shot, and i'm honored to have a small part in showing you pieces of the work that they're doing every single day. check out the website below- if what they offer to families in need resonates with you, i'd encourage you to find a way to get involved. whether it's time, finances, or spreading awareness- support this team that helps parents and kids make it through seasons that aren't so easy.

Safe Families (WA) blog | Stories from the Safe Families movement in Washington State

holiday cheer

so, it's christmastime.

(haha, nothing like a thursday morning post to be captain obvious. :))

christmas is a season for lots of things, including actual MAIL in your mailbox (as opposed to bills or catalogs or ads) filled with wishes of a great new year and sometimes the latest photos of families that you hold close to your heart. i love those. there's just something about a piece of real mail that brings joy to the heart.

speaking of great families. i have to show you chad and heather's brood. they are just darling.

i spent part of an afternoon with this crowd last month, and just had a blast capturing them as they interacted and played together. it makes me happy when families know how to love. these guys do. check 'em out.

jessie + mark (the ceremony)

jessie and mark.

what to say about these two? you've just gotta know them. the picture below is worth a thousand words:



yeah... that pretty much sums it up. :)
they've got personality. and it's fantastically wonderful.

these two are easy to love, and everyone at their wedding was literally rejoicing alongside them. such a wonderful enthusiasm and excitement surrounded these two on their wedding day.

check out these few shots from their ceremony, beginning with mark's first glimpse of his bride.

























congratulations, you two. i had a wonderful time witnessing the start of your lives together. all the best!

heather + michael (engagement)

a little while back, i had the pleasure of wandering around troy, ny with heather and michael.

they are fabulous. they wanted an engagement shoot that was a little retro, a little full of somethin' sassy.
we did our dangdest. :) and i'm pretty happy with what we got.

check out how cute and in love these two are:

















m + h, i'm so very excited to shoot your wedding in 2011! see you soon! :)

a cute baby for your weekending happiness

not kidding. she is just beautiful and full of darling personality. just try to look at those lovely eyes and squishable cheeks and be miserable. try it. i dare you. she'll turn that frown upside down in a heartbeat. :) here are a few quick shots of ava and her family, who all love her to bits and pieces.

this is what it looks like

lately when i travel i find that i'm becoming less and less adaptable to different time zones. it's almost two am in new york and i'm not tired, not even a wink.
guess that means i'm getting old and set in my ways? :)

before this gets ridiculous and i end up napping tomorrow away because i didn't even TRY to make myself fall asleep, i wanted to post some shots i took almost a month ago of an absolutely beautiful couple that i spent a little time trying to capture- honestly, this is one of my favorite shoots of the year. first of all, these two are so kind and fun to be around. they're just great. secondly- they've known each other since they were kids- then they married young- and 30 years later their love is obviously still there. they so enjoy being together and it's awesome to watch. i'm sure life hasn't been perfect or easy all the time, but i can't imagine a better fate than being married to your best friend and living life side-by-side like they do.

instead of continuing to ramble, fully revealing the sap that i am :) how 'bout i show you some of the photos, yeah?





















so much laughter and life. here's to another 30 years. :)