I am a huge advocate for not waiting for a special or specific occasion to have family photos done. I know a lot of people wait until Fall- and that's totally okay- but I'm a big believer that life happens every single day. Even on rainy days. Even on bad days. Even when life is tough. Even in the winter. Even on the best days. Even on the most chill and ordinary of days. 
But here's the thing- and I know parents can really relate to me here- it's like you blink and all the sudden it's 10 years later. You blink and your kids are almost as tall as you. 
There's no bad time to take pictures, but, man....do I love summer photo sessions. 
​And here's why.

Summer has a vibe all on its own. The hot sun can make us want to bask in it. It makes us want to go outside. In the heat of the day, there's nothing better than a hammock in the shade, am I right? Music seems to be everywhere. The food feels fresh and flavorful and vibrant. People are more relaxed. We're more likely to say "yes" to outdoor activities.  In summer it's okay to be in your swimsuit and barefoot all day if you want.
It's gloriously hot. The opportunities are endless. There is an underlying excitement, especially with children because it's summer.
It's perfection. 
There are so many opportunities to hang out, connect, and be with each other. 

Summer is when a lot of families choose to take summer vacations. Headed down to the beach to do all the fun summer things. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins sometimes come too! There's not many times in the year when the whole family gets together (without the stress of prepping a big meal, keeping a schedule, etc) and summertime is it! 
Sometimes families even choose to do staycations and be tourists in their own cities. There are so many adventures to be had- even in your own backyard. It'd be a shame not to have pictures of such a wonderful memory. 

Summer is magical. Summers are instantly nostalgic. Summer is the prime time to create those "core memories" of our childhood. Why is that? I think it just is simply because summer is full of magic and wonder and possibilities. 
If I knew back then what I know now, I would take so many more photos. Our family would rent this condo/apartment about a block from the beach every summer. There was about 4 units and then the unit that the owners lived it. I will never forget them, they were staples in my childhood/preteen summer memories. I wish I could have more photos of that place. Of me as a pre-teen there. Of me walking down the block to the payphone to call my friends back home. Of me sitting on the sundeck with my boombox listening to all the best "coolest" music. Drinking a coke while my Dad and Uncle grilled steaks. Playing shuffleboard with my cousin. I would want pictures of us carrying all our stuff to the beach. I would want more pictures of us hanging out in the living room of that condo. 
I think about those summers all the time. 

So what do ya say?  Want to schedule a summer Storytelling Session for your family? Or even a Day in the Life Session? Let's do it! 
Contact me for more information here or at the Contact tab above. I'll send you a no-pressure guide (seriously, because I really, really hate that!) with a little bit about what I do and how the process works. 

Picture this scenario:
You are in the midst of experiencing your idea of a perfect day. (keep in mind that this looks different for everyone)
Maybe you're hanging out at home and cooking together, maybe you're at the beach reading and your kids are happily playing, maybe you're taking a little hike, maybe you're camping. maybe you're doing a family activity, maybe your day is full of kids activities and sports, maybe you're running around town doing errands and stopping for a scoop of your favorite handmade ice cream. 
Whatever you're doing, you find yourself thinking, " I wish I could bottle this feeling up forever". 

What if I told you that "bottling up this feeling so that you can relive it again and again" is exactly what I do for a living?
Well, that's exactly what I do and let's not forget that because I'm the one behind the camera, it means YOU are in front of it with your kids. You exist with them and you deserve to be photographed too. You deserve to be seen. 
​

I come to you and document your days- the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, the quiet, the loud- so that you can savor them again and again until the day you leave this Earth. 
And then  your children will hold onto those memories. 
And then your grandchildren can understand what was important to you. 
And then your great grandchildren and great great grandchildren will get a sense of who their ancestors were and where they came from. 
They will feel a sense of connection to the past and find a belonging. 
​All from a few photographs. 

To book your Day in the Life Session or Storytelling Session, click here or on the Contact tab above. I can't wait to hear what you have to say. 

I was making my usual morning cup of Earl Grey in my favorite mug a few weeks ago and I heard the familiar notification sound that my phone makes when I get an email. I open up my account and my eyes are slow to adjust, but I think it says that one of my images was selected for exhibition. 
I see words like "congratulations" and phrases like "the competition was tough" and "the standard was high".  
I blink. Re-read it again. 
And then again.
I see a link at the bottom to view the exhibit and I scroll down and I see a very familiar picture...a photograph I made. 
And it hits me then that my work was included among so many talented photographers that I deeply admire and look up to. And an environmental portrait that I made was included among theirs. 
I am so filled with gratitude and honestly, I am humbled. 
To the amazing jurors, thank you so much for seeing the magic that I see in this photograph and for believing in my work. 

To see the whole exhibit, please click here. It's so inspiring!