There’s a contentment that comes with finding the right person to share your life with, and Cathy & Keith could not be more at home in each others arms. They managed to turn a dusty field of weeds into something beautiful & inspired. Isn’t it amazing how love allows us to see ordinary things in extraordinary ways….

I can’t wait to watch these two exchange vows under a giant live oak next June. Cathy is so creative & detail oriented, I know its going to be spectacular. Until then, here’s a peek at their sweet connection…

I’ve always wanted to shoot at the state fair, but haven’t had a chance to make it happen until Jenny & Brett booked me for their wedding. They had their first date at the fair 13 years ago, and by some crazy coincidence we happened to book this shoot on the 1-year anniversary of the date Brett proposed…you guessed it, at the fair :) So this is more than a fun backdrop for the two of them. They have a lot of precious memories wrapped up in this candy-colored park. After 2 hours of running from ride to ride with these two, I felt like we were old friends. They are an absolute dream to photograph because they’re so head over heels in love & aren’t afraid to get lost in a moment. Even with the massive sea of people that were at the fair that day, all eyes were on them. They have one of those sweet connections that stands out in a crowd, and Jenny has one of the MOST amazing smiles I’ve ever photographed. I can’t wait to spend their wedding day with them next month…

Jenny & Brett.. thanks for making this one of my favorite sessions of all time :)

Hi friends. Sorry its been crickets around here. My life took a little detour last week in the form of an emergency room visit-turned hospital stay. I’m on the mend after a few days of IV fluids & TLC from family & friends, but lets just say I won’t be attempting to shoot 17 portrait sessions & 4 weddings in a month again ( no wonder I felt like I’d been hit by a bus ) This unexpected hiatus was a long overdue reminder of what’s truly, truly important in life, and has given me a renewed perspective going into the new year. I am so lucky to live my dream every day and am over the moon excited about the 18 amazing couples we have on the books for next year, but 2011 will be bringing a few changes that have nothing to do with work & everything to do with family. My hubby & sweet boys have been unfailingly patient with my travel schedule, endless shoots and complete inability to slow down and just…breathe. So over the next few months I plan to do all the things I love…with the ones I love most. I hope you guys will do the same. Because life is too short to let it pass you by…

So, this shoot is the perfect one to get this blog back into action. If I had to choose a session to truly define me as an artist, this would be it. It may sound silly, but shoots like this are little escapes for me. There’s something so freeing about letting go & getting lost in the moments unfolding around you ( and hoping like hell a few great images come out of the chaos.. :) This family allows me to do just that. They are my photographic soul mates in every way. The boys have been in front of my lens so many times, its as if the camera has disappeared entirely, and we’re just running through an airfield, rolling in the grass together. I love that their mom Amy was on board with trying a new location & folding 300 ( yes, 300 ) paper airplanes to go along with the theme of the shoot. As I drove away from the airfield on that perfect October afternoon, with grass stains on my knees.. I felt like the luckiest gal in the world. Amy, Brian, Max, Nino & Paolo…I love you guys. Thanks for letting me capture your zest for life.

“Sometimes being a brother is even better than being a superhero..” -Marc Brown