Guardian Angel.

This is a very special session that I had with one of my good friends Lelan. I met him in high school when we were on varsity swim but ended up taking very different paths in life so we ventured away from each other, and if you were to ask me now how we crossed over each other again I couldnt tell you why. We started talking again just after I had turned 21. Lelan had a pool at his dad's house and it was my first summer I was able to drink so we got our swim and drink on in his backyard on the reg. Lelan's dad Kevin was usually home and always cracking jokes with us. He adored that I was able to keep up with his sass, but was unable to handle that I was not a fan of beer. One night when I came over to grub on the ever popular dinner choice of pizza, Kevin pulled a cold Foster's beer out of the fridge and assured me that this would be the beer that would change my mind. Of course he wasn't wrong and got a good laugh out of proving that my protests of his claim to be true were incorrect. After than, he always had Foster's for me. I spent so much time with Kevin and got to see how full of love he was. When he became a grandpa for the first time, he was so proud to be able to show off his grandson at every opportunity. When I thought he couldn't love any more, he proved me wrong. 

I will never forget the drop in my stomach when I found out he had passed away with no warning before Christmas in 2013. Lelan and his girlfriend Robbin met shortly before Kevin passed, so he was able to meet the lady to later steal his sons heart. Lelan came to me when they found out Robbin was pregnant and wanted me to do the announcement photos for them. He was so out of this world excited to be a dad. One of the first things he said was that he wanted to be as great as a father as his dad was because he wanted to make him proud. Lelan isnt the one who makes suggestions on idea for pictures, he is always happy to just do as he is told, which is what surprised me when he came to me with an idea for pictures with Skylar as her due date approached. It meant so much to him to be able to have a picture with Kevin and Skylar. Kevin wasnt able to meet his granddaughter in person but she will forever feel him with her in the people that he touched while he was here. Lelan was able to find me a few pictures of Kevin that would work for his idea and the final shot is even better than I had seen in my head. 

Lelan, thank you so much for picking me to create this moment for you. I dont often get the opportunity to create such special moments, Im usually just capturing them. I love that you came to me with the idea and that we were able to get what you were hoping for. I am so excited to watch you be just as amazing of a father as dad was. I see so much of his love in you as you work to provide for you family and friends in any way and any time that you are asked in the same way that dad did. Know that dad is always around, most likely getting a good laugh at your expense, but still guiding you as you raise Skylar. I know how much you wish that he could have been here to meet her but I know that you will be able to tell her such amazing stories about the wonderful man he was so that she can know him through you. Dad is proud of all the great things you are doing with yourself. Keep it up.

Enjoy. 

This Is My Good Side.

Lexee's big sister Sam started talking to me in August about doing her senior portraits. Given that Sam, Lexee, and I have to be the most difficult people to have schedules line up with, it wasn't until this past weekend that we were able to get together to do them. At first I thought that the weather was going to rear its ugly head like it had done all week but I am happy to say that the photography Gods were looking down in my favor for once. Lexee had the option to pick where she wanted to do her shoot and she landed on Lorenzi Park. I love love love when I have the opportunity to shoot at new locations with such lovely people such as Lex. We did get quite a bit of walking in between outfit changes and the size of the park, but I had such a good time with her as she talked about playing at this park as a kid, how her senior year is going, and most importantly that I did most of my shooting from her good side. Lexee, I am very happy that we were able to do this shoot. You have the world at your feet and you are able to accomplish all of the goals you have set for yourself. Cherish these last few weeks months that you have in high school and get ready for the great things that you are going to be doing once you graduate. Thank you for letting me capture these moments and for sharing your stories with me. I can't wait to see what amazing you are going to do with yourself. 

Enjoy. 

Undercover Agent.

Ryan came into my life about five years ago. He has been such an incredible friend to me in that time that I wouldnt even know where to start with talking about him. He is the type of friend you can talk about nothing and everything with. Being the mama bear that I am, he often came to me to talk about what he wanted with his life, what he was getting, and when he was going to be where he wanted to be. Always having the highest expectations of himself, one of the most common conversations we had was about how he wanted to have fun and enjoy the hard work he put in to have everything he wanted to have, and also have a woman and a family that he was able to provide for and enjoy all of his work with. He will even admit himself that he wasnt the most patient with my never ending advice that it would come when he least expected it, but he would get everything that he was working for. Everything that he was working for showed up during the summer of '14, and when he least expected happened when she let him know that she was pregnant. Brianna and I first met while I was doing a photo shoot of the boys' cars. She was such a big ball of yellow and Ryan lit up the moment she showed up. I was so happy to see a lady who could keep up with all that Ryan was. I have had a behind the scenes look at the whole progression of all that is Ryan and Bri, which I am so honored to have been a part of. Ryan let me know when he planned on proposing, when he bought the ring, what he wanted to do when he proposed, and best of all that he wanted me to be an undercover agent when he finally put a ring on it. When the day came, I was certain that I had been spotted. Despite my ducking and diving while they walked around, I didnt think that I was able to hide from Bri enjoying the scenery and Ryan trying to take my waving and sign language of where he needed to go. But, it all worked out because Ryan did his thing and I followed suit once he was in action. Bri didnt know until a few hours later when I showed up at their house and delivered the pictures to her. She lit up in the same way that I had seen Ryan do when I met Bri for the very first time and I was so happy to see her be completely surprised that her boy delivered and made sure that everything was covered in capturing him proposing. I can honestly say that I have never seen Ryan so happy with his set up as I have seen him be with Bri and especially their adorable baby boy Skylar. Ryan and Bri, I cant wait to see you two seal the deal and watch m'boy get everything he has been talking about since I met him. Nonetheless, I would just like to give Ryan a super solid, I told you so. ;)

Enjoy. 

An Excuse For Extra Smooches.

I had the pleasure of meeting Victoria and Herman last December at my girlfriends company Christmas party. Sam had talked to me about her before I even met her, letting me know that she was booking me for their weeding because she wanted me to be their photographer. Vic was so sweet when we met and was so excited to tell me about her and Hermans story. We went back and forth about locations and when they wanted to take engagement pictures. I love clients like Vic who are so excited to capture moments with the one they love. We decided on two places that I have never done a shoot at, and it was such a good time. Despite some bored security at the Linq kicking us out because of a miscommunication on permits, there were so many moments I was able to capture of these two love birds. During our shoot, after I had asked them to exchange some smooches a few times, Vic made a comment to Herman that she was just happy that it gave her an excuse to get more kisses from him. This shoot involved a bit of walking in the sun on probably one of the hottest days we have had in the last month, and she was just happy to have a reason to give her fiance some love. I am so happy that I have been chosen to stop these moments in time for them. Herman and Vic, I cant wait to be apart of your wedding day so that I can capture the obviously radiant love that you two share. Until November. 

Enjoy.