life itself is the most wonderful fairytale....

If you had told me two years ago that I would be where I am today, I would have laughed! After being a stay at home mom for 18 years and never really even taken any pictures, it wouldn't have crossed my mind that this would now be my profession...and the stories I had heard throughout my life and those that I shared with my children...would turn into the fairytale that life has given me. 

I believe that we are all part of a greater plan...that our stories have already been written in the sands of time.....

    I market myself as a child life photographer..natural light and fun candid shots that flow with emotion. I have shied away from anything but that, and I LOVE my job. Over the past two years I have been asked many times to photograph weddings but have always politely declined...I want to work with children...I want to tell stories with my photography.

(We're almost to the beginning of the story!!)

When a friend of mine let me know that she signed me up, with her as my sidekick:) to be part of a wedding show I giggled...NO! I fought her tooth and nail, but I finally gave in because my New Year's resolution of saying NO wasn't firmly in place yet.

I've had to do a lot of soul searching on this one and what I've come to realize is that I don't have to change what I do one little bit. I can still remain true to myself if I stick to my most basic belief about what I love to do. And that is to tell stories...to capture emotion...to be witness to the beauty of life and love.

 So...it's like shooting with my lens wide open, making more room in my own story! Whether it's a new baby, a birthday, or just a sunny day at the lake, or in the snow!  An engagement, a celebration...and yes, even a wedding, my customers will get what they've always gotten...real life photos that make you feel something! 

Here's a little photo story that ran through my head as I was considering what it would mean to photograph a wedding....

 This particular story begins with the birth of a baby girl (insert my beautiful niece Tegan:)  As she sleeps she dreams of a life filled with blessings and adventures....and love.

 When they're little...boys and girls have "cooties" and love is the furthest thing from their minds!

 Little girls have a knack for make believe and sometimes spend hours making up their own stories...

 They are full of innocence...

 And unaware of the power of love...

 She will have to learn hard lessons about walking away when it just isn't a good fit...

Some relationships just aren't meant to be... :)

Will she travel...see the world?

 And be told everyday how beautiful the world is just because she's in it.

What will she wish for?

Always a flower girl....someday a bride.

She will learn to love herself before she can love another

And that day will come

 When she looks at you with those big green eyes...

And shares then news with her best girlfriends..

 That she is in love.......

 And suddenly she's a woman, where a little girl once stood..

 He popped the question!!!

 And then it's their story that begins...

A new chapter is written...

And they gave each other a smile with a future in it..

 And they celebrate...because they are blessed

 LET THEM EAT CAKE!!  (sorry...I couldn't resist!)

 And as the fairytale appears to be ending here....

 Another wish is granted...

 and baby makes three!

 and then four....

The End

Or the beginning.....of another great story.

I look forward to helping others share their stories with pictures....for these moments are priceless.