Photography that tells a story and really honors each person as they are is so much fun when it's filled with PLAY!

Downtown, flowers, pea patch, bubbles…let’s have some fun!

You're getting your gear ready for your next family session and take a quick look at the questionnaire the family filled out. And you take a deep breath… there's a toddler, and mom wrote that they love to run.

“Good job!” she told me, beaming, as I painted my toes this afternoon.

My 2-year-old’s sweet little compliment melted me in half. There’s nothing quite like getting unsolicited praise from a toddler — it’s one of those small, fleeting moments of childhood…

I've always been fascinated by childhood—the curiosity, wonder, and authenticity that make kids uniquely themselves. As a teacher, photographer, and mom, I feel incredibly lucky that my work allows me to slow down, pay attention, and celebrate children exactly as they are. That's the heart behind every photograph I create.

Every year before Thanksgiving my amazing sister in law wins the race yet again and we get an adorable holiday card in the mail from her and although I always think next year I’ll get it out faster, I also smile while I get out the tape and pop it on a big empty wall that slowly gets filled with photos, stories, and sweet notes from people I love most. Last year, since we were home all the damn time and missed out on seeing people as much as we hoped, I moved the cards into our stairway, where they still live.

Dear December 17, 2021, • How did we do? Did I get to hug my friends? Did the kids get to play? Did they do okay in school? Did we stay healthy? Are we all still here? Have things gotten better?

In our project to learn about our roots the kids put cloves in oranges, well one of them did, you’ll see. My husband’s family has roots in Ireland where this is a traditional activity that his family also did when growing up. I freelensed this short movie and was so happy when the kids true spirits came out. I hope you enjoy!

Our next adventure in this little project was to Ireland, where Nick’s Dad and I think my Dad also have roots. I showed the kids homes in Ireland in the winter and we learned about the tradition to put a candle in your window on Christmas Eve. This is a sign to welcome visitors, guests, and perhaps Santa.

The kids were hungry, the sun was setting and I wanted to do something with them. Partly because I like them and partly because I figured if I gave them attention we might have a more peaceful dinner. So I gave them some muffins, and googled “polish craft”. I was thinking about the beautiful and colorful polish folk art, but then pajaki chandeliers came up and they looked easier :). So I grabbed some pipe cleaners, beads and tissue paper.

It was December 2 and we were already doing our second day in our Illuminating Roots project and everything felt a little crazy but I was pretty proud of us. Then all of a sudden it was 10 days later I found myself finally editing these photos and here we are. Point is, I’m filled with grace for the tired, stressed version of me that doesn’t keep up with things.

Its Day 2 of our Illuminated Roots Project. Today I showed the kids our globe and asked them what it is. They said it’s the world but then asked if the world was bigger than our house so I know their world is still so small.