Shavee {Charity Event}

Cancer. It’s a word that has become far too much a part of our culture’s normal conversation.  If you’re reading this there’s a good possibility that your life has been touched by this in one form or another.  Maybe you’ve lost a grandparent, or held a friend or child’s hand through treatment.   Cancer is scary, its mysterious, its ugly.  But for all the ugliness and pain that is associated with this word there is another word that goes along with it and that is Hope.  Cancer causes us to hope.  To hope that life will continue, that the battle will be won, that a cure will be found, that there is something bigger than this ugliness.  It’s the reason there are walks and organizations and head-shaving events and new research grants being created each year. It was hope that I got to photograph tonight.

St. Baldrick’s is an organization that funds childhood cancer research grants through money raised by volunteers.  Individuals or teams host Shavee events in which they collect money in return for them shaving their heads.  These events have raised over $117 million dollars to date.  To learn more about this phenomenal organization check out their website at http://www.stbaldricks.org.

Tonight I attended one of these events and got to witness hope in action as my friend Grace shaved her hair off for this cause.  But it wasn’t only Grace’s actions that spoke to this hope, but the love that surrounded her through the support of her family and friends who had donated money as pledges for this event and who bid on silent auction items.  Thank You Grace for this awesome opportunity to be part of the cause, and thank you to her friends and family who supported her in this and who gave to the cause.  And of course praise to our Heavenly Father who is the reason for any hope that we have, who’s Spirit moves in us the desire to do good, and to Jesus Christ who shows us what sacrificial love truly looks like.

Now for a few photos from tonight.

Humbled.

Every so often I have a session that reminds me why I do this, why I choose to fill my time being a witness to others’ lives, to view their laughs, smiles and precious moments from behind my lens.  It’s because there’s something so humbling about being invited in, even just for an hour or less at a time, to be witness to these lives, to be trusted with the documenting of it, and to be humbled by the story being told.

This year I’ve witnessed the love of families as they celebrate another year of growth, the excitement and anxiety surrounding senior year, the first few hours of life and the love between husbands and wives as they commit to each other.  Each session has its own story, each family has its own soundtrack, and each time I am honored to be the one to share it with the world.  But sometimes, in the chaos of my own story, in the busyness of my own life I can forget to focus on that, I get lost in the schedules and deadlines. It’s in those times that God usually gifts me with a story I can’t look over, with a session that impacts my being, that snaps me out of my routine and throws me straight into His story.

Today was one of those times.  Today I got to be witness to a different story than I ever have been before.  Most of what I capture are the joys in life, the milestones, the yearly witness to continued life together, and the beginnings of stories.  Today was different, today was celebration of a life lived together and acceptance of the path ahead.  I’m not going to share the details of this story, it is their story to share, but I am so very humbled to have been witness to it.  To be able to see the love shared between two people, not in loud vibrant ways, but in small looks, and reassuring hugs.  To be able to see the faith in a God that promises so much more than just this life.  To be witness to all this, in a few moments of time, under the last of the fall leaves, and the quiet, warmness of an empty chapel, is a blessing that I could not have imagined.

 

So to those who trust me to be a witness to your lives, to your joys, your loves, your celebrations and your stories, to you I am thankful.

Bri the Amazing.

I have this friend named Bri. She’s amazing. Seriously. Caring, loving, artistic, hilarious, smart, encouraging, faithful-all words that can be used to describe her.   She has a unique and awesome way of seeing the world that challenges injustices, inspires action and makes you question the status quo.

She’s auditioning this weekend in Chicago for The Glee Project and needed some headshots to take with her. When she asked if I’d be willing to do it I was ecstatic! Mostly because of the above mentioned Bri-awesomeness.  But also because I think she’d be amazing on Glee and I want to do whatever I can to help her get there.

Which also includes a shameless plug for you to go to her audition video and click “like,” thus voting for her to be one of this Season’s cast members on the Glee Project.

Now, without further adieu, I would like to introduce you to Bri the amazing:

So now that you’ve been introduced to the amazing Bri go vote for her!

Emily & Tyler {Maple Grove, MN Wedding}

Many words could be used to describe Emily and Tyler’s wedding…beautiful, loving, unique, thoughtful,  but none would do justice to just how amazing their day was.  It was a joy to witness the love shared between Emily and Tyler, not to mention the love their family and friends shared for and with them.  Their ceremony was a beautiful reminder of the grace-filled love given to us through the waters of holy baptism.  Their reception was a fun-filled celebration of their new lives together.

Thank you Emily and Tyler for including me in your day, and being an amazing example of a Christ-centered marriage.

Here are just a couple highlights from this beautiful day:

 

Dana & Ross {De Pere, WI Wedding}

Dana and Ross were married on a beautiful August day in De Pere, WI.  Their day was full of laughter, friends and family.  Here are just a couple of the highlights from their day.

The Crarys {Family}

Jenn and Jeff got married a year ago and I was thrilled to be able to be part of their day.  Jenn is a friend from home and it was great being able to be there the day she got married.  This summer I again got to shoot not only her and her fantastic husband Jeff, but their daughter as well for some Mother’s Day photos.  Such a fun loving and happy family, it was a blast spending the morning with them at Olbrich Gardens in Madison, WI.

Amanda & Phil {Engagements}

I got to spend a lovely afternoon with these two at Como Conservatory in Saint Paul back in May.  If getting to know these two as a couple over the past year hadn’t shown me that they complement each other in a way that could only be by God’s design, this hour together would have.  Wishing you both the best in this next year and final months of wedding planning!

 

 

Andrea {Seniors}

I’ve known Andrea for about three years now, again getting to know her through the lens of Youth Director. It’s been fantastic watching her grown in the young woman she is, so full of joy and love.   Over the years there are five things I have learned that Andrea loves above all others: Her family, God, friends, dancing and coffee. We took her photos on a busy Thursday evening in Rice Park, downtown Saint Paul.  She was fantastic despite all the people staring at her as she posed and laughed with her sister.  Thanks for the great night ladies!

Emily & Tyler {Engagements}

When Emily asked me if I’d be willing to come to her parents’ farm in Waconia to do her and Tyler’s engagement photos I was thrilled! Emily’s younger sister is a good friend and after spending a couple days on the farm during Christmas break in college it has been on my list of favorite places.  It was great being able to spend time out there again, to reconnect with their Mom and of course being able to witness the love that Emily and Tyler share.  I can’t wait for their wedding in October!

Here are just a few favorites from our time together.  View more here

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Baby Liv {Day One}

Saturday I had the incredible honor to be able to photograph Liv and her amazing parents.  Liv was born Saturday morning just before 7am and her parents were still glowing and running on pure joy when I got there around 4:30pm.  They had contacted me a few weeks ago about the possibility of doing some photos in the hospital after she was born.  Having never done first day photos before I was thrilled for the opportunity, albeit slightly nervous.  Heidi was confidant it would go great and we planned details (as much as you can around a baby’s arrival).

Whatever I had expected this shoot to be, it was far better. From getting to pray with them as their pastor and his wife were leaving, to being able to hold sweet little liv, to being able to witness the loving looks exchanged between Heidi and Jonathan, the whole visit was incredible.   I am so humbled and thankful that they trusted me to be part of this day and capture Liv’s first day on film.  God is good.