Congratulations to the Graduates!

Greg - Irene/Wakonda

John - Viborg

Cameron - Vermillion

Greg - Irene/Wakonda

John - Viborg

Take Me Home, Country Roads

This is from a family photo shoot I did over Easter weekend. The family consisted of the parents and 5 siblings and their spouses. We did the traditional family shots; parents with children and parents with children and son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws. The weather wasn't the best for outdoor photos; cloudy, windy, and temps barely reaching 50 degrees. Nonetheless, we had a lot of fun doing some shots of just the brothers and sisters with the farm place they grew up on in the background.

After taking the series of family photos, this gang was still going strong and didn't give me any grief when I told them (I'm rather bossy) we were heading 5 miles out into the country to get some more photos.

I think we definitely created some memories this day for this family. I was shooting from a distance and had the group walking away from me so I couldn't see their reactions when I asked them to walk towards the farm but I heard it was a "tender" moment. Thanks to Jennifer, the baby of the family (from one baby of the family to another), for coming up with the idea of a family photo shoot. Too often we don't get a family group photo until the funeral of one of the parents. I know that was the case with my family and my husband's family. Although we cherish those photos it is always a bit sad to think they were taken at the time of  a funeral. This fanily will have family photos with no negative memories linked to them!

The greatest compliment I have received to date in my photography venture came from this family, who said "Thank you so much for making our photo session FUN!"

I can't wait for Kim & Tyler's wedding!

I am so honored to be the wedding photographer for Kim and Tyler! Kim is a very close friend to our youngest daughter, Emily, and we think of her as a daughter, she is very special to us. We are so happy for her and Tyler and can't wait for their wedding August 6th!

Here are a few of their engagement photos that we took a few months ago.....

Happy Mother's Day

Thank you to all the mother's who have shared their children with me in my studio over the past few months. I have enjoyed the "play" sessions with the kids and getting to know the Mom's. Wow, I have a new appreciation for how busy you all are! And I know you hear this all the time, but TRY to enjoy this time, it really does go so quickly!

So in honor of Mother's Day, here are a few mother-child photos. I'm glad you took the time out of your busy schedules to have these photos taken, afterall we never hear anyone say "I wish we wouldn't have taken so many photos!"

Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body. ~Elizabeth Stone

First Communion

I had the privelege of photographing Katelyn for a very special event in her life; her first communion. Since the photos were taken a few weeks in advance of Katelyn's first communion on May 1st, it has been difficult for me to not post these right away! Katelyn, you are a very beautiful young lady, congratulations on your first communion. May you always grow in your faith.

Momma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to be Cowboys

Like in the movie Field of Dreams; "build it and they will come," I found the same is true of a saddle; bring a saddle into your studio and the cowboys will come!

Thank you to Gordon Jensen for loaning me his saddle. It is truly beautiful and I was anxious to try it out so I asked Kasandra to let me do some of Micah's 6 month photographs on the saddle. Turns out Micah's grandmother was raised on a ranch so he has some cowboy blood in him. Micah took to the saddle like a natural.

Then the following week Andrew came in for his 5 year photos and he had just received a special birthday present from his grandpa; all the clothing and gear that a cowboy would ever wish for! Including chaps, spurs, canteen, bandana, hat, etc. Andrew was filling me in on the Lone Ranger, wow, it has been a long time since I've seen those shows, it was nice to take a trip down memory lane and it is nice to know that Andrew is enjoying watching the Lone Ranger in 2011!

Thanks to my cowboys! Hi yo, Silver away!

Rub a dub, dub - one little man in a tub!

Little Cowboy

Big Brother - Little Sister

Emma is almost 2!

Adorable Angel Peyton

Peyton is so adorable and she just seemed to wear the angel wings and halo so naturally!

My baby girl is getting married!

I knew something was up when John showed up at our house alone on a Sunday afternoon. He came bearing a couple of racks of ribs he had just smoked. After a little chit chatting he asked Charlie to show him something in the garage. They were out there a long time...enough to make me suspicious, and after John left Charlie was avoiding my questions about his visit with John. It was very sweet of John to ask Charlie's permission to marry our daughter. Charlie kidded that he couldn't turn John down as he had just brought him such a tasty treat! Welcome to the family John! Can't wait for this big shing-dig to take place - November 5th is the date!

Brynn - you are so sweet!

Mother and Child

Congrats to John, Class of 2011, Graduation is right around the corner!