Katie + Axel: A Wintery Engagement Session with Holiday Spirit

Crisp winter days, hot chocolate, and furry friends

Katie + Axel had a lovely engagement session at their new house. They are not only getting married in 9 short months, but also just became new home owners! We got to take photos with all of their furry animal friends, run around outside with their dog, sip some delicious homemade hot chocolate, and enjoy Katie + Axel’s beautifully decorated house, filled with Christmas cheer!

Enjoy these sweet engagement photos, maybe with your own cup of hot cocoa!

-Sam

Charades and Games and Tag, Oh My!

These fun family portraits were full of games and giggles!

Now, normally kids are great with games during photos (it helps to keep them occupied and engaged), but these two adorable kiddos were super into games, and even had some games of their own they wanted to play, like charades (which they rocked)!

Enjoy these fun family portraits!

—Sam

Family Photos at the Garver Feed Mill

Reigny and her parents had a great time at the newly renovated Garver Feed Mill!

This little pumpkin had quite an adventure playing tag inside the Garver Feed Mill, eyeing up the ice cream parlor at Ian’s, and walking the family puppers around the grounds. Enjoy these sweet and fun family photos!

—Sam

Andy + Jake: A Very Elemental Wedding

The elements of Fire and Earth played a big role in Andy + Jake’s wedding

Jake sees Andy’s personality as perfectly representing the element of fire and Andy sees Jake as a grounding influence and representing Earth . They had vests that were the color of their element, and they each chose to give a piece of themselves to other in their wedding ceremony, to symbolize their union. Andy’s ring is green on the inside showing that Jake is symbolically transferring that Earth element to him, and Jake’s is red to show that Andy is giving some of that fiery spirit to Jake. I love the thoughtful symbolism in not only the bands but in the very idea of marriage being a union where you give a part of yourself to another to help them, to balance them, and they do the same for you.

We were able to brave the cold (and the snow flakes!) to take some photos outside, and throw around the rugby ball for a bit, which is a passion for both Andy and Jake, and then we stepped back inside for the wedding ceremony and celebration!

Andy + Jake’s wedding day was full of love, joy, and donuts, which is just about the best kind of wedding day I can think of. I’m so glad I was able to celebrate with these two!

—Sam

Here are the wedding day vendors that helped make Andy + Jake’s wedding awesome!

Ceremony + Reception Venue: Goodman Community Center

Officiant: William Annis

Wedding DJ: Spike Bolen

Wedding Bands: Embr

Wedding Donuts: Greenbush Bakery

Catering: Working Class Catering

Owen Conservancy Family Portraits

Family portraits on a perfect fall day!

You may remember Akanksha + Andrew from such weddings as this. Well they just added little Leo to their family just a few short months ago, and wanted to get pictures as a family before the fall was officially over!

Well we couldn’t have picked a better day (in fact, I think it was the last warm day of 2019), and it was so nice to get to meet not only Leo (who is clearly a SUPER adorable baby!) but also Jones, a very excellent doggo!

Enjoy these sweet family photos!

—Sam

A Very Special Family Portrait Session

Tanya + Lavender’s family embodies a spirit of warmth, light, and love

I first met Tanya + Lavender many years ago through mutual friends, and our paths have crossed many times over the years at various pregnancy and infant loss remembrance events. Tanya + Lavender have had their share of heartbreak over the years, including losing 3 dear little ones during pregnancy (Sam, Oren, and Miriam). Recently they were blessed with the spunky little kiddo you see in these photos, Cedar.

When I ran into Tanya and Cedar at the most recent Forever in Our Hearts event (for pregnancy and infant loss awareness month, which is in October), we started planning family portraits for Tanya, Lavender, and their kids; Alana, Derek, and Cedar, as well as three teddy bears meant to symbolize Sam, Oren, and Miriam. This marked the first professional portrait session that the whole family has had, and it was so meaningful to be able to include Sam, Oren, and Miriam in these portraits as well.

Tanya + Lavender have been through so much, but I am continually impressed by their kind hearts, resilient spirits, and loving natures. These photos are in celebration of the sometimes brutal complexity and beauty of life, and are a well-deserved ode to an amazing family.

—Sam

Fall Family Fun Session!

Grace, the oldest of the three kids, insisted that family photos be included on the ‘fall family fun’ list she made for their family

And I couldn’t be happier! This family is always a joy to photograph and are such good sports when I make them do goofy things for pictures (like the expand and contract game, and the ‘let’s have a flossing competition!’ game). And after all, the family that flosses together, stays together (that’s a saying, right?)

Enjoy these fun family photos!

—Sam

Erin + Matt: An Engagement Session with Major Fall Vibes

An Engagement Session that’s Full of Fall Fun and Just a Little Witchy? Yes, please!

Erin + Matt’s engagement session was a blast! For one, it was a perfect and beautifully crisp fall day, and for two, what adult doesn’t love throwing leaves at other adults? (None adults, that’s who).

We can’t wait for Erin + Matt’s Halloween wedding next year, but in the meantime, enjoy the photos of their rad engagement session!

— Sam

Aisa's Fall Portraits

Aisa and her parents on a fall portrait adventure

Alright, so not only is Aisa just about the cutest name ever, but so is Aisa herself! We had fun tromping through the UW Arboretum and taking photos, and Aisa even made a good-natured demand that I carry her while we were walking around (which made it a little hard to take photos but was adorable). Enjoy these sunny and fun family photos!

—Sam

Fun Family Portraits With a Guest Star

El has a gift with bumble bees

During our lovely fall family portraits with Levi, Tabby, and El, El found a cold little bumble bee, and was able to help the little bee get warm. El then proceeded to set the bee up in comfort in their hair for the duration of the photo session, so what you’re not seeing in all these photos is that under El’s blonde locks, there is a cute little bumble bee getting warm.

Beyond the obvious adorableness of El finding a bumble bee guest star friend, Levi, Tabby, and El were so fun to work with, and we had a great time taking photos at the UW Arboretum! Enjoy the photos of this awesome family!

—Sam

Evelyn + Carly and a Great Game of Tag

Family Portraits and an epic game of tag

Evelyn + Carly gave chase in an epic game of tag during their family portraits. They threw leaves, did cartwheels, and gave their parents (and me!) a run for our money! Enjoy these fun fall family photos!

—Sam

Eliza's 6 Month Photos

There is nothing sweeter than summer family photos!

I photographed Erin + Eric’s wedding in Spring of 2018 (check out the photos here) and was so happy to be able to photograph their daughter Eliza for her 6 month portraits!

We had a good time at the UW Arboretum, and Eliza was fascinated by the camera (I feel ya, kiddo, they’re super neat)!

Enjoy these sweet family photos!

-Sam