Landis Family - 8.27.08

You know your family is big when your immediate family alone is 25 people! My Uncle Earl & Aunt Evie are the founders of this family and wanted a family portrait done after my cousin Marilyn's 10th child arrived just 5 weeks ago. It was a beautiful evening on the farm and I had lots of pictures to take. This is the farm my dad grew up on and my parents live less than a mile away. I remember always begging to go along with my dad to feed their goats and then get my fingers sucked on by all of the calves. Farm life is so great! I'm pretty sure I never came home clean, right mom? We got all of the pictures done and then had a big meal together. Mom & Dad came over with Malakai too. Here's a few favorites from our farm family photo session...that's a lot of f's :)

Auntie Anne...& Jonas - 8.21.08

It's not every day that you get to hang out with one of the top 5 business women in the world and her husband. Last week, Eric and I had the incredible opportunity to do a photo shoot with Jonas & Anne Beiler. They are the founders of Auntie Anne's soft pretzels which are now sold all over the world. They are opening up a Family Community Center in a few weeks down in Gap, launching a website, and writing another book so they needed some portraits. We met them down at their house and had so much fun getting to know them a little better beyond just the amazing pretzel recipe they came up with. Of course they offered us some pretzels as soon as we walked in the door...yummy, can't turn them down!

I have to admit I was a little nervous about taking pictures of such famous and successful people, but soon we were talking in our Dutchy accents, laughing our heads off, and enjoying the beautiful afternoon together. So we did some shots around the house and then got them jumping on the trampoline and riding their Harleys together. It seemed more like an engagement session than a business purpose session. They truly are head over heels in love with each other...after all these years! I felt like I had known them for a long time, at least more than the 2 1/2 hours we were together. Their hearts are so full of love for people and the doors that God continues to open for them are taking them to places beyond their wildest dreams. There is favor all over them to let their voices be heard. If you haven't read Anne's book "Twist of Faith" I highly recommend it. And Jonas' new book will be coming out soon as well. Jonas & Anne, it was such a privilege to meet you and spend a few hours of your precious time together. You have given life to so many people by sharing your lives openly. I greatly respect both of you and hope to have the opportunity to work with you again in the future.

Preston - 8.19.08

Preston just turned 1 year old and I got do to a photo shoot with him. He wasn't so sure about me at first but then Cody, their massive 105-pound Golden Retriever came bounding out of the house into the back yard and he was all smiles. They are good buddies and it was fun to see them loving on each other. Preston just got a little red wagon from his Grandpa and he was all into riding around in it. By the end of the session, he left me pick him up and carry him around. I guess he knew he could trust me. Here's a few pics from our evening.