Stoltzfus Family

As soon as I arrived at their incredibly beautiful wooded property, I was quickly informed, "We're leaving for Creation as soon as our pictures are finished." No pressure to get done so the giddy bunch could head for the hills! These guys were so laid back and fun. We clicked right away and I knew it would be easy to capture their personalities. The guys wanted to get some with their bows. It was a little intimidating to look through my lens at three men with raised bows and arrows pointing straight at me. But I had complete trust that they wouldn't have me for dinner! Hope your week at Creation as a family was a blast. And here they are...

Koser Kiddos

I just love these kids! I started photographing this family when Makayla was 6 months old. Now she's 2 1/2 and so adorable. Cullen has turned into a little man and is enjoying soccer these days. These siblings are always so affectionate towards each other and it's very obvious that Makayla thinks the world of her older brother. Here's a few favs of another great summer day photo session together.

Tim & Jen: Wedding

If it really is good luck to have rain on your wedding day, then this is the year to get married! Seriously, it's been crazy how much rain we've been having this year and it certainly keeps my mind thinking about creative ideas for posing people. Saturday, the heavens opened up just as I had all the girls set up...plan B. That's pretty much how the day went and I just had to roll with it. Jen was so calm even in the poor weather conditions. Her dress definitely got more than a few raindrops on it and not one complaint out of her. I had to check my own attitude after hanging out with such a calm bride.

As soon as the ceremony was over, the sun came out in all her glory and we were back in business! We took some group shots at a farm nearby that Jen's grandparents used to live on. She had a sweet childhood memory of slurping on Kool Aid Juicers on the front porch with her sister...spoilage from Grandpa & Grandma. Off to the reception where good food and dancing awaited everyone. Tim & Jen, I hope your honeymoon to beautiful Maine is a sweet time of connecting as husband and wife and just plain relaxing. Here's a few memories (yes, you can say you have wedding day memories now!) of your wedding day.

Cameron & Leah: Soaked In Love

"The sun is out, let's run outside for some pictures!"...
"Oh no, it's starting to rain again."...
"I see a blue sky, can we snag the two of you a little bit outside?"...
"Better run inside, it's getting dark."

These were our conversations all day Saturday during Cameron & Leah's wedding. Eric and I were so confident that it wouldn't rain that we didn't even take the umbrellas that we ALWAYS take to weddings. Not a smart choice on our end. But really, who cares if it rains on your wedding day, you still get married and that's the most important part. There were plenty of inside photo opps for us, the weather just made it more challenging. Old fashioned cars, a quaint little church on a hill, a historic manor, and a beautiful bride and handsome groom...what else could we want as photographers?

The love these two shared for each other was so precious. They showed a slideshow at the reception and they are one of the only couples I know to have captured their actual engagement proposal on video. Tears filled my eyes as I watched the screen and then watched the two of them sitting there in real life. Their love is continually deepening for each other. When Cameron looks at Leah, it's a look of pure adoration...he is faint with love. That is why I love my job. Not everyone gets to witness love like that so closely. It makes me believe in the institution of marriage all the more. I'm not leaving you, baby...for better or worse, sickness and health, TILL DEATH TO US PART. Here's to your future together. May you grow more radiant as the years go by.

Garden Tour & Dinner

For our 6th anniversary, Eric surprised me with tickets to the Demuth Garden Tour in Lancaster. We rode our bikes around to 12 different breath-taking flower gardens. Now I have some great ideas for our house! It was a gorgeous day and we were excited to be outside to enjoy it. Later that evening, we dined at Mazzi's. What an experience. They even had a special utensil to wipe the bread crumbs off the table and prepared our desserts right in front of us. Eric ordered quail, topped with a real quail egg (that he did manage to eat) and I had salmon. Here's a little window into our fun-filled day.

I Thought I Loved You Then...

Today is a special day marked on our calendars. It's our 6th wedding anniversary. I can still remember it very clearly. It was a hot summer day, lots of nervous jitters, a beautiful ceremony with an incredible time of worship, vows, footwashing, communion, and a song I wrote for my beloved husband. A ride in an old fashioned car, big white tent in a meadow by a stream and of course, a summer thunderstorm to complete the day. I would do it all over again, minus the planning part.

At that point, I was not a professional photographer and for that I am so thankful. I didn't have to think about lighting, angles, aperture, ISO speed, and all the things I now have running through my head during a wedding day. I was able to just relax and enjoy the day with my best friend, Eric Ray, surrounded by our closest family and friends. I hope this is what my clients feel when they look back at their wedding day.

It's amazing how my love for my husband keeps growing deeper and stronger as the journey of life takes us through twists and turns that require us to hold tight to each other. Yes, there are things that have been painful, situations that have challenged us to revisit the part of the vows that say, "For better or worse, till death to us part". But at the end of the day, I desire more than anything else to be with the one who loves me, just as I am. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Thank You, Jesus for securing our marriage for as long as we both shall live.

I love you, Eric! The best is yet to come...

Model Shoot

After three rain cancellations, the bridal model shoot that Eric and I had planned was a success. Ever since we got back from the David Beckstead seminar in Tampa, we wanted to get some of the local photographers together for a mini model shoot. I asked two of my former brides, Janelle and Jenna and another friend, Jamie to be our models for the evening. What a blast! We started here at our house down in the pasture and then headed to two other neighboring farms. Fences, willow trees, propane tanks, a jeep, wheat fields, grape vineyard, silos, tractors...you name it, we found it. Thanks everyone for a great night of building community and furthering our photography skills.

Boating & Bonfires...

...does it get much better than this? Saturday was a great day of fun here at the Martin's. Boating on the Susquehanna River with the in-laws and then back home for our first campfire at our house. Malakai was all excited as you can see in the pictures. He's quite the outdoorsman already! We train 'em young around here :)

Sensenig Family

Amazing, adorable, and so much fun. That's how I would describe my photo session last night with this family. Steve and Glenda adopted these six cutie pies on April 1st of this past year. Eric and I were so excited to meet them and for Malakai to meet them too. He was buzzing all around the grounds while Eric was in charge of crowd control. Our hearts were so encouraged by this couple and their incredible faith. They told us several stories of how their children were healed in the womb, born healthy, etc. My heart has expanded again for another adoption! Thanks for hanging out with us last night and sharing your awesome family with ours.

Malakai's 18-Month Portraits

It never gets old...taking pictures of my baby. We went out to the freshly cut wood pile this morning for a little photo shoot. Then we ventured into the pasture and chased away the sheep. His attention span lasted longer than I was expecting so I was excited about what I could capture. Here's a few of his expressions.

Sebastian: The New Guy

He was only 6 days old when I met him, and he stole my heart with just one glance. I feel like I have to whisper when I walk into the home of a newborn. It's just so peaceful to see a new little baby asleep on mommy or daddy. Takes me back to the day we met Malakai. Babies have a way of bringing out the best in all of us. Kirsten looked amazing and Tim was smiling ear to ear, the way only a first time new dad can smile. Sebastian was so relaxed for his first photo shoot. He was content to just lay still and be the center of attention. Everything was going great, until the diaper came off. I mean, really, what newborn session is complete without a little pee and poop? Tim & Kirsten, you are already wonderful parents and your son is VERY handsome! Take a peak...

Brandon & Laura: Married

These two had every detail one could imagine. Orchids at every place setting, fresh rose petals to line the aisle, one incredible steel drum band, and a chocolate candy dessert display like I've never seen before. Laura's family makes their own chocolate and it surpasses even our local chocolate around Lancaster! Brandon & Laura have this steady, gentle love for each other that makes you think they've been together since birth. After an outdoor ceremony at The Cameron Estate, the guests came indoors for the reception and then the rain came. It just dumped buckets of water. At one point, when they were cutting the cake, the power went out for a few seconds. Never a dull moment! Thanks for allowing Eric and I to capture your wedding day.

Family Pictures...

...are harder than I ever imagined with a toddler! We got out the tripod and made Gideon stand right beside it so Malakai would at least look at the dog. Too bad we can't train Gid to stand on his back legs and take the picture for us...or maybe we can :) Next week I think I'm going to take his 18-month portraits. Fun, fun! I need to call in my assistants...Grandma and Daddy to help me out. He doesn't just stay where I put him now.

I'm A Big Kid Now

Malakai loves using his little potty and is doing so good with training. I really wasn't out to potty train him early but he was just ready so it's been a huge blessing. It's been several days since I last changed a dirty diaper! We just shut the door and let him do his thing and wait 5-10 minutes. He usually passes the time by singing or kicking his feet on the floor and he won't get up until we tell him he can.

He's also been enjoying riding on the back of Daddy's bike in his new seat. We rode 10 miles together on Saturday evening up in Mount Gretna and went to the Jigger Shop afterwards for dinner and ice cream. My baby is almost 18 months old now! Life keeps getting sweeter and sweeter for our family.