Summers Family: Roots

"Where Stevie?" - Zila
"He's in St. Louis."- Me
"What he doin?" - Zila
"He's with some friends" - Me
"Who?"- Zila
"His name is Joe." - Me
"What he doin? Where Jadie?" - Zila
"He's at home" - Me
"With Stevie? Where Jadie?"- Zila


This was the conversation I had with Miss Zila, within minutes of walking through their door. :) I love this little girl, and love this family. :)



The Summers have been friends of ours for a while now, and we've loved getting to know them over the past year. Wendy and Darren have a huge heart for foster care and adoption. Their kids are awesome and so much fun to be around.



We ventured out to some family property for their family session, braving the heat, bugs, and cow patties. :) Thank you Summers family for a fun Saturday evening!


Zila is the cutest little stinker I know. :)




I love this series of Wendy and Darren. They are still so very much in love and it shows. :) Sigh...

Hayden: 12 Months

It seems like lots of big events happen in clusters. The year I got married I was in 3 other weddings. When I was pregnant with Jaden I had multiple friends that were pregnant as well. Julie was one of those preggos with me. The outcome of the 9 months was Hayden Claire. We joke all the time that they were going to have an arranged marriage between Jaden and Hayden. Seriously, Jaden and Hayden? How cute is that? Hayden Claire Loeffler...I can see her doodling it in the margins of her homework now...ok I'll stop. I don't know that they care too much about each other yet. We've had multiple play dates, but they usually just do their own thing. Hayden is so sweet and gentle, and Jaden is like Godzilla. That's the difference between boys and girls I guess. :)

We headed out to Hayden's great grandma's house for our session, on one of the hottest days this year! She was quite a little trooper though and dealt with the heat amazingly. Of course we took lots of breaks in the air conditioning.

Hayden turns one next week, and I can hardly believe it! She's starting to cruise along too- taking multiple steps at a time! Way to go Hayden!

Check out this cutie patootie here, and try to refrain from saying "aww".













Told you it was tutu season!

Allyse: 12 Months

It is the season of tutus. The last three 12 month sessions I've had, my clients have dressed their little girls in tutus. I guess since we're having another boy I'll settle for photographing adorable little girls in their girlie fluffy tutus. :)

Meet baby Allyse. It was my first time meeting her and she was sweet as sugar. Her mom and my sister were friends during college and therefore I tagged along sometimes when they were together. I remember going t.p.ing with my friends and Crystal's friends, Denyse, and Jaime, and hiding out in the back of a truck with toilet paper in hand, hoping the cops wouldn't stop us. Now, I'm photographing her adorable little one. :)

We headed out to their house (which is gorgeous) and were able to use the beautiful countryside of Bond County.

Thanks Denyse for being SO flexible with scheduling and so laid back about everything! Allyse was a great little model.

Here's a sneak peek from her 12 month session.
Happy birthday Allyse!

B&A: Stephen

Just for fun, I thought I'd post a before and after for you to see that I actually do edit images.
See the before and after of my amazing and handsome husband. :)

Jaden Turns 1: Part 2

Meet our littlest aviator. I have this fear. Maybe if you're a photographer you can empathize. Even though I feel like I find great locations and have unique ideas for clients, I fear that when it comes to my own kid's photos, or where family is involved, I'll go blank and not have a creative spark in me. Then something amazing happens. Random things happen- like a pilot leaves his vintage looking yellow airplane parked conveniently outside of the hanger at the airport. :) Good thing. ;)

So to the owner of this plane- I promise we did not touch it! We only used it for the background. Thank you for leaving it outside! You're the best. :)

Winners Announced! + dorkiness

Warning: We are dorks, but I was in need of something different. Here's something different. Feel free to ask me never to be "different" again after seeing this....haha.



So congratulations Ashley, Tiffany and Heather!!! :)

The Johnsons {Roots}

It's crazy to me. It seems that the baby boom has happened again! :) I am loving the opportunity to photograph all these little munchkins lately though.

Ashley is the sister of one of my friends from high school (Brooke - the giggle monster) and of Jake, who I photographed about a month ago for his senior photos. Not only that, but she's also the cousin of both Brandon AND Kenley, who's photos I took this fall too. I'm almost certain that there's no one left to photograph in their family. ;) Just kidding.

I remember playing "Twister" (as in the tornado movie) with Brooke and Ashley in forts in their bedroom (using the "wiz kid" as the computer that analyzed the tornadoes) and making a haunted house in their basement. A good time was had by all. :) Sometimes it seems that it wasn't that long ago, but now Ashley is married and has a precious little baby boy.


Seriously- look how sweet little Ryder is.


We headed out to Bond County again to take the Johnson's pictures. This was the week that the heat wave was going through the Midwest. We had BEAUTIFUL weather for the shoot. Thanks guys for a fun shoot. :)














To view their slideshow click here.

Jacob: {Class of 2011}

Ok, remember me talking about feeling old because of the seniors and children I've been photographing lately? Jacob is no exception. Jake is my friend Brooke's little brother. I remember thinking Jake was the cutest thing. :) I watched his little league games and picked on him while I was in high school. After not seeing Jake for a few years he suddenly grew up. I still can't believe he is a senior. WOW! ( Mom upside down...literally- look at it again.) (thanks Matt B. :) )

I'm loving the spots we found in Greenville. I was a little worried I wouldn't be able to crack any smiles from him but fortunately I had some help from the "giggle monster". (a.k.a. Brookey) You're the best.

Thanks Jake for a great session. I had so much fun. I can't believe how you've grown up! I'll say it again...I can't believe you're a senior!!!


I I have to admit, I've had some awesome seniors this year to photograph. Not only that but they've all had awesome props too! These next two pictures were taken in front of a "duck blind". Jake loves to hunt so it was fitting for this hidden treasure we found at our location.














Jake, I know you weren't thrilled about the tie, but I think you look incredibly handsome. :)




She's probably going to kill me but the giggle monster was a huge help to me!!! haha. I've been out of town this week so I haven't had the chance to get Jake's pictures into a slideshow yet but look for it later this week!