FAMILY SESSION: One Year goes by fast

Sometimes this Ohio weather makes it difficult to be outside...it's either a sauna or a bath of rain or the cold air is so bitter that little ones won't last more than 5 minutes outdoors...

this is where InHome Lifestyle shoots come in most handy...

Yes, it sometimes requires a bit more time, a bit more travel and few extra pieces of camera equipment so that everyone "fits" in the frame, along with the available light...

HOWEVER...after viewing these images, I think you'll agree that it's worth it...

I am often amazed at how much my daughters grow and mature in even just a 3-4 month span of time...even now, as they are in high school and middle school...just a few short months ago they still had a bit of "baby face"...and all of a sudden they look older than their years again...

I photographed this little man when he was first born...and here he is now learning to walk and play and giggle and wear his "shades"! 

Believe it or not, these are images that I "forgot" to be aware of when my girls were small...and I struggle when they ask me about their "baby years"...I have sweet pictures of them posed and looking pretty...but I often forgot to photograph their favorite toys and books. 

My middle girl doesn't even remember living in our first house because she was only 2.5 years when we moved...

I think that this sweet family will continue to cherish these memories as their boy gets older and life continues to move forward in this fast current...

He is such a lovable little guy, with energy to spare...

Read more...

FAMILY SESSION: back home

I saw a little blue house going up a year or so ago at the end of a street nearby...

Little did I know that it was a family just 'coming home'...

There is something, not just familial, about getting back to your roots...

there is a sense of belonging, heritage and of "rightness"...

He grew up on all this land out here in the boonies of this booming community...

there are still pockets of "country life" out here...

and he wanted to bring his wife and daughter back to where that sense of HOME truly is for him...

I'm excited to spend more time with this sweet neighbor family!  

I'm sure you'll be mesmerized by their beautiful eyes and fun spirits in these images...

Read more...

Fall Schedule Explanation :)

Hi friends!!!

I know many of you are waiting on my Fall Schedule.

I am so thankful and appreciative of your understanding and patience.  As a mom, I do not want to miss my own daughter's soccer games and activities and thus, I do my best to work around those schedules. However, the rec soccer league in the area has yet to release the fall schedule.  Therefore, I do not have a definite for Saturday time slots to post.

Instead of attempting to send out multiple emails and causing confusion, I'm choosing to wait until I get all my information so that I can offer the most flexibility and options to accommodate as many people as possible.

I have recently posted on Facebook a few options that have come to my attention for those that are able...locations have not been confirmed, but I do have a few time slots available during the week as September allows. (sunset during September is still before 7:30, therefore, family sessions and senior sessions can be squeeze in between the hours of 6-8pm during weekdays for this month only) Scheduling definitely gets more tricky as we head into October, with sunset starting closer to 6:30pm

Saturday, September 3rd around 9:45am

Wednesday September 7th any start time between 6-7pm

Friday, September 9th any start time between 6-7pm

Sunday, September 11th start time between 8:30-9:30 am

Wednesday, September 14th (I have another session that evening, so it'd be a back to back before or after they start...TBA)

Sunday, September 18th start time between 8:30-9:30am 

Tuesday, september 20th start time between 6-7pm

*start times just mean that from whenever your start time works, plan about 30-45 minutes for the session...

let me know if you'd like any of the time slots listed above and thank you again for your understanding :)  Email me at ctphotomemories@gmail.com and I will schedule on a first come, first serve...and then we keep our fingers crossed for fantastic Ohio weather :) 

Can't wait to meet you in person! 

Read more...

FAMILY SESSION: Grace in the Waiting

We were never created for the purpose of pain, hurt and disappointment...

those are consequences of a choice that brought it to be...inadvertent consequences because bad is just in this world...

It could turn into long philosophical and spiritual discussions, but when it's all said and done, what matters most is what you do with the days and the moments you are given. In the quiet, when noone sees...in the heart of a person...and then how that translates into our interactions with others on a daily basis...

When I first met Donna, I believe she was journeying through or had just finished a round of treatment for cancer...this was many years ago...

since then she has traveled many roads of which I'm sure she wasn't thrilled about walking...noone would want to take those paths...and multiple times at that...

and even then, our conversation centered around a book she had read entitled Big Girls don't Whine.

If anyone has a "right" to whine, it's Donna...

When our plans do not go according to what we envisioned...when we've taken all the right steps and checked off all the boxes...our minds tell us that we deserve the outcome because we've paid our dues...

She has a different perspective...and this is what inspires, humbles and amazes me. 

This life...

This one life that we have been given, has not dealt her very nice cards (so to speak) when it comes to health...when it comes to visions of the future...plans and trips to take...people to see...

But, somehow...in the midst of sometimes excruciating pain...in the midst of disappointment and sadness...this incredible woman grabs hold of the grace given to her and turns around and shares it with everyone she meets...

She does not whine...

I don't believe this is fake, that it is something she does to appear "sweet" or "spiritual"...

She is genuine...honest...open

The hurt is raw, but she doesn't let it control her, or control her perspective...

She has refused to allow her eyes to settle on what isn't...

It doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt, that it isn't sad...

I try to imagine myself in those shoes...and I come back to being angry, disappointed, frustrated, anguished...

I do not doubt that those feelings have passed through her heart...

what humbles me is the way that she feels deeply and then chooses what is better...

I'm so thankful that they let me come out to their home for just a quick visit and a time for pictures...

All her kids were home (and as a side note, her daughter attends my alma mater...YAY)

I asked them both if I could post some of the "fun" pictures from our time...their immediate response was PLEASE SHARE AWAY!!!

I know you'll be able to see the love they have for each other in these images...

the honor her children have for her...how she and Larry have raised these young men & woman and guided them to hold dear to what is truly important...

and in that, they find the joy and laughter and goofiness and FUN in the moments they are together! 

Read more...

InHOME LIFESTYLE: Big sister kisses

As I write this, the other "behind the scenes" gal for this shoot just left my home from a mentoring session. This girlie's auntie has such beautiful and funny nephews & a niece, not to mention she lives on a boat traveling the world 6 months out of the year...well, she thought it about time she learned just a bit more about the capabilities of her camera. It was a wonderful afternoon to be sure!

It was neat to be able to use examples from our time at this session when I met up with her sister to showcase their newest kiddo into the clan!

I've known their entire family for many years and have actually come to feel like next of kin!

I am in awe of their commitment to one another, of their strength when it feels like the chips are down, of their ability to offer grace when it so needed and to stand up firm in the face of adversity. 

InHome Lifestyle sessions can be geared toward newborns, and new members to the family...

all in all, it's choosing to take a slice out of the everyday life...to remember that season of "how it was back then"

I love the little squeezes, the wonder of bubbles, the age of hiding behind curtains and jumping on the bed...

Congrats R family!  You are FABULOUS!

Read more...

WICKED!!!

We saw Wicked last night...and in terms that my East coast friends will surely understand,

it was WICKED!

When my husband and I went to NYC to celebrate my 40th AND our anniversary AND Father's Day/Mother's Day AND...well, you get the picture...we saw the Broadway performance of Wicked at the Gershwin theater.  It was a dream come true for me...I had never, in all my years seen a broadway show!  You can see my "Facebook Album" to follow the pics or see my Instagram Play by Play (if you are friends on my personal Instagram page) as he wasn't lettin' me haul my "big girl" camera around NYC.  We had seen a college production of West Side Story a long while back before we were married, but, we have had to pass on Lion King, Annie, Les Miserables, Book of Mormon and other really cool musicals that have come through the Ohio Theatre because, at the time, they were rather "hefty investments".  It's not that I don't love The Arts...if you know me at all, you know that's not true...It's just that sometimes, even when things seem like "once in a lifetime opportunities", it's okay if you have to pass on them.

All this to say, our girls are all at an age where they are starting to not only appreciate, but value certain opportunities. They knew when Mom & Dad came back from New York with the Wicked soundtrack CD that it was something pretty awesome.  Over the course of the past 2 years, they have memorized the lyrics and youtubed so many of the scenes.  I knew that when this musical came to Columbus, they would want to see it...

However, remember I mentioned that "hefty investment" thing? My girls have come to appreciate that as well...At times, we've given them opportunities to choose between one thing or another...

That said, we gave them a choice when we heard that the production was coming to the Ohio Theatre. We could do a party and presents for their birthdays in 2016 OR we could all go see WICKED...It would also mean that perhaps Christmas wouldn't necessarily be "over the top" as well. They all agreed.  I would be remiss if I didn't mention that when those birthdays came and went, it was a bit difficult for them to pass on presents from mom & dad, and a party with friends & party decor...but, we kept reminding them that we saved that money for something super special in August!

It did not disappoint!

Can I be honest with you, that I cried a little?

Not because the storyline was sad or anything (although there were some touching moments) but, because I was suddenly hit with that feeling of deep gratitude and humility...It's almost like the moment you experience if you've ever walked down Main Street of DisneyWorld for the very first time...I pinch myself sometimes to think that my daughters get to experience these types of things.

Anthony & I compared our experiences between the two productions with actors/actresses while the girls continued to belt out the tunes to the soundtrack as we drove back home.  I loved being able to sneak peeks of the girls' faces while they watched and I'm not sure I ever clapped so hard out of pure joy and excitement. It was a fabulous way to celebrate our birthdays this year and something they will not soon forget!

Read more...