FULL FAMILY SESSION: Storms a'brewin

For the first 15 minutes, the sun was shining and the sky looked clear...

within in minutes, azure blue was upon us...

The wind started to pick up just a bit, and it caused us to turn directions to hang onto the remaining light...but we made it!!!

It can be quite the challenge to work around all the schedules for a full family session...between college student and graduating cousins, to out-of-town business and then, dealing with Ohio weather...goodness...it's a feat, in and of itself for these sweet families to get it all coordinated and then pray a photographer has an opening :) 

Smiles and laughter were had all around...these are the pictures that go down in history...that are passed on and remembered for all the years to come...

they'll remember the remark that made them laugh out loud...

they'll share stories with future grandchildren about these moments...

and really, the fact that families are together...are FOR each other...

that is the REAL memory...the REAL importance...

I'm so excited to get their gallery to them...

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FULL FAMILY SESSION: GGG Alliteration

She's been teacher to my two elder daughters...she knows her stuff and she knows how to run a classroom...she knows just the right balance between "stick to it" and "let's have fun". I'm so, so thankful that my daughters had her example, had her as a role model and investing into their lives for 6 hours every weekday for 9 months. 

I was thrilled when I was asked to photograph her extended family...when I had the opportunity to meet the people that are privileged enough to know her on a more personal level.  

It was during that weekend of "will it rain...will it not rain?" 

It turned out that just the right amount of cloud cover provided a perfect environment for the beginning of our morning session...and we were taking pictures at lightning speed, because that rain was still on it's way...

The kids nailed it and the parents got to watch my "crazy" as we sped along.  The whole group is generous, gregarious and gracious...(I thought I'd just throw in that alliteration for some educational enjoyment!) 

Even when the raindrops started to fall, everyone pitched in with the goofy and fun to wrap up our last little get together shots!  It was well worth the extra morning effort!

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FULL FAMILY SESSION: No girlz allowed

It's all grandsons for this family...

Family gettogethers are a huge deal regardless of the holiday or event surrounding the visit...

We are heading to spend time with my brother and his 4 boys this Thanksgiving and I know that there is a different dynamic in their household and it's full of fun and energy!

I spent almost 2 hours with this clan the last Sunday in October...

we climbed, walked, rode in wagons, ate apples & fruit snacks, played in the leaves...you name it...we did it!

Two grandparent sides were represented across these generations and we were able to capture some snuggles and goofiness along the way! 

Here are just some snapshots of our candid time together...

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Friends | Sisters of the Heart

I'm rather needy...

I'm just being honest...I'm clingy and huggy and fiercely loyal...

and I KNOW that this can become extremely high maintenance for some...because, I can often become this never ending-always calling-email crazy person that is constantly in your space...

I'm working on it...and I gotta tell you that I am BEYOND grateful for my friends that not only know this about me, but love me inspite of it...

Anne is one such friend...

she's my hashtag talkin'-pee your pants laughing-stay up way too late emailing-be crazy with friend...

she has seen the worst of me...the ugly parts and the parts that whine and complain...she's seen many tears and multiple requests for forgiveness...she's grace giving and mercy rendering...she's kindness and happy...she's the one that will always give someone the benefit of the doubt and who I would fight for to the end of the world!  She's the one I'm typically with when I can't stop laughing and we are both so giddy we are hopping up and down (because we've both given birth to 3 babies, and good grief...we just don't have the same control anymore)

I'm so, so thankful to call her my friend...she's my *Diana* (if you are an Anne of Green Gables fan)

Her husband's family was all in town recently and she again, looking for ways to bless others...because THAT is her heart!!! ...she wanted to do a big family session so that her MIL could have some pictures of everyone together...

I was more than happy to oblige...

I think you'll enjoy these snapshots of our time together...and see the "story" it tells...

We started out with her family first...

Here is the whole clan together...

all the daughters-in law and all the sons...

                                                               

 The two that started it all...

 Thanks for spending time with me...I always love an excuse to hang out with Anne!  ~Colleen

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