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Immerse Yourself in Wonder: A Last Minute Invitation for Spring Blossom Mini Sessions
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The cascading blossoms of the apple trees in the spring always remind me of that scene in “Anne of Green Gables” where the usually-talkative Anne is suddenly struck silent by a row of blossoming apple trees as she rides towards her new home at Green Gables. She promptly dubs them “The White Way of Delight” and – in her own quirky way – describes the affect their beauty has on her:

Pretty? Oh, pretty doesn't seem the right word to use. Nor beautiful, either. They don't go far enough. Oh, it was wonderful--wonderful. It's the first thing I ever saw that couldn't be improved upon by imagination. It just satisfies me here"--she put one hand on her breast--"it made a queer funny ache and yet it was a pleasant ache.”  – Anne of Green Gables

I may not have Anne’s flair for the dramatic, but I can relate to her rapture over the beauty of those trees. Something about sitting beneath those branches, overflowing with blossoms, a sweet scent surrounding me as petals drift like snow, tugs me to breathe deep, to be still, to lose myself in wonder for a moment.

As the trees finally begin to blossom after a long winter, I want to issue a last-minute invitation to immerse yourself in the wonder of this season, too. Not just in the wonder of the blossoms but, even more so, in the wonder of this unique season with the ones you love. Let yourself be awed by the way your son’s hair curls at the base of his neck or the furrowed look of concentration your daughter wears as she peers close at some treasure in her hands. Run across the grass and listen to your children giggle. Delight yourself in the firm, safe pressure of your husband’s hand on yours or in the fluttering kicks of a little one growing inside you. Rest, for just a while, in that “queer funny ache” of deep beauty that goes beyond words.

Do you feel the tug of wonder in these moments? Click the link below to find out more about these limited edition spring mini sessions and see how you can sign up for yours today:

Embrace the Poignancy of the Changing Seasons; Announcing Fall Mini Sessions {Kansas City family photographer}
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“Fall is the season when we send our children off to new classrooms, when we pull jackets out of the closet only to discover that they barely reach past elbows anymore, a season full of both the poignancy of passing time and the excitement of a new season ahead.”

A couple weeks ago I sent Ethan off to his first day in his preschool class. He didn’t want to hold my hand and chattered all the way up the stairs to the classroom, his new lunch box swinging from his hand. The following week with celebrated his third birthday with a move to a twin “big boy” bed. All these transitions had me feeling a little nostalgic for his infant days, for those hours cuddled up in the rocking chair as he nursed and those first toothless baby smiles. But at the same time, I’m finding so many joyful things about this new season: his blossoming curiosity about the world around him, his current obsession with lawn mowers, and the excitement about our upcoming move to a new house.

How about you? Does fall blow in with a bit of nostalgia and a sense of time passing quickly? If so, consider embracing the beauty of this season right now with a fall photo session. I’m now booking a limited number of fall dates (thanks to the aforementioned move!), so if you’re looking to schedule one, send me a message to get on my calendar!

Do you want a way to make updated family photos even easier? Sign up for one of my fall mini sessions and get a head start on your Christmas card photos (plus you’ll receive a matted 8x10 fine art print that’s ready to pop in your favorite frame).

Find all the details here!

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Slow Down This Spring; Announcing Spring Mini Sessions {Kansas City Family Photographer}
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This morning I managed to wash all the dishes and clean the kitchen counters. I immediately felt a surge of self-accomplishment….until I stepped into the bedroom and remembered the mountain of clean laundry waiting for me to fold. You guys, I’m not sure if I’m ever going to get caught up on all this. With a job and a toddler and a business to run, I feel pulled in so many directions at any given time and as soon as I finish one task, I discover another ten waiting for me still. Can anyone relate?

I think I’m realizing more and more lately, though, that as a mom (especially as a working mom) there will always be tasks left on that to-do list, no matter how hard I work. There will always be emails to write, goals to set and push towards, updates to make. And the housework….there will always, ALWAYS be dishes to wash, mountains of laundry tackle, bills to pay, and random chores that I keep pushing off until I find a free moment. There will always be something left on that list to do, and if I wait to rest until I’ve finished everything, I will never rest.

But there won’t always be time with family. Your kids won’t always be little. Your baby won’t always want to fall asleep curled up on your shoulder. Your son won’t always wrap his little hands around your legs and beg, “Up mommy?” Your daughter won’t always lean her head against your shoulder as you read her a story. These moments are so fleeting and if you wait to enjoy them until after you’ve finished all your work, you’ll miss it. There will always be more work to do, but there won’t always be this.

So if scheduling a photo session has been on your to-do list, pushed aside under all the other urgent day-to-day tasks, I want to help you make it happen this spring. I’m opening up one day of mini sessions at the end of the month, with just five openings (these will probably be the last mini sessions I offer until fall). And because I know how busy your life is, I’m including a complementary matted fine art print with each session, ready to put in your favorite frame (because chances are that printing and hanging your photos is also on that never-ending to-do list).

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So take twenty minutes this spring to slow down and take in those fleeting moments. Close your eyes and let your infant nestle close. Pick your son up and swing him up in the air to hear his giggle erupt. Cuddle close with your daughter and read one more story. You will never regret spending these moments with them. And you will never regret capturing these moments in photographs that you can treasure. Do you want to know more? Click the button below to get all the practical details!

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Spring Anticipation: Rachel and Daniel’s Springtime Maternity Session {Kansas City Maternity Photography}

Everything about this session feels like spring to me (despite the chill wind that day!). The fresh green grass. The cascading apple blossoms, touched with just the faintest pink on the on the buds. The tiny leaves unfurling from the branches. And these two, so in love and so joyfully awaiting the arrival of their daughter whose birth will usher in a fresh new season for their family.

It was such a sweet privilege to photograph Rachel and Daniel in this season as a couple. They’re still in their first year of marriage and now share the sweet anticipation of this little girl who will utterly change their life. They both have great style, but more than that, they wear their love for one another. You can see it in the little things: the way Rachel looks up at Daniel as they walk, the way Daniel wrapped his arms around Rachel to warm her up between shots, and the way she nestled into his arms and the soft kiss he planted on her forehead.

To me, this is what maternity sessions are all about. Though I find pregnant bellies incredibly beautiful as they curve around the growing new life and I feel that it’s worth documenting that unique stage of a woman’s life, I particularly love capturing the parents together. I love to take that time to document their love as they stand at the cusp of a dramatically new season, drawn closer together than ever before by the anticipation of this new life, the embodiment of their love. There’s nothing quite like it!