family photojournalism :: the stack family

Typically family photojournalism sessions take place in your home, as that's naturally often the seat of your shared life and richest memories. But this is a lovely example of an out-and-about photojournalism session. Katie and her kids chose to use their session time to visit some favorite spots where they have lots of family memories, and with the weather now so lovely this worked out perfectly. 

We started at Riverside Park playground and then drove a short way to Too Tall's -- a hidden gem of an ice cream shop in the middle of a neighborhood on the NE side owned by Katie's family, and where she spend several summers working in the past. :) Noah and Adrianna have the sweetest rapport with their mom -- full of playful teasing and affection. What a treat to spend an evening with them! 

And Katie, I just have to say one more time, THANK YOU for saving my butt as a newbie at the school who suddenly realized the bussing options didn't apply to her. :) Your generosity in driving my girl home from school has made all the difference to us. 

family photojournalism :: the graveling family

Ross and Monica put their attention in the places that matter, namely in God, their family and in the neighborhood community they desire to love well. No matter if there's dust in some corners or if their children ride bikes barefoot. At the end of this life, these aren't the things that matter at all, are they? Spending a chunk of an evening with them, I was challenged by the right ordering of priorities in this family. Their children are growing in grace and truth, they are strong and confident and beloved, carefully tended to like the growing, living plants that they are. And the people around them know more fully that they are loved because of the care of this family intentionally expressed toward them.

In this time with them, they played ball in the yard, swung one another wildly around on the tire swing, made art with sidewalk chalk, took a bike ride/walk around the block, goofed off everywhere (so many smiles and so much affectionate teasing!), played their favorite game around the table, and finally sat down to dinner on the back patio. 

Enjoy this glimpse of life with the Gravelings. 

I'm a Michigan birth photographer and family photojournalist located in and serving Grand Rapids and surrounding communities. It's my great joy to tell your family story visually through in-home documentary photography. Contact me to schedule your session.

family photojournalism :: the goodrich family

Aaron and Glori live lives of deep intentionality, down to the last detail. When you listen to them talk about their lives, it quickly becomes apparent that every part of it has been chosen and executed with thoughtful care, from how they eat to the way they parent, from the jobs they have, to the way they pursue relationships with their neighbors. And it's not a dry sort of discipline that leaves you feeling that they are uptight. Rather, there's a joyful freedom that shines through; that unique freedom that comes from living in healthy boundaries. 

Their morning family photojournalism session included rough-housing and a dance party, "working" with tools on the bunkbeds, cuddling, reading the Jesus Storybook Bible (FAVORITE!), snacking, riding bikes, and digging in the dirt. With laughter all along the way. 

Their twin boys and their baby son are thriving in the love and discipline of their daddy and mommy. 

Enjoy this peek into the life of this sweet little crew. 

I do have some session times available for Family Photojournalism in the coming months. Reach out sooner than later to get your family on the schedule. 

belly :: the rizley family

The Short Story version of Family Photojournalism sessions I'm now offering are the perfect way to capture small stories along life's way. Like the toddler growing as her mama's belly swells with a new baby, too. Like the way that family felt when it was made of only 3, but the promise of the 4th was quickly approaching. Like the interior of a room that Papa has labored so long and hard to transform for his little girls to share. And like the farm you bought and reclaimed, complete with the barn beside your house, where you were married, and the farm cats roaming wild.

Kurt, Aliyya and their little Cora invited me over to capture precisely those things. Here it is! :)

It's a beautiful life you're building, Kurt and Aliyya. I'm ever so excited to come back and spend time with you again when your baby girl arrives!

personal :: day in the life, february edition

At the beginning of this year I sat down and put four randomly selected dates on the calendar, designating them in advance as the days that I would do a personal Day In The Life (DITL), one per quarter. The first of those dates was February 24, and on that day, this is what life looked like at our house. 

Using my remote, I was able to make a few pictures of myself getting things prepped in the kitchen before the kids came down for their breakfast. I was showered and dressed in the day's clothes from the waist UP, but still had on pajama pants because I didn't want to sneak into the room where the baby was sleeping in order to get some jeans from my noisy dresser. 

Other random details I notice here, which delight my heart, even as they annoy me: the pile of dried rice and pumpkin seeds on Gus' bed (why?!), Hazel using a tiny orange container to pour water over her hair so that she can brush it out before going to school, Hazel's high-water pink snow pants that she won't stop wearing even though they are now obviously too short. And then there's Gus's belly, which is slowly shrinking from it's toddler status to that of a little boy, and he's wearing a pink cloth diaper in a few of these, because his daddy put it on him before his nap (he can't sleep without wetting himself, but he's otherwise mostly in big boy underplants now). I love the way that Walter looks up at Gus with admiration and an unfettered grin on his face in the photos taken by the window toward the end. All of Gus' grumpy faces, and the way Hazel is pulling Walter off the bed because she takes so much pride in being able to lift and carry him. The images Gus took of ME sitting/laying on my bed in the afternoon,  my exhaustion so apparent. Nursing Walter in front of my computer while I watch a Creative Live class. Tim eating a mid-day smoothie, which is the story of his life. ;) And, of course, the morning visitors: my new friends with whom trust and affection levels are quickly rising. 

Those are the sorts of detail that makes these photos so special, even though, to be honest with you, I don't feel like I did my best work with the photos on this particular day. 

personal :: winter at our house

as a birth photographer, i sometimes do secret work. work that's lovely and meaningful, but not for everyone to see. hence the quietness on this blog of late. 

but i've been shooting my own family like crazy. as a family photographer with some seasonal affective disorder, this is sort of therapy for me in the long winter season. and i have to say, friends, i'm lately really sentimental about my little people. because HOW are they suddenly so big, so capable, so smart... and so hilarious?! these days -- long as drag-on difficult as they sometimes are -- are numbered, and i'm grasping to capture them. 

so i give you our winter, in no particular order, in photos. mostly taken in the morning hours. 

I'm looking for a few good men -- er, families -- willing to invest in a half day family photojournalism session. without cleaning up first, without looking your best or trying to impress anyone at all. just you, as you are. read more here.