Baby Luke, Star Wars and Quarantine | Canyon, Texas Newborn Photographer

Shout out to all the mamas who have had a baby during this Covid/quarantine mess! Lucky for me, this family lives just down the street and felt comfortable inviting me in to their home to photograph their family and brand new baby #6, Luke.

Six, S I X, 6 KIDS! Big families are my fave. SO much love, and so much contentness. You can tell they are a close family. And you can feel the joy they all had for a new sibling. I want to bottle all of that up and take it home. They seemed so content with just being together. I fell in love with their vibe.

They ALSO happen to be big Star Wars fans. Can I make a confession here?! Ive never seen a Star Wars movie (I just lost some followers). Oops. I had to admit it to them and the kids were shocked. Haha!!

It was a fun peek into this big family’s life. Each of those kiddos stood in line to get their chance at holding baby brother. SO precious.

Oh, and check out those crazy cute lips on this precious little squish!

Grandma and Grandpa's House | Texas Panhandle Photographer and Videographer

My bestest girlfriend and I dreamed up this idea to do a family film for her husband’s grandparents. They live out in Panhandle which is tucked in the north eastern part of the panhandle. They live in a beautiful home that they have shared with their family for years and years. It’s one of those place that seem magical. The drive out, I kept anticipating this place I have heard them talk about so much. Where memories have grown and taken shape. Where food tastes better and time slows to a crawl. I found myself calling them grandma and grandpa even though they are of no relation to me. They’re just those kind of people. They are warm and precious.

I wanted to capture the “essence” of grandma and grandpa’s house. The tractor, the back porch, the gathering around the table. Playing dominos and watching the sun dip behind the horizon.

I felt a lot of pressure to make this in a way that the family could always watch and it would remind them of these special people and the special home they have created. I pray this blesses them forever and ever. It was such an honor. So special.

Katie Beth + baby Owen | Lubbock Maternity and Newborn Photographer

Did y’all know I travel for sessions? I do. Lubbock is about an hour and a half from Canyon, but I don’t know if there’s somewhere too far for me to go and get to photograph a beautiful pregnancy and a sweet squishy newborn. Swoon. Fun story, I got to to a two for one and see Hillsong United in concert in Lubbock while I was there. It was a super fun trip. Thanks for letting me be a part of your lives Katie Beth and Adam!

The O'Hara Family at Home | Frisco Family Photographer and Videographer

This precious family was gifted this session by another sweet family that I recently worked with. You see, the O'Haras are in the process of packing up life and heading on a new adventure far away in South Dakota. They are pursuing new adventures and setting out on a big journey. Their sweet friends wanted them to have a piece of their Frisco home forever documented in a family film and photos. I tell you guys what...being able to put a concrete story with this film was so so special for me. I keep kicking a dead horse by saying this, but preserving time in this way is amazing for me.

I arrived and immediately felt a connection with Christina and her sweet little family. It was a relaxed afternoon following them around as they visited their favorite park and just laughed and loved as a family. I am so excited to share this here on my blog! I pray this blesses you O'Hara family!

The Ridingers at home | Amarillo family photographer

These in-home sessions get better and better. I am finding my artistic voice more and more through documenting families being families in their own space. We love at home, we let down our hair at home, our kids play freely at home. Don't get me wrong, beautiful sunsets in a field of tall grass sings to me too, but in-home sessions pull and tug at every heart string I have. I hope they pull on yours too. <3

This family was precious. These boys are so loved and I strove to document just that. This day was sunless and dreary, but sometimes dreary sets a tone of comfort and softness that adds to the story. Their home was cozy and soft and comfortable. It all came together so well, the weather, the light, the tone of the day...the stars aligned. I hope this makes you cry happy tears Ridinger family!

The FIlm Workshop | Amarillo family videographer

I have had the upmost privilege of taking a film making workshop this month from the uber talented Emily Mitchell of Everyday Films. I have learned so so much from her and really feel like I am ready to stretch myself into this world of family film making to sit alongside my photography work. There is just nothing like video. Photography is still my heart and soul and will always be the meat of what I do, but being able to add in sounds and music and motion to my artwork simply adds to the story. When it is all said and done, all I want to do is tell stories about families. I love to write, I love to photograph and now I am falling in love with film making. Each piece important in the story telling full package. Words lay the foundation, photographs bring out the color and emotion and films give it fluid motion.  I will be adding these films onto my photography packages as as add-on to your photography package, or as an option to do on its own. I hope you will consider one for your own family. This film is a treasure to me. And as time passes, it's value only increases.

Goodbye Summer | Amarillo and Canyon Family Photographer

I have never ever EVER been a huge fan of hot weather. I am much more suited to cozy flannels, warm fuzzy boots and a oversized cardigan wrapped around me. I would much rather spend my days wrapped in a blanket sipping coffee, watching the snow fall. Now that I am a mama, I do enjoy these warm months more. I can appreciate the heat when I have cuties in wedgie-laden swimsuits with popsicle faces to photograph. Living in the panhandle of Texas has given us a whole new set of weather patterns to look forward to. Nights are cool even when the days are their hottest. Rain is scarce, but wind is powerful! We have thoroughly enjoyed it. This passed summer we traveled back and forth from Canyon, Texas to the Dallas Fort Worth area to see friends and family.

These images are part of my everyday shooting (my personal project) and were taken on a hot summer day at Ms. Jan's house. Ms. Jan is like a grandmother to my babies. She is as free of a spirit as my babies are. We find so much comfort in being near her. She is real, she is fun, she is kind, and she has a servant heart. You WANT to be near her. She is woven into the fabric of my family....we are grateful. Ms. Jan's house is one place where my kiddos let loose and get dirty and do all the things that kiddos ought to be doing. I had my camera out this day and was feeling especially inspired. I wanted to share this day with you, friends. I hope these images bring a smile to your face like they do mine. These kind of wild and free, day-to-day happenings of childhood are some of my very favorite to capture. They are timeless and relatable, and evoke such joy. I can look at them and remember what it was like to run through the sprinklers on a hot summer day in 1986.

a day with Weezer | documentary film photographer, Amarillo, Texas

Helping document a family's history is the most rewarding part of this journey of photography. I keep saying it, but preserving family history both fascinates me and feeds my creative soul.

This session was a special one. It is a story of summer at grandmas house. A story of children being ministered to by their grandmother as their parents minister to so many in India, thousands of miles away. It is a story of love, and sacrifice...it is a good old fashioned story of carefree summers away from mom and dad, being spoiled by grandparents. These are the treasured memories these children will carry in their hip pocket through life. They will take them out and reminisce about a time of happiness, they will talk about how much "Weezer" (their nickname for their grandmother. I love it)  loves them, and they will recall how their parents went on a grand adventure, spreading Christ's love. I love their story. And I pray that I did it justice.

I give you, A Day with Weezer.

Hank the Cowboy | Amarillo Family Photographer

I mean....

His cuteness. THEIR cuteness. These three people are special to my little family. So when they asked me to photograph them I was pretty darn excited. Hank-man wasn't sure of me at first (hence the stink-eye he gave me in his highchair...lol), but it wasn't long before those toothless smiles broke through. I tell you, these kinds of sessions, coming into your homes, gives me such delight. Documenting family history, creating photos that you will tuck away and drag out when you have company to show off, photos that will cause the tears to flow in 10....20...years. So much fun to do what I do.

This little man is about to turn one. ONE! Thanks Amber and Josh for letting me invade your home...and show you how beautiful your sweet little family is.