Dana + Dave

It is so hard to sum up in a short blog post all of the images that were captured during a wedding day.  There are the details, the unexpected emotions captured in the camera, the portraits, speeches, dances, and the list goes on and on.  I have to pinch myself a little bit when I think about how lucky I am to share in all of these moments with a bride and groom.  

Dave and Dana's wedding was an absolute stunner.  Each detail was so carefully planned and realized throughout the day.  I attended college with the couple so it was an extra bonus for me that I got to catch up with old friends and laugh and share the day with fellow Brits.  Their ceremony and reception was held at Westmoreland Country Club outside of Chicago, Illinois.  The grounds were gorgeous and set the perfect backdrop for Dave and Dana's late summer wedding. 

While the entire day was perfect, I have two favorite moments that I just have to share. The first was the couple's first look.  They were so anxious and excited to see each other.  That one moment before they saw each other for the first time on their wedding day was filled with so much love and anticipation. I felt so honored to be a bystander watching all of the love between the two of them.  My other favorite moment had to be on the dance floor. It was the best mix of different generations just busting a move together. The couple had an awesome band that kept the party going late into the night. 

Thank you so much for including me in your day, Dave and Dana. It was a true honor to capture the memories and to get to know all of the people that celebrated with you. Cheers to a life of happiness and endless celebration together! 

Palazeti Family

Still catching up on blogposts over here from the fall insanity!  But the colors are gorgeous and I can almost feel that sunshine as I look out my window at the snow slowing accumulating. So I hope you don't mind riding down memory lane with me back to October. 

I met up with the Palazeti family right before their gender reveal party.  To say that their family was excited would be an understatement- which was totally understandable! Their two little girls were very patient through their pictures while they were anxiously awaiting to find out if they would have a little brother or sister joining their family.  We snapped these photographs at Booth Park in Birmingham and then wondered downtown Birmingham to find a few industrial looking backgrounds.  Still one of my favorite locations! Thank you for letting me capture a few images of your family before you grow by one more, Palezeti family! 

2015 Highlights: Part 2

My husband, Ted, and I have this joke that 2014 was our year for Europe and that 2015 was our year for National Parks. Neither year did we intend for this to happen, it just sort of did.  We started with one visit to a National Park and then we just got inspired and knocked a whole bunch of them off of our bucket list in 2015.  I am so blessed to have a husband that loves travel as much as I do. We have seen some amazing places together and had unforgettable experiences around the globe. Below are a few highlights from our adventures in 2015.

Snowshoeing the ice caves on Lake Superior.

An impromptu trip to New Orleans a few weeks before Mardi Gras.

Our first time fly fishing, which quickly led to our second trip fly fishing.

A weeklong backpacking trip in the Porcupine Mountains and a road trip to Copper Harbor.

Checking off over 20 Michigan lighthouses from our list to visit.

Two weeks spent wondering the west in a pop up camper that included stops at Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands, Devil's Tower, Yellowstone, Jackson Hole and the Teton Mountains. 

A week in Sedona hiking the Red Rocks. 

A birthday celebration in Savannah.

We certainly mastered the art of road tripping in 2015. If you are wondering it involves lots of snacks, an endless stream of podcasts, an overload of Diet Mountain Dew (for the driver) and plenty of pillows (for the passenger!)  I can't wait to see where 2016 takes us!