Taking pictures of the Wilkerson Family was really one of the most wonderful sessions I’ve ever had! And its really hard to put into words exactly why this was so amazing. It wasn’t because the kids were perfectly smiling the whole time, because that’s not how family sessions go. There’s always someone who won’t crack a smile with my lame jokes, haha! It wasn’t even the dreamy light or amazing outfit choices by Jessica (which we had been swooning over for a few weeks). Yes, the light was perfect, the outfits were beyond extraordinary, but I am positive this session was so wonderful because I love this family so very much.

Jessica is someone who I’ve always admired. She is the most hard-working mom I’ve ever known. She went back to school to finish her bachelor’s while she was having her 4th baby. The Wilkerson’s decided to move about the time her newborn was 3 weeks old. That’s kind of insane! Moving is so hard and adding a newborn on top of that! Then! She decided she was going to pursue a career as a life coach which involves hundreds of hours of practice and training before being able to serve clients.

Did I mention that she homeschools her kids somewhere in there? Actually, that is her main priority. Her kids and their learning and growth spiritually and secularly is her main priority. So every morning, she sneaks in a little exercise before starting the school day off with devotional. Then its hit the books until the afternoon when she switches her mom hat for working mom and coaches peers until late in the evening most nights. Add in dinner, cleaning house, serving in the community, kids sports, and quality family time, she really is the most hard-working mom I know.

Frank is one of the sweetest husbands. I have loved seeing him support Jessica in her endeavors and also work hard to provide for his family. He comes home and is in full dad-mode, leaving all work problems aside. He tackles, tickles, and plays with his kids. They all get so excited when he walks in the door! He is the best story-time reader at night adding in all sorts of fun voices to really make the book come alive. Frank has an incredibly kind soul, always putting his beautiful wife and kids first.

My kids are really good friends with the Wilkerson’s. We’ve had so many adventures together, like traveling to Boise, cutting wood in the mountains, and just quality hang-out time. I can’t describe what amazing friends the Wilkerson Family has been to our family, and how much I’ve learned from them. They truly bring me so much joy. So even though moving away has been difficult, I know there will always be more adventures with them!

Dear Wilkerson Family,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being the most amazing, wonderful people. Your friendship is one in a million. My heart is overflowing with gratitude for your kindness to me and my family. I know moving to Lovelock wasn’t entirely on your top 10 places to move, but I am so happy you did. It’s always an adventure with you guys, and I’ve loved every minute. I love you Wilkerson Family to the moon and back!

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It is hard to say who was more excited for this photoshoot, Sherry or me. We have been talking about these family pictures for months now! And of course, the weather was really stressful leading up to this day because it was going to snow, and then rain. We both bought cute umbrellas just in case this Nevada spring weather held true to the forecast. Luckily (or maybe unluckily because our umbrellas were super cute) it didn’t rain or snow on us! It just decided to be ridiculously freezing and windy! I’m pretty sure it was 10 degrees outside. At least that is the way it felt! I really can’t believe how awesome everyone was throughout the whole session; they were really amazing.

Haley is the oldest, working, writing, and traveling all over the place. As I talked with her, I quickly realized what a kind soul she is and how selfless she is. Her smile is infectious and she is full of joy. Ada is next with all the spunk and entertainment that comes with a 12, almost 13 year old. She’s right in the middle of being picked on by the oldest and loving on the youngest, Christian. Christian is this super sweet one year old. I’m still in shock that he wasn’t sobbing the entire time with how cold it was. He is so lovable and handsome!!

Some of you know that I bring my daughter, Kiera, to be my assistant on photoshoots. She holds my reflector and gives me shade when I need it so I don’t get a lens flare. Having a clear picture without the distraction of a lens flare is important, so her job is really important! Often, she fades into the background as I’m talking with clients, posing people and moving from place to place. But Haley made a real effort to talk to her and get to know Kiera. It really touched me and I am forever grateful for Haley’s kindness! It was such a small thing, but made such an impact on me.

Dear Knight Family,

Thank you so much for trusting me to do your family photos. I really loved every minute of it. You guys are the toughest clients I’ve ever had, to brave the wind and cold like you did and still be smiling and happy to be doing photos! I’m so grateful for my time in Lovelock, that I got to know you and your sweet family. These kids are incredible because you, David and Sherry, are incredible. You guys are wonderful parents and I love watching you love your children. Both of you have this amazing mild temperament that I really adore. You both just go with the flow and are up for anything. You are always so positive and continuously looking on the bright side. It is such an admirable quality, one I truly admire. I love you all!

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I had the privilege of doing Kali’s maternity pictures one year ago! She was very beautiful pregnant, and now that sweet baby is so big and walking! Little Ryker is such a happy baby, and he is really easy to hang with! It was pretty chilly for this session, and he was such a tough little guy. The Ball family just adores this precious baby so much!

The three older kids were awesome too! It was fun watching how they all fussed over Ryker, and how they wanted to be the one to hold him. They all love him so much! And he loves his older siblings! It is really cute to see pictures of them playing with Ryker on social media. I know they adore him.

Jon and Kali are really great parents; they make a great team. It is cool for me to watch them encourage and push their kids to do their very best. They have done an amazing job of balancing kids’ activities, school, and the back-and-forth to Reno for Riley and Shamus.

I always love it when I can steal mom and dad away and take pictures of just them. These pictures tend to be really meaningful when daily life is all about meeting the needs of kids and working. When time between husband and wife is so rare because life is crazy busy, these couple pictures are sweet to remember the way they feel about each other.

Dear Ball Family,

Thank you so much for picking this amazing location. The cows, tractor, and fields were really fun! Thank you for braving the cold for these pictures, and for remaining upbeat through chattering teeth. You guys were so patient with me, and I’m so grateful to know you! You have a beautiful family. Thank you for trusting me to take these photos (and for your sweet sister Torrie for setting this up!!! Insert lots of heart emojis here, haha!)! Hopefully, I will have this privilege again someday!

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I was super excited when Shea asked if we could do another family session before we move. I look up to Shea so much, so I feel truly honored that she would trust me to do her family photos. Shea is classy, smart, hard-working, kind, positive, understanding, patient, and the list goes on and on! Dan is such a big teddy bear; he’s one of THE nicest people I know. He’s such a great asset to this community too, being a football coach at the high school, volunteering at the fire department, and working for the school district. Dan is a jack of all trades!

I have been lucky enough to take their pictures before in the desert, but I was really excited for this location they picked! The water and rocks were really beautiful! We weren’t sure if the weather would cooperate, and even though it snowed on us, the Murphy’s took a chance. And I’m so glad they did! They are always willing to do anything I ask of them. The Murphy’s always make sessions really fun by cracking jokes and laughing. The Murphy’s are the people you seek out at a party for sure, because they are such fun people! I love their passion for sports, family, and just life in general.

Dear Murphy Family,

Thank you for trusting me with your family pictures! You guys are always so much fun and make me laugh behind the camera. You bring the best energy to the session! I am so grateful for my time here in Lovelock and getting to know you all. All you Murphy’s have been so so kind to my family, and I am grateful for the things I have learned from you. You have taught me to get out of my little shell and be a little bolder. I’ve learned to “grab the bull by the horns” a little better because of you.

Shea, I’m especially thankful for the amazing principal you were at the elementary school. Dan, you’re a guy with so many talents and skills! You have the best smile! Logan and Davis, you are both hard working and kind. I can only hope my kids turn out the same way! And good luck Davis at Shasta College next year! You’re going to kill it! Thank you all, for being my friends here in Lovelock!

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This is one of my dearest friends, Ashley Knight. She is expecting her 6^thbaby, and I’m really excited for her! I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to do maternity photos. Each child is a miracle and phenomenon when he or she is growing inside of you. You seem to savor every kick, every hiccup, and every movement. I know it’s not easy for her, but Ashley makes pregnancy look like a breeze.

Ashley was there for me at Elsie’s birth, encouraging me through each contraction. Ashley trusted me enough to do the videography for the birth of her sweet baby girl, which was a night I will never forget. She was the first person to bring me cookies after moving here! She’s made me laugh harder than anyone! I picked up a few amazing recipes from her, and she is someone who I continue to learn from. Ashley has such a hard work ethic too. She and Hiram built a house for her in-laws and then turned around and built on more to their own house. Ashley is constantly right there in the construction working hard. She is incredibly easy to please. Not to mention, she is one amazing friend.

Dear Ashley,

Thank you for being the first person to trust me here in Lovelock to do your family pictures. The way you swooned over them made my confidence soar, and pushed me to improve. It is because of you that I have been able to serve so many families here. Thank you for loving me in spite of all my flaws and weaknesses! You have the biggest heart. You are constantly finding ways to serve and love others. I have been the recipient of so much service.

I love watching you love your husband and children. You are an amazing mother to those lucky kids, and a sweet wife to Hiram. He’s a lucky guy. You both just make life fun. You have always been the instigator of entertaining girls’ nights, always including everyone. Ashley, I love you and your family so much! So grateful I moved to Lovelock to meet you. You have forever changed my life in the most amazing way!

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Wagner Family

If you don’t know the Wagner Family, you are really missing out! I am completely amazed by this family. They are close-knit and compassionate, and truly some of the most gracious people you will ever meet. They are the kind of people who drop everything to help someone in need. I witnessed that first hand at this session!

You may remember Eric’s senior pictures (total stud, now studying at UNLV) from last year. I really couldn’t wait to get the whole family in front of the camera! The Wagner’s literally made my dreams come true! This was my first family that agreed to a morning session, and not only that, but they brought THE most cheerful attitudes at 7 am! That’s not easy to do, ha! I was smiling and laughing the entire time; the Wagner Family is so much fun to be around!

These guys did ANYTHING I asked of them. I’m pretty sure if I would have said, “Hey, this cow dung is really cool, let’s sit right next to it!” that they would not have hesitated. (We did succeed at avoiding the manure though, haha!) They made my job so easy. I put Lilly to work holding the reflector, and she totally rocked it. I need to hire her!

Rich and Brooke are really amazing parents. They were playful, loving, and always encouraging. I loved watching the two of them together and how they made each other laugh. This session was a total dream, and I couldn’t have asked for more incredible people to photograph.

Remember when I said I witnessed first hand these people would drop everything to help someone out? Well, we were driving to the second location, and my tire blew (or at least I thought that was the problem). Rich, Eric and Brayden were all helping to get the spare tire on when they noticed it was a much worse problem and that missing caliper bolts would mean my car would need to be towed. Immediately they said they had a car trailer and could run and get it to tow my car back home, instead of waiting for a tow truck.

It was a busy Saturday morning for them with a family breakfast, basketball games, and getting Eric on the road back to college. They did not have time for my car problems, but they made time to help me for the rest of the morning. Honestly, I get choked up when I think of their incredible tenderness that day.

Dear Wagner Family,

Thank you for being a total blast at our session and for being willing to wake up early to catch the light! Thank you for trusting me with your family pictures. You guys brought so much joy to these pictures. I can’t thank you enough for slowly driving up the road in search of a small caliper bolt, for loading up the car trailer, loading up my car, and then bringing it home on a busy Saturday morning. Your selflessness is incredible and I am forever in your debt. Thank you for being so kind to me and my family while we’ve lived here in Lovelock. I love you Wagner Family!

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I first met Kelly Brooks at a park in Lovelock. She was taking care of quite a few little kids (she was babysitting), and my thought was, “Man, she’s really got it together!” She is back to teaching math at the high school this year, and even though she is amazing with the little ones, she is really great with the bigger ones. Every time I ask her how teaching is going, her whole face lights up. I can tell by the way she talks about it that she is one of those teachers who really cares about her students and wants them to succeed.

Buzz Brooks is also a math teacher at the high school! In fact, most of Buzz’s family are teachers! I’m pretty sure its in their blood to be the kind of teacher that makes an impact for the rest of their students’ lives. You remember these teachers from your past. The teachers who made you laugh, the ones who pushed you, and then gave you the one-on-one time you needed to learn a concept. That’s the Brooks Family in a nutshell! How do I know this? Well, I’ve never been their student, but everyone who has had them as teachers has loved them. I am grateful to have these guys as teachers in this community.

Buzz and Kelly have these 5 beautiful kids, and literally my cheeks hurt from loving on their smiles! I think it was only 35 degrees outside and they still brought high energy and smiles from ear to ear. They really made my job so easy!

Dear Brooks Family,

Thank you for trusting me to take your family pictures. I cannot describe to you how much fun I had with you all! You guys all smiled in between the convulsions from the cold! I loved watching your kids interact with each other and help each other. I know you are a tight-knit family that has a ton of fun. Buzz and Kelly, you amaze me with all the balls you juggle, and the balance that you still maintain in your lives. You guys are incredible!

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As I walked out the door to the Williams Family session, my daughter Leila was in tears. She begged, “I want to come see Giana and Grayson! PLEASE!” All my kids swoon over this amazing family. We adore these guys and really can’t get enough of them. I had the privilege of doing Giana’s kindergarten graduation pictures in the spring, and I was super excited to do the whole family this fall. The Williamses are whole-hearted people with high standards and integrity.

Dennis and Lindsey were high school sweethearts, and they continue to love each other more and more every day. They are a really great team. Lindsey is  soft-spoken and loving, and Dennis is very jovial and upbeat all the time! They are such a great couple!

Lindsey and Dennis have been really great friends to us, too. They don’t know this, but I get choked up when I think about the amazing friend Dennis has been to Brandon. It’s hard to put into words. Dennis has taken Brandon all over the mountains at insanely early hours to help him find deer during hunting season. And when they couldn’t go hunting together, Dennis would cheer on and encourage Brandon. He will text Brandon just to see how things are going which seems like a really simple thing, but it has meant so much to Brandon. Dennis is a true friend, and someone we are eternally grateful for.

Lindsey and Dennis are incredible parents. Being a mom doesn’t come naturally to me; I have to work very hard at it and even then, I really struggle. Because it’s so hard for me, I really watch how others parent so I can learn. And I have learned A LOT from Lindsey and Dennis. They both have an incredible amount of patience. They don’t get flustered with little things. Dennis and Lindsey are constantly encouraging Giana and Grayson to make good choices and treat others with respect. And I respect that!

Dear Williams Family,

Thank you for being such kind friends to our family. We literally can’t get enough of you! We are cheering you on through all your successes and adventures. Thank you for raising such sweet kids who are kind, loving, and fun! You all make me want to be a better person. Thank you for trusting me with your family pictures. I love you Williams Family!

 

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“Go Elanie!” is what I cheered all through this last soccer season! I love Elanie De Los Reyes’s name so much; it just rolls right off your tongue! I had the pleasure of coaching Elanie on my soccer team this fall, and she was such a bright spot on the team and a good friend to Kiera! Her smile feels like a million bucks. She is a great little player on the field, and I hope she and my daughter get to play on the same team again. That’s also where I met Laura, Elanie’s mom.

Laura is such a hard working mom, and also attending school at nights and staying up late to finish homework. She is a super mom whom I admire so much. Laura is a gentle soul full of selflessness.

Her sweet husband, Francisco De Los Reyes, I met at our session on Saturday. I could tell he has a very kind heart. He works hard to provide for his family, and I loved watching him snuggle and smile at Laura. They were such a fun couple to work with!

Alexander and Lucia were really great at this session. It was so cold out, but you probably can’t tell from the pictures! They were troopers at braving the cold and they still smiled and laughed for me.

Dear De Los Reyes Family,

Thank you for trusting me with your family pictures! You have such a beautiful, sweet family. Francisco and Laura, you have taught your kids to be kind and respectful, and I look up to you as parents. You are juggling work and school and parenting, and that’s super tough. I know how hard it is when your kids are little, day in and day out taking care of their constant needs. But these little smiles are really special and I hope seeing these pictures brings more joy into your home.

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When Laura Katsaris contacted me about family pictures, I knew her family was going to be pretty incredible. She was able to coordinate her two brothers, one in Reno, mom and stepdad, and grandparents! I don’t know if any of you have ever tried to get your family together for dinner, let alone family pictures, it’s no easy feat! Not to mention the stress of getting kids ready and wearing something that will keep them semi-warm in the cold is really tough! And wear something that coordinates with everyone else! They brought their A-game and rocked the session!

I loved having all the adults help the kids to laugh and smile! It was like I had nine assistants! Ha! Maybe I’ll hire all these guys for my next photoshoot!

These guys were so easy to work with, so willing to do the funny things I asked them to do. My grandparents are not longer living, but I really enjoyed being around Laura’s grandparents, the DeBraga’s. Really, this family is their legacy and one to be very proud of. They reminded me of my own grandparents.  The way they looked at each other was really special. I felt their love for each other and their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Something about grandparents just tugs at my heart strings!

Laura’s brothers have this cool swag about them, and Hailey, her sister-in-law, is such a sweet mom! They just made my job super easy! Jesse, Laura’s husband, was really fun. He has the biggest smile. Every time he could, he’d sneak in a kiss followed by this huge grin! What a sweetheart!

Dear DeBraga Family,

Thank you for trusting me with your pictures! I love how important family pictures are to you. Thank you for giving me a little peek into your wonderful, kind family. I’m guessing you all have a lot of fun at family dinners and holidays! You all seem like go-getters, and I loved learning from you! These cute kiddos are so lucky to have you! Hope you enjoy these photos!