I recently had the joy of photographing a lovely family, and it was an experience I’m excited to share. The session was filled with smiles, laughter, and lots of playful moments, especially from the four incredible kids who were nothing short of amazing. Their cooperation and cheerful spirits really made capturing beautiful moments a breeze.

I want to extend my deepest thanks to this family for letting me take their family pictures. It’s not every family that can make a photo session feel so effortless and fun. Their kindness and warmth put me at ease, and it was clear how much love they share for one another.

To the Marble Family: Thank you for your patience, for the laughs, and for the opportunity to capture these special moments. Your sweetness and the genuine connection you share made our session memorable! I’m thrilled to highlight some of my favorite shots on the blog and to have been part of capturing memories I hope you’ll cherish.

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The Barlow family is a close-knit group of six that has been through immense challenges and yet managed to remain steadfast in their love for each other. Keith and Chantelle, the parents, have adopted four beautiful children whom they have raised with utmost care and love. Their family is a testament to the strength of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

Keith is an inspiration to all dads out there. He is a great hands-on dad, always playing catch or giving airplane rides to his kids. He works hard to provide for his family, but always makes sure to carve out time to be with his children. His dedication and love for his family are evident in everything he does.

Chantelle is an accomplished author of an amazing book called Seeking Solace. She is also a loving mother who has poured her heart and soul into raising her children. Her book speaks to the power of love and faith in overcoming adversity with God’s help, a message that resonates deeply with her family’s experiences.

Tyson, the Barlow’s oldest child, is a senior and an amazing baseball player. He has worked hard to achieve his dreams and has become a role model for his siblings. Cade and Hudson, their second and third children, are incredibly strong athletes as well. They have inherited their parents’ resilience and work ethic, and are determined to achieve their goals.

Emmy, the youngest member of the family, is a sweet ball of spicy joy. Her infectious energy and zest for life have brought light to the family during some of their darkest moments. She is a reminder that even in the face of adversity, there is always hope and joy to be found.

The Barlow family has faced many challenges, from the difficulties of adoption to health issues and financial struggles. Through it all, they have remained a tight-knit family that supports and uplifts each other. Their love and dedication to each other is an inspiration to all who know them.

In a world where it is easy to be cynical and jaded, the Barlow family is a shining example of the power of love and resilience. They remind us that no matter what life throws our way, we can overcome it with faith, love, and the support of those we hold dear.

Dear Barlow Family,

It was a joy to capture the love and connection between each each of you, and to capture those precious moments on camera. Beyond the photo session, I am grateful for your friendship. Your family has inspired me to be a better person, to love deeper, and to never give up hope in the face of adversity. Your resilience and dedication to each other have left a profound impact on my life. I am truly blessed to know you and to count you as dear friends.

Thank you, Barlow family, for trusting me to capture your beautiful family moments and for allowing me to be a part of your lives. You have enriched my life in ways I cannot express, and I will always cherish the memories we have shared!

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I was really excited when Camille messaged me to do her family pictures. I LOVE this family so much! Though we share the same last name, Colton and Camille are sadly not related. But Camille makes me feel as important as a sister! I’m very grateful for their friendship and kindness towards me and my family.

I got to know Camille when she started a kindergarten co-op. It was during the pandemic, and I was so grateful for the sociality it brought to me and my kindergartener. It was so hard for those 5 year olds to be online for school, and for Camille to put together this group for them was really enjoyable. We did quite a few fun activities, and I will always remember that with fondness during the pandemic!

Colton and Camille have two very sweet daughters. They have smiles the size of Texas, and they are super giggly. Those are perfect for a photographer! They were so lively and energetic! I am also envious of their beautiful curly hair. It was so fun working with them!

Dear Colton and Camille,

Thank you so much for letting me take you up the mountain for pictures. You have such a beautiful family. I really admire you both. You are great parents with a lot of patience and love to give. I’m always looking for ways to improve, and you both set the example pretty high. Thank you for your kindness and friendship, and for letting me do your family pictures!

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Lindsi reached out to me for family pictures when they got together for a family reunion here in Las Vegas. It was really fun to meet her and Daniel’s four beautiful children and two of their significant others. Lindsi’s parents came for the reunion too! Lindsi and Daniel have raised really great kids. It was really enjoyable for me to meet them and get to know each of them. 

Each child/couple lives from a different city, so it was really cool that they all came together for some quality family time. One couple lives in northern Nevada, one couple in Oregon, grandparents in Idaho, and the rest from Colorado. I know how hard it can be to coordinate schedules and get everyone to one location. My siblings are all spread out too. I loved seeing this sweet family make their family a priority. 

When I asked how they were dealing with the heat, I felt pretty bad for Lindsi’s parents who are from Idaho. I’m also from Idaho, and this Vegas heat can be awful!  I definitely sympathized with them. They are lovely grandparents, and real troopers to come out in July to Vegas. 

Dear Blanco Family,

You guys are really fun to be around! I bet if you lived here, we would go hiking or climbing together. We would totally be friends! You all made my job so easy. Especially the girls, you are all so beautiful and photogenic! Thank you, Lindsi for reaching out and asking me to take pictures! I loved meeting you all. I hope the rest of your week was amazing and relaxing. I hope you made memories that will last forever! Thank you all so much!

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Coleman Family Pictures

I absolutely love when Kayla messages me to do family pictures. They are the kindest family. Kayla and RaDell reached out to me about 2 years ago to do some family pictures. You can see those here. I met Kayla’s family while living in northern Nevada and was lucky enough to be introduced to her and RaDell when I moved to Vegas. Kayla is a teacher (a big thank you for being a teacher! Teachers are amazing!). And RaDell works for USPS (also a BIG thank you! I use USPS all the time!).

Kids grow up so fast in 2 years. Kairo was just a baby last time I took their pictures and he has grown up so much. He is so kind and smart! I was blown away at how smart he is. And Kayla and RaDell have a beautiful daughter Tatum! She was so happy despite it being pretty chilly and windy. She is so cute, I just want to squeeze those rolls all day long. I’m always impressed with Kayla and RaDell, and how amazing they are at parenting. These kids are so blessed to have such an amazing mom and dad.

Dear Coleman Family,

Thank you for trusting me to take your family pictures. Thank you, Kayla, for being more than patient with me when I kept calling you by your sister’s name. RaDell and Kayla, you are both gentle souls. You have such calming personalities that make my job easy. I have LOVED seeing your family grow. Kairo and Tatum are so fun and so beautiful. Families are what this life is all about, and I appreciate your example to me of making family a priority. You guys are the cream of the crop, the salt of the Earth. Thank you for emanating goodness and light!

Continue reading “Coleman Family May 2022”

I first met the Clayton family at church about 2 years ago. Our kids are very close in age and they play so well together! The Clayton family moved to Las Vegas as part of their military service. Spencer works for the Air Force as a psychologist. He’s being deployed soon, and that’s always really tough. Spencer, thank you for your service! I’m very grateful to those who serve in the military. I know it’s a tremendous sacrifice.

Joanna is an amazing mom of 5 beautiful children. She pushes me to be a better mom as she limits screen time for kids and has them regularly doing chores. I upped my chore game (and decreased my kids’ screen time) when I saw how awesome her kids are at helping around the house. She is really good at spending one-on-one time with her kids. She also has an entire binder full of activities for kids while traveling in the car. I now have a binder packed full of activities for road trips. Thanks Joanna for helping me be a better mom! Joanna is also just really fun to be around. She’s funny and always smiling. I appreciate her happiness so much.

Dear Clayton Family,

Thank you for moving to Las Vegas! I’m so glad we met, and I’m so glad we are friends. I love that our kids love to play together. I’m so grateful for all you’ve taught me during the short time we’ve had here. Our conversations are always fun and meaningful. You push us to be better, and I am so grateful for that kind of friendship! Be safe, Spencer. I love you, Clayton Family!

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Meet the Zobrist Family! Caleb and Nicole are the parents of these five incredible boys. These boys are some of the kindest boys I’ve ever met. And when you meet incredible kids, you know their parents are even more wonderful. I’ve admired Nicole from the second I met her. I hope to be exactly like her someday! Although, that may take me centuries…. The Zobrist’s love all things hockey, Vegas Golden Knights to be precise. They are athletes, sharp students, and some of the kindest people you’ll ever meet.

Nicole is so lovely, so fun, and so tenacious. She’s the PTA president, serves diligently in church, and loves her family fiercely. She is funny too, never afraid to laugh at herself. She just has so many qualities that I admire. I have watched Caleb from afar, and he is a wonderful dad too. His quiet demeanor and infectious smile just make you feel at ease. It really was such a treat for me to do their pictures.

I was pretty excited when Nicole switched up the location to head to the snow. It’s soooooo pretty up at Mt. Charleston when it snows! We weren’t exactly sure where we could stop, but these boys were super adventurous, and made my job really fun.

Dear Zobrist Family,

Thank you for trusting me to take your family pictures. I adore each and every one of you! Thank you for trusting me with this top-of-the-mountain spot. You all looked so handsome (and beautiful, Nicole). Your family is one of my favorites; I feel very blessed to know you all. Thank you for your goodness and friendship towards me! I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoy you all!

 

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So there’s this super cool family that lives a few streets over from me. This is the Millett Family! I feel pretty lucky to have met them because they are such a great family. We met through a mutual friend who set up a kindergarten co-op for our kindergarteners. Despite the social distancing COVID requires, we still wanted our little kindergarteners to be able to interact and play with other kids. Distance education for that grade level is quite a challenge. Our little group has been a lot of fun for the kids to play, and just as much fun for me to get to know other amazing moms.

Elise and Michael have moved around a lot because of the military. Thank you Michael for your service! And just as much thanks to Elise for supporting him. I really enjoyed getting to know Michael as we took pictures. He ended up being my assistant for the kids’ pictures, and I was so grateful! He is such a great dad, too. I loved the way their kids smiled at him as he would make them laugh.

Elise is a fellow photographer! She is very talented! I was nervous doing her pictures because she is a photographer, but she was incredibly gracious and easy-going. She was happy with anything I suggested, and that made me feel at ease.

Dear Millett Family,

Thank you for being such great models! I adore your smiles and laughs! Thank you for making my job so easy! I’m so grateful to know you all. I think you are an incredible, smart, fun and happy family. The next time our families get together, we will have to bring our ropes and go climbing at Red Rock. I think you would love it. Thanks Millett Family for being so wonderful!

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It was the second semester of my senior year when I first met Mallory. She and her family moved to Boise from a small town in the southeastern side of the state. We hadn’t been friends for very long when I asked her if she wanted to be roommates at BYU-Idaho in the fall. To my surprise (because I didn’t think she would like me enough to agree to live with me!) she said yes! The friendship we forged as roommates in college was priceless. She was and is the best listener. She cared about all the things going on in a crazy college life, and always made time for me in her busy schedule. So many nights we stayed up late talking. She has continued to be an incredible friend and listener. Her goodness, her light, and her love have always been inspiring to me to be better.

I had the privilege of visiting TWO of my college roommates last weekend in Denver! It was so wonderful to spend time with Mallory and also Emmalee. And as you can imagine, taking Mallory’s family pictures was pure delight! She is a such a calm mom, maybe the opposite of me who is always feeling ruffled. She has a knack at the motherhood thing. For example, she makes time for each of her kids daily, and she pushes them to try their best and work hard. I loved walking with her and her kids to school just around the block. I loved the way she gently helped kids adjust their backpacks and stay on the sidewalk. She is so patient.

Her husband, Brockton is an amazing dad and spouse. He picked up groceries on his way home from work, helped get dinner going before family pictures, helped tie ties for pictures, and then took the kids away for the weekend so we could have a girls weekend. Talk about major superhero! It’s fun to watch him with their kids. He is the best dad!

Dear Sheard Family,

Thank you so much for trusting me with your family pictures. You are such a beautiful family! I wish we lived closer because our kids would be the best friends. Thank you, Sheard girls, for sharing your bed with me and for sharing your mom with me! I love you all!

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This summer, we were able to go to Billings, MT to meet up with a couple of Brandon’s siblings and parents. We had the best week! Ziplines, boating, rock climbing, biking, alpine slides, four wheelers, American Ninja Warrior course (which of course I couldn’t do at all, but it was fun to watch other people kill it!), late night visits, games, good food, and beautiful scenery were the highlights of the week. I begged Lindsay (Brandon’s sister) to let me do family pictures. And I’m so glad we did!

I honestly can’t say enough about this amazing family. How I wish we lived closer! I told my daughter I would pay her to be like Lindsay’s daughters. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to raise good kids, right?!

These kids are the coolest kids. They are kind, funny, and smart. They are the kind of people you want to surround yourself with because they inspire you to be better. Everyday, they went out of their way to include my younger kids in whatever activity was happening. I think the world of these kids!

Dear Lindsay and Scott,

Thank you for trusting me to do your family pictures. You all were so easy to work with. You two are amazing parents, people I want to be like some day when I’ve matured a little. The way you’ve taught your kids to put others first and jump in and help is inspiring! I couldn’t ask for better examples on how to be good parents. Your kindness is infectious and I’m so grateful for every day we had together! I love you all, Evans Family!