the journal

People often ask me how they can best prepare for a photo session. Usually, they are referring to which outfits they should wear or what toys/snacks they can bring with them to make things run smoothly, and while both of those things are important (I can make a post on that another time), there is […]

I photographed the Richmond family on a stunning spring day. We met at Arneson Acres in Edina and it was so lovely! The kids were so adorable and had so much love for both each other and their parents. I had a blast getting to capture their family at this sweet stage!

I’m so excited to be adding this beautiful family session to the blog! Loved my time with the Schreier family on this gloomy but beautiful fall day! One thing I’ve learned over the years photographing toddlers and little kids is that you’ll always get the best results when you work with the kids and let […]

This past summer I was fortunate enough to get to photograph my two friends, Teel and Melody’s engagement session at Loyola University in Chicago. There’s a spot by the lake on campus that means a lot to them and their relationship, so it was really special to get to document them there. If you’re ever […]

Gretta reached out this summer asking for some photos that would capture her family’s joy, and I made it my mission to do just that! And we had the perfect beach location […]

I photographed the Sextons last year soon after their little girl was born (you can see photos from that session here), so getting to come back and photograph them about 9 or 10 months later and see how both kids had grown and changed was really really special. One of my absolute favorite things about […]

I say this every time, but extended family sessions are so special! I loved my time with the Burger and Wall families. So much love in this crew, and it’s especially evident in these photos. We took these on a sunny afternoon at the lake. I’d be lying if I said the amount of sun […]

I’ve been photographing the Saravias since before they were “The Saravias!” It’s been such an honor to walk with them through all of their life’s milestones, from engagement to being first time home owners, to starting a family. It was so fun to meet their sweet baby girl at their spring session last month. She […]

I photographed this extended family session last summer for Warner and Margaret’s 50th wedding anniversary. They were soon moving homes, so we did the photos outside of the house to document not only the two of them and their family that has grown over the years, but also to document the home in which it […]

I received an inquiry from Betty last summer saying she and her husband David found out that they were pregnant, and they wanted to set up a session with their families to surprise them with the news. So we did exactly that! We met at the Bahai Temple in Wilmette, IL on a beautifully sunny […]