This sneak peek is LONG overdue, but fall craziness has set in! Lots of travel and trying to wrap up the end of the season has resulted in a sick me, hubby, and baby. It hasn’t been an enjoyable few weeks for us! Thankfully it is out of all our systems and I am back at it!
Andre + Jami tied the knot a few weeks ago and here is just one sneak before I get to the rest of them this week 🙂
Thank you so much you guys, the best is yet to come!
..WRAP UP..
love, echo
Back in April I put on my very first benefit, the ..Bring Love to Life Auction..! {<—You can read the whole story here.} The proceeds went to my friend Mark, to help with the unexpected funeral expenses, after his wife Erica suddenly passed away from ..Prolong QT... As you can imagine, losing a friend wasn’t easy, but I had the desire in my heart to help Mark through the tragic time in his life. That is where Joline came in! She was the winner to the photo auction, and therefore received a session in turn for donating to the Bring Love to Life cause.
She had me in tears all over again after I asked her what led her to bid on the auction. Here is her response: I bid on this project because you touched my heart! After my brother died (he was 16), my mom received letters from other parents who had lost children. The letters often said little more then “We know what it’s like and even though you don’t know how, you will get through this.” They were often from people we did not know, but they cared. From that time until my mom died (at the age of 52) she did this for other people who lost children and i would often write letters to the siblings of children who died. It didn’t matter that they didn’t know me, it mattered that they knew that there were people out there who cared. Who would be there. Who they could pick up the phone and call. When someone that close to you dies, its tragic. And for days and weeks everyone is so helpful. But then they begin to go back to their lives and the world must go on. And there you are trying to understand why this happened, why your 16 year old brother won’t be going to school anymore, why that chair is empty at the kitchen table. When you know that there is someone out there who understands what you are going through, there is a sense of not being alone. I bid on this package because I care. I don’t know the family, but I know what it’s like to lose my mom. I know that it’s heartwarming to me to know that there are people out there, that I don’t know, that care! And I hope that this family knows that too!
Such an amazing out look on life. I am so thankful for your heart Joline, your husband and kids are blessed to have that in your home! We met up a few weeks ago as the leaves were beginning to take on their color and the coolness was coming into the air. It was a beautiful day for a family session with 2 horses, a pup, and 3 kids! My kids are genetically madeup to be farm kids. From sun up to sun down! They love their horses, and we love that they love to ride! It’s amazing to see what they can do with a 1300 lb. animal. Wyatt is 11 going on 28. He’s very mature, an incredibly hard work, and strives to please. He is incredibly protective of his sisters. Jordyn is 7 going on 17. She is shy, absolutely incredibly funny, and she is a love bug! Karly is 5. She’s our drama queen. She is as smart as a whip and nothing gets by her. What fun times it was!
Just about a year ago I had the awesome opportunity to photograph Tony + Amber’s ..Maternity Session..! After overcoming my own battle of nerves to photograph a fellow photographer, I had such a blast just catching up with an old friend. Here we are a year later with their sweet daughter, Loralai. She is on the brink of turning one and I just had the chance to meet her! {I guess that’s what happens in the lives of two busy togs who live almost 2 hours apart!}
Being back in my hometown a few weeks ago, I took the opportunity to catch up on my NorthWest Ohio Portrait Sessions. Since Tony + Amber’s hometown is neighboring to my own, we were able to take time to meet up for the Doble family portraits + Loralai’s One Year session. We met at a local orchard to take advantage of the fully ripe apple trees. Not to mention the rustic crate that Amber bought on steal at a craft show!
Being that we hadn’t seen each other in a year, we had A LOT to catch up on! In one year of seeing each other, we both had a baby, not to mention chatter boxing about photography and the like! I love what Amber had to say, I am enjoying being a parent WAY more than I ever thought I would. Before I had Loralai I always knew I wanted to be a mom but I also knew that I lived a very structured life and that I liked things just so. I thought I would have a very hard time letting go of that. Turns out I didn’t. She fits into our lives perfectly, and all the changes I have made I am happy to do. Tony teases me all the time because I say, “That is my favorite thing about being a mom” all the time about everything. He often asks, “What don’t you like about it?!” My answers is honestly….nothing, I even like changing diapers. The only think that really bothers be about being a parent is having to leave her everyday to go to work…..I love my job, but I would much rather stay home and be with her all day!
Nothing joys me more than talking about Elijah, and sharing all the new things he is learning and doing! A doting parent is a beautiful thing, and Tony + Amber notice these wonderful things in Loralai’s persona: Loralai is really working on her walking right now. She walks all over the house behind her push toy. Her speech is also growing by leaps and bounds right now! Nothing too understandable besides mama and dada but she is figuring out at least one new consent/vowel comb a day right now. Oh and my new favorite, she is wanting to get herself dressed.
Tony, Amber, Loralai, and even Mac + Moxi too! Thank you for giving me the wonderful opportunity to photograph your family, to catch up with you, and to meet your adorable Loralai. We could have been there for hours just talking about life and business, yet duty as parents always awaits! I look forward to seeing you guys again sometime soon, hopefully before next years session! Thanks again!
..CATCH UP..
love, echo
I have had the awesome opportunity to photograph this little man since the day he was born. I actually had just found out I was pregnant when I did his newborn photos. {Which was super exciting, since I had my own on the way!!} Watching him grow up has been such a pleasure and what a handsome little guy he has become. Since he celebrates his birthday in December, and the weather {mostly} isn’t desirable during that time, we decided to meet up in the fall.
Jackson as a typical session of a 2 year old, he was on the move! Having an almost 2 yr old is busy! He is always on the go and we never have a dull moment, says Danielle. Which was reflected in our time together, so we adapted and for the most part let him do his own thing. It’s part of being a kid, exploring all the cool things that life has to offer.
Danielle expressed, Since his 1 year pictures, Jackson has started to become very independent, talking so much more, and loves singing songs! He’s starting to have his own interests, he loves fire trucks, tractors, and his favorite is Tow Mater from Cars! Who doesn’t lover Mater? Like many first time parent’s everything is new, different, exciting, and recordable! For Danielle and Jack, they always wonder what they did without him! They state, Jackson has such a fun little personality, and we love hearing his wonderful belly laughs and watching him grow! {See the last set of photos for a great impression of this!}
Jack + Danielle! Thank you for letting me capture yet another year of Jackson’s life. Everytime it makes me reflect on just how time quickly goes, and how Elijah will be learning and doing the same things he is doing now. Almost like what having a kid in fast forward looks like! I pray that this next year of life brings so many fun adventures ahead!
..BUSY..
love, echo
It was something about the way that he looked at her, the way his face lit up when I asked him to put his arms around her. Something that made his heart dance for joy in the most grandiose way. For her it was the twinkle that adorned her pretty green eyes, when he got close to her. Or the scrunch of the nose giggle, the kind that frequently comes out when he is around. It was that unexplainable feeling that brought them both to me. To capture something that was good, and pure, and rare.
I have been bursting at the seams to share this sweet couple and their beautimous session with you! Meet Jaryd + Lauren, two people whom allowed me to enter into their universe, and a good one at that! Lauren and I have a mutual love for peanut butter and apples, BGSU, and relaxing in the sun. Jaryd and I could polish off a bowl of chips and salsa stat, that is, while watching Remember the Titans!
Their story began back in high school, where they had originally met. A few years later that reconnected at church. She said, We were friends at first, but fell for each other fast! I liked Jaryd before he liked me. I loved the way he looked at me. Turns out, I’m the girl of his dreams! On August 11th, in the windy city of Chicago, Jaryd made his move. At the very top of the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel, Jaryd popped the question! And because she liked him first and she was the girl of his dreams, you can only imagine that her answer was yes!
This couple not only plans on tying their knot next May, but to also share something that is bound to be bittersweet. Their first kiss!
Echo by Design