When people hire me to do their photos...

What they're really doing is inviting me into their life.

Not in a "Hi, I put on my good face for you today" sort of way...

But a "This is actually what my family truly looks like" sort of way.

And sometimes, those invitations overwhelm me with responsibility.

The honesty...

Personalities...

And REAL moments contained in these shoots...

They're pretty epic. (Just like this picture.)

And they're just waiting to be snatched up and remembered for a lifetime.

But sometimes being real and honest isn't all laughter and hugs and smiles.

Sometimes being real and honest is hard work... and might even require some tears and tender moments.

But the results - one family's entire colorful essence wrapped up in images...

Are always worth it. :)

Mulder family... thanks for inviting me into your life, and for showing me what your family truly looks like. You guys rock. :)

Being a nanny is such hard job. You love, nurture, discipline and pour your heart out for kids that aren't even your own. And yet somehow, they feel like yours. My friend Emily is a nanny for two sweet boys that you should probably recognize by now. :) In the past year, I've gotten to know them really well - most weeks, she takes them on adventures downtown Kansas City, and always invites me along for the ride. To celebrate her last week with them before they move away, we decided a photo shoot would be a must.

It rained all morning. Which meant mud. And the boys were both exhausted. Which meant tears. But we decided real photos are the best - so we went with it. I'm in love with the results.