Mackenzie and Collin {Engagement}

I had such a fun time this past summer photographing Collin and Mackenzie for a couple photo shoot. So when they approached me about taking their engagement pictures I was thrilled. Both Collin and Mackenzie are sincere, genuine people who are a joy to be around. Thanks for letting me photograph you and I look forward to your wedding this Summer! 

Creative Work

Creative work it is a journey, but it is a journey worth traveling and exploring. I absolutely love this video and I hope you do too! 

Meet My Lovely Roomies!

I love my Lookout Roomies!!! I am lucky enough to live with four of my best friends! Our friendship journey began the first day we moved to college. We all lived together on the same floor and were paired in the same freshman orientation group. Coincidence.... I think not :) At times we may get frustrated with one another, but at the end of the day we are our own little family. Just like families we fight at times, but we know how to love and laugh more than we know how to fight. Meet my lovely roomies, I think the pictures say it all!

November Goals

One of my favorite websites is Making Things Happen. This website provides inspirational messages and helps a person to remember to dream and believe in oneself. It also reminds a person of what is important and worth focusing on. Whenever I leave this website I feel compelled to create, dream, and actively do. To stay focused and driven, I decided that it is important to set goals. Goals help a person get back on track when they stray from the path. By posting my goals on here, it keeps me in check!

November Goals:

- Listen to as much Christmas music as possible :)

- Start and finish my day with reading (anything but school material)

- Stay on top of homework and projects

- Enjoy the holiday season

- Do at least 2 DIY projects

- Spend time with family and friends

For now I am keeping it simple and realistic! Now, I challenge you to create some November goals!

Walts Girls {Roommate Session}

Have you ever met someone and instantly felt like you have known them for years!? Well imagine a group of 5 girls that all make you feel "at home"! I would love to introduce to you the Walts roommates! They are all kind, beautiful, generous, and talented individuals. Their shining personalities radiate in every picture! I absolutely love these wonderful ladies and thanks for a fun afternoon out!

Keppen Family {Family Session}

The Keppen family is pretty much part of my family too! We have been family friends since I moved to Tea (which was when I was 8!!!), hence the reason they are my extended family! They asked me to take pictures of their family and I had a great time. It was fun watching Braxton explore and play with his toy trucks. He is definitely a young, active, and curious boy at heart! Here is a sneak peek of our Sunday morning out! Enjoy...

Fall, Fashion, & Fun {Editorial Styled Shoot}

The many reasons I love Fall...

- Seasonal lattes from Starbucks

- Cool, crisp mornings

- Fall FASHION...boots, cardigans, scarves, blazers!!!

- Apple Orchards

- The beginning of the holiday season (I can officially start playing Christmas music in October!!)

- The changing of leaves

But most of all, I love fall for it provides me inspiration. It allows creativity to be developed and the season reminds me of all the beauty in our world. So to embrace everything fall like, I did a fashion styled editorial that captured nature and fall fashion at its finest! Thanks Ali for always being willing to be my model whenever I want!  

Growth...Change...Purpose {Personal}

Growth....change...purpose

  Today was my first day of junior year. I can hardly believe I am starting my 3rd year of college, it feels surreal. The journey I have had at Augie thus far has been amazing and I know it will/can only get better. The amazing friends and family I have are what help me get through those hard-stressful-make-you-want-to-cry-days! I have a lot on my plate this semester, but a challenge is good and keeps me at my best. While although I have loved my summer break I am ready to be back at school. I remembered today after sitting in my lectures how much I missed school. The feeling you get when something clicks, that feeling of understanding a new concept, the feeling of overcoming obstacles you once thought were impossible. Ya I missed that, wow, nerd alert!!!

  Growth….change… is their a difference? As Gandhi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. I have always loved this quote, but I am beginning to learn that before you can be that change that the world needs, you must grow or develop as an individual. This year is about growing, exploring, experimenting, and courageously doing. 

  When I entered as a freshmen I was majoring in elementary education. When people asked why I would say a basic answer like, “because I like working with kids.” It was my go-to answer. While that is a true statement, it wasn’t my honest answer. Then sophomore year came around and I decided to take a leap of faith and try an art class. I enrolled in drawing 101, which was terrifying for the fact that I didn’t think I could draw. This was one of my first/best decisions I had made. It was through this leap that I discovered something about myself, I discovered my ability to achieve something I thought was impossible. I feared that people would judge, compare, or negatively critique my work. I felt so exposed sharing my most personal work, but I began to learn that my fear was the only thing getting in the way of my ability. Thanks to a wonderful professor who had a little faith in me, I decided to change my major to art and education. 

  Unlike change or growth, I believe our purpose stays the same. We are meant to live purposeful, meaningful lives. Through my personal growth I have learned it isn’t so much what a person majors in, as much as it is becoming a purposeful being with a passion. Each day is a new day, with new opportunities. The day I decided to be honest with myself, was the day I began living up to my potential.

  The goals I am setting for myself this 2011-2012 academic year:

    -Recognize and appreciate the small things

    -Take things one thing at a time (even in stressful situations)

    -Use my strengths 

    -Develop my photography skills and make a name for myself

    -Continuously be me (even in times of doubt and hesitancy) 

    -Look at every opportunity as a growing experience

    -Love boldly

    -Forgive and forget

Twins {Summer session}

  If you are a regular blog follower of mine, these two models may look familiar to you! This past Spring I took pictures of my friend Kaila's family, and these are her youngest siblings. There is something I absolutely love about taking pictures of children. They are not afraid to express themselves and they don't hide their emotions. They have this way about them that allows their personalities to shine through effortlessly. These two beautiful kids warm your heart with their smiling eyes and they capture innocence in the purest form.  

Collin and Mackenzie {Couple}

Collin and Mackenzie will both be juniors at Augustana where they will be majoring in music. They not only share a passion for music, they share a special friendship and love for one another. These two were naturals behind the camera and made my job effortless. Thanks for a fun night!