Family portraits have become my favorite part of my career. It’s your kids. They’re that cool. 

They are also funnier than most adults, more open to being thrown into the air, and they really appreciate the value of an M&M. 

Your kids are growing up literally in front of my eyes and on my iMac screen.

I cried with joy in the corner at their adoption ceremony when they were toddlers, and now they are helping me corral the younger kids. 

I recognize your youngest baby’s scowl, because her big sister has the same one. 

Your oldest just got his braces off, and I remember shaking his baby hand at 7 months old. 

Like at this point, I hope you stick with me because I wanna find out what happens next for your family. 

I can’t bring myself to delete really old family portrait sessions on my archive drives because I’m too sentimental.

I also save every single Christmas card you send me with the photos I captured of your family.

I notice when you lose a loved one, and see you chose a photo I took for their memorial. I am immediately back behind my camera in that moment that I took it, when things were happier, and I’m mourning with you.

Simply put: you all make a really big impact on me, and I am grateful. and a sap.

Oh and: I’m so immature.

I perform as an adult as much as I can but my god, I hate this. It’s a massive game of me telling myself to not laugh, and be a good example.

But when I’m working with your kiddos, I get to be myself. So when your rebel heart snaps and boots a pumpkin? or hey when your middle child tries to pee in the middle of a public flowerbed,  I’m going to laugh. Howl. I’m going to clap, and photograph it. Then I am going to remember it forever. It’s gonna be a funny story I tell when people ask me how work is going. 

My heart bursts when they remember me. I love that you let them jump on the bed or have candy for photos, because then they associate me with fun and treats. You have turned me from a chore to a fun 15-30 minutes with “Miss Jennie” (which btw like how cute)

So I love this job. I love scouting new locations with my headphones on, while I dance through a corn maze at 10am. 

I love driving to your house with my music playing and seat warmers blazing. 

I love every single midwestern goodbye that I torture your husbands with. (I’M SORRY)

Thank you for being apart of my life.

Three quick unrelated items:

I would eat significantly more raisins and blueberries if somebody could assure me that all stems were completely removed. I would pay extra for a 100% stem free box of raisins, however I am not sure how much is too much for raisins. TBD.

I wish everyone would omit the Oreo crumbles from the top of the dirt sundae. It gets stale and it’s a waste. If we all just served the crumbles on the side with a spoon, for the love of god, it would correct this. PLUS, its less work for the preparer.

Would you believe that chocolate flavored Teddy Grahams are sold out in every single Target in 50 miles with the exception of East Liberty?

Are the ‘grams on strike? 

^^^^ My Dude. <3