family

Mike, Emily and Sam are an outdoor family. They will spend most fall weekends, plus a week long vacation, in their camper at various state parks and campsites. Emily’s dream job would be planning hikes and outdoor adventures for others, and the whole family longs to live somewhere they can be surrounded by more open sky, more green and air so clear that you can see all the stars at night.

Family. Generations. These things are very important, and we often don’t think of it until we lose someone who is an integral part of our lives . . .

I met this sweet mom at a mom’s night out held by the organization where both of our son’s attend speech therapy. When we started talking about getting a photo session in before Christmas, I was thrilled that she would consider an in home session. We took advantage of our local neighborhood park, and captured some in home photos that portray the love and laughter that this family so clearly enjoys . . .

My friendship with Meredith dates back to early high school, with days of running around the ice rink where our brothers played hockey. We didn’t go to school together, and we lived an hour away from each other, but somehow a friendship developed that has endured over 20 years, and hopefully will continue for many more.

In the spring, I donated a family session as a silent auction item for the Greater Severna Park Mom’s Club annual gala to benefit Sarah’s House. Sarah’s House, established in 1987 through a partnership between Anne Arundel County, Catholic Charities and the U.S. Army, provides shelters, meals and other assistance to families in need in Anne Arundel County. I was pleased to hear that my session was one of the highest items bid upon, helping to raise money for this an institution that gives so much in my community. I didn’t know who had won the silent auction until August, when Amanda contacted me to set up her fall family session. 

Lizz and I have know each other since high school, but we hadn’t been in touch much since graduation. Last year, shortly after I decided to give Facebook another chance after my nearly 4 year hiatus, Lizz contacted me to inquire about my photography. She wanted some fall family photos for her Christmas cards and she enjoyed my photography, even if it was mostly photos of my boys at that point. I had a blast photographing Lizz, Richard, Bella and Natalie at the Naval Academy last fall and could only hope and pray that they enjoyed it as much as I did and would decide to have photos done with me again this year. 

It feels as if I have known the Palmer family my entire life. I went to elementary school with them, and Stephen is one of my brother’s closest friends. So I was very excited when Stephen contacted me last November to set up a family photo session as a Christmas gift for his mother.

It feels as if I’ve known Brad and Jess forever. I have at least know them since Bradford, who we used to refer to as Little Brad, was around my Noah’s age. He recently had a birthday and is now in the double digits . . . not so little anymore. My parents and Brad’s parents met as “neighbors” at the beach, as in they had condos in the same building and spent several summer weekends soaking up the sun and good company in the sand in Ocean City, Maryland. And whenever I go to the beach, even though my condo is 17 streets away, I always end up on the beach by their condo because their street just has this amazing sense of community. And that is where I got to know Jess, Brad, Bradford and Josie.