“Tis the season for Christmas cookies and shopping and jingle bells and Christmas cards…..and 2010 weddings which means today’s engagement sessions.

And I love meeting  “in love” people…it makes me happier than all the Christmas cookies. Even the chocolate marshmallow kind and they are the very, very best.

They met as kindergartners in Sunday school class, grew up together, and well….today it is gonna be forever.

He says, “Her eyes. Her smile….yeah. And I love how pretty and funny she is.”

She says, “I love how he makes me laugh. I can’t help it….I beam when he is around. Nobody makes me happier than my man.”

They love going to the cabin, visiting the beach, and riding motorcycle.

Life is simple. Life is sweet when side by side with the one you love.

And these two couldn’t be happier together.

Looking forward to their big day in the spring. Stop here to see their slide show.

Thanks to sweet Jolyn from In His Image Photography for working with me during this shoot.

Meet Austin and Amy…

Amy will make a gorgeous bride. For sure.

Personality at it’s finest.

Sometimes it is tough, believe me I know…to be relaxed in front of the camera. But these these two made light heart of the situation and lots of laughter did the trick.

They share the same visions, values, and passions.

Finish each others sentences.

Find ways to make each other laugh.

Try new food and find new music together.

And explore the city side be side.

Meet this wonderful couple… Casey and Kerri.

Go here to see their slide show.

In Kerri’s words….

I love his genuine outlook on life.  In his own way, he makes things simple and is never afraid to be himself.

He allows me to be me and supports my passions and goals.  He cares about my family and friends.

I love his big green eyes and his crazy curly hair.

And I LOVE how he makes me laugh all the time.

In Casey’s words….

I love her passion for changing the world.

I never know what to expect from her…she keeps me on my toes.

She is strong willed and determined and doesn’t even know how much confidence she has. I love this about her.

She is beautiful. I love her Asian eyes and she is gorgeous with no makeup on.

And she makes me laugh like no one else.

I love capturing character and the realness of my subjects.

When Kerri started describing to me what her and Casey would like to include in the shoot, I was thrilled. We chose Lancaster city as the location.

As seen above, Casey and Kerri love catching up with coffee and this local paper from their college town….reading up on the latest happenings or maybe learning about a nearby, undiscovered restaurant.

Looking forward to their big day in spring…hearing Kerri talk about the details, I am positive it will be absolutely beautiful.

Casey has a passion for records…

Kerri is beautiful and wasn’t phased be the wind we had that morning.

He has a huge grin and an infectious laugh. Sure, he is might be an avid hunter and a rugged outdoorsman, but it is obvious his heart is all hers.

She is beautiful…kind, sweet, and has a heart of gold. As an elementary teacher, I am sure her students adore her.

Life is so rich and colorful with the one you love by your side.

Bill and Missy are promising forever.

Loved them…I absolutely loved working with them!

If you like, see their slide show here.

We started out on Bill’s family’s tree farm. Beautiful property.

Love the softness…

and the emotion.

Several Family Days are coming up in the next few weeks. All were full…until a family needed to cancel yesterday.

You wanna jump in?!!

Details: This Saturday, October 3rd in Berks County at a sweet urban location.

Go here for more information. Email here if interested.

And because a post is just a little boring without a photo, here is a photo of a fine couple taken at last evening’s engagement session.

More to come. Happy Wednesday!

It is quite simple…

They are elated to be the other’s…overjoyed to be planning forever together.

Life is not complicated at all…they are getting married and life is good.

They will spend time together just to be together….what to do is not of that much importance.

But horseback riding and friends are favorites.

She admires his kind heart, charming personality, and loves that he would do anything for anybody.

He knows she is the sweetest girl ever and loves her happy, amiable personality.

Looking forward to their big day!

Meet Lavern and Fannie Lynn….

It is the way he looks at her, like he is seeing her for the first time. It is the way she smiles when he holds her tight, like she is safest in his arms. Nicole looks at the world with a  brilliant smile and a lightheartedness. Jayce nods, encourages, and grins at her. She says, “I love the way he is a mm…mmmm football player; sharp as a razor and all wrapped up in the most caring, charitable soul I have ever seen.”

They love just being. Curling up on the couch or on a picnic blanket next to each other. Dreaming about the future. Watching movies or football. Rambling conversations. Just being.

The past six months included “big” stuff…getting engaged, graduating from college, buying a home, getting new full time jobs, and planning a wedding and honeymoon. It is the little things that they are looking forward to now. Like going no farther than Home Depot on a weekend and sharing a living room. Nicole says she is looking forward to trying to prepare a hot dinner on time and Jayce is excited to get out his tool belt and fix up the house.

The wedding is coming up in a few short weeks. I am so looking forward to it…certain it will be gorgeous. See their slide show here.

Meet Jayce and Nicole.

Nicole had several locations picked out in her home town…loved this! This gorgeous church was superb for photos.

The next stop was a pretty horse farm. A pond with a canoe created an excellent prop.

He says….”Her personality and then her smile….yeah, love it!”

She says….”He always treats me like a queen and has a gumption for life…..oh, I can’t help but love him!”

They make each other shine! His eyes crinkle and hers sparkle when they are together. Spending time together outside, watching “The Office”, long chats, playing games….simply being side by side.

So they met through friends. Normal. Yes, but life will never ever be the same. “Will you marry me” spelled in red roses….oh, and life just got so much sweeter.

They are wonderful and I am so excited for their wedding this fall!

See their slide show here!

Lindsay and Daryl had several locations picked out in their hometown. Came across this tractor…

Hey, cows make a great backdrop! Taken on Lindsay’s home farm….

I told Lindsay to incorporate anything that represents them….loved their thoughts on this! Daryl has volleyball mastered…coaches and plays. Lindsay is always on the sideline rooting for her man.

Daryl has been renovating this beautiful building. Lindsay, you will be a gorgeous bride…for sure!

Seriously, ten years? I mean, I know time goes fast and all…but how really did ten years happen?!!

Andrew is my man.

Ten years ago he promised forever and has stuck by my side ever since! Manned a paint brush when I established that yes indeed, our house needed new paint on all the walls…’cause sunshine yellow would be perfect, you see. Listened when all I could think and breathe was getting a “real nice” camera. Stopped his life with me when I sobbed uncontrollably over the loss of my mother. Was right there when my world seemed to be turned inside out with the arrival of our first son. Patiently gave support or maybe it was forbearance as I put hours and hours into training for a half marathon, tried on six outfits in the Target dressing room, and knew… yes knew that a DQ milkshake was imperative for life to continue.
Ten years. I thought I fully understood what it meant to love then. But after ten years, it looks so different. It’s better.
And it is really quite simple. You see, I am good. I can prepare a grilled cheese sandwich, paint my toenails pink, and answer emails all at once. But all he really wants is me. My heart. Me smiling at him. Maybe laughing at his jokes, being ummmm… excited about the NBA scores, or hearing out his plans and aspirations.
Andrew is mine and I love him, ten year kind of love…. with all my heart.
So boys are going to Grandma’s for the weekend, and we are jumping on a borrowed bike and going…well, really don’t know where yet. We just know we are going and that’s all that really matters.

Have a super weekend!

So genuine and real….and totally all smiles.

‘Cause, you see…they are gonna get married!

Looking forward to their day this fall!

See their slide show here!

Meet Leon and Katelyn…

June makes summer seem so official. I love summer. Love the warm sun, love blooming peonies, love burgers on the grill, love garden fresh spinach, and love the “no shoes” policy summer allows. But why does summer always go so fast?!! Always. It seems just as summer gets started, pools are closing and fall begins to show up. So sometimes I feel as if I am digging in my heels all summer saying…”No, another week gone again? Go away Christmas!!!”

“Life is what happens to you when you are busy making all the plans.”

I came across this quote and loved it! How often do we do that? Live for tomorrow?!! Planning and preparing and hoping or fretting about tomorrow while life happens today. Okay. So I will make the most of the warm sunshine. Pick a bouquet of Peonies for the kitchen table. Throw together a salad with greens from my very own neighborhood instead of California.

And relish the ease of kiddos being able to put on their on shoes!

Happy June! Happy Summer!