We visited the Great Lakes State earlier this month for my family’s reunion. Much of the annual weekend is spent lounging on the beach, catching up with aunts, uncles and cousins, and sipping on the various “drinks of the day.” It’s fan-tastic!

This year we took time out to shoot some new portraits of my cousin’s family to commemorate the addition of Baby Harper. The short walk from the cottage to the beach and back provided a handful of settings and enough time to capture a lovely summer collection. The morning light, the breeze off Lake Michigan and the sun-kissed faces were icing on the cake. Here’s a sample of the collection…

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“The art of love… is largely the art of persistence.”
-Albert Ellis

Kimberly+Travis met in high school, but it would be years before love would bring them together. Maybe Travis knew all along. Before they started dating, he told Kim that one day he was going to marry her, and he didn’t stop asking her out until she said yes. Lucky for both, she gave in. The couple will exchange vows in her family’s backyard this weekend…and at long last, Travis’ persistence will have paid off. Cheers to this adorably charming couple!

There’s an old proverb — “Cousins by chance, friends by choice.” It’s certainly true in my life. I am lucky to have many cousins, all of whom I adore. The older we all get, the more I like them for who they are & not just because we’re related. They are a link to my past & our family history — one our children will share in the future when we’re gone. I take comfort in that.

Little Libby is lucky to have three fantastic cousins of her own. They look out for her, they tease her & someday they’ll be telling her stories of when she was a baby. They’ll always be connected. And if spending an afternoon with them is enough to predict the future, they’ll always be friends.

I love photography & I love my family, so when the two are combined it makes for a wonderful day. This shoot was no exception. Greg’s sister & her family came to our neck of the woods for family portraits & some good ol’ quality time. Distance & busy schedules keep us from seeing them as much as we’d like, & our niece is growing up so fast. Seems like only yesterday she was cautiously sampling the icing from her first birthday cupcake, & now she has blossomed into this sweet, sensitive, yet super silly little girl. She melts my heart…and she has her uncle wrapped around her finger.

I was eager to shoot portraits of Matt + Jenn and their adorable brood for the family’s Christmas card. It was Baby Hannah’s first Christmas, which made the portrait even more special. All dolled up in holiday red with the tots buckled in to their Radio Flyer, the family & I walked from their home to a nearby bridge for the session. It lasted exactly 45 minutes from first click to last. And the family walked away with 70 different photos. Rather good-looking photos, if I do say so myself. Was it the morning light? The camera I was using? I’d like to think it was my creative direction & efficient skills. But I may have to chalk this one up to the picture-perfect subjects :)  Happy holidays!