a heavy heart

This session was one of my most emotion filled and though filled sessions I think I have ever had. I fought back tears both times I met this wonderful woman and heard a tiny piece of her story that has unfolded over the last year.

I met Amber at a dear friends baby shower and then again at the hospital when baby Micah was born. It was then when she asked me to do this photo session for her. You see, next week (thursday to be exact) is the 1 year anniversary of her husbands death. I remember hearing about her husband Bryce Howard on the news last year. He was the first soldier from SW Washington to be killed in Afghanistan and he left behind a beautiful wife and two wonderful sons that melted my heart. I cannot put into words anything that would do this beautiful family justice. I am both humbled and honored that she asked me to capture this for her and I hope that my blog readers will leave her a little comment and cyber hug as this next week I am sure will be tough for her and her family.

I am of course doing my comment contest, especially for this deserving momma.....so after this post gets 25 comments, Amber will get to pick out her favorite photo to be printing in 11x14. PLEASE NO ANONYMOUS COMMENTS, simply type your name at the bottom of the message. (0:







Is this little stinker not the cutest thing. He just had me grinning ear to ear during our session. He was so stinkin sweet. I wanted to bring him home with me.




mr serious here didn't want anything to do with giving me smiles. I finally got some good ones after his silly faces. Such a sweet kiddo.


I just love how serious he looks

do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them Sam I Am. - Vancouver, WA/Portland, OR Family Photographer

A fun, fun, fun family that trooped through the pouring rain this day to capture some very special moments. They drove an hour to see me, only to be greeted with dark skies and pouring down rain. It was my only day I could take their pictures before they move so we knew that had to be taken. Thankfully a dear, dear photographer friend Shari reminded me of the exact location that I had just shot a wedding at less than a week before. Long covered porches in cool old building was our only hope and I am so glad we did. You would never know by looking at these that the weather a few inches away was just oogy. I scored this way cool old desk from this client at their last session and have been dying to try it out. I love it. Thank you Lyndsey
for the amazing desk and thank you Ben and kiddos for trecking in the rain with me to try it out (0: