Macy + Merlin | Reading Museum Engagement Session | Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Next up on the blog-catch-up marathon are Macy and Merlin! We met up at the Reading Museum for their engagement session this past fall - you can tell by their outfits that this photoshoot didn’t take place recently! This is another session that fell victim to my crazy fall photography and dissertation schedule and was skipped over on my blog - until now!

Macy and Merlin are getting married this coming November, and I am so excited to be able to celebrate with them! They were so relaxed during their session, and so easy to work with. They were also incredibly fun - and even more in love - which is going to make for fantastic wedding day photos! I’m so honored to be the one capturing their love story for them, and I hope you enjoy these photos from their engagement session.

Jill + Steve | Reading Museum Couple's Session | Wyomissing Pennsylvania Portrait Photographer

The majority of my time is spent photographing engaged couples and their wedding celebrations.  It's not often that I get couples in front of my camera that have been happily married for years.  My time spent hanging out with Jill and Steve at the Reading Museum a few weeks ago showed me that I need more of these sessions in my life.

Jill is a fellow photographer, so my anxiety was a little higher than usual at the beginning of our session.  (I always get nervous before a session - it's just how I am wired.)  I brought my husband along to assist that evening, because he's known Jill and Steve for a while and I knew we would make a great team.  As soon as our session started, my nerves dissipated.  The four of us had amazing chemistry together - sparked by our mutual love of snowboarding, and solidified by our light-hearted silliness.

The entire session, Jill and Steve looked at each other as if they were newlyweds.  Their love is palpable and inspiring.  Everyone needs a couple like Jill and Steve in their lives to remind them that true love is real and possible.  This may sound cheesy, but I really am a better person after spending time interacting with them at our photoshoot.  If you know Jill and Steve, I'm sure you understand.

Jill and Steve, thank you for asking me to capture these moments for you.  I had such a great time, and I'm looking forward to making more memories together (both off and on the snow)!

Camden | A Gold Hope Project Fighter Session | Berks County Pennsylvania Photographer

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by The Gold Hope Project, asking if I could photograph a "fighter session" for a local family.  When I saw the email come through, I was simultaneously excited and saddened.  I knew this email meant that I had the chance to use my photography to help someone in need, but at the same time I knew that it meant that a local family had a child who was fighting cancer.  I'm always looking for ways to use my passion to bring joy to others, so I instantly agreed to take on the session.  The Gold Hope Project quickly responded with the family's contact information and a brief synopsis of their fighter's story.

Camden is a 22-month old boy who is fighting Stage 4 High Risk Neuroblastoma.  Camden has been a fighter his entire life.  He was born in November 2015 with a condition known as Gastroschisis, which is when there is a hole in the abdomen that gives space for the intestines to be outside of the body.  After being treated for that condition immediately after his birth, he was finally able to go home to be with his family.  However, he started getting very sick, requiring additional hospital stays.  In November 2016, he was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma.  Since then, this amazing little boy has undergone chemotherapy, surgeries, and radiation. He has been living in the hospital on and off for the past 10 months, and his mom has not been able to work since he was diagnosed, so that she is able to care for him and drive him back and forth from CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) on a regular basis.

After reading about Camden's story in The Gold Hope Project email and on Camden's Facebook page, I wasn't sure what to expect at our photoshoot.  I wasn't sure how long his energy would hold out during our photoshoot, or what type of mood he would be in.  I decided to show up without a plan, and to let Camden run the show.

When I arrived, all of my worries were instantly put to ease.  Camden is one of the happiest almost-2-year-olds I have ever met in my life.  His smile and curiosity are contagious, and I could barely keep up with him!  He loved exploring the Reading Museum grounds during our photoshoot, and I loved following him around with my camera.  Camden's mom, dad, brother, and sister joined the photoshoot as well, and we were able to get a bunch of great family photos during our time together.  My favorite part was just hanging back and capturing Camden interacting with his family members, playing with the signs his mom made for the photoshoot, and waving sticks around.  He acts like any other toddler, and just by looking at him and playing with him you would never know the battle that he and his family are currently fighting.  This little boy is so full of life, and his light was shining very brightly during our brief time together.

I would like to thank The Gold Hope Project for giving me this opportunity to help a local family in need.  Most of all, I would like to thank Camden and his family for allowing me into their lives, and for reminding me of what is truly important - family and love and hope.

For more information on Camden's journey, click here.

There is a GoFundMe campaign set up for Camden here.

For The Gold Hope Project's website, click here.

For The Gold Hope Project's Facebook page, click here.

Kaiya and Mitch | Wilson HS and Cocalico HS Proms | Berks County High School Senior Photographer

My oldest daughter, Kaiya, is a senior at Wilson High School.  Last year, as a junior, she decided to forego prom.  She wanted to wait until this year to attend.  This year rolled around, and she ended up going to not one, but two proms!  Her boyfriend, Mitch, is a senior at Cocalico High School.  So, they attended his prom on April 22nd and her prom on May 6th.

Cocalico's prom took place at The Eden Resort and Suites in Lancaster.  I was shooting a wedding that day and was unable to take prom photos, but I came up with a backup plan.  Kaiya and Mitch agreed to stop by the Reading Museum so my friend and fellow photographer April Westhafer could snap a few photos of them (which I later edited).

For Cocalico's prom, Kaiya wore a stunning navy dress from Rent the Runway.  I love that website and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a dress for a special event or photoshoot, without the added commitment of purchasing it!  Kaiya's hair and make-up were done at Iron Roots Salon in West Reading.  Mitch rented his tux from Fifty-Fifty Tuxedos in Sinking Spring.

Wilson's prom took place at the Wilson High School.  Since Kaiya and Mitch had a "floral" backdrop for their first set of photos, we decided to go with more of an urban backdrop for this session.  This time we ended up at the GoggleWorks.  (This is also the location of my new photography studio which will be opening in June!!)

For Wilson's prom, Kaiya wore a gorgeous navy dress from Macy's in New York City and elegant nude heels (also from Macy's).  (Big thanks to her aunt Amy and uncle Yoshi for offering to take her on a prom shopping excursion in NYC!)   Kaiya purchased material on Etsy and made her own beautiful choker!  Kaiya's hair and make-up were again done at Iron Roots Salon in West Reading.  Mitch rented his tux from Fifty-Fifty Tuxedos in Sinking Spring.

Here are a ton of photos from both April 22nd and May 6th.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!  I can't believe how quickly my little girl has grown up, and I'm so amazed at the gorgeous, talented, strong young woman who she has become.  I will forever cherish these photos and memories.  Thank you, Kaiya and Mitch, for taking the time out of your hectic prom days to create these photos with us!  You both looked absolutely incredible at both of your proms!

A First Holy Communion Session - for Twins! | Wyomissing, PA Children's Photographer

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of capturing photos for the Mauro Family, to celebrate their twin daughters' upcoming first Holy Communion.  These young ladies were so much fun to photograph!!  They were so happy, so cooperative, so full of energy, and so adorable!!  As we were getting ready to begin our photoshoot, I found out that it was their birthday, too!  I'm honored that they took time out of their celebration to come hang out with me and my camera!!

I love how these photos turned out, and I have been so eager to share these!  (I promised their mom that I would wait until the day of their first Holy Communion to share them on my website.)  I hope that their smiles, hugs, and dance moves put a smile on your face as well.

Congratulations, Mauro Family!!! 

Reading, Pennsylvania Senior Session | Colleen, Wilson HS Class of 2017

Last week, I met up with Colleen and her mom to photograph Part 1 of Colleen's high school senior portraits.  We'll be reconvening in the spring for Part 2.  I have been photographing Colleen's family for a few years now, and I always enjoy our time together.  They are some of the most positive, upbeat, caring people I know.  It was an honor capturing this special time Colleen's life for them (complete with a dinosaur photobomb!), and I'm already getting excited for our next session!  Congratulations, Colleen, and best of luck to everyone in the Wilson High School Class of 2017!!

Reading Museum | Weaver Family Session

It seems like just yesterday I photographed David's newborn session.  It's so hard to believe that this amazing little man turned 2 recently!!  David's favorite color is yellow, so I suggested we venture out to this spot that had a field full of tiny yellow flowers!  Here are a few images from our Spring photoshoot at the Reading Museum!