The Jacoby Family | Outer Banks, NC Family Beach Session | Destination Portrait Photographer

Last week, I had the pleasure of meeting up with the Jacoby Family in North Carolina while we were all in the Outer Banks.  I was so glad that our visits overlapped, and that they asked me to photograph their family while I was there.  I have photographed Jeff, Jillian, Charlie, and Fritz a few times before, and I was excited for the opportunity to meet a few more members of their family!  They are such a fun family, and these kiddos always keep me laughing and on my toes chasing after them.  (You may remember Charlie and Fritz from my "holiday fail" photo that was shared by the Huffington Post a few years ago.  Without fail, it pops back up on the web every year at Christmas time!  We re-enacted the pose for a few laughs, and you'll see it in their sneak peeks below...) 

It had rained all week prior to our photoshoot, but the skies broke that morning and delivered sun, wind, heat, and humidity.  What a difference 24 hours made!  Normally, I can do without stereotypical summer weather, but I was just thankful for a day without rain.  I was long overdue for some fresh air and a workout, and this session was just what I needed!  Thanks for being such great sports in the wind and heat, Jacoby Family!  I love how the photos turned out, and I am always thankful for the time we spend together.

Jes + Chris + Ronan, Part 2 | St. Peter's Village Session | Chester County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Jes, Chris, and Ronan are lucky enough to have two blog posts dedicated to their love story!  Since it poured all day long on their wedding day (see that blog post here), I offered to meet up with them for more portraits on a later (and much sunnier) date.  They happily agreed, and a few weeks later they dressed up in their wedding outfits all over again (plus a floral crown!) and met me at St. Peter's Village.

Luckily, I brought my husband along to assist me.  Without the extra set of hands and eyes, I know I would have ended up falling on boulders and into the water - with thousands of dollars of camera gear attached to me.  I can be extra clumsy at times, especially at awesome locations like St. Pete's.  I'm extra impressed by Jes' and Chris' bouldering skills while donning formal wear!  We all escaped bruise free, and with great photos to memorialize our evening together.

Here are a few images from our adventures at St. Pete's.  Enjoy!

Marty's Baptism | Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church | Berks County Pennsylvania Family Photographer

Marty was recently baptized at the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, PA.  This was the second Greek Orthodox baptism I have observed, and it was just as beautiful to witness as the first one.  (The first one happened to be Marty's sister's baptism.  You can view those images here.)  I was honored when Marty's family asked me to photograph his baptism just a little over a year after I photographed his sister Annabella's ceremony.  His baptism date was very close to his first birthday, so we were celebrating that milestone on this day as well.

After the ceremony, the celebration continued at Dan's Restaurant in Green Hills.  The food at Dan's is always incredible, and the baptism and birthday cakes they had ordered were absolutely amazing!  Just like last time, care was taken to celebrate all of the children and loved ones in attendance.

Here is a small selection of photos from Marty's baptism and luncheon.  Thank you again to this wonderful family.

The Hulslander Family | Flatirons, Chautauqua Park Family Session | Boulder, Colorado Photographer

 

Hello from Colorado! I always love visiting Boulder - especially when I get to photograph this awesome family while I'm here!

This is my 4th time photographing the Hulslander Family. It has been such a joy watching their little boy grow up - he has so much personality and energy! This family's love and happiness are contagious, and I'm so thankful for their friendship.

We met up at Chautauqua Park to create a few photos in front of the iconic Flatirons.  After slipping around on the icy path, and squinting from the full sun reflecting off the snow, we decided to head to the Boulder Public Library and Pearl Street to finish our session there.

Thanks for hanging with me on this chilly morning, Hulslander Family! I'm so glad that we reconnected through my photography and my regular trips to Colorado.  I'm looking forward to more visits in the future!

Snow Day Fun With Momo The Shiba Inu - On The Second Day Of Spring! | Berks County Pet Photographer

I've been so busy lately that I haven't made much time to take pictures just for me, just for fun.  When winter storm Toby arrived today and gifted us with over 12 inches of snow, my work plans had to be rearranged.  (I'm not complaining at all - I'm actually very thankful for the unexpected day off!)  My Shiba Inu, Momo, absolutely loves the snow - so when she refused to come inside and warm up, I decided to join her outside and take a few photos of her snow day shenanigans.  Winter is my favorite season, and I'm really sad to have to say goodbye to it.  So, I'm extra thankful for this early spring gift from Mother Nature!  Finally, a storm that didn't miss us...

The Mauro Family | Historic Shady Lane | Central Pennsylvania Children and Family Photographer

If you live on the east coast, you may have noticed that the temperatures have been a bit on the colder side lately.  I thought I would add some warmth to your hearts by sharing this fun session from November!  Now that holiday cards have all been sent out, it's safe for me to start sharing some of my end-of-year photoshoots that I've been keeping under wraps.

Thank you, Mauro Family, for driving out to Historic Shady Lane for your family photoshoot this fall!  I love the images we made together, and I hope you walked away with some amazing memories as well.  Whenever I photograph this family, I find that my mouth is sore at the end of the session from smiling and laughing so much during our time together.

This was such an incredible venue, and I definitely plan to go back for future sessions!  If you're ever in York, you have to check out this gorgeous gem!

 

 

The Gwiazdowsky Family | A Fall Session at Gring's Mill | Berks County Photographer

I recently met up with the Gwiazdowsky Family at Gring's Mill to create their family portraits.  This session was a long time in the making!  I was booked months ago, and we had originally planned for a summer session, but life (and a cast) got in the way and we had to postpone.

Things have a way of working out for the best, and this was no exception.  The light was incredible that morning, the temperature was perfect, and we had the park practically to ourselves.

I'm incredibly thankful that I am trusted by so many families to capture these moments for them.  Here are a few of my favorites from their photoshoot. 

An Extra Special Engagement Session | Wyomissing Park | Berks County Pennsylvania Wedding Photographer

Last weekend, I had the honor of photographing Rachel and Mark's engagement session.  I was one of Rachel's high school math teachers more years ago than I care to share, and I was thrilled when she reached out and asked me to be her and Mark's wedding photographer.  I love how my education and photography passions continue to bring and keep amazing people in my life.

We had some extra special guests at this engagement session - Rachel and Mark's son Gavin and pup Venus decided to come along and hop into a few photos!  I'm so glad they decided to get their entire family involved, and I am so looking forward to photographing their wedding in just over one week!!  

Thanks again for this opportunity, and thank you for putting up with the extra-aggressive bugs that afternoon at the Wyomissing Park!  I love how your photos turned out, and I hope you do as well.

See you in a week!

The Jines Family | Christmas Mini Sessions | Reading, Pennsylvania GoggleWorks Studio Photographer

I know with Halloween still a few weeks away, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter and Christmas.  The weather finally started cooling off to fall temperatures over the past few days, and where I live many of the leaves haven't even started changing colors yet.  However, due to a booked fall calendar, I had to offer my Christmas mini sessions a bit earlier than usual this year.  All of my sessions sold out for this past Sunday, and both repeat clients and new clients came to visit me from near and far.  (Some families were local, and some drove all the way out from the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas!)  I had six different backdrops to choose from, and each of my sessions turned out great!  All of the kids were so much fun to work with - I even had to dodge snow balls that made their way right to my camera lens!  (These kids had great aim!)

I'm so thankful for my clients who made the time to drive out and visit me at my GoggleWorks studio in Reading yesterday.  It was such a pleasure photographing your children and spending time with your families.  I hope you enjoy these previews from your session.

If anyone else wants to get in on the action, I still have some openings for my mini sessions being held on Friday, November 3rd!  Click here for more information or to book:  http://carriekizukaphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/winter-christmas-studio-mini-sessions

Up now - the Jines Family!  I had the honor of capturing some lifestyle photos for them in their home outside of Philadelphia after Charlotte was born earlier this year, and I was thrilled when they signed up for a Christmas mini session!  Charlotte has grown so much since I last saw her, and she is developing quite an amazing personality!  She was my last client of the day, and I haven't stopped smiling since.  I hope you enjoy these fun previews as much as I do!

 

 

 

The Pittman Brothers | Christmas Mini Sessions | Reading, Pennsylvania GoggleWorks Studio Photographer

I know with Halloween still a few weeks away, it's a bit early to start thinking about winter and Christmas.  The weather finally started cooling off to fall temperatures over the past few days, and where I live many of the leaves haven't even started changing colors yet.  However, due to a booked fall calendar, I had to offer my Christmas mini sessions a bit earlier than usual this year.  All of my sessions sold out for this past Sunday, and both repeat clients and new clients came to visit me from near and far.  (Some families were local, and some drove all the way out from the Harrisburg and Philadelphia areas!)  I had six different backdrops to choose from, and each of my sessions turned out great!  All of the kids were so much fun to work with - I even had to dodge snow balls that made their way right to my camera lens!  (These kids had great aim!)

I'm so thankful for my clients who made the time to drive out and visit me at my GoggleWorks studio in Reading yesterday.  It was such a pleasure photographing your children and spending time with your families.  I hope you enjoy these previews from your session.

If anyone else wants to get in on the action, I still have some openings for my mini sessions being held on Friday, November 3rd!  Click here for more information or to book:  http://carriekizukaphotographyllc.bigcartel.com/product/winter-christmas-studio-mini-sessions

Up now - the Pittman brothers!  This family was one of my first clients when I just started offering photography services, and I have had the honor of watching these two awesome little men grow up in front of my lens!  They are always so full of energy and joy, and I'm already looking forward to our next session together, whenever that may be.  Thank you so much for stopping by!