a montage of the shared love, strength and faith between one family

one AMAZING family.































nick schaap. you are an INSPIRATION.



thank you.

sassy lil ballerinas, a sweet blue-eyed boy, and a side of cake

mini dance breakdowns including fast spinning twirls and some fly breakdancing, tickle sessions from my dear birdie friend whom often sits on my shoulder (sometimes head) as my assistant, sticker sticking, cake mashing (and a whole lot of eating of it, too- by everyone),cars racing through tubes, some supermodel breaks (and maybe a few breakdowns but we will never tell...),and the finale of bathtime in a sink.
all before noon. but you would never have known it.

my *very* favorite image of the day.

and so it unfolds...

two sweet, lil sassy ballerinas.
(really, tutus bring out the sass in all of us. especially the pink ones.)

one with big ol gorgeous brown eyes...

and the sweetest, most sincere laugh.







the other with bright, blue curious eyes......

and the most squishy, kissable cheekers. my favorite.





did I mention the adorable, blonde hair, blue eyed, super awesome big brother?

(a superhero undercover, actually, saving us from a many of meltdowns with his gentle, sweet soul)




it doesn't get any more fun than this.




well, maybe it does. one word: cake.



and a one year old on a mission.

(who me??)

yes this may have been the best morning ever.

what better way to complete a fairytale beginning than with a magical star wand





and a warm, sunlit bath.


and they were happy.

ever after.

super *cool* senior shoot

*cool* in more ways than one....but you would never have known the blistering winds were a whipping as we strolled around downtown grand haven like it was our business to get some fantastic rock star shots of *thee* super awesome tommy lee...
great laugh, great taste in music (hello jack johnson and the beatles), great hair (so NOT like adam lambert, though he is a rocker himself..) great style. and did I mention he is also an artist? yeah. cool definitely applies here.
sometimes waiting until the last minute, well, is a good thing. especially when you capture some fabulous images like these during a mini session in the midst of winter's fury...

yeah. like Elvis cool. I know.








and the tags that adorned his neck throughout our shoot? his *mother's*

if that isn't the definition of cool, well, then I think cool needs to be redefined.

I almost forgot how much I adore working with high school seniors. so much anticipation and enthusiasm for what is waiting for them tomorrow, so many dreams for what that tomorrow can and WILL be. so much style and personality and not afraid to be who they are. so much coolness.

tommy lee, you are awesome.

thanks for trudging through snow and crazy wind tunnels with me.
rock on with your super awesome self.

*always*

beautiful baby boy brookston

though itty, bitty brookston was adamant to take it all in for his very first shoot, we were patient. he ate a little while minnie took a walk around the block. he gave us wide-eyed glimpses into those precious baby blues. I melted. snapped images uncontrollably. and minnie continued her walk, checking out the mounds of snow surrounding us (I explained no coat, no going outside, minnie. many, many times.) he cuddled with mama. grasping thumbs. ate again. and maybe again. minnie took a well deserved break. and finally.....
the boy slept. peacefully. happily. with a few grunts here and there. just to let us know who exactly was in charge. (all nine pounds of him to be certain)
but we were patient. and it was so worth the wait.

one of my most favorite images ever. dear babies. please always stay this little and sweet.

cuddling with teddies and soft, cozy blankets...(adore)






and teeny, weeny toesies all wrapped up....






forever.





love, your family.

love these squishy, little lips.

did I mention melt-your-very-heart-on-the-spot blue eyes? really.

and the bestest and most softest baby fuzz in the history of baby fuzz.

big sister, shayla, not only brought dear minnie along but also a bucket full of kisses and hugs to plant on her brother. at any given moment. and there were many, many moments. she was in love.

I think the feeling is pretty mutual.

yeah. pretty much.




















dear brookston,


please stay this little and sweet forever. for you, I don't think that is going to be a problem.