Photographing an amazing photographer . . . Becky Novacek

Two weekends ago I got the opportunity to spend some time with the Novacek family. Becky Novacek is a beautiful and talented photographer that I am thankful to call my friend. Please go check out her site and fill up on beautiful words of wisdom as well as some spectacular photography! This girl is about as sweet as they come. I am forever inspired by her creative works. She is so good at writing from the heart and I strive to open up and share like her.

Last year she photographed my family and I couldn’t have been happier. She asked me about getting together with her family for a shoot this fall and I knew it would be fun. I couldn’t have expected the gorgeous scene that I drove up to. It looked like a commercial photoshoot! She had borrowed an old vintage truck from her vet and even had the family sofa set up outside in the fall elements. It was the coolest scene! And I’m so glad the weather held out for us that day. It was a little overcast and windy but way better than rain!

So I’ll quit my yapping and show you the photos we got with her beautiful family. I couldn’t decide which was better, the sweet props we had to use or her great-looking family! I loved seeing all these families come together to make one big loving one. I know you won’t believe me if I tell you but Becky is a Grandma (I believe her grand-kids call her “Mimi”) My main goal was to get a photo with her and her husband and all the grand-kids.

Can’t you feel the love in this photo? This is such a special group of people. Everyone was so kind!

I also go to take some of just Becky and her husband Tom. They run into the same dilemna that Chuck and I do . . . we don’t have many photos together because I’m the one that’s usually behind the camera. I’m glad I got to photograph these two on their own. I know they have a very special relationship and it needs to be documented!

Thanks for having me Novacek Family! I really enjoyed my time with you.

Family portrait sessions are in full swing!

I’ve been photographing some beautiful families lately. I’lll have lots to blog about in the next couple of weeks. Stay tuned to see some great fall colors and cool new locations!

I really enjoy family sessions because during the shoot I’m on a conquest to get that perfect shot. The one that really captures the essence of their family. The ingredients for me involve *genuine* smiles, big hugs, and usually some great belly laughter. All it takes is one person to say something funny or to bring up an inside joke and I get to see their true family. You know, the same laughter that they share around the dinner table each night.

Here are a couple from a recent family shoot at one of my favorite places to shoot this time of year . . . Schramm Park.

Aren’t these kids adorable? Mom had them dressed in the cutest outfits too. At one point I got a little concerned that they were getting too dirty while they were playing and mom told me they had a little philosophy about dirt  . . . it comes off with a washcloth! Love it! A girl after my own heart. I totally relate especially since I grew up on five acres and played outside all day as a kid.

Check out these brown eyes

oh my is this little guy handsome! And he was so good at lookin’ cute! He didn’t even have to try. I had a ball photographing this family even though the humidity was close to unbearable. Thanks for working with me even though I know you were a little uncomfortable!

I sure hope Grandma Shari likes these images as much as I do.

Isn’t this last one of mom and dad alone romantic? Love it!

I will have the rest of your online gallery up in a day or two. You’re going to love your images!

Family Session

This family was so much fun to work with! Take that back, it wasn’t work . . . it was play. These girls were absolutely darling and such good sisters to each other. They played and shared and held hands just like mama asked them to.

We started off in the back yard and then went over to the lake for some more scenic shots. I’m glad they had as much fun as I did. These are the sessions when I realize how happy I am to be doing what I’m doing. These are the type of photos I want to capture everyday! We got photos of them loving each other, laughing, hugging . . . being together.

“Any man can be a father . . .

but it takes a special person to be a Dad.