When I began photographing people as a service, I didn't expect much else than a simple exchange: we go out to a location, have fun and take some photos, and then I deliver them to you and we go our separate ways until you need my services again.

If I only knew how wrong I was!

As a photographer, I get a peek inside people's lives. I get to see new mothers in their most vulnerable state, teenagers on the brink of adulthood, and I get to freeze time for growing and changing families. It is truly an honor to be a part of such Shari and Noah, April 2012 special moments and it has brought me to tears on more than one occasion.

There's a family that I have been photographing for about six years now and the growth and development I have seen is something that money can't buy. Our first session, little Noah was a newborn baby and we walked around the park as I awkwardly tried to pose the family and capture their authentic happiness. Over the years, as we all have grown, I have had the honor of photographing Noah growing up, Frances meeting the love of her life and welcoming both him and his son into the entire family with open  Frances, Mark, and Hayden; April 2014 arms, and Ashley and Darnell welcoming another baby boy into their lives, Nehemiah.

What they don't tell you is that you become incredibly attached to your clients. In fact, the word "client" is odd to me because I have bonded with this family to the point of promoting them to friends.

This year, when my Grandpa Jack passed away, I was absolutely devastated. It felt like my life completely shut down, my world stopped turning, and I was lost. Less than a week after he passed, I had a session scheduled with this family and I was so nervous about going because I was afraid I would break down during the session and completely ruin the experience for them. That week, I barely got out of bed, couldn't go to work, and barely ate. I reached out to them and let them know what was going on but made it clear that I still wanted to do the session because I knew that getting out and being around them would lift my spirits. The session remained scheduled for that day.

When I arrived at the location, I walked some of the trails in search of a few ideal spots for us to shoot. The garden they chose was stunning and I already felt better just getting out of bed and stepping back into the world. Then they arrived. Moments later, my anxiety was subsided and we were laughing, catching up, and shooting.

This session is probably the most special session I have ever had the honor of shooting. Near the end, during family portraits, Mark got down on one knee and completely surprised Frances with a proposal that we had been planning for a couple weeks. Even though I knew it was coming, in this moment, my eyes filled with tears and an entirely new love for photography swept over me. Here I was, documenting this incredible and meaningful memory for this family, and it humored me that they thought I was helping them.

Mark proposes to Frances, July 2017

They didn't know the darkness that enveloped my world, the sadness that had taken over my entire being, or the lack of motivation I had to even care for myself but they sure did know how to shine some light and help me begin my recovery. Frances hugs Hayden after saying "yes" to Mark's proposal, July 2017 - a very special moment between step son and step mother.

This is a true testament to the power of human relationships. I truly believe that if you're in portraiture for the money, you're not going to find joy or reward in what you are doing. The joy that I experience from portraiture and photography in general has nothing to do with money or anything tangible. It has always been - and always will be - the feeling. Whether my subject is a family, a landscape, or something abstract, my true passion comes alive when my heart is involved. The intimate conversations that happen during a session, the complete trust between a client and the photographer - this is what I live for and what I work for.

I am so incredibly blessed to have been welcomed into so many lives as a result of my art and I am honored to work with each and every individual that has ever stepped in front of my lens.

Thank you, as always, for allowing me to do what I love and to be a part of some of your most vulnerable memories. This is not something that I take lightly and will cherish forever.

I dedicate this post to the Knaust family: Shari, Frances, Mark, Hayden, Ashley, Darnell, Noah, Nehemiah, Donnie - thank you for choosing me as your photographer. You all are more special to me than I could ever express with words and I am honored to be the one that gets to capture your family. I simply adore all of you.

Ashley, Shari, Frances; July 2017

Hayden, Frances, Mark; July 2017

Darnell, Noah, Nehemiah, Ashley; July 2017