Let's Play Guitar {bolton family}
This precious family has always captured my eye. They are just so sweet and full of life!
This precious family has always captured my eye. They are just so sweet and full of life! It was such a wonderful afternoon wandering the park, playing guitar, and giggling! Rachel and Bryan are lovely to watch as parents and it's easy to see all the love this family has for one another! And can you even take the cuteness of George and Jude???
Supporting Best Buddies {fundraiser mini sessions}
Let's get real here… These were not your ordinary photo shoots… well they were, but the purpose behind them was a little different than just to get some family photos! I was recently nominated as a candidate for the 2014 Champion of the Year to support Best Buddies.
Let's get real here… These were not your ordinary photo shoots… well they were, but the purpose behind them was a little different than just to get some family photos! I was recently nominated as a candidate for the 2014 Champion of the Year to support Best Buddies. I was challenged to raise money ($5000 was my goal I set myself) for this non-profit organization that pairs people with disabilities into one-to-one friendships with their non-disabled peers. The vision of Best Buddies is to end the social isolation of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Helping individuals with disabilities has been a passion of mine for years. My brother has special needs and I watched him grow up without a lot of friends, but with a desire for friendship! There were a few people in high school who became genuine friends with him and these relationships transformed him and brought him out of the social isolation that he frequently felt. It would have been awesome for him to be a part of Best Buddies and have a constant friend in his life to fall his own and to have fun with.
I am now a special education teacher and I work everyday to teach my children that they are all unique and different and that everyone needs a friend, so we need to "spread the happiness" to others!
In one of my attempts to raise money for this organization, I organized a day full of mini photo shoots with all the proceeds going to Best Buddies. I was able to raise $1200 with this fundraiser alone. I would like to share some of the families that participated and helped me reach my goal.
This fundraising competition ends November 16th and we can still use your support! You can visit my Champion of the Year fundraising page, click on my name on the right and either donate or buy a ticket to attend "Party With a Purpose" There is also a silent auction that you can become involved in as well. I know there are a lot of children and their families that would be very grateful for your donation. Just remember, we all need a friend!
Thanks!
Jamie
To sum it up… we raised a good chunk of money for a great cause and had a blast doing so… To end this post, I want to leave you with a video of my friend and her buddy…
Â
Never Too Much {white family}
It is such a joy to be able to take pictures of families that I have previously worked with as a teacher.
It is such a joy to be able to take pictures of families that I have previously worked with as a teacher. The White family captured me from day one 3 years ago, and I am beyond thrilled to share these sweet pictures with you. Check out all those curls!
Engagement is Sweet {mark and julie}
What a darling couple! We had SO much fun with these pictures! I can't even believe they get married in a month and a half!
What a darling couple! We had SO much fun with these pictures! I can't even believe they get married in a month and a half! Mark and Julie are just gorgeous and definitely know how to have fun! As you can see, we had a little too much fun towards the end - memories were made! Congratulations you two!!!
Little Seedling {thiele family}
Such a charming little family! Tiffany was sweet enough to let me use her as a subject when she she was pregnant
Such a charming little family! Tiffany was sweet enough to let me use her as a subject when she she was pregnant and then allowed me to take pictures of darling Maddie when she was 3 months. Maddie is now 6 months and as cute as pie… we had such a lovely evening introducing her to watermelon! Babies are the BEST!
Almost There… {atkinson family}
What a beauty Dallas is. She makes being pregnant look good! At almost 8 months pregnant...
What a beauty Dallas is. She makes being pregnant look good! At almost 8 months pregnant, she wasn't feeling her best, but she put on that beautiful smile of hers and we were able to capture some wonderful moments! Dallas and Pete, you will make great parents! I cannot wait to take pictures of sweet David moments after he joins this world!
Awe Bless {taylor family}
"Awe Bless…" is what my husband thinks of when he thinks of Ginny Taylor. Ginny has been one of my best friends since my first week my sophomore year of high school. After 16 years, many moves across the country, husbands, babies and new experiences, Ginny remains a solid part of my life.
"Awe Bless…" is what my husband thinks of when he thinks of Ginny Taylor. Ginny has been one of my best friends since my first week my sophomore year of high school. After 16 years, many moves across the country, husbands, babies and new experiences, Ginny remains a solid part of my life. I went out to visit her and her PRECIOUS family this summer and they allowed me to snap some quick pictures of them one evening, and when I say quick, I mean quick… it started raining shortly after we arrived with some big lightning flashes in the background! I loved every single moment that we rushed around to get some picture worthy moments before it stormed! I hope everyone has a Ginny Taylor in their life - she just makes things sweeter.
Let's Make a Night of It {roland family}
Loved, loved, loved this photo shoot. This family has such a beautiful story. Brian and Krista hosted a sweet teenage girl from Ukraine, Vayla, in their home last year and fell in love with her. They began the process of adoption and brought her home in February.
Loved, loved, loved this photo shoot. This family has such a beautiful story. Brian and Krista hosted a sweet teenage girl from Ukraine, Vayla, in their home last year and fell in love with her. They began the process of adoption and brought her home in February. Just a few months later Krista gave birth to another sweet girl making their family of three now a family of five. During this evening of picture taking, Valya told me multiple times how lucky she felt to be part of this family and how much love she had for all of them. It was quite beautiful to see the sweet interactions between the three siblings and all the happiness this family exudes. What a pleasure it was to capture these precious moments!
Bike Ride for Two {amorette & ethan}
First off, how beautiful is this couple? Amorette and Ethan were just remarkable and extremely easy on the eyes, so taking pictures was super fun!
First off, how beautiful is this couple? Amorette and Ethan were just remarkable and extremely easy on the eyes, so taking pictures was super fun! I was so lucky to get to shoot with one of my best friends and fellow photographer Ginny Taylor in her wonderful city of Spokane, Washington! She scouted out this lovely location full of character and charm and threw in a fabulous bike to make this one perfect summer evening!
Sweetest Moments {colclasure family}
This darling family invited me into their home for a quick session to capture some moments of their new family of 4.
This darling family invited me into their home for a quick session to capture some moments of their new family of 4. We had some laughs as pictures were snapped but I was definitely able to see all the love that they share. Can't wait to see these two littles grow up as sweet sisters.