Baby Blake Emery
I was planning on capturing the birth of sweet girl, but she had other plans! Miss Blake Emery decided to make her way into the world on her terms, and Momma and Dad, barely made the hospital before she arrived. Luckily I was able to clear my schedule and head up to the hospital just in time to see her siblings meet her for the first time. Big sister and Big brother were so excited to meet their sweet little sister. Baby Blake was even sweet enough to to bring a gift bag full of big sibling swag. Big Brother wore his "big bro tool belt" around the hospital room with pride! I don't think I've seen any two more gentle with a newborn. They held and loved on their new little sister with such tenderness, it was truly heartwarming to see them. Can we just take a second to mention how beautiful this Momma is? She looks stunning for less then 24 hours ago having birthed a new baby. I just love seeing new parents with newborns they are just so in love, and who can blame them? Here are few of my favorites from this Fresh 48 session. Welcome Blake Emery!
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Derrickson-Cavanah Wedding
For this 2018 wedding I got to revisit one of my favorite Michiana wedding venue's that I first photographed in 2013. The Oak's at South Paw Farm in Mishawaka, is a beautiful location for a wedding. It was the perfect place for Katie and Kaleb's November barn wedding. Even with the chill the air outside the home and attached barn were warm and welcoming to family and guests. Many of the small details found in every part of the wedding ceremony and reception brought in rustic charm and tied in this couple's style, planned and mostly executed by the mother of the bride. (Since Bride and Groom are living on the West Coast) The piece de la résistance were these gorgeous vintage doors painted and put together and provided the perfect backdrop for photos, and more importantly the ceremony! Also I heard, to acquire them, there was a road trip taken to Minnesota! Totally worth it!
Our beautiful bride, her mother, and bridesmaids all went to Twisted Salon for hair and makeup. Then they headed over to the house portion of the venue to dress and prep. How cute are these match kimonos? What was so touching to watch thru out this whole day was the sweet moments that Kaitie and her Mom shared. From her momma zipping up her dress, to later in the night when her mom made the most touching speech, there wasn't a dry eye in the house. Also check out this veil, totally epic. In the bridal suite Kaitie got a visit from both grandma's and was even provided a special piece of jewelry to wear.
This first look was SO, SO, SWEET! There is something about an man in uniform, amiright? Kaleb has his best man walk in front of him holding his cover over his face to hide his view, until just the right moment. Everyone guessed beforehand that Kaleb would cry, and they were right! There were definitely a little hint at tears as he really took in the full view of how beautiful Kaitie looked for their wedding. They even chose to postpone a kiss at the first look, until the ceremony. OH MY HEART!
One thing I haven't mentioned yet, there was an abnormal about of FUN that took place at this wedding. From the groomsmen wearing silly matching socks to all of the dancing! They even took Grandpa in his wheelchair out for a spin on the dance floor. FUN! After the Bride and Groom kicked things off we snuck out to get some outdoor shots. Where we got this epic shot with the umbrella, look at that dip! This family was so much fun, and I think it surely shows. Later during the reception the mother of the groom, and the father of the bride dances were just so tender that everyone was misty eyed!
It was such an honor to be included in Kaitie and Kalbe's wedding. It was so much fun meeting this family, and working so closely with them. Enjoy some more of my favorite images from their wedding down below.
Meg's 90th Birthday
Ever meet someone you know is special you'll never forget? I met sweet Meg almost 17 years ago after my grandfather got me a job working at the same grocery store that both he and Meg worked. I loved working with Meg she is such a sweet spirit, and in the course of working with her, I was introduced to her granddaughter and we became friends. Fast forward several years who could of guessed my future husband was in the same circle of friends as her granddaughter, and because of that I've been able to capture a lot of great memories with this whole family. From weddings, to birthday parties, to family sessions, I've been so lucky to get to follow them so closely. I was thrilled to be able to capture this extremely special event of Meg's 90th birthday. It was a "Roaring 20's" themed, open house, held at The Battell center in Mishawaka. There was lovely spread of tasty delights, and a great turn out with lots of friends and family. There was a lot of "roaring" laughter, and fond reminiscing. Here are some of my favorite snapshots of that day.
Sister's Trip
After several months of planning the weekend of my much anticipated sister's trip finally had arrived! After running last minute errands until late into the evening, my sister and I got up earlier then normal to brave the icy roads to Chicago's O'Hare. The plan was to hop on a plane and in less then three short hours we would have left the cold, icy, Midwestern weather behind and we'd be able to soak up warm 80 degree weather. We'd have most Wednesday afternoon and all of that evening to shop, eat, and enjoy some of our favorite spots. We both love Disney Spring in Orlando. Have you been? It's an intoxicating mixture of Florida weather, Disney atmosphere, shopping, restaurants, chocolate, and entertainment. They have everything your heart could ever or would ever desire. Oh, you need hand painted shoes with Buzz Lightyear and Woody on them? They have it. Could you really go for an amazing ice cream sundae that costs the same amount as a tank of gas? Look no further! Bath bombs? Yep. Light Saber? uh-huh. Princess make over with more hairspray and glitter then you'd find in any 80's nightclub. This. is. your. place. A restaurant where dinosaurs move and roar at your while you eat. GURL YES! I'm telling you, if you need something and they don't have it, then honestly it's not something you were meant to have.
Where was I? Oh yes, driving to O'hare. Well here I am less then an hour away from the airport, driving cautiously, but still 60 mph or faster. When my sister Katie asks "What terminal do we need?" I said I’m not 100% sure, check my email.
Let's just pause right here. Let's have a moment of silence for our trip. May it rest in peace.
My inbox contained an email from our wonderful airline informing us that our flight had been canceled, and we had been rebooked onto another flight. Our flight number was 929 scheduled to depart at 6:30.
(So here is a preface to this story. When I bought our flights I originally bought tickets for flight 929 that departed 2/20 at 6:30 p.m. But after some discussion with Katie we decided to pay an additional $32 per person to move to a flight that would leave at 11:09 getting us to Florida earlier in the day.)
So, that's a bummer. Right? Well stinker, but nothing we can do. Let's just make the best of the situation. There is an Ikea on the way! Lunch and a way to kill several hours. SWEET! Early afternoon rolls around and we head to the airport. Wait in two security lines. (not long only 40-ish mins) While we wait I call the airline to ask ever-so-nicely for my $68 dollars back. You know that extra we paid for the earlier flight? You know so we could get to Florida earlier? I politely make my request. Get put on hold. Agent comes back 6 times to let me know that she is working on getting the money refunded she would right back. She comes back and says that fee isn't refundable unless we cancel our entire ticket? (WHHHHHATTT? So NEVER using this airline again, by the way). I ask for a supervisor. The supervisor comes on and explains that our flight had been cancelled and we were rebooked for flight 929 departing at 6:30 pm tomorrow.
Hold UP.
Tomorrow?
Me: "No sir, you mean tonight at 6:30."
Supervisor: "No ma'am. You are booked on a flight for tomorrow."
Me: "But tonight's night is 929, departing at 6:30"
Supervisor: "Yes, so is tomorrow's flight."
AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH
Freak out. Total Panic happens. We head to the flight desk and ask for a supervisor. We explain the situation. We can't arrive at 10 pm on Thursday night, we were booked to come back on a flight departing at 6 am on Saturday! During the next hour the two of us concocted a million different plans on how to get to Florida. Rent a car and drive. Drive home get my sister's car and drive. Drive down but fly back. After we that hour by some miracle and honestly the grace of God, we left the airport with all of our prepaid travel plans refunded (in 5-7 days). And the new plan to stay in Chicago, but still have our sister's trip. Minus the Sun. And rollercoasters. And warm Butterbeer. As my sister said "Powers' sisters making the best of crappy situations since 1983." Go us!
Shout out to Groupon for a Chicago City Pass, and to Hotels.com (FYI if you use this site DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT trust the star rating, actually read each review. There were reviews that mention beg bugs but still gave 5 stars? -FISHY-).
Over the next 3 days my sister and I enjoyed a tour of the Fright Lloyd Wright Home and Studio,The Field museum, and The Institute of Art. We discovered a totally delicious Mexican restaurant called "Flacco's Taco's". We shopped at outlets, and my sister helped me pick revamp my wardrobe. (I figured out while I was packing for the trip that half of my clothes are too big, and the other half are stained) We laughed, and I cried some. We gathered up a few more pieces of our broken childhood, and healed some more. We experienced big city life, beautiful art work, amazing sculptures, a renewed sense of independence. In a way I am thankful that we didn't make it to Florida. While we would have had fun, riding roller coasters, and drinking warm Butterbeer. Our failed trip was a messy, lovely, unforgettable experience.
