Couch Time with Baby Y | In Home Newborn Photos in Whitestown Indiana

Doggos are always welcome <3

In Home Maternity Photos in Fishers Indiana

The Studio Comes to You <3

Milestones Often Come with a Party!

Baby showers are a lot of work. You’ve decorated and Pinterest-ed until your eyeballs felt like falling out so when it comes to the actual party, you should be able to kick back and relax. (Literally, you are growing another human)

That’s where I come in!

I don’t get to do it very often, but I love, love, love photographing family events. I approach these events in a fairly documentary way—capturing all the details and interactions among family—and then if you’d like we can grab some photos of family groups too. It’s totally up to you (Not everyone likes to stand for a formal photo)

With my wedding schedule—Sunday and weekday parties have the best chance for availability, but Saturdays are available in the wedding off-season of January-April. Shoot me over a message if you are interested in more information. I’d love to be a part of capturing your families memories <3

Family Tradition at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Documentary Family Photography

I always tell people that Documentary Family Photography is all about capturing a snapshot of your life. Whether it be the mundane or a once-in-a-lifetime experience. When Chris contacted me, he definitely fell into the once-in-a-lifetime experience category. He didn't have any babies to make his day memorable, but he did have a ticket to the Indy Racing Experience at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and wanted to know if I would be willing to document his day.

Uh, HECK YES!

He explained that his family had a long long history of making memories at the Indy 500 (and the track in general) and the experience was more than just a joyride around the track for him. He was honoring familial legacy...as well as having fun. And that is exactly why I do documentary photography sessions! He came to the right website!

So, I hoped in my car and drove down to Indianapolis and under the IMS bleachers probably just as excited as he was. I met up with him and his family and got to photograph the whole thing. I was especially excited to get to be in the pit area and get some great shots of him actually driving around the track.

Every shoot, I have a goal to get one specific photo. That day, it was a shot of him in the car coming around the track at speed that I imagined he would hang in his office so that when work was feeling particularly boring, he could look up and remember what it felt like to drive that fast.

The day ended up being an absolute blast and I know Chris will be able to take these photos and remember them and that day for many many years to come...and after that...his kids will be able to see their dad making one of his favorite memories too.

The Hahns Go Grocery Shopping | Documentary Family Photography in Indiana

Whenever I started doing documentary family photography sessions, I would get a lot of confused reactions from people. "You want to photograph my regular everyday LIFE? But...its so boring!?"

To that, I call shenanigans. If you have young kids, even the most mundane of tasks can (and often does) become wonderful chaos. Chaos and memories that are the most likely to get lost in all of the other chaos that comes with raising a family. That's why I wanted to do this particular kind of family photography. Sure posed shots, where everyone is looking at the camera, are nice for your wall, but I want to give you memories--real memories--not just the ones where I tell you to frolic through a wildflower field and fake smile like you love each other. I want to capture the real laughter, the messy faces, the kissing boo-boos to make them feel better parts of life.

But, this form of photography is just now starting got get a foothold in popularity. We've seen (and had taken) all of everyone's perfect family photos on Instagram and how we're ready to see and remember real life. Like everyone, when I approached her for a portfolio-building session, Katie was a little apprehensive. She told me, “I planned a trip to the Zoo, but other than that, we’ll just be doing chores and going grocery shopping.”

I stopped her right there. Grocery Shopping!? I LOVE GROCERY SHOPPING!!

While sessions can be anything, including documenting once-in-a-lifetime events, the mundane everyday photos are what really makes my heart happy. These are the moments in our life that fade and all run together in the tapestry of life. I love getting to pull those memories out of the fog and shine a spotlight on them.

So we went to the Zoo, but we also went grocery shopping, and the grocery shopping--as predicted--ended up being my favorite images of the day.