David & Ashley

On May 30th, I had the privilege to help with some photos for my friends David and Ashley on their wedding day. Originally they asked if I could just play violin during the ceremony, and then I asked if they wouldn't mind me taking pictures too. They already had a photographer but were so gracious to let me shoot the getting ready time and the party after the ceremony. I'm so grateful for this kind of thing because practice is the only way I'm going to get better and I'll take as much as I can get. :) And it was a lot of fun!

Close to Home

This summer has flown by. With work and taking a class, spending time with family and friends, and John, getting oil changes, going to Great America, driving to Michigan and Ohio, a little camping, and not cleaning my room...

I haven't taken very much time to take pictures just to take pictures. But this past week I took a lot of pictures. A lot. I'm working on a video for my church that will be pictures of people and places around town, accompanied by Brandon Heath's "Give Me Your Eyes." The lyrics in this song are really powerful. If we could look through the eyes of Jesus for just one second, what would we see? Granted, these pictures were still for a project, but something about being in Antioch - basically my backyard - made it personal.

After shooting a lot in the downtown area and around schools and shopping centers, I went to Open Arms Mission because it is a place my church has been involved in and invested in over the years. I'm ashamed to say that it is the first time I've ever been there. I planned to go right when they were distributing food, thinking thats when there would be the most people there. And there were a lot of people. A lot of people just looking for something to eat. A lot of people with smiles on there faces.

I'm not sure what I was supposed to take away from that but I know it is more than just some pictures for the screen on Sunday. Something about the need that is right in my backyard. And the joy that these people have. And the sacrifice that the people at Open Arms make and have made their life. Something. I don't really have a conclusion to this... It's hard to not wish it were the beginning of my summer again. To spend a little time with some of the people at Open Arms. To just spend some time there. Not that the things I did were bad or not meaningful. Not at all.

Just something to think about. Something to do about.

She was so excited to have her picture taken. I think she might have thought it was going in the newspaper. No... just my blog. :)

I bet he has some good stories.

It's been awhile...

Yes, almost the entire summer has gone by without a single post... I'm not sure what it will take to get me to keep up with this thing, but I really do have good intentions. :)

Here are a couple pictures I took at a cookout we had at our house for my mom's side of the family. Summertime is always busy and always full of family, especially because my grandparents are in town and make an effort to see all of us. Which I like. I can't believe it is almost time for school to start again... I wish it were the beginning of summer right about when we were having this cookout! Although, it has been a good break. Anyway, picture time!

These two guys are dangerous when together.  Haha. If they could, they would play all day long. Non-stop. It's great.

I absolutely love this picture. John, thanks for getting it. :) Yes, we did get some posed photos after this, but this is my favorite.