“To us, family means putting your arms around each other and being there.”
-Barbara Bush

Oh goodness, these people mean so much to me. Not only are they family, but they are the greatest friends. I always hoped I would be close to my siblings-in-law, and it is so nice to feel that way with them. We love their wit, their wisdom, their love of travel, and their genuine kindness. Aren’t those the best people to know? We keep trying to get them to move out close to us, but it hasn’t happened…yet. We aren’t giving up hope though!

We went to Utah over Thanksgiving last year to be with family, and it was an absolute privilege to photograph them during that time. We found an awesome place to explore so close to their home with beautiful views all around them. We timed it right because it snowed almost the rest of the trip after we took pictures! We had fun running around in the cold and snuggling to stay warm. When I look at these pictures, I see a lot of happiness in being together and spending time with each other.

I hope families that I photograph remember how their children looked at them, or the sweet details of how they held hands or played with their hair. Those times in life can be so fleeting, but photographs can preserve not only the memory, but the feeling. Life isn’t flawless at any stage, but I promise you that it is beautiful right now and deserves to be documented!