The Poley Family - Quad Cities Family Photographer

I love this family.  They are dear friends and clearly not only do I love them, but so does my camera!

We go WAAAAY back...well, John has known me since the day I was born.  He and my brother have been best friends pretty much forever.

I met Melissa through work over 10 years ago and KNEW that John would be smitten.

I was right...and it turns out she was smitten too. :)

So I pretty much take credit for these 2 studs being born.

How cute are they?!?!

I will NEVER forget being at work while Melissa was in labor with Landon...talking to her mom on the phone to get updates and then finally hearing that he had arrived!  I spent lots of time with Melissa and Landon when he was just a baby.  Seems like yesterday!

Stone is such a doll!  Oh.My.Gosh.  Look at that face!

He completed this family perfectly!

Pretty good looking brothers, I'd say!

I wish I had more time to spend with Melissa and her family.  I cherish every chance I get to spend with her...even if it's while I am photographing her family!

You just don't get much more picture perfect than this!

Wish our time together was longer, guys!  Love you and can't wait to see you again soon!!!

The Zimmerman Family - Quad Cities Family Photographer

As a photographer, the first time I see a family I will be photographing, I get these ideas in my head...almost instantly.  I think, "OOOO...I could do this or that"  or "I hope this family is open to this or that because I can envision how adorable it would be!"  Most often, these ideas don't come to fruition...often the session ends up going much better than I visualized, but sometimes it is much more difficult or the family's personalities don't lend themselves to my ideas.  I always want to capture a family just as they are...I want them to feel natural and comfortable.

I had never met the Zimmerman Family before they stepped out of the car on this lovely morning.  The second I saw them, I was excited about the possibilities.  They are clearly so adorable, I love the downtown Davenport location they chose and I love photographing children the ages of theirs.

I always just kind of go with the flow though and the session just progresses naturally.  Only this family was amazing...AMAZING, you guys!

I could have spent the whole day with them!

And everything fell into place.  One of my favorite spots in downtown Davenport with vines on this old, brick exterior just happened to be at peak with the gorgeous colors that matched this beautiful family's attire PERFECTLY!

And I quickly figured out why these two have such incredible kiddos...because THEY are incredible parents...

This...this never happens.  A Kindergartner and a 2nd Grader siblings...they aren't supposed to willingly do this.  I did NOT pose them this way...I simply said, "get in and snuggle close together!"

And then THIS happened!

AHHHHH!  How adorable are these two?!?!!!

Perfection.

This boy...he is stunning.  What a handsome young man.  He was reserved and obedient.  He was willing to do everything I asked, but maintained a calm demeanor.

Those eyes, that face...and I adore the cowlick in the front of his hair!

My 2nd grader could stand to take some lessons from this little man!

This beauty...wow.  She is a gorgeous little girl!  She was fun and sweet and willing to pose for sure!  Just as obedient as her big brother and just as amazing in front of my lens!

She looks like a lady, but I have a feeling she can keep up with any boy!

The handsome boys of the family...

The gorgeous girls of the family...

You don't get much more picture perfect than this!

This was one of those sessions where I know I will be sad when I am done editing it.

My face hurt from smiling as I was sorting the images. :)

It was so amazing from beginning to end that everything flowed perfectly and my vision for how I wanted this family's images to turn out came true!

I am in love with every image of this incredible family!

Thank you Zimmerman Family for making me forget that what I do is a job.  It was such a pleasure to have you all put your trust in me to capture your family photographically!  You are clearly a beautiful family inside and out and I cannot wait for you to see all of the images!

The DeCook Family - Quad Cities Family Photographer

What can I say about this family?

Most of you who know me at all know how I feel about this amazing family.  They are so much more than friends to us...they are family.

And if all goes as planned...hopefully one or two of their girls will end up legitimately becoming part of our family...by marrying our boys. ;)

It makes my heart burst to see an image like this of this family.  I knew Lora since I was a little girl...our friendship has grown since our lives and families progressed at the same rate and at similar times.  I watched her say "I Do" and danced the night away to celebrate.  Her girls are almost the same ages as our boys.  I remember Lora coming to my baby shower for my oldest when she was 36 weeks pregnant with Ava.  I remember meeting Sweet Ava June when she was just weeks old and our 2 little families of 3 planned a summer vacation together to Florida that day.  We have since traveled together on multiple occasions.  Our families both grew and we became closer with each milestone.  It was in the plan for us to have each other...it was orchestrated by God for sure!

There is something so valuable about a friendship such as ours...and the fact that our husbands are friends and our children are friends...it's priceless.

I simply love these two...

These girls are amazing and beautiful and sweet and spunky...and this session, they were PERFECT little models!  I could have photographed them all day long!

Ava June (my son, Tate's future wife...according to him...and me!) is a sweet, sensitive, obedient, super smart rule follower.  She is such an incredible big sister!

Chloe (my son, Wesley's future wife:)) is full of spunk and personality with a hint of shyness!  She is a comedian and an entertainer when she is comfortable.  She is one tough cookie and is a great mix of girly girl and tom boy! 

Sophia is a great mix of her two older sisters...full of spunk and humor, while also a snuggle bug, she is fully able to keep up with the big girls!  She is determined and independent while also still the baby of the family.

They love each other so much, these 3!

My boys' and our favorite times are times spent with these fun girls and the DeCook Family!

It's funny how life works.  Things always turn out so different than you would have ever thought.  Never, back when I was 13 years old did I think that Lora and I would have this special of a friendship.  Never did I realize that she would have 3 little girls the same ages as our 3 little boys and never did I dream that our husbands would become such great friends.  None of this could have been planned by us, it all just worked out so perfectly...the blessing this family has been to ours is incredible.

Love you guys!  As usual, photographing your beautiful family has been a highlight of my busy fall season!

The Layton Family - Quad Cities Family Photographer

The Layton Family stood in front of my lens for their fall family portraits on such a pretty fall day!  I was so thrilled when I heard from Maren about doing their portraits because not only are they clearly a gorgeous family, but they are just amazing and strong people...so inspiring.

Our family met theirs last winter at a local weekend retreat of sorts for families of children who have various special needs.

We all learned a lot about each other's struggles and worries and fears that weekend...and they learned a bit more about some stuff than they may have liked to when Sean and I participated in a sort of Newlywed type of game at the event...we won't talk about that though! ;)

Maren and I became Facebook friends after that weekend and have kept up with each other that way, so it was great to see their family in person again on this gorgeous day!

Leah and Kate are just so beautiful...

Leah has inspired so many, endured so much and has literally changed so many lives and opened so many hearts.

She inspired me to run my first 5k in several years to raise awareness for Rett Syndrome in her honor.  Until Leah, I had never even heard of Rett Syndrome or knew anything about it.

Just a few of the many faces of Kate.  This one is full of life, personality and spunk!

Daddy and Mommy Love...always my favorite images...

Life is hard and messy and sometimes doesn't make sense, but humor and laughter and joy are such amazing medicines.  This family proves that.  In trials and difficulty, there is always joy, there are always blessings!

And LOVE is the best medicine of all!

Thank you guys for letting me capture your family.  It's been a blessing to have met you!

Please visit rettland.org to learn more about Rett Syndrome and what you can do to help!