I love getting to meet new clients because often we immediately connect as more than client and photographer, but as sisters, daughters, wives, and humans. Allyson (above left) reached out to me last fall because she had something really special in mind. As a gift to her parents for their 65th birthdays, she wanted to coordinate a photo session for their entire crew while on vacation. Of course, I thought this was a wonderful idea.

I shared with her that I knew what a priceless heirloom these images would be for her parents. When my grandfather turned 80, we took a big family portrait in front of his lake house and it hung in the center of his living room for years until he passed away. In his final weeks, he shared that gazing at his wall of photos brought him all the joy he could ever need. The gallery included the big canvas of the entire family, pictures of he and my grandmother when they were young with their four little children running around, his kids’ wedding photos, and snaps of all of his grandkids. He said he would sit and focus on one image at a time, remembering the incredibly moments that made up his life.

It was an honor to photograph Allyson, her parents, brothers and their wives, and the three grandkids during this exciting season in all of their lives. I hope that one day, near or far, these images bring her parents all the joy they could need, gazing at their beautiful family.