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We get lots of inquiries each month for weddings, newborns, babies, and small children sessions. Given that we are about to be in peak wedding season, I thought now would be a good time for this post.

Almost 2 years ago, we made the decision to no longer offer sessions for newborns and babies. It was a very scary decision- because we have SO many long time clients that we would be turning away as well as the honest fact that it was a huge financial loss to our business. The thing is though, it wasn’t about money. It wasn’t that we are hardened jerks who don’t like babies- we do. Photographing newborns and babies WELL, is a gift. There are many wonderful photographers who have the skill set to design the cutest sets I’ve ever seen, with the tiniest most adorable props, and whisper babies into the most serene calm in the world where they can pose them into the most “awwwwww” provoking images. I am not that photographer. The most I can muster is a naked baby with a cute hat. No matter how much I wish I was, I just don’t have that skill- and we decided that if a parent wanted to spend their hard earned money to have portraits of their baby, then they should use a photographer who would give them all those things.

For now, we still plan to keep our Easter and Santa minis running. These sessions are a lot different given that there is one specific theme and little variation.

Last year, in the midst of wedding season- we also made the decision that we would no longer book weddings. In total, since 2006 we have photographed nearly 500 weddings. Keep in mind, that in 14 years there are only 672 weekends. Sometimes it would be a Saturday wedding, other times it would be a double header with a wedding on both Saturday AND Sunday. Sometimes, we would shoot a wedding on a Saturday, and then have Sunday full of regular sessions to photograph as well.

This is aside from our frequent weekday evening sessions AND our new venture into being the school portrait photographer at our county school system. It’s a lot.

It’s been a busy 14 years. We’ve had the opportunity to be a witness to many many love stories- and we have documented many touching moments that will stay with us forever.

It’s also been a busy 14 years in our personal life. We’ve missed many important events in our daughter’s lives. They are now 15 and 12 years old. We missed our Claire’s first and only dance recital, lots of volleyball games and tournaments we were not there to cheer them on, Marching band performances and competitions missed. I’ve had to ask friends and family to take my place to help get my girls ready for formal events, pageants, and general day to day activities. My two children have nearly grown up during our absence.

Also, the wedding industry has changed dramatically over the years. We feel that what couples are seeking may be something we just can’t produce anymore. Wedding days are chaotic, and they are HARD. We aren’t getting any younger for sure- and a 8-12 hour day with no break or chance to sit down really wears on the body at our ages. Not to mention the stress levels- I mean, this is something you CANNOT screw up. Everything is on a time crunch and you need to be on the mark at every shot. There are no “do overs”. I think the majority of my prematurely graying hair has come from the stress of worrying on wedding days haha! (“What if I miss the shot? what if I miss the bouquet toss while it’s in the air?, what if the kiss picture was blurry??, did we get a shot of the cake before they cut it?!?!, Where are the other two bridesmaids? Why is the best man already drunk? Where is Aunt Susie- she’s the only one we are waiting on to finish family pictures- What if I drop the flowers while taking detail shots and break them? Where did I put the rings? Did my memory card just corrupt? Omg is it raining??????? Etc, etc, etc….)

With those things in mind, and weighing heavily on our hearts, we decided to let go of the wedding side of our business. This June will be our very last wedding. In ways it is bittersweet- there is an almost tangible feeling in the air on a wedding day that you always feel honored to be a part of. We have vendors we work with that have grown to be great friends that we will miss dearly…but the party will go on without us.

Sometimes, you just have to know your strengths….and at this stage of life ours is Senior Portrait photography. It’s where we feel we excel, and it’s where the largest part of our hearts are. It’s a risk- but it’s a genuine one. With Senior portaits we feel we can truly take our time to push our skills to the limit and create precision artistic imagery for clients. It’s literally my FAVORITE THING EVER to have a high school senior to be creative with. It is so exhilarating to let our imagination run wild with ideas for them- not to mention it’s so much fun.

If you’re in the market for a Wedding photographer, we can definitely point you in the direction of some fantastic ones. We are finishing up our remaining wedding bookings this year- and we are genuinely excited to document the love story of these remaining couples. They will probably be some of our most beautiful wedding images ever! I’m sure our last one will leave us with a tinge of sadness that the party is over. We love ALL our clients so very much, and hopefully you all will think of us when it comes time for teen & Senior portraits and even Family portraits. To our beloved clients who have been with us so long: When it’s time for your or your children’s wedding- we would love an invite where we can just be a guest for once- they look kinda fun. 😉

Booking is finally live! Get your spot today on our website or our Facebook page! or here: https://shp.as.me/

It’s not easy to talk about. In fact, it’s almost “taboo” for many people. It’s neglected, swept under the rug, and we pretend nothing is wrong.

But we need to talk. And we need to act. 

May is mental health awareness month. 

Your brain is the most complex part of your entire body. It’s an organ- just like your heart, your lungs, kidneys, etc. We treat heart disease, we treat things like kidney stones and we even take over the counter meds when we have a little congestion in our chest…. but we act as if ANYTHING wrong with our mind is completely hush-hush and we neglect it.

Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the U.S.(43.8 million)experiences mental illness in a given year. 

Approximately 1 in 25 adults in the U.S.(9.8 million)experiences a serious mental illness in a given year that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.(NAMI)

With those statistics, it’s extremely likely that you KNOW someone who suffers from a mental illness, but you may not KNOW they are suffering. 

The thing is, most people won’t ask for help. For many, it’s embarrassing to talk about it. 

I know it seems like every time you turn around there’s an “awareness” campaign going on- but in this matter, spreading awareness might be the single best way to make a world where those suffering can feel able to reach out to get the help they need. It needs to be talked about, and it needs to be de-mystified.

People who have mental health issues do not all fit the stereotype you think of. They are your friends, your family, your co-workers. They are people who may seem perfectly “fine”.

People living with a mental illness are experiencing things like pain, anguish, anxiety, depression, panic attacks, uncontrollable crying, sadness, mood swings, FEAR, rage, wild irritability, sweats, delusions, hallucinations, feelings of worthlessness.

“According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 42,773 Americans die by suicide each year.” That’s 117 people every day.  Every 12 minutes an American dies by suicide. EVERY. DAY.

The saddest part of it all is that some people feel they can no longer cope, and end their own lives to escape the agony. 

It’s easy for those without illness to brush it off and think that they should “just get over it” or “deal with it”, or that they just need to realize that they have “their whole lives ahead of them”.

What is the right thing to say? I don’t know. I DO know that you can listen. Don’t judge. Just be there. Spend time with them.
Show that you care. If you feel incapable of doing that, then at the very least BE NICE. BE ACCEPTING. You may not understand what they are going through-

The things that brought them joy no longer do so.

They feel swallowed up by a darkness that feels like it is consuming them. 

Their days are running together, like an endless nightmare.

They feel completely empty and yet at the same time full of sorrow.

They feel like everyone looks at them with accusing eyes.

They feel different than everyone else, and unaccepted.

They are in a lonely place that is inexplicably loud.

They can’t turn off the voices that try to persuade them that everyone is better off without them.

They are riddled with thoughts of “what’s the point?”

They have cried so hard already that they are numb.

They just want to sleep forever.

 And if you’re reading this, and you’re dealing with suicidal thoughts… I can only ask for now that you please wait. Wait until tomorrow, and then wait until the next tomorrow and the next.

 

It’s possible that 10 “tomorrow’s” , or even 100 of them might be just as hard as today.  But “tomorrow” you might turn a corner and see the sun unexpectedly shining bright. “Tomorrow” you might run into an old friend that brightens your day and makes the next few “tomorrow’s” easier. 

But you’ll never know unless you wait.

Please wait.

I don’t know where you’re at right now, and I don’t know how you’re feeling. I only know where I’ve been. And it’s hard…  

But so far, I’ve been waiting till tomorrow- and life has thrown me some  sunshine in places that I didn’t see coming. Some of my “tomorrow’s” ended up completely changing my life- when I was SURE nothing would ever change. 

I look back now and I’m so so glad I waited. I’m so glad I didn’t miss what was just around the corner. I’m not promising you that it will be that way for you… But it might.

I don’t have the answers, but if you need to talk I am here. If I can’t help I will find someone who can, and we will all work on it together. 

Choose to stay and fight.  You may have to fight a battle more than once to win it. But if any fight is worth winning, this is it. 

Just please wait.

Love one another. Always.

-K