What a beautiful, loving family. Alisha and Miguel welcomed their first son into the world early this year, and it’s wonderful to see them as parents. His smile is amazing, and their affection for him is so genuine.

This week, I had a shoot for FBN Sales, Inc. in Plainwell, Michigan. FBN provides replacement parts and other equipment for the bottling industry.

The owner of FBN, Jim Turley, has invested heavily in the property, inside and out. He has planted trees and a garden. He even brought in several beehives to pollinate the area. In the future, he wants to add a fish pond and recycle the water to cool the machinery.

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. FBN received the beautification award for the city of Plainwell, marking the first time the award was given to a business. Their staff was friendly and they truly knew their craft. It was great to spend some time documenting their work.

Laughter filled the apartment as Dan and his groomsmen prepared for the wedding. He and Amanda have been looking forward to their day for over a year, and they did everything they could to make it special.

The ceremony and reception both took place at The Rookery in downtown Chicago, which was one of the most visually stunning venues we’ve worked in. As they stood at the bottom of the marble staircase, Amanda and Dan were completely focused on each other. It was a privilege to be part of their wedding day.

I’ve known Andrea for two years, and I’ve been so excited to photograph her wedding. It’s wonderful to see that she’s found Philip, who loves and cherishes her so much. As they served communion to their families during the ceremony, it was easy to see the love they share for the people around them.

It was a beautiful day, with a reception in Garfield Park on the south side of Indianapolis. As Philip and Andrea shared their first dance under the Pagoda, the joy was palpable.

We were so excited to meet baby Leo. I am in awe at how much love such a small child can bring. It is sweet to see how our friend’s hearts have grown not only to welcome their son, but how they’ve grown towards each other. Parenthood is an adventure and I know Debbie and Leo are going to have a great one.

We started Dan and Amanda’s shoot in Printer’s Row, where Amanda lived as a child. Her family lived in the Donohue building, the first Chicago factory to be converted to condominium lofts. We walked up Dearborn and down Quincy to the Rookery Building where their ceremony will take place in May. We’re really excited for their big day.

Almost three years ago, Karina and I blissfully decided we wanted to become parents. Two years ago, Elena came into our lives.

Since then, our little apartment has been filled with laughter. If Karina and I are feeling annoyed with each other, we break into a smile as soon as Elena walks into the room and says “Hey, yo!”

After two years enjoying her company, I’m grateful for what Elena has given me. She has helped me to cherish Karina more. She has taught me to take my example seriously because she is watching what I do. She has helped me to give grace, even when I’m not filled with it.

She doesn’t understand all of this yet, but my favorite way to explain it is by hugging and kissing her every day.

Happy birthday, Elena. I’m so proud of you. May God nurture your gentle heart as you grow to know Him.

We’ve spent the past few days celebrating. Here are some of the pictures.

It was a fairy tale wedding, complete with fresh snowfall, a delicate gown, a veil that flowed for miles, and a prince and princess head over heals for each other. It was all Jenna and Henry had dreamed of.

I was so excited about our snowfall this weekend knowing we would be having an engagement session on Sunday. Snow is pretty. It is also cold. Despite the cold winds we faced downtown, Elizabeth and TJ laughed their way through our time together. It was great seeing how much fun they have.

I was reviewing some of last year’s family sessions we shot for our friends and came across some of Elena. When taking pictures for friends we usually bring Elena along as our assistant. She is good at keeping things moving. “Look over here” and “Cheese” are her favorite phrases when directing. Most of the time though, she happily munches on her snacks and looks forward to when we end up at a park.