your real life is beautiful

Family Documentary

The Art of the Everyday

Family photography should be more than a record of what you looked like; it should be a mirror of how you loved. There is a specific kind of beauty in the parts of your day that go unnoticed — the parts you think are too quiet or too bustling to photograph. A Saturday morning with pancakes, the movement of a kitchen floor dance, the quiet weight of a child's head on your shoulder. That's the honest rhythm of your home. That's what I'm here for.

kids reach for pancakes in morning light
Two parents dance alone in the kitchen with soft window light
mother holds baby near her cheek

After fourteen years, I've learned that the most powerful images aren't found in a pose. They're found in the way morning light hits a pile of toys, in how your home naturally frames the chaos and the quiet, a toothless grin, an expressive storytime, in a simple profile that somehow holds the weight of a whole memory.

I'm watching for the split second where a real, messy emotion meets a beautiful frame — and I'm fast enough to catch it before it slips away. That's the whole job.

These photos are a gift to your future self. In twenty years, I want you to look back and recognize exactly how your life felt: beautiful, complex, and entirely yours.

What I put in your hands later is nothing short of The Gift of the Ordinary Day.

Family Portfolio

A family enjoying a day at a park with children and adults having ice cream on a sunny evening, with buildings and trees in the background.
Two young boys sitting back-to-back outdoors, one eating a slice of cake and the other holding an ice cream bar, with a wooden fence and greenery in the background during sunset.
A young girl with brown hair and blue eyes brushing her teeth while an adult helps her by holding the toothbrush, inside a home with a wooden cabinet and tiled floor.
Three people riding bicycles on a suburban street, two adults and a young girl wearing a helmet with a cat face design. The girl is smiling, and the adults are cycling on either side, with one gesturing outward. The scene is set in a neighborhood wit
Family of three, including a woman, man, and young child, playing in a pile of fallen autumn leaves in a park with orange and yellow trees in the background.
A man gives a piggyback ride to a young girl in an orchard with green leaves and pears. The girl appears excited and is reaching towards the tree's branches, while the man looks up at her with a smile.
A young boy playing baseball with a woman and a dog in a backyard. The boy swings a bat at a ball, while the woman watches and the dog stands nearby. There is a white picket fence and two-story houses in the background.
A young girl with brown hair lying in bed with a doll and stuffed giraffe, covered with a teal fleece blanket, smiling at the camera.
A family of four having fun indoors, with the father balancing on one leg, the mother smiling in a striped dress, and two young children, one in a dress and the other in pajamas, playing enthusiastically around them.
Young girl jumping into a backyard swimming pool during late afternoon, with other children swimming and water toys visible, surrounded by trees and houses.
A young boy with short blonde hair and a teal shirt standing outdoors with eyes closed, enjoying the sunlight and nature around him.
A young girl lying on her side in tall grass, cuddling a brown dog.
A family with young children in costumes and fairy wings playing in a living room, with two adults sitting on a couch. The children are sitting on plush red balls. One child is on the floor with a doll, and another child is holding a toy. The room ha
A black and white photo of children playing on a swingset in a backyard with a fence and trees in the background. Two kids are swinging on the swings, one girl is in a bucket swing on the left, and another girl is in a traditional swing on the right.
A young girl with red hair and a teal coat sits between two adults, one woman in glasses and a pink patterned jacket, and one man in a black zip-up sweater, as they share a moment together. The woman is holding a cookie with chocolate topping, while
A man and woman are outside at a cafe with a child and a large fluffy dog. The man is holding the child, who is reaching toward the woman. The dog is on a leash and standing next to the table with food and drinks.
Group of four young friends in a park, with two men and two women, sharing a joyful moment as the person on the right is giving the person on the left a piggyback ride near trees and sunlight.
A young girl with long blond hair, wearing a gray sweatshirt and rolled-up denim jeans, stands barefoot on a dark outdoor staircase and looks away while holding onto the railing.
Person riding a watercraft pulled by a jet ski on a large body of water during sunset.
A family is standing outdoors on a grassy path during sunset, with tall grass and trees in the background. The family includes two adults, two children, and a dog. The children are exchanging something, and the adults are watching or holding items.
Two adult men and two young children in a bright kitchen. One man with glasses is slicing fruit on a cutting board near a boy sitting on the counter, and the other man holds a toddler.
A young child dressed in a winter jacket and snow gear stands between two adults in a living room, with one adult measuring the child's leg.
A family enjoying outdoor time on a sidewalk in front of a house during sunset. A man helps a young girl ride a bicycle with training wheels, a woman pulls a child's tricycle, and another woman walks beside a teenager. The scene is sunny with a well-
Child's lap with an orange bearded dragon sitting on their leg, which is wrapped in a purple compression sleeve, while another child holds green leaves and uses a stone dish with more green leaves.
A young kneeling on the floor in a playful crawling position with her forehead and hands touching the ground, wearing a yellow shirt and green shorts, with blue Crocs nearby. She is in a room with wooden chairs, tables, and shoes scattered around, an
Three women, one carrying a young girl, walking outdoors in a park with trees and fallen leaves.
Children playing on a backyard playground near water, with a girl sliding down and other kids waiting and watching.
A young boy sitting on a circular rope swing at a playground, with an adult holding a small child nearby, all in a black and white outdoor setting.
A woman on a swing laughs as she swings in the yard while four children play and run around on the grass, with a man standing in the background near trees.
A woman with dark hair and a child sitting on her lap in a bedroom, as a young girl jumps onto the bed from mid-air. The room has framed children's art on the wall, and two beds with patterned bedding.
Two young girls playing on a trampoline with pink and blue balls during sunset.
Children playing with bubbles near a lake, with a girl in a floral dress blowing bubbles and a boy in a white shirt and blue shorts running.
Three women, one in the center and two on either side, sharing a joyful and intimate moment, smiling and touching each other's heads and shoulders, in a close-up black-and-white photograph.
A woman in a sun hat and black tank top outdoors by a pool, holding a young girl’s face gently with both hands, both smiling and touching forehead to forehead, with umbrellas and lounge chairs in the background.
A family with two children and three dogs on a backyard patio with trees in the background.
View of a smiling woman and four children inside a vehicle, looking through the rear window. The photo is in black and white.
A woman in a red top feeding a baby with a spoon inside a home, with a window and colorful wall decorations in the background.
A young child is being helped to scoop ice cream from a tub into a bowl by an adult, while another child observes. The scene takes place in a kitchen with a countertop and several containers of ice cream in the foreground.
A family gathering around a small campfire in a backyard during fall. A man is tending the fire while two young children sit nearby, one on a chair and the other standing. Another woman is sitting on logs, holding a smiling baby. The yard features a
A young girl and an adult woman sitting on a couch having a conversation in a cozy living room, with the girl making a playful gesture with her arms above her head.
A young boy wearing glasses and no shirt is reaching up to pick an apple from an apple tree in a backyard with a house and bushes in the background.
A woman and a young boy are sitting on the floor, laughing and hugging each other, visible next to a window with sunlight coming in. There are toys on a small green mat in front of them and stuffed animals near them in the corner.
A woman and a young boy crouch down on a playground surface, with the woman holding a bunch of leaves and the boy looking at something on the ground.
A woman pouring Cheerios cereal into a bowl for a young girl sitting at a dining table, with a window showing trees outside in the background.
A woman with short hair holding a young child up to her face outside in a suburban neighborhood, both smiling.
A man lifts a young girl into the air outdoors with trees and sunlight in the background, children wearing glasses smiling and laughing.
Group of six women joyfully celebrating at a gathering, with one woman in the foreground holding her hands near her face and laughing.
A pregnant woman stands outside in a yard, reaching out her hand towards a young girl in a swing seat. The girl wears glasses and has her arms raised, holding onto the swing's chains. There are trees, a house, and some dogs in the background.
A woman with glasses holding a baby in her arms, standing next to a child in a swing, outdoors in a backyard with trees and houses in the background.
A young girl sitting at a piano, reading sheet music, with sunlight coming through a window behind her.
Two young boys sitting on a porch, one with curly hair covering part of his face and the other smiling broadly, holding a box of Honest Kids juice boxes.
A young girl with curly blonde hair and blue eyes, wearing a pink shirt, looks out through a window screen with her hands pressed against the glass.
A man helps two young children brush their teeth in a bedroom, with colorful decorations on the walls and a large stuffed animal on the bed.
A woman and two young girls sitting at a breakfast table, making expressive faces while eating. The woman has brown hair with bangs and is wearing a blue top. The girl in the middle has light brown hair and is wearing a floral shirt, while the girl o
A woman and a young girl are at an outdoor barbecue, with the woman adjusting a red-checked napkin on the girl. They are by a table with a blue and white checkered tablecloth, and a plate of food including corn on the cob and grilled meat rests on th
A young girl jumping into a swimming pool with a unicorn float around her waist, while an older girl watches from the water, smiling. The scene is outdoors on a sunny day.
A man carrying a baby in a baby carrier eating ice cream while a woman standing next to them holds a cone of ice cream in her hand outdoors in the evening.
A woman playfully lifting a young girl inside a bedroom near a window, with stuffed animals, including a doll and a teddy bear, on the bed and floor.
A woman and a young boy having a meal together at a dining table inside a room with large windows and sheer curtains, with a view of trees outside through the windows.
A young child with curly hair drinking water from a fountain, with an adult woman in the background also drinking water.
Young girl with blonde hair drawing with a sticker on her cheek, focused on her artwork at a wooden table, with a glass terrarium and painting of a spider nearby.
A young girl jumping on a trampoline while an older man, possibly her father, is sitting on the edge watching her.
A man holding a tabby cat in a room with a teal wall decorated with a painted black tree and hanging sleeping socks, next to a white crib.
A man with glasses, wearing a patterned shirt, is holding a young child in his arms. The man is excitedly pointing with his finger, and the child, wearing pajamas with dinosaur patterns, is looking at him with a surprised expression. They are in a ki
A boy holding a transparent umbrella with rain droplets, standing outdoors on a sunny day with a blue sky.
Person swimming in a backyard pool with children, and a brown dog watching nearby.
A young child sitting on the grass outdoors with bubbles floating around, near a lake or river, under a tree.
A young child riding a bicycle on a suburban street during daylight with shadows of trees cast on the pavement, black and white photograph.
A young girl with blonde hair wearing a blue ruffled sleeveless top spinning a colorful rainbow flag outdoors near a wooded area.
A young girl with brown hair in a floral dress playing with a black and white puppy on a grassy lawn during sunset.
Family sitting on a couch in a sunlit room, with a man holding a young girl and a woman holding a baby girl, near a window with trees outside.
Two young girls with long brown hair sitting at a black metal outdoor table, smiling and sharing a meal on a sunny day. They have plates with hot dogs, watermelon slices, and corn on the cob. There are glasses of milk or yogurt drinks on the table, a
A young person holding a chocolate and vanilla ice cream popsicle with a bite taken out of it, wearing a white button-up shirt, outdoors during sunset.
A family baking cookies in a kitchen. Five people, including a young girl, are focused on preparing cookie dough and ingredients around a table with baking supplies.
A woman and girl helping a young girl with a knee injury outside, with the woman holding the girl’s leg and the girl bending forward.
A family of four sitting on a couch in a living room, playing guitars and spending time together.
A woman and a young girl sharing a joyful moment outdoors, with the woman laughing and the girl playfully touching her nose, sitting on a wooden bench.
A young girl with blonde hair and two pigtails touching an elderly woman's face at a dining table.
A man in a yellow jacket and jeans pulls on a rope attached to a child sitting on a red sled in a snowy forested area.
A family of three in a kitchen, with a man and woman holding a baby between them, backlit by a window showing a snowy outdoor scene.
A woman and a girl swimming in a body of water, the girl is climbing out of the water using a dock ladder.
A woman walking with two young girls on a city sidewalk in the late afternoon, with sunlight casting long shadows. The woman is holding one girl and the other girl is walking ahead. Trees and buildings are visible in the background.
A person using a cookie cutter to cut cookie dough shaped like a human face.
A group of people gathered around a backyard fire pit, with a woman and two children sitting on a wooden swing in the background. One child is roasting marshmallows or food over the fire, which is burning in the fire pit.
A woman and a young girl decorating a gingerbread house at a table during Christmas, with a Christmas tree and a white cat in the background.
Family on a sailboat enjoying a sunny day, with some members sitting and others standing, surrounded by water.
A toddler at a kitchen sink with two adults nearby, with the toddler smiling at the adults.
A man kneeling on the grass helping a toddler learn to walk with a baseball bat in hand. In the background, a young boy squatting with a baseball glove. Trees and houses in the background.
A woman with long dark hair smiling and kneeling in a field, holding a toddler with light hair and a big smile, while a girl with light hair and a girl with long blond hair look on in the background.
A woman sitting outside a garage on a red chair, holding a small child in her lap, with a tricycle nearby. The garage contains various tools and equipment, and there are parked cars and a grassy yard in the background.
Child upside down on a trampoline and two kids playing on a swing set in a backyard with trees and a fence.
A woman and a young child playing in the snow on a winter day, with trees and houses in the background.
A young boy with blonde hair sitting outdoors in a backyard, drinking from a brown glass bottle held upside down, with a yellow bowl of popcorn on his lap.
Two children playing with dolls on the carpeted floor of a cluttered bedroom, surrounded by toys, clothes, and stuffed animals.

The honest stuff is the good stuff.

The best stuff never happens on cue. It's the inside jokes, the way your kid reaches for your hand without thinking, the mess on the counter that tells the whole story of a Tuesday morning. That's what I'm after.

I'm not coming in to direct a "best version" of your family. You already have a rhythm — I'm just there to pay attention to it. There's real trust involved in letting someone into your home and your ordinary moments, and I don't take that lightly.

My favorite sessions are the ones where you forget I'm there. Where the morning unfolds, however it unfolds. Slow and quiet or completely unhinged. And I get to be a quiet presence in the middle of it. The connection is already happening. I'm just there to catch it.

We’re a good Fit if….

A family in a kitchen with a man and a young girl at the dining table, a woman preparing food in the background, and a large window showing brick exterior walls.

  • Staged photos show what you looked like. Documentary photography shows how you loved. It's about the small, unguarded gestures — the way the light hits the kitchen table at breakfast, the way you lean into each other without thinking. The details that feel ordinary right now and irreplaceable later.

  • My background is in education, and it shows. Kids don't perform for me — they just exist around me. I meet them exactly where they are: the shy one who needs ten minutes to warm up, the wild one who needs somewhere to run, the one who won't stop talking, and the one who won't say a word. I see their specific magic, and I know how to follow it.

  • The sleepless nights, the tiny shoes by the door, the way they still fit in your lap even though they're getting so big. You're not supposed to feel nostalgic yet. You're just supposed to survive today. But I've sat across from enough families to know that the ones who wait until things feel "ready" are the ones who call me later wishing they hadn't. You don't get to go back and photograph age three. Book it now, in the middle of the mess. That's where the best pictures live anyway.

  • In twenty years, you won't just want to see what you looked like. You'll want to see how you lived — the love that existed in the corners of your home, the ordinary moments that turned out to be everything. I'm here to document the story you'll want to tell later.

    But these images aren't just for you. There is an incredible power in a child reliving their own history through a tangible photograph. When they see themselves tucked into your side or lost in play, they aren't just looking at a picture—they are seeing proof of where they belong.

A woman blow drying a young child's wet hair in a bathroom.
Let's Make Something Meaningful

Whether we are exploring the lake edges of Shorewood Hills, Maple Bluff, or Tenney Park, or capturing the honest rhythm of a morning at your home in the Dudgeon-Monroe, Regent, or Vilas neighborhoods, or throwing down a patio BBQ in Middleton, Verona, Sun Prairie, my goal is to find the art in your everyday.