If you have been following me very long at all, you recognize this family as one of my most loyal and favorite families. I have been documenting them since Max was just a year old and the Luedtke family was new to Las Vegas. I get emotional each year just seeing how much they have grown together as a family, individually, and how God has seen them through another year healthy and happy.

They truly are a family that cherishes every day that they have together.

This beautiful mama found me while searching for a family photographer here in Las Vegas. They are a military family, so like many Las Vegas families are transplants here. Courtney has a background in running her own photography business so knew exactly what she wanted. She took advantage of my Black Friday deal this past fall and I am so glad because I book up so quickly. She was so great in communicating with me about what was most important to her and her family, locations, and outfit choices. It all makes your day so much smoother and helps everyone feel so much more at ease.

I have been photographing one of these mamas and her family for the past few years. I met Nicole when she was searching for a newborn photographer with her oldest son, and I just fell in love with her and her little family right away. She is so great at documenting her family each year and is always up for whatever I throw her way, which I so appreciate! She has been so supportive of me and my business and has followed me even through changes in pricing and genres, and to me that is just so huge!

I have been hanging on to this story for just a bit as I really wanted to post for April during Autism Awareness month. There are so many powerful, encouraging, and deep stories to share and I hope that out of them education and awareness as to what the many faces of Autism looks like, and how it is lived out with each individual family!

I am a local Spectrum Inspired photographer, which means that I am a part of a group of photographers that offer photography sessions to families living on the Spectrum as a way to raise awareness and education about autism. Please go check them out and the incredible work they are doing all over the world!

I have known this beautiful mama and her family for a long time! I work with Donna at the hospital, she is an OR tech on labor and delivery unit here in Las Vegas. She has gone on to be such a dear friend and is such an incredible soul inside and out. I knew her back when her triplets were born, and when I think about her as a mother, fierce love just totally comes to mind. These boys and her family are her passion, her true love, and her whole world. Her face just lights up when she talks about them!

I haven’t documented them in years, and so was over the top excited when she decided to book with me this year. I know it is a big investment hiring a family photographer and I am always flattered when families choose me, even when they know me! She made her family session a priority for the winter and it was so fun talking about outfit choices and locations with her in the weeks leading up to her session.

I met this beautiful family last year when they were searching for a newborn photographer for their new baby. I am just so happy that this mama found me, I just adore them! Shannon has been really great about documenting all of little Weston milestones throughout his first year, and I really love documenting that for families! I get to see their little personalities emerge and watch the family grow together and get to see more of their story. At the end of the year, we have a beautiful collection of images to remember all of those little details that are so fleeting within that first year! It just always seems to fly by so fast!

Although I had documented this family together throughout the year, we hadn’t really ventured outdoors for a full family session, and I love that Shannon wanted to take the opportunity at the year mark to do this!

A couple of years ago I was fortunate enough to be become a Spectrum Inspired photographer. You definitely need to check out this organization and the amazing work they are doing for families on the spectrum. As photographers and storytellers, the opportunity to share the stories of families living on the autism spectrum is truly their passion and one that is near and dear to my heart, so it was a no-brainer deciding to apply as a photographer. I was so happy when I was accepted as a Las Vegas Spectrum Inspired Photographer into their program serving in my area.

If you are a photographer and would like more information on becoming a Spectrum Inspired photographer, please don’t hesitate to apply, there is a huge need and I promise you that you will be changed for the better!

In my previous post I talked about the amazing people that have been placed in my life, and the impact that they have had on me and my outlook on so much of life. This is another one of those beautiful stories, and yep you are right, it seems to happen to me a lot!

If you have had the pleasure of knowing this family, you know that are definitely like no other. They have so many layers, so much personality, so much passion, and so much love. They truly live their life completely transparent and so boldly, and I am so envious of that in them. They truly have been through life’s toughest pains and hurts, and yet they get back up, they brush themselves off, they pull in tighter and stronger and they continue to march forward. They aren’t afraid to share the messier and uglier sides of their journey either, the side that often gets fluffed for fear of appearing weak. I have no doubt that they have touched so many lives as deeply as they have mine.

I feel like they need their own reality show! Oh hey, maybe next year I could talk them into a Day In The Life film and it could be like a reality show….

I just adore this family!

There are people that come into your life that you feel like were placed there for a reason. I have so many friends that I love that I feel this way about. You know them, the type that make you a better person, that inspire you, and change your life for the better. So many of the friends I have made over the years I have met under the saddest of circumstances, but have developed dear friendships from. This family is one of those stories.