It’s a big deal to choose a family photographer. How can we make your Eagle Ridge Experience even better? Get to know our family.
Nate and I have been married just over ten years. Our favorite things include our faithful God, our family, and the simplicity of slow country life.
Our Storytelling Started with Family
We cultivated a new little family during the seven years Nate and I spent in our first home. We welcomed our first three children and tended the early dreams of family-oriented photography and homeschooling. When 2020 arrived, the world seemed to fall apart. For our family, that included shutdowns and the surprising diagnosis of a rare form of dementia for my dad.
Over the next six months Nate and I (35 weeks pregnant with our fourth) packed up our houseful of littles and bought a charming acreage in a township nearby. Simultaneously, my mom and dad gathered up thirty years of memories in their own home and moved onto the acreage with us to support my dad, a freshly retired elementary physical education teacher facing a clouded future with Frontotemporal Degeneration (FTD).
Now, our family is thriving. We’re settled onto our 4.5 private acres and surrounded by mature trees. We find both adventure and rest with each of our kids as we explore the Eagle Ridge neighborhood and our home.
Even as dementia slowly changes the landscape of our family’s conversations, we make a point to notice the meaningful growth of our family, from the littlest arms learning the frenzy of “Tackle Daddy!” to the intoxicating giggles spilling out of kids many years older.
Our Family These Days . . .
When we’re not carting our cameras around the yard, we’re hooking up the tractor and trailer for a ride around the pond, carrying a toddler on a hip, or reading one glorious chapter at a time of Marty Machowski’s The Ology with our school-age kids.
Our homeschool days begin with worship and read alouds, then melt into the freedom to follow our own interests. At the time of this writing, our kids are 8, 6, 4, and 1.5 years old. Our daughter (the eldest) loves singing and stories. Our boys (the other three) enjoy all.things.trucks and working with their hands in any material we’ll provide. This year’s favorite is kinetic sand.
Inspired to Create
When we’re working, Nate is compassionate, disciplined, and detail-oriented, and I’m intuitive, imaginative, and spontaneous.
When we’re enjoying family time, Nate can’t get enough spicy sauce, tractors, musical escapades, and warm fires, and my days are better with hot cocoa, bonfires, soft baby cheeks, and worship music.
Up Next
This post is #1 of 4 in our introductory series, The Eagle Ridge Experience: A Beginner’s Guide to Natural Family Portraits. Up next, we introduce you to how we measure a year on the Eagle Ridge acreage. We include simple seasonal activities to look forward to, and walk you through the process of planning natural portraits for your home.
Ready to skip ahead to the other posts in the series? Read part 2 (How to Plan Your Portraits), part 3 (How to Plan Your Wall Art), and part 4 (How to Plan Your Session).
Ready to talk? I’d be honored to connect with you on a call. Let’s brainstorm how we might turn your favorite activities into charming artwork in your hands and on your walls.
