Photographing: Families, Faith, Food & Fun!

Rayna’s Senior Photos

10.19.25

What a complete JOY it has been raising this level-headed, easy-going and sensible girl. She’s never been the type to act on emotion, try to get her own way or not be happy with the little things.

There’s not many draw-backs to her being so low-maintenance, but as I’ve tried to plan her senior photos the last two years, it’s been nothing short of impossible.

I figured my last resort was her senior trip- our big, Mediterranean cruise! I casually asked her, “Hey… you know how Ross wanted me to take his senior photos on our cruise a few years ago? Wouldn’t it be fun to take yours on our cruise too?”

No special outfits… no drama… just a few pictures here and there, right?!?! She ~~surprisingly~~ agreed, so I had a SPECTACULAR time ‘quickly’ ‘snapping a few’ ‘quick photos’ at our stops in Italy, Greece and Croatia.

Trip of a lifetime…
Memories that will last forever…
An amazing daughter and friend…
More than I ever deserved…

FOREVER grateful for these memories!

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Tinsley

10.16.25

I met Tinsley fifteen years ago! I mean… what a CUTIE pie! And it feels like yesterday I was at her house taking photos of her backyard tea party. What a treat! There were so many other special sessions and memories, but now, we’re here to celebrate Tinsley’s SENIOR YEAR!

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Kate

10.09.25

When I first began to photograph Kate thirteen years ago, her mom was intentional about bringing special items to our session. How FUN to look back and remember those seasons! Lots of great seasons- stuffed bunny, baseball, flowers and a SWEET dog named Bentley! Now we get to celebrate her SENIOR YEAR!

What a fun journey! Thank you for trusting me to be there for the highlights!

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Anthony, Abbe, Liam, Annelise & Malachi

10.08.25

“Messenger of God” is the meaning of the name they chose. It’s very fitting because I’ve watched them pour God’s Word and truth into their other two children. I have no doubt Anthony and Abbe will raise lil’ Malachi to also believe in the Lord and be a light for Him!

We packed a lot of moments into our morning together because, as we all know, it’s so important to document all the football throws, twirls and cuddles!

Congratulations to this special family! I’m so happy they are adding more messengers!

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Matt, Catalina, Jack & Kate

10.07.25

~~I ALMOST STARTED CRYING IN THE GROCERY STORE TODAY WHEN I HEARD A BILLY JOEL SONG BECAUSE IT REMINDED ME OF SPECIAL TIMES WITH ROSS!~~

‘I am a very sentimental gal.’

I realize it’s not just with my OWN kids, but also with the children I’ve had the privilege of photographing over the years. I could have already posted this a few hours ago, but instead, I pulled out my hard-drives to look at their sweet family photos from the past twelve years.

From Baby Jack…

to the day they told me they were PREGNANT…

to that gorgeous fall day in Atlanta with Baby Kate…

to the kids just laughing together…

to JUST when I thought they couldn’t get any cuter, so they added Leia…

to going to their neck-of-the-woods…

and to the point where Kate is almost too big to sit on Matt’s shoulders!

What WONDERFUL memories that I feel SO blessed to have been able to capture!

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Zadar, Croatia

08.05.25

Matthew is very optimistic. When people ask him about Croatia, he simply says, “I really want to go back!” I smile because that’s a very nice way of saying, “We missed many of the highlights and was so delayed, we almost missed getting back on the ship!”

Viator cancelled our (ONE and ONLY) excursion (LAST MINUTE) (FOR NO REASON). Although we booked weeks prior (and was even receiving confirmation texts the morning of), we arrived to the dock surrounded by complete chaos with no record of our (PAID) tour.

As optimistic as Matthew is, he’s equally determined. So, needless to say, he found a way to get us around to some of Croatia’s islands.

We may have missed some highlights, but do you know what we DIDN’T miss… a chance to JUMP OFF a 33 FEET high diving platform into the Adriatic Sea!

As I watched from the ground, I noticed a group of guys who kept giving up their turn- too afraid to jump. It made me smile to watch Rayna show them how it’s done!

That’s a wrap, Croatia! Hopefully, we’ll see you again!

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Santorini, Greece

07.29.25

As the sun was just starting to rise (and my family was still enjoying a few more hours of sleep), I was eagerly waiting in the ship lobby to claim early tender tickets for SANTORINI! (Even if you don’t know the name, you’d certainly recognize the picturesque Greek island with white-washed villages, blue domes and beautiful hints of color all around.)

But despite all my research and early morning ticket, my secret dream to become an ‘international travel blogger‘ crumbled into pieces that day on the slick steps of Santorini. It hurts to say this, but that picturesque town, Oia, that draws in visitors from all around the world… well, we totally MISSED it.

We planned on hiking nearly 7 miles to Oia, but you all have already seen how Ross gets distracted when he spots a big rock or mountain…

Matthew and I were happy to sit in the shade (and pray that Ruthie didn’t get hurt) as the kids hiked to the top.

After the hike and unexpected adventure up the mountain, everyone was hot, tired and hungry. My crew didn’t seem to care that there was a world-famous sites just around the corner, so the majority-VOTE (after hours of being in the hot sun) was to stop our intended hike to Oia and start hiking back to the ship.