Kael, Nick, and Elizabeth

I had the joy of spending a Saturday morning with this sweet family shortly before the coronavirus hit Seattle in a big way. Kael & Nick were expecting their second child—a son—and wanted to commemorate this at a doughnut shop they’d often visited as newlyweds along with their daughter, Elizabeth.

As I look through these photos, I am reminded what a gift it is to move freely about without fear of illness or the need to keep distance from each other. It is something I took for granted before, but now I’d give anything to bask in the natural light of a February morning in downtown Seattle.

Many thanks to General Porpoise Doughnuts for graciously allowing us to take photos in your beautiful space!

~Katie

Elizabeth, Brian, & Kathryn

Elizabeth and Brian are dear friends, which means photographing them is an especial treat. Over the years, it has been a true privilege to witness how God has continually woven their hearts and souls together through dating, marriage, and the birth of their first child.

E&B, thank you for loving Kathryn with everything you have. This love-for-which-there-are-no-words is so evident in the way you look at her, and the delight reflected in her eyes as she looks back at you. May you be blessed to the fullest with joy and confidence in your identity as God’s beloved children.

xox, Katie

“I'll walk in the rain by your side
I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand
I'll do anything to help you understand
And I'll love you more than anybody can

And the wind will whisper your name to me
Little birds will sing along in time
Leaves will bow down when you walk by
And morning bells will chime”

-John Denver, “For Baby (For Bobbie)”

Lily & James

Say it's here where our pieces fall in place
Any rain softly kisses us on the face
Any wind means we're running
We can sleep and see 'em coming
Where we drift and call it dreaming
We can weep and call it singing

Where we break when our hearts are strong enough
We can bow 'cause our music's warmer than blood
Where we see enough to follow
We can hear when we are hollow
Where we keep the light we're given
We can lose and call it living

-iron & wine

Lily & James embody adventure, passion, and fortitude. Five years ago, they ran away from an old life towards the unknown. Five years later, Seattle has become home—not because it’s been easy, but because they’ve made it so with their love, a french bulldog, and a passion for working with their hearts and hands.

This summer, they invited me to join them on the southern end of the Olympic Peninsula in a setting as grand, strong, and mysterious as their love. Lily & James, cheers to you and the rest of your beautiful lives!

Meghan, Myles, Rhett, & Elliot

“And now," cried Max, "let the wild rumpus start!”

-m. sendak

Meaghan and Myles are a couple I photographed several years ago during their first pregnancy with their son, Rhett. I remembered them being playful and utterly, unapologetically themselves. When Meaghan asked me to do family photos for their now family of 4, I wondered what, if anything, would be different about their dynamic with two children now in their home.

What I found was not a diminishing or neglect of the love I witnessed several years ago, but an ecstatic, warm expansion of it expressed in each face, reflective of a deep love they had made even more their own.

I entered their home, and heavy metal music was blaring. It made me smile.

Rhett and Elliot were charmingly dressed in outfits inspired by the illustrations from Maurice Sendak’s classic childhood work, Where the Wild Things Are.

They were perfect.

As I photographed, laughed, and chased children with them, I felt my own joy kindled by the wildness of the love each of them embodied.

May you witness, as I did, the many sparks of love and tenderness and playfulness that comprise the bonfire of this family’s exuberant existence.

“But the wild things cried,

“Oh please don't go-

We'll eat you up-

We love you so!”  -m. sendak

Lauren & Dave

Lauren and Dave are a profoundly playful and deeply thoughtful couple with hearts of gold. During our session, I was struck by the quiet, tender mutuality of their love--a love grounded firmly in friendship and a steadfast commitment to their faith. It was a privilege to document these final few days before the arrival of their beautiful baby girl, Selah Faith! 

Baby Ava

The bond that this sweet baby and her mama share is truly special. During our session, Ava rested securely in her mother's love. Below is an excerpt from one of my favorite children's books by Robert Munsch; it hangs over Ava's crib like a blessing:

"A mother held her new baby and very slowly rocked her back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. And while she held her, she sang:

I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be."

Ava, may you be blessed and held by a Love that is bigger than you could ever hope or imagine.

Karen

Karen is a woman of confidence and grace—a woman who knows who she is and stands firm in her identity. I was blessed to have the opportunity to take some headshots for her writing endeavors, so we ventured through Seattle one rainy afternoon. Our time together was sweet, creative, and adventurous!

Karen, may you continue to walk in your identity as a leader, encourager, inspirer, and daughter of the King. Much love to you!

Fava Family

It has been so sweet see this family grow and change over the years. To work with a family and witness the birth and growth of children, family reunions, and the quiet intimacy of their day-to-day lives is an honor.

One thing that has not changed with time is their deep, affectionate, playful love for one another.

Fava Family, thank you for letting me take part in the joy you share.

Shelby & Nick

Shelby and Nick, I loved spending time with you and photographing the beauty of your relationship on that windy morning by the sea. May your life together bring you more adventure than you ever thought possible.

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls."
~Kahlil Gibran 

Donovan & Tye

D & T are a couple who have truly found each other. As a military couple, they take no day for granted and celebrate each day together. While we trekked through snow and trespassed a little bit around empty winter cabins, I couldn't help but think about how sweet, how precious, how good it is to find the one person in the world whose hand fits yours in a way that leaves you ruined for all other loves. 

D &T , may you never stop celebrating the fact that you have found one another. Happy Anniversary!

"We stood
Steady as the stars in the woods
So happy-hearted
And the warmth rang true inside these bones
As the old pine fell we sang
Just to bless the morning."

-b. howard, "old pine"

Taylor, Tim, & Emerson

I fall more in love with this family each time I'm with them. Tim and Taylor have entered the realm of parenthood with unity, patience, and grace. Baby Emerson is a joy, a treasure, a delight. Watching her parents delight over her and in her fills me with joy. Taylor and Tim, may you receive this blessing as you continue your journey as parents:

As a Child Enters the World

As I enter my new family,
May they be delighted
At how their kindness
Comes into blossom.

Unknown to me and them,
May I be exactly the one
To restore in their forlorn places
New vitality and promise.

May the hearts of others
Hear again the music
In the lost echoes
Of their neglected wonder.

If my destiny is sheltered,
May the grace of this privilege
Reach and bless the other infants
Who are destined for torn places.

If my destiny is bleak,
May I find in myself
A secret stillness
And tranquility
Beneath the turmoil.

May my eyes never lose sight
Of why I have come here,
That I never be claimed
By the falsity of fear
Or eat the bread of bitterness.

In everything I do, think,
Feel, and say,
May I allow the light
Of the world I am leaving
To shine through and carry me home.

~John O'Donohue

Fava Family

This beautiful family has become dear to my heart. It has been an honor to follow them through the pregnancy and birth of their youngest daughter, Madeline, and to experience them again through this session a year later.

The Fava family reminds me that togetherness is messy, playful, joyful, frustrating, and deeply tender. As a photographer, the most meaningful moments to me are the moments between poses—the moments that cannot be scripted but only lived. . .felt.

When I capture such moments, my heart thrills. As you view these photos, may you remember to cherish the moments between.

Tye & Donovan

Tye and Donovan reached out to me for a photo session before Donovan left for Alaska with the Coast Guard. From Guam, they told me the story of how they met, fell in love, and followed their dream of moving to the U.S. so Donovan could join the Coast Guard. 

This couple embodies playfulness, passion, and steadfastness--to each other and to their dreams. It was an honor to work with this couple who is choosing to sacrifice time together and the security of a risk-free job for the purpose of serving and protecting our country.

Tye and Donovan, I wish you all of the goodness that life has to offer. May your reunion be sweet, indeed!

Lauren & Jordan

Lauren and Jordan are simply fantastic people. The joy, romance, mutual respect, and playfulness they share was a gift to capture on this cloudy Seattle morning. Lauren and Jordan, I cannot wait to see you welcome baby Madeline into the world! 

She is blessed, indeed.

Crystal & Jake

Crystal and Jake are a couple whose presence invites authenticity. Their at-home-ness with themselves and each other created space for a photo shoot which wasn't perfect, but very very true. When it started raining about ten minutes into our session, they sort of shrugged and said, "These will look more real anyways."

And they do.

Crystal and Jake, thank you for the gift of your time. I am so honored to have captured this sweet season before the arrival of baby Maddox!

Kaitlyn & Todd

These two are so much fun. Kaitlyn & Todd exude playfulness, delight, and an ease with one another that only comes from time. . .time spent growing, understanding, laughing, fighting for one another.

Their love makes love look easy, but they have also overcome significant obstacles and have made sacrifices to be together. Todd serves in the U.S. Army, which has shaped the timing of their relationship, engagement, and wedding.

Kaitlyn & Todd, may your days, months, years be an adventure, and may your marriage and friendship be blessed.

Thank you for your service, your sacrifice, your love.

Christine

Christine and her beautiful family were such a pleasure to work with. Their playful tenderness, creativity, and enjoyment of each other was evident from the start. 

Following them through trees and dunes towards the setting sun, I found myself marveling at the goodness of family, of commitment, of mutual embrace. 

Little one, may you come to grow and thrive in the love that awaits you.

Betty & Chad

Betty and Chad are a couple who are up for adventure. They played in the rain, ran down muddy trails and through forested paths together; it was a joy to watch them love and play and delight in one another's company. 

Betty and Chad, may your life together continue to hold beauty and grace.