Real, Everyday Love

As Valentine’s Day draws closer, I have been thinking a lot about love and how my definition of love has changed over time. In my younger days (the dating and young love era) love was something celebrated with a night out on the town, flowers, and maybe a gift or two; love looked like something straight out of a Nicholas Sparks movie. However, as I have grown I realize love doesn’t always look like that—it’s not always TV ready and it’s certainly not always attractive.

Yesterday, while we were giving our kids a bath, my son (bless his adorable little heart), decided to poop in the tub. While I was trying to get the kids out of the tub, rinsed off, and ready for bed, my husband sprung into action to clean up the poop mess left in our tub. That, my friends, is what love looks like nowadays. It’s a lot different from the chocolate and flowers I was used to receiving.

Love is cleaning up poop in the bathtub when you know your S.O. might throw up at the sight of it.

Love is getting your nails painted by a three-year-old who has no intention of keeping the paint on your toenails. Side note: Love is being a dad with pink toenails, forgetting to remove it, and only realizing this fact after taking your socks off for a parent-and-me gymnastics class (my husband can really rock pink toenails).

Love is tag teaming all-nighters with a newborn and having coffee ready for when it’s time to tackle the next day.

Love is wearing the same clothes you wore yesterday, being covered in toddler snot and baby spit up, and still being told you are the most beautiful person in the world. 

Love is settling for date nights at home when the kids are asleep and just enjoying each other’s company. It’s stolen glances throughout the day and kisses in between diaper changes.  

Love is encouraging creativity, potty training, accidents, kissing boo-boos, and reading the same book or watching the same movie for the bagillionth time. It’s relinquishing a little bit of control and letting your child make mistakes (and maybe letting them cook dinner knowing the mess that will soon follow). 

Real Love is sharing life with someone. It’s not always perfect and it doesn’t always
involve perfectly pressed outfits, golden light, and perfectly brushed hair. It’s messy, chaotic, and full of surprises—it’s perfectly imperfect and so much
better than chocolate and flowers.

This Valentine’s Day let me help you celebrate your everyday love with
a family storytelling session. 

For $200.00, you’ll receive a 2-hour storytelling session to gift to your loved one, which can be claimed anytime between now and June 2018.

In addition, you will also receive 5 digital downloads from our session time (artist’s choice).

Afterwards, you’ll get the opportunity to  purchase what you love from an a la carte menu of prints, products, and collections—a stunning way to celebrate your family’s love story, every day.

*Fine Print: This story session voucher can be used to book a family session, an in-home newborn session, or a fresh 48 story. As well, the value can be applied toward a longer 4-hour Day in the Life storytelling session. The session can either be in your home or at a favorite location of your choice (or a combination of both). 

All sessions are unposed and documentary in nature—they’re intended to capture real life. Check out my family gallery or blog if you aren’t currently familiar with my work.

Sessions are for immediate family only, must be booked by February 28, 2018, and take place by the end of June 2018 to take advantage of this promotion.