Kaylan & Brooklyn {Styled Senior} South Bend, Indiana

"She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future." 

Senior year is one of the biggest experiences of a person's life, and it's important to document it! And we kind of think the best way to do that is with a totally awesome photo shoot where you can strut your stuff, feel beautiful, and have lasting memories you can look back on when life gets a little tough. 

Kaylan and Brooklyn did just that in the wonderful backdrop that is downtown South Bend, Indiana. We had an awesome afternoon giving these girls the true senior experience! 

We were lucky enough to work with the amazing makeup artist, Morgan, of Makeup by Morgan. She took the girls' natural beauty and enhanced it; and they were stunning.

And any girl knows that a photo shoot isn't complete without the perfect outfit! Or outfits! ;) They sported clothing from H&M, and their own closets, and looked fabulous! 

We really LOVE senior sessions. There is something about photographing young people at a pivotal point in their lives. They are embracing change. Taking leaps of faith into the unknown. It's a beautiful time. And the senior experience with Hey Sisters! Photography is all about that change - and embracing it! Shine on ladies. SHINE ON.

Models: Kaylan O'Connell and Brooklyn Marrs

Clothing: H&M

Makeup: Makeup By Morgan

Location: Downtown South Bend, Indiana 

Theo turns One! {The Buhrman Family} South Bend, Indiana

We met Rick, Chelsea, and Theo back in January whilst photographing them for a magazine feature about sweet Theo's time at Riley Children's Hospital. You can read more about their session here!

From the moment we met this family, we knew they were special. We are so thankful we got the chance to catch up with them again and capture this momentous occasion! The grace, devotion, and strength Rick and Chelsea find in each other is incredible. Theo has been through so much in his first year of life, but his parents would walk the world for him, and the smile permanently plastered on his cherub cheeks shows that he knows.

Theo is one! In many cultures, a baby's first birthday is a rite of passage. For the Buhrman family, this birthday is so much more than that. There was a time when tomorrow was not promised for Theo, but this brave little miracle turned days into weeks, weeks into months, and now months into YEARS!

Rick and Chelsea planned a very special get together for their little man. Photos of Theo's first year were proudly on display, and in the dining room sat a beautifully decorated cake and banner!  Some may wonder why the banner reads "Happy Day" rather than "Happy Birthday", but not us. Theo is a true example that every day is a gift, a true reason to celebrate.

Waiting for him on his high chair tray, Theo had a special birthday cupcake! This was his first taste of cake, and I think it is safe to say he loved it!

Theo's Aunt and Uncle joined in on the birthday celebration! It is obvious this little boy is so loved, and he loves so much in return. The way Theo looked at his uncle and snuggled into his aunt was absolutely precious!

We can't reiterate enough how grateful we are to have had the opportunity to capture these special memories for The Buhrman family! It has been our absolute pleasure to watch him grow this year as well as develop a true friendship with Rick and Chelsea.

If you would like to read more about Theo and his journey, Chelsea's blog can be found here! This momma is an inspiration, a true warrior, as well as an incredibly gifted writer.

Happy First Birthday, Theo! You are such a ray of sunshine, truly God's gift to this earth.

"Sometimes, real superheros live in the hearts of small children fighting big battles." - Unknown

Scott & Mary {The Chapel at The Morris Estate} Niles, Michigan

We were so excited to be able to photograph these two once again back at the same place they said "I do". In 2014, Mary and Scott were married in The Chapel at The Morris Estate in Niles, Michigan, and we were fortunate enough to be able to capture their special day. This time, we were here to celebrate something different! 

We just can't get enough of these two. Two of the sweetest people you will ever meet! Mary had her beautiful baby girl in March of this year and we couldn't be happier for them!

Seriously ... we are so grateful and so blessed to have such amazing clients. People that welcome us into their lives for such beautiful moments. It is always so humbling and an amazing honor to be able to capture such important and incredible memories, we hope will last a lifetime. 

Luke {Smash the Cake} South Bend, Indiana

"Children hold our hands for awhile, but hold our hearts forever." - Unknown

We met this adorable family at their beautiful home in South Bend a few months ago. The plan was to celebrate little Luke's first birthday with a little cake, and a whole lot of laughs!

Luke and Addison were so adorable! They were so incredibly sweet and kind, and so photogenic!! With their bright eyes and sweet smiles, we couldn't get enough of these two.  

We headed inside where Renea had the cutest setup for little Luke's smash the cake session! With his colorful, spotted bib around his neck, Luke had a blast with his cake! Even though he didn't necessarily "smash the cake", he did enjoy munching on it and even sticking his foot in it and making a big mess! 

Addison eventually jumped in to help him finish his cake, and Luke made sure to not leave anybody out and even gave his momma Renae a bite! 

We had such a blast capturing this special moment for this family and are grateful to give them a wonderful experience to look back on as these two celebrate many more birthdays to come! 

The Reed Family {St. Patrick's County Park} South Bend, Indiana

"When we have each other, we have everything." -Unknown

This beautiful couple got married in 2013, and have since developed a tradition of taking photos every year as their anniversary approaches! Jason and Meghan had an extra-special addition to their photos this year, their daughter Hazel!

In addition to Jason and Meghan's fourth anniversary, little Hazel recently celebrated her first birthday! Equipped with her party hat and matching outfit, she enjoyed a sweet taste of her birthday cupcake! She was all smiles as we snapped away, this beautiful babe made our job easy!

The sunlight shining through the trees perfectly illustrated this precious moment between Meghan and Hazel. The love and contentment was tangible between these two!

This family was the type you just can't help but fall in love with. They were kind, sweet, and had so much fun together!

SO THANKFUL photography brings forth the opportunity to meet new families and help them continue with their traditions. It was our pleasure to capture another year of happiness for Jason and Meghan (and Hazel, too!) to look back on as their family continues to grow!