She’s a two-steppin’ cowgirl who shoulda’ been  born in Austin.  She’s the Freundel kids’ Sunday school teacher {and believe me, they ALL have a crush}. She loves on orphans every year at El Canyon in Nicaragua. She’ll compete in the Miss Maryland pageant this October.

Jenn learned that she was accepted into the pageant during our photo shoot. She charmed the pageant officials while I waved my arms like a crazy person, mouthing “we’re gonna lose the light!!!”   We were both in a celebratory mood last night on Meadow Vale Farm, home of our good friends, Wayne and Pepper.

We literally chased the light through the fields. Jenn had been sailing on the Chesapeake all day and rolled in at dusk with chocolate ice cream on her cover up, no make up and hair in a scrunchie. She pulled this off in less than 10 minures.  How’s that for 99 and 44/100 % pure? Nothing retouched. Just sayin. Love this girl.

My community is about roots. Families living their days connected to ancestors by the  farm land.  See that family picnicing under the big tree? That’s been the way they roll for generations and Sharon brought out a worn photo from 1910 . . .  a family in high necked, long dresses and suits and hats standing on that same front porch, to prove it.

The Beaver family has become so dear to my heart. They invited me into their lives last year when Megan and Liam were married at Linganore Wine Cellars.

So when Sharon invited me back into their lives . . . this time for a lifestyle session . . . it warmed my heart.

I don’t even have to share their stories . . . you’ll see their family history in the photos, as every location had it’s own precious memory attached.

Wanda’s very own Giving Tree.

Penn Staters . . . all of them . . . and here’s the next generation.  They bleed blue- no lie.

And Megan + Liam are still in that newleywed zone. Theirs is a true, pure love if I’ve ever seen one. The adventure is only beginning as they are getting ready to move to Tennessee where Liam has landed a baseball coaching position for Lincoln Memorial University. Megan sadly said goodbye to her English teaching post in Southern Maryland, but she’s in for the adventure.

Documenting the everyday moments. That’s such a huge gift to the generations to come . . . a priceless family heirloom. Don’t wait.

In from sunny Cali, the Kinards got together for a Lutherville Christmas at Ken and Jen’s magical home. So, between trips to New York City and Washington DC, we squeezed in a little photo shoot. Now, I gotta tell you, when Ken called me, I was a little intimidated. After all, he’s the guy that I’ve seen playing the keys and singing on stage many times. AND, he’s a photographer. AND he owns AccentInteractive. (yea. just look at the site and you’ll get it.) AND he teaches the area’s most amazing Great Books course . . . used to teach at Biola University. (I hear it all through the grapevine in good ole’ Balti.) And the icing? He shoots on my dream camera

Okay, so I was nervous for about ten seconds when I got there . . . and that whole clan was so warm and approachable that two hours later, when Brian was stirrin’ up the biscuits and gravy, I thought I might grab a sleeping bag and stay the weekend.

Jen and Ken and their four little ones have captured a vision and created  a home that inspires exploration and creativity . . . a home that is both welcoming and fun . . .with the BEST outdoor tree fort evah!

It’s a feast for the mind. Ephesians and William Carlos, side by side. Thornton Burgess on the bookshelf by the comfy chair. Sweet. Life.

Mike and Karina.

Barney and Sharon surrounded by their grandkids. Barney is a puppeteer, ventriloquist, author and children’s missionary. They were both in their element, enveloped in giggles.

The sibs.

Kevin and his sweet girl, Taylor.

Newlyweds, Kristen and Brian mix up a little love for breakfast. One of the best things about the Kinard’s home is they have decorated with quirky quotes all over the walls. It was like a treasure hunt to go from room to room and be inspired.

I could go on and on . . . what a beautiful family. Wanna see the entire gallery?

Meet Bridget. She’s the nurturer . . . the protector . . . her mamma’s second set of hands. She’s the eldest of the four Cassell kids, and pure joy.

Zoe is a firecracker who lives in the middle of the party. On our photo shoot day, she got a HUGE splinter deep in her finger. Sweet Zoe let her mom pull that splinter right out, slap on a bandaid, and she was ready to party once again.

Marin is a young lady with vision. And she commits to seeing her vision come to fruition. She knows what she wants, and she’s not afraid to get it! Marin’s focus is wrapped in giggles and hugs and pure delight.

And here is the most marriageable bachelor in the entire county!  With three sisters to keep him in line, Trent will be every sweet young thing’s dream.

The purpose of our lifestyle shoot was to capture four generations of this precious family . . . what a legacy of love they’ve created. Check out the Cassell Gallery for a peak into life as a Cassell.

They share their lives with three sons and three dogs, and manage to carve out alone time together. The last photo shoot we did involved the whole crew. This time it was all them.

Different setting. Different flava.

With ominous autumn skies and the final flicker of brilliant foliage, we caught the tail end of Indian summer at the Mill.

Teresa had on the cutest jeweled flats, and her Bruce just threw her over his shoulder and walked up that hillside like nobody’s business. Hmm . . . benefit of marrying a career firefighter.

Teresa and Bruce wanted a record of who they are as a couple amidst the season of lacrosse tournaments, part time jobs, soccer practices and  myriad activities. It reminds me to embrace this day, because that’s all I’m guaranteed. And if you don’t take the time to record it, who will?

Steve and Jackie. Alec and Steph. The Speights Family. Alec is going off into the Coast Guard in a couple of weeks, so Jackie decided that it was high time to capture her family . . . while they are all still under the same roof. Alec will leave home knowing that he has a family that will be praying for him, missing him and believing 100% in him. Jackie and Steve are parents who have set high standards for their kids, and Alec and Steph are about the sharpest young adults imaginable. I had the pleasure to get to know both of them last year during our community’s production of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Jackie and Steve have provided a firm foundation for their kids . . . they have high expectations, but it’s all undergirded by love, communication and lots of laughter. They are a family who know how to have FUN. Can’t you see it in their eyes?? I LOVE this family!

Laurie and Skip have one of those marriages that inspires me. It inspires me to work at keeping my own exciting. To invest. To nuture. And to laugh. Alot.  Laurie and Skip are now empty nesters . . . both girls in Florida now. And they admit it’s bittersweet. Yea, they just got back from a Caribbean cruise, and they have that sun kissed glow on their cheeks and  joy in their voices, but, oh, to turn back the clock and wake up with Libby and Ava in their bedrooms.

Whenever I’m with Laurie, I get a golden nugget. This time it came from both of them. Don’t rush through the child rearing thing. Plan for long, relaxing breaks and stretch those periods of “family fun” whenever possible. It all goes so fast. Laurie and Skip . . . I hear ya.

Laurie and Skip are wise about so many things. They are building a marriage . . . after 27 really great years, they are still building. They also realize that capturing who they are together is an heirloom . . . a forever legacy.  It had been five years since they had a “couples” photo . . . time to document love. Really smart. Cause you can’t turn back the clock and go back get what’s already gone.

Meet the Schultz family.

Teresa and her guys. Teresa and  Bruce have just completed a beautiful addition on their home . . . Bruce has been working like a dog and it shows! Teresa is not an interior decorator but she should be. Her home is stunning, full of personality, and warm and inviting. Her front room was even featured in a design magazine. So, Teresa saw these cool DIY wall design templates on the Home and Garden channel, and wanted to get some black and white photos of her family to put on the warm golden wall. Black and white prints, framed in black. It’s going to be sleek and classic.

Enter moi. With the charge of capturing this family in all it’s glory, including the pups. We were chasing the light all evening, but we won! Check ‘em out. Great family.

Dave.

Matt.

Nick.

trouble. of the sweetest kind.

I can tell. Teresa and Bruce share that “we’re on the same team” kind of love. Precious.

Bruce is looking at me that way ’cause I just asked him to throw Teresa into a dip and kiss her

Couldn’t resist.

the brotherhood.

They might rib and jeer, but these guys totally know how good they’ve got it.

Two parents in love. That’s a gift.

Frank.

I couldn’t resist this shot, Teresa. As I was going through your bedroom on the way back from using the second story balcony to shoot, I saw this on the wall above your bed.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this.

That about sums it up.

]]> http://kathyfreundel.com/blog/lifestyle-sessions/schultz-family/feed/ 0