FAMILY: The Y fam, featuring London

There is nothing quite as nerve-wracking, nor as flattering, in the photography industry as being asked to shoot a fellow photographer. I know right away, I'm dealing with higher expectations, but also individuals who trust me at the same time. It's sorta empowering, though I do get really nervous.

Cara Bresette-Yates has been my assistant in the past for a wedding (and might be again soon!!!)...and in the small world we all live in, is neighbors out in the country with my dad's best friend's family.

She has been so sweet and thoughtful during my pregnancy....I got a random card from her while I was going through a particularly hard part. She understood all too well because she herself was blessed with a cute lil' stinker last winter. It's particularly heart-warming to hear from recently new mothers because it underscores what I already know....any pain I go through now will be worth it in the end. And just LOOK at London....that is enough! But to interact just sends the joys of life over the edge...

My husband came along on this shoot and played the fool behind me to get London's attention. He and I were both giggling the entire time at the faces she makes. Chuck and Cara are definitely lucky parents....and their love for their tongue-sticking-outer is VERY VERY CLEAR. (And I think the holiday card I got from them using some of these pics is definitely an all-time fave...Cara sure knows how to put photos to use. Gotta love fellow photogs!!!)

When Cara booked a mini session with me, she made it clear that she wanted to get some pics of just London and her since, being the photographer of the family, she is rarely in the pics herself. I think I will be feeling that very thing soon.....

Enjoy... :)





As your lil' one turns one... may you find her soon-to-be found mobility exciting...and I hope she continues to fill your days and nights with the inescapable need to smile. xo View full post!

LOVE: Finding a muse in my friends....

I will attempt to not get too sappy in this post, which will be a challenge given that at 9.5 months pregnant, I cry when anyone says something genuinely nice to me or even at those cheesy forwards my mom keeps sending me in email. You know, the ones that aren't true....but give you a bit of hope for mankind? :)

Anywho...Audrey is one of my best friends. We commenced our friendship back in junior high, and solidified it on the school bus after sports practices...singing songs from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, without a care in the world, knowing full well that Gary, the bus driver, was enjoying every minute of it. We stayed close through high school, and made so many memories...some worth sharing (such as getting to drive a porche convertible of her cousins for TWO days in San Diego...at the age of 17!!!) and ones that only she and I find amusing (like drawing eyes and a nose on each other's chins and having one of us lie upside down so the "faces" would talk...and we'd lose it and just about die laughing.) We also were the friends who would hang out and just take naps...eat Oreos....sit around... talk.... read magazines in silence. It has always been a special friendship to me.

We fell a bit out of step in college as we took very different paths, but somehow, we reunited toward the end of our collegiate journeys. And I think we're even stronger today. She is a beautiful person on the inside. She often talks too loudly and laughs even louder. She eats candy and leaves the wrappers everywhere, but giggles when you accuse her of it. No subject is taboo with her. And she's always willing to give a hug, even if she doesn't know you very well.

She has taken her sunshiney-ness to the classroom and is now a kindergarten teacher. It's a rough job, but Audrey is one of those teachers who has the power to make a difference for the young kids. I am so proud of her for finding her niche.

She has been so supportive to me over the years as I branched out through pursuing my own passion of photography; her approval, her pride for me, her constant encouragement have played a huge role in getting me to where I am now...and where I will end up.

And let's talk about how darling she is on the outside. It's hard to be around her and not be drawn to her charisma and she is so incredibly photogenic. She married her best friend a couple of years before I married mine, and I am so thankful she found someone as cleverly witty and genuinely kind as Aaron is. Aaron and Neil are very similar in a lot of ways, and I do so wish that we lived in the same city because the four of us would have a blast together ALL THE TIME.

When I held mini-sessions in October in Omaha, I was THRILLED when Audrey & Aaron decided to book one with me. The only "good" photos they have of them together are from their wedding day. So they brought their stylin' selves...and their warm glow.... in front of my camera, and honest to gosh, something clicked (not just my shutter...thank you very much.) They inspired me from deep down and rekindled my own love for taking photos. I have a crush on them now, photographically speaking.

Here are just a few of my favorites....I hope you enjoy them at least half as much as I do.





And lastly....a photo Aaron snapped on my camera of Aud & me....(we used to be called the SUNSHINE TWINS in church back in high school. I was always so incredibly flattered to be linked to her .... someone so freaking cute and fun and lovable.) ANd I love this photo...and that I'm pregnant in it. Because she has also been so amazingly supportive during the pregnancy...even from far away. Last week, she came to stay with me for a few days during her time off, just to help distract me from my discomfort, and it warmed my heart to see her tear up when she'd feel the baby kick. She is a sentimental ball of joy, and she's going to be a great aunt to my son. I just know it.



Aud & Aaron, I hope you cherish these images as they should always remind you of the couple you are at the foundation---you fit so well, you flatter one another, and you have an intangible bond that is so fierce to the onlooker it can give others the chills. Please hold fast to that...and know that you're beautiful apart, but even more so together. I love you both. xo View full post!

FAMILY: coming together for some pic-chas

This Omaha mini-session is brought to you by faithful clients of mine--one of my sister's best friends, Brandy, and her husband, Luke. They are no strangers to Darbi G. But this time, they brought with them Luke's brother, Josh, and his wife, Alison, and their three kiddos, Drew, Emily and Taryn. But they didnt' stop there....also along for the ride was Luke & Josh's gorgeous sister, Kelly...and then the three sibling's parents, the two who started it all... John and Nancy.

I thought working with such a large group with little kids in a short amount of time would be challenging...but honest to goodness, this family is not only good looking, but well-behaved (well, Luke and Josh were naughty on and off, but what can you do?? haha)

At the end, the three kids donned their Halloween costumes... so cute!!


It was wonderful to spend some time with the entire clan...hope you all have a GREAT 2012!!! View full post!

New life: The O family & Baby Harper

Another special shoot for me..... Sara and I grew up together....we met in preschool and bonded over Reese's Pieces and falling off chairs during fire alarms. We used to pretend I was her pet monkey, and we taught my brother and her little sister craft projects. The memories really don't stop.....

Her family has remained a close family friend to my own, and I love that we're both becoming mothers within 4 months of one another. Because our babies won't be living in the same city (she's up in Omaha), they won't go to preschool together, but we can now tell them later in life that they knew each other from birth on. Even LONGER than Sara and I have been friends. That's kinda cool.

When I held mini sessions in Omaha, I made an exception on location for Sara because her family is so dear to me. They had just had their baby girl...Ms. Harper Quinn...and sure as heck didn't want to venture to a park in the chilly weather when she was brand new. 

Harper was wide awake for the majority of the shoot, which of course makes the sleeping-baby poses very challenging. But she just didn't want to miss anything! The photos we got with her eyes closed were actually taken during long blinks. hahaha Just kidding, she was "lightly" sleeping, so we had to act fast....but gosh, isn't she beautiful??? She looks so much like Sara it's crazy. Just spending such a short amount of time with Sara and Tim made me proud of them...they have fallen very naturally into the shoes of parenting and that helps me feel that I, too, can follow suit. :)

And Sara has since been a great source of support as I struggle through my last few months of pre-parenthood and pregnancy. Thank you for that, Sara!!!

And a big hug and kiss to you all..... So excited to be on this journey at the same time.... xo

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