THE ASHBROOK {family}

This family is near and dear to my heart. I’ve known them for a really long time. Joey and I grew up together, went to the same college, then he and Matthew did their MBA together. This was my first time getting to photograph them because they have just returned to Cincinnati from Joey working on a law degree. Enough with the degrees already, Joey! I mean, who goes back to school after getting an MBA?? Oh, wait…. (p.s. my husband is back in school, earning another degree :)) I’m happy to have them back in town, even if we aren’t local anymore. But Louisville is much closer than Virginia, so it’s not so bad. We had a beautiful day, albeit a little chilly. Little Lucy was not a fan of me, or my camera, or maybe both, but that didn’t stop us from forcing some laughs out of her! And when a toddler doesn’t want to behave the way you want them to, some magical things can happen (amazing – I know!). Some of my favorite pictures from this shoot are times when Joey took Lucy aside to comfort her and talk to her. Those moments would not have happened otherwise, so that’s makes me so thankful that they did! Some sweet moments between a father and daughter. I get chills just thinking about it. It’s times like that where you just want to look at them and say “Never get older.” Yes, the fits and pouting aren’t fun, but the reconciliation and comforting makes it all so worth it. And then you have sweet little Annie Beth, just ready to pose for the camera. She’s still too little to be wary of me – don’t worry, Annie Beth, a day will come where you don’t like my camera either 🙂 I feel so blessed to have been able to watch this beautiful family together and see Joey and Rebecca with all smiles, taking every step in stride because this parenting thing is a journey, and we need to enjoy every minute of it.

Lucy may have been avoiding my camera, but what she doesn’t realize, is finding comfort in her mama can be more endearing then her smiling at me. Just sayin’….