Stepping into Adventure: Lifestyle Family Photographer: Northwest Indiana

Stepping into the Adventure: 

Life is an adventure, 

Each new smell, 

New Feeling, 

New Taste, 

It brings us into curious living, 

A place full go richness and beauty. 

For here there are no limits, 

No boundaries. 

Simply an open mind, 

A kind heart, 

And a curious mind to soak it all in. 

Here lies where the ordinary become the extraordinary, 

Where we are willing to reach beyond the simple that we see 

And step into the extraordinary set before us. 

It is right here, right at our fingertips. 

Greatness surrounds us constantly. 

But we must slow down, 

Learn to pay attention. 

For though the moments pass quickly,

When we slow down we have the opportunity to enjoy them in their full richness, 

And that is the greatest thing there is. 

So, today, choose the adventure, 

Even it involves sitting in your office sifting papers, 

Or changing another diaper, 

Folding laundry or making dinner. 

Choose to live in the adventure of it all, 

Soaking in the beauty within the mundane. 

And every once in a while do something out of the ordinary, 

Just because, 

Well life is a beautiful thing, and let's not miss it being too busy living in the mundane. 

Blueberry Farm Adventure: 

Last weekend, on a whim, we decided to jump in the car and go pick blueberries.  Thankful for country living in that we didn't have to go far.  And with the sun on our faces, juice on our fingers and full bellies, we were as content as could be.  Slow down the moments friends.  There is radiant beauty within them.

Your Favorite Memories 

What are some of your favorite memories as a child?  And are you still stepping into adventures today?  What does that look like for you?  I know it can be a beautiful chapter within your story. 

~Warmly, 

    Laura 

You are enough! 

Don't let these moments slip by without getting some of them documented.  You are adequate, you are doing a great job as a parent.  You are enough.  Let's create something wildly beautiful together, breathing life and extraordinary to your story! 

Scars Project: Overcoming Hardships in Life and Turning it to Hope: Northwest Indiana Lifestyle Photographer

Scars

Scars leave us vulnerable, cut open, pierced and marked.  We become branded with our stores, made different and changed.  Some scars are incredibly painful, seeping into our deepest identity, creating our deepest wounds.  Some scars leave us broken and blind, unable to see the light, crawling and inching towards mercy and grace.  But with any scar, in time, it has the opportunity to heal.  Many times, it is still weaker than before, still more prone to future vulnerability. However, it is also made more aware, more obvious, thus more attentive to us.  We now pay more attention in our lives to our areas of scars, thus providing transformation.  Scars can be used for beautiful healing, extreme redemption, and incredible growth to become someone better. 

Sacrifice

I have many scars in my own life, some are healed, some are only in the beginning stages of healing, still open and oozing.  Yet, as I begin to process them and make steps humbly towards grace and redemption I change.  I grow more compassion for others, more understanding for those hurting in similar circumstances.  My heart softens and as I am weak, I become stronger in Christ, for as I lay down myself and my pride, and pick up the cross instead, my focus and vision changes.  My values are transformed, my purposed fixed and my eyes focused.  As I live broken and in need of Jesus, I become more alive than I ever could be on my own.  For, there is something so beautiful about the act of sacrifice, laying ourselves down and choosing others instead.  This is why Motherhood is one of the most beautiful things to me.  It is an extreme sacrifice of laying yourself down to care for and nurture the needs of your children.  Beauty.  This is why the act of service in the military is such a beautiful thing to me.  Laying down their lives and time with their families for the sake of our nation.  Beauty.  This is why the messy, the broken and the frayed pieces are so beautiful to me.  For, although there is certainly pain there, there is also sacrifice, and through the sacrifice comes wisdom, and through the wisdom comes grace and grace changes actions and grace shines light on the darkness, and that is a beautiful thing worth capturing.  Grace produces hope, and the world runs to hope!  

Vulnerable, Yet Set Free 

Here is a start to my own Scars Project I am working on this year.  It has been a beautiful, healing process for me.  Leaving me vulnerable, yet set free.  

Seen

Perfection

Physical Scars

Acne

Beloved

Walking the Line

Freedom

Strength

Sweet Embrace

Loneliness

Letting Go

Body Image

Motherhood

Rejoice

Sacrifice

180

Loved

Held

Comforted

Depression

Poured Out

Chosen

Renewed

Delight

Loss

Overcome

Reflection

Guided

Given

My Nesting Place

Do you have any scars you have overcome or are struggling with?  I would love to champion them together!! 

~Warmly, 

    Laura 

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How to Prepare for a Family Session: Laura Duggleby Photography: Northwest Indiana

First Steps: Mental Preparation: 

So, you have family pictures on the books and have found an amazing photographer to capture some amazing images for you and your family, but how do you prepare so that you feel ready to go and relaxed?

• List out activities that are important to you and your family 

Let your photographer know what you like to do with your family, what comes naturally to you, how you and your family hang out, whether that be, hanging out at the park or watching movies.  This will help your photographer know what is normal and typical for you and your family and how to relate well to you.  

• Think about details you love and want to remember in this season with your family

These seasons of life fly by so quickly so think about things your little ones are doing or traits you never want to forget so that your photographer makes sure to pay special attention to it during your session.  For example:  does your little one have some beautiful curls that you want to remember or are they crazy attached to daddy in this season of life?  What are personalities that you see within your children that you love?   For my sessions it is incredibly important to me that I capture these things that are special to you, because every story is unique, and every family has their own story.  And, life goes by so quickly.  I know that you are trying to balance it all, between raising your children, loving your husband, growing a business, and having a somewhat social life on the side.  I get it, life is hard to manage it all, so let me, or your photographer make sure you use this session to capture every beautiful piece of it! 

Deciding Time of Session

• Sunrise- Are you a morning person?  Do your young ones wake up super early in the morning?  If so, this might be a good time to shoot to stick with the natural rhythm of your family. 
• Sunset- Are you a night owl?  Do your children go down late and sleep in in the morning?  Then, if your photographer is able, sunset might be the best time for you and your family to shoot. 

It's best just to think about what might work best for you and your family.  Keep in mind, that either way things might get a little off from the norm, and that is completely fine, but keeping it as close to normal as possible if you have little ones tends to work best. 

Picking Attire

It's wardrobe selection time!! Here are some tips I like to give people for choosing what to wear. 

• Mommas, choose your outfit first.  You want to make sure you are in something that makes you feel lovely and beautiful, and yet that is also comfortable.  The last thing you want is to be constantly adjusting yourself during a session.  
• After your outfit is all set, dress your little ones and your husband.  Make sure they are comfortable as well.   
• Coordinate, don't match!! Make sure you coordinate your colors, but don't match everything together

Day Before Session: 

• Pack bag of “Extras”- Change of clothes, toys, diapers, wipes, snacks, blankets, soothers, etc. 
• Set an alarm to wake up for sunrise session or to start getting ready for sunset session. 

Day of Session:     

•    Give extra time for preparation! 
•    Try to leave early. 
•    Wait to dress baby or small children until you get there in case of spit-up or messy snacks in car on commute
•  Breastfeeding: 
  • 1. Either feed beforehand if you would not like to have it documented within the session, OR 
  • 2. Make sure to try and plan the feeding schedule to have a nursing during the session
•    Bring soothing tools, blankets, favorite toy, or snacks to help calm child in case of a meltdown
•    Extra change of clothes for you post session should baby spit up or anything on you! 
•    Don’t forget baby necessities- diapers, wipes, clothes, etc.  (An extra outfit is always great with little ones)

Final Thought: 

• Enjoy the Session!  Once you are there, make sure to just let things be and enjoy the time you have with your family all together.  Soak in the moments as they are happening.  Love those close to you well.  These moments are ever passing and these memories matter.  Your photographer will capture your family beautifully!  Enjoy the amazing story that is being written just for you! 

~Warmly, 

     Laura 

Ready to Start Planning your own Family Session? 

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