Today it is my joy and honor to share a very special Beloved session with all of you. If you’ve been following me for some time now, you know that I absolutely love Beloved sessions. These sessions are just so special in my mind because they are about more than just having your portraits taken – they are an opportunity to take a break from the hustle and bustle of the everyday and focus on the two of you.

This Beloved session was particularly special because it was for my parents. This year is my mom and dad’s 35th wedding anniversary and my mom asked if I would take a couple quick pictures out at the lake in Sullivan. I knew she was really only wanting a couple updated photos, but I suggested to her that we do a Beloved session instead. I wanted to make it a more special occasion since they so rarely have their portraits taken. And mom agreed to give it a try. (Just so long as I still took those standard portraits she wanted too 😉 )

So I took them over to Bo Woods in Sullivan, IL to capture the lake-like backdrop she was wanting. It was cute watching them soak up the scenery. Bo Woods is incredibly beautiful and peaceful. And there was a lovely cool breeze coming off the water that made for the perfect temperature on one of the warmer summer days this summer. Beloved sessions are different from standard portrait sessions in that they are more interactive and you actually have “homework” before your session. As their daughter, it was a real joy to get to photograph this type of session for them. My parent’s are often very reserved so it was wonderful watching them smile and hug and reminisce on years gone by.

I’m exceedingly grateful that my mom and dad were open to this type of personal session because as one of their children – it is a joy for me to see my parents’ love so plainly. It’s easy for us kids to forget that our parents were once newly weds. That they once were just Karl & Janet, not mom and dad, but boyfriend and girlfriend and then husband and wife. To get to hear their stories and see the light in their eyes when they look at each other, and now to also have photographs that captured this fun experience for them and show a glimpse into their beautiful marriage. I cherish these portraits just as much (if not more) than they do because they capture real moments and real expressions in two people I love dearly.

I hope that you never feel you are too old, too heavy, too gawky, too awkward, or too anything to have your portrait taken. Everyone has someone in their life who will cherish these images, these glimpses into your soul and your life. And I find that these sessions often breathe new life into people and their relationships, and help them catch a glimpse of their own value and beauty they hadn’t seen before.

Here’s what my mom had to say about their Beloved session:

Since our daughter Stephanie is a professional photographer, we get to enjoy the perks of having our pictures taken frequently. However, Karl and I have never had just our picture taken in a session–we are always wanting all the kids in our pictures. This time–we wanted to do something special because in Sept. we will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary. We feel very blessed to be able to enjoy this milestone–and wanted to do something as a memory of the event. I asked Stephanie if she would take our picture, of course, she agreed but only on her terms :). She wanted us to do what she calls “A Beloved Session.”

Karl and I agreed—after all–you can’t argue with photographer-daughter.  The photo session turned into such a special memory for us. Stephanie gave us “homework” to do prior to the session which we were not to share with each other. The “homework” brought to mind very special times in our lives—made us take a breath and just enjoy the moment in time when we first met and knew we were meant to spend our lives together. We encourage anyone celebrating an anniversary–to give A Beloved Session some consideration—you will not regret it.

View their Beloved Video by checking our our Facebook page or our Youtube Channel later today!