Shhhh! A Christmas Surprise for mom; Hoopeston IL Family portraits

Darci emailed me and asked if I could squeeze her in for a shoot before Christmas. She said that she and her brothers want to surprise their mom with portraits for Christmas! I had one opening left and I was happy to do it!
so everyone... shhhhhhhhhhhh! It's a secret!
Darci, Jared, Jordan... you guys look great! I hope you like thee photos as much as I do!
It's such a precious gift that you are giving your mom!
Love,
Bekah

Multi Family shoot; Milford Illinois Family photography

I marveled at the beautiful land that I was about to shoot on as I drove up the drive.
I was fortunate to have been hired to do a multi family shoot for an extended family a few weeks ago.
Most of the kids in this shoot I knew already through Milford High school (as either former football players or girlfriends of my husband's players.)
This was the first time I got to meet parents, older sibblings and significant others. Kara, a sophomore at MHS and girlfriend to MCP's starting full back, asked me if I'd be available Thanksgiving weekend to do a photoshoot for her family and cousin's families. I was more than happy to accept.
I had so much fun meeting these families. The dynamics and relationships they have are very similar to my own extended family.

I always say I have the best job in the world. This is true not only because I love taking photos and editing them, but also because I get to meet so many great people who are happy to be around me. The occasions I am shooting are always special.

H family and C families, thank you for opening up your home and allowing me to capture these precious times in your lives. To be American and healthy is such a gift from God, but to be blessed with such a family such as yours is a testimony of God's overflowing love and abundant blessings!

Love,
Bekah

Ava and Ella Christmas 2009; Hoopeston Illinois Children's Photography

Meet Ava and Ella.These two are spunky sisters. Their beautiful mama brought them in for their annual Christmas photos and I am certainly glad that she did! I enjoyed every second of their photo shoot. These two are such fun little girls. I hope I can continue to take their photos in years to come!

The "H" Family; Matthew 6:25-34; Champaign Illinois Family photography

Stacie contacted me through my website many months ago. She had seen some of my work around town and wanted to book a family photoshoot. Many months passed and schedules were hard to work around. After a couple rescheduled dates, we finally got the shoot in. The day was so beautiful. Jason and Stacie drove their large family to Middlefork Forest preserve right outside of Rankin. I followed them in my car. Once we got out there, we had a ton of fun walking around and taking family photos. It was more of a day of hiking than a photoshoot. I enjoyed it! This family is a blended family.I am also part of a blended family. Seeing how comfortable, loving and fun this family is, independently and with one another, is a testiment to what God can do. Families come in all shapes and sizes and are composed of love, not just blood.
When I asked Stacie about how she and Jason met she simply replied, "It was such a God thing. There is no other explaination for it. We wouldn't have met if it weren't."
Stacie has a tattoo on her wrist of a sparrow. She says it reminds her of God's promise that He will always provide and take care of us. She referenced Matthew 6:25-34

" 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[a]?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Amen sister.

Thank you "H" family for be a breath of fresh air.
Love,
Rebekah

Canvas featured! Haley and John.

I ordered this image in a 24x36 canvas for my studio of Haley and John. Canvas on Demand liked it so much that they are featuring it on their website! Click on the image to see!

Gotta love the Canvases!

Bekah

Keegan and Heather Married!; Chesterton Indiana Wedding Photography

I first met Keegan and Heather about a month before they were engaged. I took Heather's family photos and since she and Keegan had already been together for 6 years at that point, pictures of them as a couple made sense. (It was safe to say they'd probably last.)
I can't lie. When I took those photos, I was hoping that one day I would be able to shoot their wedding.
This wedding turned out to be something quite special, even for me. Heather and Keegan are adventurous people. They reside in Kentland, Indiana but visit other places often.
It was a surprise when I found out that Keegan proposed to Heather out in Michigan City, IN at the lighthouse. (see my Modern bridal photos in the wedding site galleries for this lighthouse)
My hometown is so close to that very place.
When I heard from Heather's mom that they got engaged I was thrilled! I was shocked when she told me where they planned on traveling to in order to have the wedding and reception... It was none other than my home town, Chesterton!
I was even more floored when they told me that they were getting married in the very church that I grew up in,Liberty Bible Church!
I hadn't been home in a long time and I especially hadn't visited that church in ages! It was so fun to return. I even spotted my old youth pastor, who didn't recognize me after 10 years...(I suppose age will do that).

The ceremony was filled with loads of emotion. I believe I cried about 5 times throughout the day. Their love for one another and God was evident in every part of the day.
The most touching moment for me was when Ken, Heather's dad, saw her in her gown for the first time. He had tears in his eyes as he slowly approached her saying, "I thought I knew what beautiful was..."


Heather and Keegan chose to see one another before the ceremony and I am so glad they did. Tears were flowing then too.






I have so many sweet images from the day. Boris, the DJ from Precision Sound did a fabulous job! Amy at Sandcreek Country Club is an absolute gem to work with and I can't wait for the next wedding I have scheduled to work with her again.

Keegan and Heather are enjoying their honeymoon in Hawaii right now. I wish you two lovebirds a blessed marriage filled with love, respect and worship together! Keep God as your center and everything else will be as He intended it to be!
Love,
Bekah

Michelle 2010; Watseka Illinois High School Senior Photos

Introducing another senior from Watseka High School. Michelle is a beautiful young woman. She is timid and shy. Two qualities I lack, yet admire. Michelle was nervous to go on with our scheduled senior photo shoot because it was going to rain.
When I looked at my cramed schedule I thought that we may not get a nice day again before Spring. So Michelle embraced the weather and went with it. I love the fact that she did. She rocked those rubber boots!
I had been waiting for a senior to shoot in the rain. I love the way an umbrella looks in a photo!
Michelle, you were perfect all day. Every photo of you is so beautiful! I love them all.
Love,
Bekah