There is such a fun and different dynamic when I get the opportunity to photograph a group of brothers. Boys are just the BEST! So much fun! I met up with these adorable brothers at the Collierville Town Square the other morning and we had such a great time together. They were so well behaved and fun to be around. I really enjoyed my time spent with these young men. I hope you all enjoy your sneak peek! 🙂
“…despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NLT)
My job as a family photographer is such a privilege and joy. Each time I am asked to photograph a family, I realize what a gift it is to me to be able to get to know them, laugh with them, and share my love for Christ through my photography and create tangible memories that will be cherished in the generations to come. Every family I photograph is special, but I had a very special opportunity on Tuesday evening to photograph my friend, Ashley, and her amazing family. Ashley and I grew up together as next door neighbors for most of my childhood and teenage years; and her big sister, Amye, was my very best friend.
But, you see, Tuesday night was different. It was the night before the youngest member of this family, 3 and 1/2 year old Ingram, was to begin his treatments at St.Jude for a brain tumor. Within the last couple of weeks, Ingram has been diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma. When I received the phone call that Ingram was on his way to LeBonheur with a potential emergency surgery for a brain tumor, well…it’s just one of those moments in life that just literally takes your breath away. All I could do was to pray and send my love to this sweet family whom I’ve not only known since I was four-years-old, but also had the honor of photographing in years’ past as well. But, in that instant of breathlessness, I also found a hope and peace. If there’s ever a family with enough hope and perseverance to fight this thing and overcome this nasty cancer with God’s mighty power, it is the Dismuke Family. I called Ashley and offered to do a family session before the treatments began. I am SO glad that we did.
What a fun night we all had playing together! I just adore these children. How can you not laugh and enjoy each moment when the night starts out like this? Awesome! 🙂
We played hard, laughed hard, and created some amazing moments that I am so thrilled to share. It is my hope that through these images you will come to know this family and love them through your prayers. Meet the Dismukes! 🙂
Big sister, Madison:
Little sis, Lindsey:
And, little Mr.Ingram!
Ingram’s beautiful Mommy, my sweet friend, Ashley!
And, the Daddy, Craig. Don’t you love how God gave us Dads to wrestle around with? 🙂
God calls for us to pray for one another and uphold each other in our daily lives. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. This blog…my photography…is but a small piece; but, hopefully a tool in spreading the word about Ingram and his mighty battle he has ahead of him! Please remember Craig, Ashley, Madison, Lindsey and Ingram in your prayers. I just love this family! Ashley and Craig have started a blog that they update almost daily to keep us all posted about Ingram’s fight, www.ingramdismuke.com. There is even a place where you can enter your email to receive updates via email. I see it in my inbox every morning, and use that as a moment to pray for them. I encourage you to become a part of Ingram’s Army of prayer warriors.
I think this next one is my favorite of the night…love these big grins! 🙂
The family has started wearing black armbands because Ingram has one he loves to wear. They are in the process of getting some made with Ingram’s name on them. Until those are ready, they are wearing others. I love this last photo. All the family together, holding hands, up against a mighty oak tree. This image says so very much. This family loves each other and they love our Lord. Isaiah 41:10 says, ” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
And, I say again: “…despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NLT) I love you, Dismuke Family!! 🙂
I know! I say it all the time, but I truly believe it. I have the cutest and sweetest families to photograph. The 1:17 families are the BEST! And, to prove my point, meet 3-year-old Wes and 1-year-old Jake. Such adorable brothers who are all boy; but, unbelievably sweet and adorable. They give the best smiles and hugs!! Melt my heart with their cuteness! Thanks for sharing your boys with me again, Tori and Daniel. What little blessings they truly are! 🙂
First up, little charmer, Wes! He is Mr. Super-de-Dooper Superhero Man! hehe!
And my personal favorite one of Wes is next…so handsome!
And, for the little one, Jake! Complete with big blue eyes and sweet curls. Does it get any cuter? 🙂
And, finally a few family shots. Love this family!!
I fell in love with these two kiddos big eyes! So huge and expressive and just very sweet! Such a fun family to work with on a beautiful morning at the Botanic Gardens! Such fun and bright colors! I so enjoyed getting to know you guys, and I am even more excited to see you at church and school soon! We’ll be neighbors! I loved your sweet family and hope that you enjoy your little sneak peek! Lots more pretty ones to come soon. These are just a few of my favorties! 🙂
Such happy faces! 🙂
Mom and Dad knew how to “strike a pose” too! 🙂
I just adored this session! So MUCH FUN!! I’ve photographed each of these adorable little boys since their first newborn sessions and have grown to just love them! All boy, all cuteness with their wrinkled nose smiles, very charming and just sweet, sweet, sweet! We started out the day with some photographs of the boys together with one another and their parents as well as some of each. I had the HARDEST time picking my favorites from this entire session. Then we transitioned into a little mini Birthday Party for little Beckett who just turned one! I have so many hilarious and sweet shots from the cake smash. Just hard to resist! Thanks for sharing your family with me, Richard and Shannon! Always a joy! 🙂
I just LOVED working with this fun family! It’s been a couple of years since I have photographed these two kiddos, but they are growing into such a wonderful young lady and gentleman. This family had fun together and they just laughed and laughed. Can’t ask for much more than that! They are the kind of family that you just feel “at home” being around. I love when that happens because it makes our time pass so quickly and hopefully it is enjoyable for everyone. John and Beverly, you have a precious family. You have every right to be very proud of these beautiful children-both inside and out! What a gift God has blessed you with. Enjoy your sneak peek! 🙂
Lily and Daniel were the most relaxed at the water. I just love, love both of these images so very much. I thought they were CRAZY sticking their toes into that big pile of fish in the pond. Eww!! But, really, if these were my two, I’d have this one big in my house. I just adore it so much!
I love this one of John and Beverly, too! So sweet!
When I grow up, I want to live in a house just like my friend Emily! 😉 What a joy it was for me to travel out to Covington earlier this week to photograph my friend (and fellow fabulous photographer!!), Emily and her family! Every time I go to Emily’s home I fall in love all over again! And, this was the first time I’d seen it with the added bonus of the stunning azaleas. Perfect backdrop to the white picket fence! But, what makes Emily’s home so wonderful is not just that it is stinkin’ adorable, decorated with the eye of a designer and charming in a way only an “older” home can be. What makes it beautiful, to me, is the family that lives inside of it! The joy they have in their hearts for our Lord and for one another shines through them and makes them just a joy to be around. I cannot say enough how grateful I am to have found a friend in this business that is so dear to my heart! Thank you, again, Emily and Zach, for having me into your lives for just a little bit. I hope these images will bring you smiles for years to come! They should, because these photos, for once, actually have Emily in front of the camera as wife and Mommy….not just the photographer behind it! Love y’all!!
Do you think they love each other just a little? (wink, wink!)
My favorite of the two kids:
The two girls…love, love, love!!
And, just because I was there and had photographed Georgia for her Newborn photos, we snagged a few “Sitting and Smiling” poses of this beautiful girl.
Thanks so much for a wonderful afternoon, Emily, Zach, Georgia and Jonah!
Oh, it is soo much fun to reconnect with old friends! My sweet friends, Mike and Jena, moved away several months ago for Mike to become a pastor at another town in Tennessee. Oh how we have all missed them so much! I was beyond honored that they made the trip back to Memphis for me to photograph their family again. What a joy and what a beautiful family! 🙂
It’s always fun to see “old” friends, and Saturday I got to see some from our Newly Married days from our old church. I hadn’t photographed Drew since he was a year, or so and had never met little Emily! What a treat it was to enjoy a beautiful morning outdoors with this fun family! I think we all really enjoyed our time together and in the process I was able to capture some sweet memories of this time in this family’s life. The kids, ages 3 and 6, are at such a sweet age and you can see they really love each other! It was so great to see you all again, and I hope you enjoy your sneak peek! 🙂
When I photographed Jeffrey last year, I thought that he was just the cutest little boy with an amazing little grin and beautiful eyes! Now, this sweet boy has a baby brother…little Ethan…who is just as darling as his big brother! This session could not have gone much better and the boys were great for the session. I love the little “sitting and smiling” age…just my favorite baby age to photograph I’d say! Enjoy this little sneak peak of Ethan and Jeffrey-adorableness all around!
