The Derenski Family

It makes me giggle to type that title. It seems as if I had just photographed Suzanne & Mike's wedding when in reality it was almost 4 years ago. They added little Lucas to the mix a year ago to officially make them "family". Lucas recently turned one so Suzanne asked me to come to their home to photograph their family. Whoa. I still have their wedding images in my head -- Suzanne's gorgeous ring, Mike's smile that never left his face, those dreamy stained-glass windows of their church, her perfect dress, and the thought that this was THE perfect couple.

I was still learning a lot as a photographer when I shot their wedding those almost 4 years ago. The instant I met Suzanne I felt like this was going to be the wedding that defined my style and me as a photographer. I saw what Suzanne and Mike envisioned for their wedding and I literally felt how important this day was to them. But even more important, that all the details and what their hearts felt needed to be captured for years to come. 

So I pushed myself hard creatively, because I knew that's what they wanted. And what I wanted for my new friends. And after the wedding when I met up with Suzanne and her mom to hand off her proof albums, her mom started to cry as she flipped through the pictures. I knew I had accomplished my mission. And I was on my way.

But I digress ...

In the above picture you'll see a painting created by a friend of Mike & Suzanne. He had designed it based on photos I'd taken for their engagement session and presented it to them at their reception. Just one of the amazing touches during their day. Of course I teared up at the presentation and so did Mike & Suzanne. But in true photographer form, I snapped a picture of their reaction. When I did their family shoot Suzanne whipped out that framed photo I took of their reaction. I soon noticed their wedding photos were smattered along the walls of their house. I could have teared up right there - blaming it on post-pregnancy hormones of course - but I just smiled. I'd come along way. And so had my old friends.

But I digress ...

One year olds can be a challenge. There's a lot of chasing going on. I definitely got my exercise that day.

See.

I love how Suzanne & Mike are just enamoured with their guy. Mike's Mini-Me.

Love the phrase Suzanne has on the wall. Boy: A noise with dirt on it.

More chasing on this almost-spring day.

 

 

Suzanne and my girl Jaime (Hollla girl!!) also have their own business called Alphatography. They take photos of "letters" in architecture and nature to spell out words and names. It's perfect for those brides-to-be or as a housewarming gift. So keep them in mind for those upcoming showers.

But I digress ... :)

Thank you my friends for letting me into your lives once again. It was the perfect start of what I know will be a great year - for all of us!

Comments

[Jaime Finck]

Hey - thanks for the shout-out! ;)

Love, love, love the pictures! Love the last one with Luke in the foreground and Mike & Suz in the background...reminds me of my pic of the boys crawling towards you with Mike & I in the background (this pic is my desktop background, by the way, and everyone that sees it ooh's and aah's).