Fall Family Session with the Sanfords in Cincinnati, Ohio

Ok so this one has a pretty long back story. So if you want a read for a little extra meaning for these photos, get yourself your favorite drink and put this song on 😊

Jillian + Trent are actually one of my past wedding couples. And I’ve been fortunate enough to be along their journey as a couple since 2018!! I met both of them being a part of a bridal party and when it came time to them getting engaged and ready for marriage themselves, they reached out to me and after the most heartfelt meeting between me and Jillian, I was down before it even really started.

So, after the perfect fit as their wedding photographer, I did their engagement session in May of 2021 and when I arrived, they gave me the news they were pregnant with their little Ryann!! So at that engagement session, I of course captured them as a couple, but we did a few pregnancy announcement photos as well so they could break the news to their families about this precious little human going to be making her way soon :’)

Fast forward a few months later in the fall of 2021, baby Ryann was born and they hired me again to do her newborn photos!! At this point, it was just months before their wedding and I was one of the first people to meet Ryann! And at this point, Jillian, Trent, and their new baby girl were really feeling like family more than strangers who hired me for their huge milestone photos.

So the summer of 2022 rolls on through and I photographed them officially tying the knot and their baby girl got to be a part of the whole thing :’) talk about full circle? ((I may or may not have shed a few tears at their wedding)) but also, they were among my last couples for my wedding photography career since I retired from wedding photography at the end of 2022. Double full circlce?!?!

It didn’t take long until I heard from Jillian once again because little Ryann’s 1st birthday was approaching!!! So in fall of 2022, Jillian reached out to me once again wanting to book in photos for her first birthday milestone and of course, I took them to one of my favorite places ever for that session. And just felt so so so happy I could just be a part of all of this and see them again!!

Now, almost a whole year went by before I heard from the Sanfords again. But this summer in 2023, Trent reached out to me himself to book in another annual session for their family and to ring in little Ryann’s 2nd birthday! I heard the news that little miss Ryann has been struggling through hip dysplasia and had a summer filled with doctors appointments and surgeries. So, I had to be mindful of that for the session and modify what we were to do a bit but it was honestly no trouble at all. We were still able to do so much and capture such special moments and I even managed to capture Ryann’s first steps again post surgery :’) which, you can see those photos below and the excitement shared by her wonderful parents!!

Not only did we have the absolute best time soaking in all that fall sunshine and color, but Jillian told me she’s actually pregnant once again! And I just about fainted which just PURE JOY for these guys!! I am so fortunate to have been a part of all these huge chapters for these guys and soaking up as many milestones right alongside them.

Photography truly is so much more than just photos for me. The Sanfords here are a prime example of how photos become our legacy and these little heirlooms of photographs grow absolutely invaluable over time. Not to mention, they become part of the legacy we hand over to our children. And this session is also an amazing example of even when life hands us difficult moments and challenges, its all still so worth capturing. Because amongst it all, there are still joys and happiness through it all. And so, let it be known that beauty is always in the chaos :)

Anyway, enjoy these and hopefully you can feel some of the love this family has together and what I have for them :’) thank you Jillian + Trent for always trusting me to document these amazing chapters of your lives! Words really can’t be said for how much it truly means to me :’)