Terri Gillis

I go waaaaayy back with this family.  I have a history with them.  I knew them before they were a family, shooting an engagement session and then their wedding several years ago.  A few years later I grieved for them when their first son was stillborn and was thrilled for them when they were expecting Brennan.  I witnessed how tenderly they cared for him after he was born and how thankful they were for his little life.  Last summer I went back to their home after Ruby was born.  Life was different with a busy toddler and a newborn daughter.  Although exhausted, it was obvious that they were loving every minute of it.  Last week during our session I saw them learning to negotiate with a busy 2 year old (as long as you have a snack, it is possible!) and how they look at their precious daughter with adoration (she’s so smiley and cute I can’t stand it!!!). I witnessed them laughing, still loving each other and embracing family life.  This is hands down the BEST part of my job! I work with a LOT of families, but I don’t always know the whole story.   I won’t pretend to know all the details of their day to day life but I feel privileged to have been a part of some of  their most precious memories.  I love that they trust me with their children, that when we’re together we laugh and feel like we’re old friends. Like everyone, I have my fair share of days where I am uncertain about this path in life, questioning if it’s still working, still worth it, still right for me? When families return to me time and time again I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the connections I’ve made, the moments I’ve witnessed and for the opportunity to take photos of these sweet faces.

Yay!!!! I’m up and running with my new blog. I have a few more things to fine tune but for the most part I’m satisfied with how it looks and am happy to share it.  My daughter just asked me this morning what my blog was for (she must have been sensing my recent obsession with it) and I though for a minute and told her….”I have so much to share, to talk about, photos that I want to show friends, family, clients and other photographers. This helps me keep everyone in the loop with my crazy life.”  My blog might not look as “professional” as another photographer and I’ll be the first to admit that I’m terrible when it comes to grammar and run-on sentences.  It might sometimes be more about work and other times more about my personal life…..but what I promise it will always be, aside from any and all obvious imperfections, is the real me. Read, enjoy, correct me if you must, comment if you will….I’m glad you’re here!