As the year comes to a close, I couldn’t help but reflect on the blessings this year has brought, along with all the chaos that notably followed. Despite all the shutdowns, disappointments, and altered plans 2020 had to offer, one thing remained: people still celebrated life. College students graduated, people got married, babies were born, and the earth kept turning one day after the other. Here’s a breakdown of my favorite photos from 2020, and why I chose each one:
January
Sweet little Joseph was born! This was my first newborn shoot ever, and I am so happy it was with this sweet family. Joseph was just a week old when we did his photos and was very very sleepy the entire time. This photo was a moment where we caught him smiling in his sleep, and the addition of one of his family's stuffed animals made the scene all the cuter.
February
I absolutely LOVE this photo of Andrew and Liz! Liz was my roommate during my Sophomore and Senior years of college, and Andrew and I have been friends since freshman year. This photoshoot commemorated their 1-year anniversary, and the joy on both of their faces says it all.
March
March was one of the hardest months for me to pick a favorite of! I had a lot of portraits this month, including the Thrun sisters, Mary and Martha. Can you tell they’re twins? These girls are always such a joy to shoot, bringing enthusiasm and energy to anything they do. I love that this shot shows how close they are: even as I look at it, I can hear their laughter!
April
April was also an extremely busy month! One of the senior sessions I did was for Kayla, who is now married to one of my best friends! This gorgeous girl was visiting her fiance when covid hit, and with all her classes going online, she decided to spend the rest of the semester with us in Florida. Kayla of course is a gorgeous girl, but the way the light is illuminating her in the middle of a Florida swamp just shows that she brings grace and elegance anywhere she goes.
May
This was one of the last photoshoots I did before leaving FL, and it was an absolute blast! This was a friendship shoot for my roommate of two years and our friend Mary Haley. We went to about 3 different locations and even brought out the bubbles for some extra fun. It took me a good hour to edit this bubble photo, but I think it was worth it.
June
May had my last Florida shoot, and June had one of my first Michigan shoots! Lauren graduated from my old high school, and even though they didn’t get a normal graduation, we made sure to give her some extra special senior pictures. I love this shot of her against this awesome garden gate we found downtown. The light coming through the bushes is so soft, and her authentic smile makes it all the more captivating.
July
My sister came to visit in July, and luckily for us, brought her adorable little girls with her! This picture of Bexley was actually my sister’s idea: to put her in a fruit bath and see what happens. The end result was even more adorable than we could have hoped for, and just look at those blue eyes!
August
This photo is of my sister’s other daughter, Lainey, with my dad. We visited them in Iowa in August, and since the photos of Emily and Mary Haley turned out so well, I figured we’d give bubbles another try! Not seen in this shot is Bexley chasing them around the driveway. I chose this shot for August because I love the active expression on my dad’s face and the fascination seen in Lainey’s eyes. It’s the little things in life that kids seem to appreciate the most, and I think we could all use a bit more of that simplicity.
September
You’re probably thinking, “Gosh Shelby, you did a lot of traveling this summer,” and you’d be right! After going to my friend’s wedding in Wisconsin, I decided to scoot over to my sister’s for a week, taking her husband’s family photos while there. This photo is of my sister’s little family: Morgan, husband Tyler, and daughters Bexley (20 months) and Lainey (5 months). We went to this beautiful botanical garden, with a gorgeous little waterfall serving as the perfect backdrop for the photos.
October
Just one more baby shot! This time it’s of my brother’s son, Brooks, at his first pumpkin patch! Fall is my favorite time of year, and I love the beautiful colors in this shot, paired with Brooks’ slight smile. Special behind the scenes secret: I was fully laying down in the dry mud and leaves for this shot, but again, totally worth it!
November
Just before Thanksgiving, I went back down to my Alma Mater to take photos for a wedding of two Ave Maria Law students in the beautiful oratory. This shot of the consecration is an essential Catholic wedding photo and just happens to be my favorite shot at basically every wedding I do. There’s just something so special in the symbolism of Christ’s sacrificial love, as two people who are vowing to die to themselves each day for the sake of their beloved, watch on in adoration.
December
This photo was taken just last week, and I'm still gushing over it! I've been good friends with Chris for a few years now, and have known Beth since our freshman year of college. Their relationship is truly one of the most beautiful things I've witnessed as a photographer and this photo of their first dance shows the simplicity of their love.
