Sometimes, even though your photographer isn’t in the photo, there can be all of this evidence of them in the making of it – stiff fingers and frozen grins – and it pulls you out of the pictured moment and into the process of making the image.

When I make pictures, my goal is always to take myself out of the equation. I want to draw you into the moment instead of pulling you out. I love a gap-toothed, oversized grin or a strand of hair blowing in the wind. I love all the parts of you that beg not to be contained.

That’s why these photos bring me so much joy. As we played in the orchard, and I walked amongst beautiful trees, and chased kiddos around, I became a witness to their silliness and creativity and energy and vibrance.

And for the 1000th time while taking pictures, I fell completely in love with this family, this orchard, and this wild and wonderful life.