Jouret | Family Session

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As I said before, my family has known the Jouret for 5+ years now. My sister Leah & brother Isaiah, were able to be under Mike & Bekah’s leadership while they were youth pastoring in Missouri. My sister has said several times, that Pastor Mike & Bekah was her favorite youth pastors. Because they took time for her & loved her & invested in her. People like that aren’t found everyday. And the Jouret family is definitely special & REAL.

Their family session was actually a organized & put together by a family friend, Garth. Garth is special guy to my family AND the Jouret Family. He’s a fun “big brother” figure to the Jouret kids. He emailed me several months ago & asked about meeting up somehow in St. Charles for a session & I’m so glad he did!

It was great being able to catch up with the Jouret Family & Garth. And I loved that they had the idea of wearing their MIZZOU gear! I have to say that after spending a year in Columbia, Missouri, I still smile when I see those black & gold colors 😉

Time for some football!!!!!!!!!

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I love these three pictures & Garth’s face at the end!

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Thanks for putting this together Garth!

Trask | Maternity Session

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I’ve never done a #ThrowbackThursday blog entry before but today seemed perfectly fitting to do so 🙂

You see it’s been one year since I had my first “real” photography session. One year! It was one year ago that I was sitting in a parking lot in a beautiful park in Columbia, Missouri, nervously waiting for a very special couple (Tom & Miss Trask) to come meet me so I could photograph them. I was SOOO sticken nervous. No, seriously, you have NO idea how really nervous I was. I woke up really early & couldn’t go back to sleep & it rained that morning & I was literally yelling at the sky as I drove to the park & asking the Lord (OK maybe telling Him) that the rain would stop. I got to our meeting spot early & ended up having one of the most powerful heart to heart conversations with the Lord I’ve ever had.

See this wasn’t just any maternity session I was doing. Tom & Missi are VERY special people to me. For those of you who don’t know, I lived in Columbia, MO, for one year. It was actually where I moved from before coming to Bloomington-Normal. When I was in Columbia, I became involved with a campus ministry at MIZZOU called Chi Alpha (MXA). Tom & Missi were the pastors of this incredible ministry & for a year I was able to sit under their leadership & grow & learn from them. That one year was a significant year for me spiritually. After that year in Columbia, my family moved but I still stayed connected to my friends in Columbia. I was ECSTATIC when I found out that Tom & Missi were expecting their first child! They had been praying for a long time & I was SOOO excited to see them!

Sooooo back to me sitting in the parking lot (still very nervous).

I was nervous about the pictures being good enough. I was nervous about being able to give good direction, master my camera, work with the lighting, make them feel comfortable…the list went on & on. I had gotten to the park early & I finally just stopped my thoughts & prayed. And spoke to the Lord about all my concerns & fears. I’ll never forget how I INSTANTLY felt peace. And confirmation that I was doing what He had called me to do. And just as I felt that peace, the last drops feel from the sky & the most beautiful morning glow from the sun came out. And I am NOT making this up. You can see for yourself in just a sec when you look at the pictures.

So today’s post is a #ThrowbackThursday for three reasons. One, to remind myself that I am doing what the Lord has called me to do in this season of life & to celebrate that 1 year. And two, to remember my special time with Tom & Missi. Their maternity session was my first session EVER & I still have a special, favorite spot in my heart for maternity sessions. There is just something so incredible about them.

Several of my most FAVORITE EVER images are here in this post. And since I didn’t have a blog back then, I can use a #ThrowbackThursday excuse to blog them now right? 😉 And any excuse to blog a maternity session works for me 🙂 (I had my older Canon Rebel camera & 50mm lens for this session. It just shows you that it’s not the equipment that makes amazing pictures. It’s the connection between the client & the photographer.)

And thirdly, this post is a #ThrowbackThursday in celebrating Taylor Emma. She was born just over two months after this session. And I was able to hold & meet her at a wedding this past summer. You’ll see a picture of us at the end of this post. Taylor is a beautiful little girl that is loved by so many. And I still say & know in my heart that she is going to be a world changer just like her parents.

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I’ve always thought Missi was one of the most beautiful women I know.

One of my favorite images OF ALL TIME. The JOY & EXCITEMENT & THANKFULNESS in their hearts & faces is SO evident here. Tom & Missi, I love you too! I’m thankful for your leadership in the past & your friendship now. You’re AMAZING parents.

And here is little Taylor Emma from this past June when I got to meet her! And Taylor JUST happens to be wearing the little shoes we used in the maternity session in this picture of her & I. When I looked down & realized what shoes she had on, I about cried 🙂 Isn’t she a doll?

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Chloe | High School Senior Graduate

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I met Chloe through her older sister Heidi (who I’ve had the pleasure of photographing her family several times!). We scheduled a Skype date a few weeks before her session & discussed her Senior Session. I immediately liked Chloe. She has gorgeous curly hair that reminded me of mine. She loves Jesus & is practical & knows what she wants.

The evening of her session we had to work around rain, homecoming pictures being taken by other people 😉 & even a wedding! But through it all Chloe was a trooper. She was so easy to talk too. We talked about the app TimeHop, her job, music & tons of other stuff. I really didn’t want the evening to end!

Chloe also has a huge heart for missions. She’s been to Haiti twice & really loves the people their & that country. We used a globe to highlight that passion of hers in her session.

Chloe was so easy going & totally let me do some more “creative” stuff with her including hiding her face behind the globe!

Love these.

Chloe & her grandma share the same initials. The monogram on her pinky with their initials was something Chloe wanted highlighted at her session. The pearl ring was her grandma’s. I love it when clients bring things that are THEM & shows how unique they are!

Chloe, I was honored to spend time with you for your senior pictures. I know you’re going to continue to make a difference in the world. You’re an amazing girl. Beautiful inside & out.

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Birkey | Double Maternity Session Part III

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(If you haven’t viewed it yet, make sure you look at Part I of this Double Maternity Session here & Part II here!)

Here’s the final posts in the 3 parts of Amber & Rachel’s Double Maternity Session!

Meet the Birkey Family! We spent the entire session at Phil’s parents farm home & property. It was a perfect setting since it’s the same land that Phil farms & their family spends a lot of time at. I always love shooting sessions at a location that is special to the family or individual.

Rachel was my small group leader years back & I remember the girls in our group praying for children for her & Phil. They twins came not too long later & it’s SO exciting that Baby #3 will be here soon!!! PS Rachel has given the baby the nickname “Pumpkin” so we thought it’d be fun to use a pumpkin throughout the session 🙂

You’re amazing parents Phil & Rachel! Can’t wait to meet your little guy soon!

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Beautiful momma!

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The face parents make when they already have twins who are 2 1/2 & Baby #3 is coming! 😉

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Kisses with momma!

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LaBerge & Birkey | Double Maternity Session Part II

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(If you haven’t already, make sure you check out the first part of Amber & Rachel’s Double Maternity Session. Part III will be posted on Monday!)

Amber & Rachel’s sister relationship reminds me of my sister & I’s. They quote old movies, are fans of Charlie Brown & love fall. They also have another sister in Montana who completes their sister trio!

I’ve said before how I love capturing maternity sessions, but having two beautiful momma’s who are not only sisters but close friends is pretty special. Both Amber & Rachel are expecting boys & within about a month of each other!

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Another version of the natural sunlight picture we got! The other is posted on facebook here: www.facebook.com/youweremadetosmile

Sisters/mommas/friends! Best combination ever!

LaBerge | Double Maternity Session Part I

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Rachel & Amber, two very special friends of mine who happen to be sisters, talked to me a while back about having a double maternity session together. It was a session I looked forward to for moonntthhhss! Amber, her husband & son came as well as Rachel, her husband & her son & daughter who are twins. Since this session was so special, it’s going to have three parts! And the first part is dedicated to the LaBerge Family!

I know I’ve said this before, but capturing special friends is a high honor. My husband grew up with Amber’s husband & Amber has become a close friend to me. it’s very special to me to watch their family grow. I look forward to the future when someday our own children will grow up with theirs!

This is one of my favorites their session!

Emery is going to be an awesome big brother!

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My friend Amber is a BEAUTIFUL momma! Harrison is going to be one blessed little boy!

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Shickel Family | Family Session

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When I received Tobi’s first email about capturing her family, I was super excited! We emailed back & forth & chose a date & location. Through our emailing, we found out that my sister had been the nanny for Tobi’s family’s neighbor’s kids! Small world!

The day came for their session & unfortunately it was an evening that the weather decided to not cooperate. But we chose another day & the weather was simply PERFECT!!!

I have to say that one of my favorite parts of the Shickel family was seeing Tobi & her daughter “tell each other secrets” 🙂

Pretty much my favorite picture from the whole session 😉

The Shickel family was a ton of fun to capture! Each of the three children have their own distinct personality & I loved being able to capture each one. Plus, it was super fun to take some pictures of the kids in their Cubs apparel 😉 Here I asked them to show me what they look like when the Cubs are loosing. This was very hard for them because “the Cubs never loose!” they said 😉

And this is how the Shickel family celebrates when the Cubs win!!!

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Lyttle Family | Family Session

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I was SUPER excited when Andrea contacted me about doing a session for her family & also making sure we got some pictures focusing on her youngest who’s turning one in just a few days!!!

My sister & I worked with Andrea & Brandon for a short while back in the day at Cracker Barrel. We actually knew them when they were dating, got engaged & were planning their wedding. Brandon would walk around Cracker Barrel with this big smile on his face & randomly say at different times, “I’m getting married!” It was one of the sweetest things ever! It was VERY evident that Brandon was excited to get married to his girl, Andrea, & start a family. And almost 5 years later, it’s very evident that Brandon is as happy as ever to be married to beautiful Andrea & is a proud father of two handsome, precious boys.

I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with this family. Andrea, you’re an amazing mom. And it shows.

Here is the Lyttle Family!

Someone’s turning 1 soon!!!! Isn’t his little crown & t-shirt that momma brought, adorable?

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And can’t forget big brother!

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Brother hug! Reminds me of when my brothers were young!

I told you he’s in LOVE with her!

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Grace | High School Senior Graduate

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For the past 6 years, I’ve watched this girl grow into a beautiful young woman who loves the Lord & has so much creativity, love & ideas flowing out of her! We had such a fun morning spending time in Uptown Normal & then going out to her parents home in the country & visiting two neighbors, one of which had a beautiful covered ivy barn & the other, a handsome horse named Seamus 🙂

Someone likes her Starbucks 😉 And I LOVED this flower wreath that Grace made HERSELF!

We were both in love with the ivy that crept all around the barn on her neighbor’s property.

Grace & Seamus <3

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An Open Letter to My Husband

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When I was younger, I wanted to be an author. I think that was after my dream of being a hair dresser slipped away 🙂 Every time I take the time to journal, I always feel like my thoughts are clearer & more focused. With a photography business, I truly believe that telling the story of those I photograph is so important. So mix my love of writing, journaling, being with people & photography & there you have the idea of what I want this blog to be about. Sometimes I’ll share about various Nomi Photography sessions & occurrences, but I also want to share bits of my life & journey as well.

And for those of you who are still a little in the dark about what exactly a “blog” is, here is merriam-webster.com’s definition- a blog is a “web site on which someone writes about personal opinions, activities & experiences”.

I knew that today was the day I wanted my first blog post to go live. And here’s why…

Yesterday’s date was September 14, 2014. Three years ago yesterday, Eric Daniel Wilcox got down on one knee at McGraw Park & asked me to marry him. It was three years ago yesterday that I said “Yes” to the man who is now my husband. Three years ago, the man I had come to love in the years before that, became my fiancée.

(Our first picture together RIGHT after Eric proposed. I love this picture of us! Notice my engagement ring in the picture? :))

Now three years later, we’ve been married 2 years & I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Today’s blog post is an Open Letter to my dear husband.

Eric,

I’m SO thankful that in 2008, the Lord moved my family to Bloomington-Normal even though I didn’t want too :-). I’m so thankful He directed our steps to attend First Assembly & that Leah & I would go to that Eikon College Group cookout. I’m so glad you were there. I’m so glad (I think? ;-)) that I couldn’t for the life of me figure out math & that you were amazing at it & that you said you would help me out with it. I’m SO glad the Lord worked in each of our hearts at the right time in that our friendship turned into an attraction to each other & that each of us (in the Lord’s timing ;-)) knew that there was something special between us.

Eric, I can’t imagine life without you. When I was searching for an image of you to use with this post, I found myself looking at your eyes in each picture & imagining your laugh. I love your laugh. I love seeing your eyes light up when something is funny & seeing you laugh about something we find funny. I love doing every day life with you.

Nomi Photography wouldn’t have happened & couldn’t happen without you. It just couldn’t. I would have no idea how to keep track of mileage, keep record of the finances, know which new lens to buy, what memory card size is needed next… As cliché as it sounds, you are the glue that holds Nomi Photography together. You are the one who pushed & encouraged me harder then anyone else when it came to us deciding to TOGETHER launch this dream of having a photography business. Nomi Photography is not my photography business, it is OURS.

I’m so thankful for you & so proud of you. I know you are currently working hard & studying for the CPA Exam. You can do it. I believe in you 😉 I’m so thankful that you daily make intentional decisions to take steps that will be the best for us & our future family.

But out of all these things, I’m so thankful that you are truly a man who loves the Lord first & foremost. Your daily walk with the Lord encourages me & challenges me in my own journey.

I love you my dear. You have my heart always.

Your Wife,

Naomi

(My handsome husband at Rockaway Beach, Oregon. We celebrated our 2nd Wedding Anniversary there this summer.)

Naomi Elizabeth Photography

Bloomington-Normal Photography

Jouret | Family Session

Trask | Maternity Session

Chloe | High School Senior Graduate

Birkey | Double Maternity Session Part III

LaBerge & Birkey | Double Maternity Session Part II

LaBerge | Double Maternity Session Part I

Shickel Family | Family Session

Lyttle Family | Family Session

Grace | High School Senior Graduate

An Open Letter to My Husband