Back in 2018, soon after announcing my upcoming photography workshop, I received an email that read:

Hi Bobbi, yay for workshops! Recently, I sent you an Instagram message because I was just so excited about your fun, family-filled wedding, but basically, I told you about my one-way relationship with you, where I’ve been following your blog since the website had a black background. Maybe it was middle school when I fell in love with your photography, and I have laughed and cried through the many glimpses of your life, and I told myself BOBBI IS GOING TO PHOTOGRAPH MY WEDDING. Years and years later, I’m finally in my first and only relationship with the boy who loves me (and me him), and we are going to get married next year! Unfortunately, we’re really rather poor (classically trained musicians just out of grad school, he’s a bassoonist, I’m a cellist, what can you do), so we wouldn’t ever be able to afford you and Meg Money’s amazing skills for our wedding, but seeing this workshop, I know you sometimes call for workshop models. I wanted to know if we could put our name in the hat!

At that point I had already had a workshop couple so it wasn’t a possibility. But nonetheless it started a conversation. 🙂

About a month later I received another email, but this time from Ann’s sister:

Hi there! My name is Teresa, and I – along with my two sisters Ann and Grace – have been following your blog for a very long time. We love your candor and fun and spunk, as well as your flair for life and love and capturing precious moments in a camera lens. Ann was super excited around Thanksgiving because she had written to you about her interest in workshop modeling… and can I tell you? She was blown away when you responded! (because it was a long shot – and a shot in the dark!) She’s been wedding planning for a while, and because she and her boyfriend are both musicians by training and fresh out from grad school and therefore are strapped in the finances department, thought it would be a pipe dream to ask you and Meg Money to be their wedding photographers – especially since you’d need to travel a bit to get to Ohio! Anyhow, I am emailing to see what you would think about me (and possibly my other sister Grace and some of Ann’s college friends) covering your booking fee… as a surprise wedding present to Ann! Would that be okay? 🙂

Ummm, I don’t even know what to say from here other than HOLY WOW! How incredible is this family?!!?!

Fast forward to the following year where MegMoney and I found ourselves in Cleveland, Ohio photographing the one and only Ann with her fiancé (and later in the day – husband) JW. It all felt like quite the dream!

That’s Ann’s mom Lily trying to be sneaky in the background.

I asked Ann how many guests she was expecting that afternoon and she said something along the lines of, “I lost count but I think I invited more than can fit in the reception but maybe some won’t come? Bobbi, I just couldn’t quit inviting everyone I know, I love all the people!”

A talented Etsy artist made Ann’s dress.

One of my favorites: waiting in the wings with dad.

Ohhhhh Ann, you were just full of ALLLLL the heart eyes!

Because I knew that Ann had been following me for quite a while (the black background website and blog that she mentioned is at least ten years old!), I busted out some of my old school BB@& style… that suuuuper contrasty crushed blacks B&W.

Such sweet bridesmaids!

HA!

Their afternoon reception was at the church immediately following the family and wedding party photos. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a more beautiful reception hall in a church!

Instead of cake they had ice cream.

All of the floral table centerpieces had a note attached that read, “Celebrate with Flower Power – Pick the petals from your centerpiece after the party and shower the newlyweds as they exit!”

After they exited their reception, we then went around town where they had their own little private session with Megan and me.

Sometimes when I’m photographing couples I ask them to do an impression of me; which results in THIS exact reaction 100% of the time.

Ohhhhh how I love this duo! Ann, your laugh and smile is contagious!

That light though?! YUM-TOWN!

Much love friends,

Bobbi

As I started to write this blog post, I searched through my email history to remind me of what Ryan’s (the momma) first email said. I was expecting something from March of 2019 but thennnnn I saw that her first email to me was actually from 2012; “I’m originally from Indiana, so I’ve been following your blog for some time now (you guys rock!)” She was looking for recommendations for a photographer closer to where she lived in Columbus, Ohio.

Whoa! Ryan! When we photographed your session I had no idea that you had been reading my blog for 7+ years at that point! If I had known I would have been feeling the pressure! Phewwwww!

The end of her 2012 email closed with this: “I hope to get my family to Indy* some day to have pics taken by you!”

Needless to say, Ryan is a woman of her word! Seven years later, we made it happen! Our second string of emails in 2019 started with, “I’ve always wanted to see my family through your camera… you have such a knack for capturing happiness and love.”

And with that, I bring you the Pfahl Family, a session truly full of happiness and love.

*I was living in Indianapolis at that time.

My favorite thing about this image: Jackon’s little green foot kick!

Meet Sawyer, he’s 8. Five words used to describe him (according to his parents): athletic, serious, kind, friendly, leader.

I always love reading someone’s “five words.” I love even more when I can tell that someone really put some effort and thought into it. All of that to say Ryan’s & Kyle’s adjective perrrrrrfectly describes these kids.

I always love Megan’s tight individual shots while a family is looking my direction.

Harper, 6. 😀 In five words: hilarious, sporty, smart, sweet, determined.

YESSSSS TO ALL OF THOSE WORDS!

I have no idea what mom and dad were doing to my right to get these perfect smiles but whatever it is, I wish I had a video of it because these expressions are priceless!

This was actually my first ever paid* session in my new hometown of Louisville. Funny that my first family session in Kentucky is actually a family that lives in Columbus, Ohio.

*In 2016 I photographed Stephen (my husband) and my (now) step-kids in Louisville and I also did a $0 session of those same incredible kids with their momma. I also photographed a free workshop session in Louisville back in April. 😀

Jackson, 4 years old. In five words: intelligent, loving, curious, affectionate, chatty.

In 2040, when I come out of wedding photographer retirement so that I can photograph these kids’ weddings, I promise to recreate that photo on the left every time. Notice little Jackson has taken off his shoe?

Rowan, 6 months old: happy, smiley, adorable, patient, sweet.

Ryan:  motherly, caring, loving, organized, fun.

Kyle: smart, musical, funny, athletic, driven.

I love that this sweet baby’s name is Rowan because she is the SPITTIN’ image of her momma Ryan! 😀

Side note: I had always wanted to name a daughter Ryan (or Elliot) because well… I love me an androgynous name. Signed, a girl named Bobbi. 😉 Also, high fives to Ryan’s parents for giving her a fantastic name!

I can’t thank you enough for driving to Louisville, for investing in me all of these years later, and for just being a downright incredible family.

Much love friends!

~Bobbi

Last week I got to be like all of the other moms and post a photo of my favorite bonus kids’ first day of school! (I even got out my real camera for the occasion!) ? It was a 3-minute session but hey, I’ll take what I can get! 

We have one seventh grader and two fifth graders. WHOA?! ? I mayyyyy be partial, but I think these three are truly destined for greatness! I’ve genuinely never seen so much potential in such young people in all of my life. I really did hit the family jackpot when I married their perfect-for-me-in-every-way father.

If you’ve ever read this blog, you know that I almost always ask people to describe each other in 5 words /phrases. Here are mine for each of them as of right now.

Andrew ??‍?

fearless/confident, inventive/curious, effortlessly brilliant, carefree, and fiercely independent

Claire ??‍?

ambitious/hardworking, principled, full-of-personality, passionate, and 100% my mini-me!

Josh ?

quick-witted/hilarious, non-judgemental, life-of-the-party, free-thinking, and insanely affectionate/loving

Alright my beauties, go out and conquer the world! But for now, let’s start with 5th and 7th grade.

I love you three BIGGGG time!

Bobbi