I started pulling favorites out at the end of the year in an effort to fill my digital picture frame with them. It was honestly therapeutic to me. As with any creative outlet, it's easy to get caught up in always wanting to be better. I can so easily get sucked into the trap of thinking about all the things I could technically do better to have greater images and putting down the photos that I spend so many hours creating. While I do always want to get better, looking back on this year of images made me feel so grateful. It reminded me that freezing the moments for my family (and getting the extreme pleasure of doing it for some families around me) is incredibly satisfying no matter what skill level I attain. 

This week I'm sharing my top PERSONAL images. In the next couple weeks I'll share my top CLIENT images. While often the same style, these two are completely different in my approach. When I'm documenting for family, I am looking to create great images, but my priority is being present. Therefore I don't always go to the corner of the room for the best perspective or seek to find the best light, but merely snap away while enjoy the moment as well. 

Without further ado, in no particular order, here are my favorite 25 from 2017:

September 17th | Topsail Island, NC

His focus on the ocean, the shovel in his hand, and that hat hanging in his eyes represent so much of our wonderful vacation this year. 

 September 18th | Topsail Island, NC

When fun on the beach is done, there's still fun to be had while rinsing off. I love this picture so much of Levi and my sister that it is hanging on my wall. 

 September 22nd | Topsail Island, NC

I've never enjoyed Summer the way I did this year with Levi and these sandy toes will always remind me of that joy. 

September 28th | Home

We had a small shindig to celebrate Joel turning 30. Him and some of the guests were out by the fire as the sun was setting.  

 September 29th | IHOP in Dover, DE

From early in our relationship Joel has had the strange tradition of booping me on the nose with the straw paper when we go out to eat. Levi has seen it done so many times that he decided to boop Joel on our breakfast date that day. 

July 26th | Delaware State Fair

We had a stroller but Levi's preferred view was from Daddy's shoulders. I can't pinpoint why this image makes my heart pitter patter but it sits on my nightstand because it's my current favorite of these two loves of mine.  

 April 4th | Grams' Home, VA 

I've always had a special bond with my Grams and watching her have a special bond with my boy completely melts me. 

 August 26th | Rohr Family Reunion, PA

Joel's Granpop had just stole a bite of his granddaughter's pie. The look on his face is priceless to me.

 April 6th | Papaw's Home, VA 

I was close to my Papaw as a child but through many different circumstances, we weren't as close as I got older. After having Levi, I have love and reconnection for him I can't explain. He is obsessed with his great-grandson and the way his face lights up around him is perfection. 

April 29th | Rehoboth Beach, DE

This was our first trip to the boardwalk as a family in 2017. Levi loved every minute of the pizza and beach and especially the ice cream. 

December 14th | Home, DE

We had a late lunch as Daddy brought us home CFA. Sleep doesn't usually beat out hunger for Levi but on this day, it did. 

December 15th | Home, DE

We spent the morning out on a breakfast date and getting groceries. We came home to a winter wonderland and Levi was thrilled. This was quite possibly my favorite cold day of 2017. 

December 31st | Drill, VA 

Since most of my family didn't get to come to DE to celebrate Levi's first birthday, my mom put together a party for him in VA for his 2nd birthday. She spoiled him rotten (as always) with eating ice cream out of the tub and treating him like the superhero he thinks he is. The joy of these two together gets me in this picture every time I see it. 

December 31st | Drill, VA

Levi was on some sort of mission (isn't he always) at his birthday party. This photo so sums up his personality at turning 2. 

September 4th | Pops and Nana's, VA

I can't remember when it started but at some point on a trip to VA, Pops took Levi to look at the cows that are right down the hill from his house. Now you don't hear Pops come out of Levi's mouth without soon hearing MOO. I took this on a foggy morning visit to see the Moos simply wanting to document their ritual. If I had more wall space in my house, I'd have it on canvas. 

June 12th | Grams' Home, VA 

For as long as I can remember my favorite meal has been Grams' gravy and biscuits. One day over the summer I had the urge to document what it looked like watching her make them. This pictures of her beautiful hands kneading dough (like I've seen a million times) will be forever one of my favorites.

June 12th | Grams' House

I love the expressions on my momma and sister's faces while they were playing SnapChat filters with my boy. This picture goes so beyond that though. That porch holds so many precious memories for me. That swing behind them was my Pa's spot my whole life before he passed. He threw me many of balls from it and sat enjoyed smiling on all our fun growing up. I know that if he were still around he'd be sitting there in the background of this picture wearing my favorite smirk of all time. 

As time went on, I went off to college but couldn't wait to drive the two hours home on the weekend. There were many reasons but in the top of the list were Grams and Papaw. There were many nights I wouldn't get home until 10 or later, but they'd be there with the card table set up ready to get in a few games before bed. I typically had a plate of hot salmon cakes waiting or a plate of fresh homemade candy. 

When 2012 came and I moved to Delaware for ministry, my Papaw hands down had the hardest time. And though the 9 hour trip was sometimes rough alone, I did it often to get to see them. I quickly saw that I talked to my grandparents on the phone as much as many did their parents. In 2014 my Papaw went to be with Jesus. I miss him dearly and would love for him to have got to meet Levi, but watching my Grams and her husband "Papaw Cotton" with him is such a joy. I try to capture moments every time we are down of him with them. There's something so special about the love that connects great-grands and the kiddos. I had that same mystical bond with some of my great-grands.

A few weeks ago we were visiting and one of the evenings we were having the family staple.... Gravy & Biscuits. I know most eat it for breakfast but it's the Cracker Barrel mentality in my family that breakfast is served all day. As she started the process I'd watched her do thousands of times, I suddenly wanted pictures of her. The more I've studied documentary photography, the more I've longed to capture images that match up to the ones etched in my brain. So I did. She thought it was kind of silly that I would take pictures of her making biscuits but I have a feeling it won't be my last time doing it.

Isn't she the cutest? She's the definition of the word grandma y'all.

What I love about this piece of ordinary with my Grams is how much it really represents what I want to take hostage in my photos. Let me try to explain.... Gravy & Biscuits has been an ordinary meal in my family for as long as I can remember. She'll make it on a random morning or any time of the day if that's what your craving. She always has the ingredients on hand. But it's also the meal that's made for many birthday celebrations and also our annual Christmas Eve gathering. It's a staple in the most simplest of gatherings or the grandest of celebrations. That's what I want for A Sweet Aroma Photography.

I want to capture mundane moments that seem so normal they'd usually never be highlighted AND I want to capture the sweetest of adventures and celebrations that we know are high points to remember. It's a privilege to freeze our family moments as a memory and it's also certainly a privilege to get to also share that passion with others.


// See more about my photography adventure here! //