Out of the Darkness Community Walk 2012 | South Bend, IN

I had a really special honor on Saturday, to photograph an event that brings to the surface a really tough subject: suicide.

This was the second time an event like this took place in the South Bend area, and I was really humbled to be able to be a part of it once again.

Did you know … There are over 30,000 suicides in the United States each year. It's the fourth leading cause of death for adults between the ages of 18 and 65 years in the United States. 90% of people who die by suicide have a diagnosable and treatable psychiatric disorder at the time of their death.

We must learn the warning signs and learn more about what we can do to help those who are uncertain of how to help themselves.

Out of the Darkness Community Walks do just that. They happen all over the country and are directly associated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, which is the leading national not-for-profit organization exclusively dedicated to understanding and preventing suicide.

Walks like this are organized to help survivors of suicide - to connect them with others who are in the exact same place - who need the shoulder of another to help them along the way.

I was very thankful to meet some amazing new friends and be inspired by their stories - and their strength. Thankful to see such beautiful camaraderie and 'togetherness'. ♥

To learn more about how you can be a part of this cause, to join a community walk in your area, or to simply learn more about the risk factors and warning signs, please visit http://www.afsp.org/. 

Jim and Kelly | Couples Session | St. Patrick's County Park

I've known Kelly and Jim for a little over a year now. My husband and I were blessed to be able to photograph their wedding just over a year ago.

A few short weeks after getting married, this amazing couple received heart-breaking news. Jim had stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

The last year has been a trying one for them - however, good news came just weeks after celebrating their first anniversary: Jim was in remission.

This couple is SO, SO special. Such an inspiration. So thankful I know them. So blessed to be able to photograph them in this moment and time. And incredibly blessed to see TRUE LOVE. They are BEAUTIFUL. And their love is shining! ♥

"True love doesn't happen right away; it's an ever-growing process. It develops after you've gone through many ups and downs, when you've suffered together, cried together, laughed together." ~Ricardo Montalban 

I Have Found my Strength in You

How amazing it is that God knows us so well; He knows exactly what and who we need at exactly the right time. I’ve been recently amazed by some of the people that I’ve been fortunate enough to have encounters with. They make me realize the beauty of PEOPLE and the power of human contact.

With my 'day job', I don’t have much of that. I miss that interaction with people, real people. It’s nice to actually have actual encounters with people and to learn more about their lives. Learn more about what makes them WHO they are. I think that's what I love about meeting new people - whether it's through my photography or just through general, day-to-day meanderings, I've been so fortunate to meet some amazing people.

It really astounds me how strong people really are. To go through their struggles, hardships, pain … and in light of them, they find hope and comfort in knowing that it all happens for a reason. I’m thankful for their strength and perseverance - because it's beautiful.

I read this quote the other day: "When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful." ~Barbara Bloom

How AMAZING and how TRUE is that? The cracks make us more beautiful. More refined. Perhaps even braver and stronger than we ever thought we could be.

To the women that I have been privileged to share in this LIFE with, thank you for giving me a little part of yourself … and showing me what it truly means to be courageous. You INSPIRE me. I am forever grateful and can only hope to be as strong some day. ♥