Welcome Home, Jack

This past Thursday was one of the most special photographic assignments I can recall being a part of. Much the same way that I am overcome with feels during a newborn portrait session (and weddings, and bat mitzvahs, and well, really any special occasion where people are celebrating something big), witnessing a newly adopted child being welcomed home with open arms and open hearts by his new family is one of the most profoundly beautiful things I've ever been blessed enough to photograph. 

Jack and his parents had been traveling all day (literally) to get back to Wisconsin, following the finalization of his adoption in his birth country of China, and after a long (very long) wait in customs at the Chicago airport, I got the text that they were on there way, and was able to get there in time to capture the first moments of Jack meeting his brother and sister and grandparents for the first time. 

Now had the weather cooperated, we would have most likely been outdoors for this very special first meeting, but the sky was dumping out rain as only April skies can, and so the meeting took place indoors, which turned out to be lovely and equally as intimate  a setting, if not more so, than outdoors might have been. 

The kids were fast friends, and it was amazing how excited the two bigger kids were to meet their new brother, and to share all sorts of toys and stories and books with him. 

To be honest, I was expecting more crying, and not so much because of the situation, but more because when you get three young children in a room together for pictures, it's a pretty sure bet someone is going to start crying at some point, even if it's just the parents, but not a single tear was shed, and miracle of miracles, there was even a picture of the whole family, all looking at the camera, without a single blink or sideways glance in another direction! We even had enough time for a silly face picture, which are some of my personal favorites and go over well with the kiddos (which is probably why I like them so much). 

The kids then proceeded to the bedrooms to play together and excitedly show Jack his new bed and toys. 

I snapped a few more just before packing up, as the kiddos were starting to rub their eyes, which made me smile to look at later, and made me want to immediately hug my family as well. You could see all the love pouring out of everyone in the house. Excited about their family, excited about Jack being a part of it, and excited about this new adventure they're all in together. It was super sweet, and super wonderful, and I feel so blessed to get to witness it that my heart just melts thinking about it. 

Until next time...

All my photographic love,
Sam

For the Fifth Year in a Row, Thank You!

Dutcher Photography would like to take the opportunity to share our good news! 

We are honored to receive the WeddingWire Couple's Choice award for the 5th year in a row! We want to thank our amazing clients, past, present, and future for their business, their support, and generally for just being super awesome! 

 

WeddingWire Couples' Choice Awards® recipients represent the top five percent of wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism.

Thanks again, and here's to another great year ahead! 

Sam + Rob

It's What Keeps Us Warm

Dreary, slushy wintery days such as this are a good day for reflection and looking inward. A good day for remembering the things that keep us warm at our very core. Here is a brief list of the things that light me up from the inside. 

• Spontaneous hugs
• Warm scarves
• Holding a cup of steaming hot tea with both hands and breathing in the steam
• Looking at my son's beautiful face when he's doing just about anything
• The feel of my cat's fur
• Beautiful music that makes me cry
• Good poetry
• Bad poetry
• Holding hands with the one I love
• Miniature spoons
• Polaroid film
• The way loving someone feels bigger than the universe, larger than life

There is a reason I'm particularly drawn to photographing people. People in love, people devoting their lives to one another, people celebrating, people nurturing new families, people just trying to get by like everyone else and trying to find the meaning and beauty in the world that can sometimes feel elusive. I think of love as a verb, an action you take, a thing you do, something you demonstrate. I'm honored to be entrusted with the sacred task of documenting all the myriad ways in which human beings show their love to one another, and couldn't stop it from being apparent if they wanted to. 

Love is what keeps most of us warm, determined, and alive, more than anything else. It makes us do stupid things and wonderful things alike. It makes us roll up our sleeves to do what needs doing even when things are really hard. It's what stays when we're gone. And being able to witness that time and time again, and have the pictures to prove it, makes me feel particularly tender towards my fellow humans. It puts me a particularly warm and loving mood about this existence. I hope it does you too. 

 

All my photographic love,  
Sam 

Remember That One Time....

When I said I was going to post once a week? Yeah, me neither. 

Here are some of the things I've been up to since I've clearly been too busy to post regularly!

Jenny + Cole, With New Addition Maren Leona!

I got a rare treat this past weekend in that I got back to Ohio to visit family briefly. While there, I was able to see my cousin Cole and his wife Jenny, and their brand new baby girl, Maren Leona! It was so great to meet this little one! I also love 'circle of life' type feelings, where I've photographed a couple's wedding, and then get to photograph their kiddos if and when they have them. It's super neat, and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

Without further ado, I introduce to you..... Maren Leona!