baltimoreteenphotographer

Smithberger Family | Towson, Maryland | Family Lifestyle Photographer

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You’ll need coffee shops and sunsets and road trips. Airplanes and passports and new songs and old songs, but people more than anything else. You will need other people and you will need to be that other person to someone else, a living breathing screaming invitation to believe better things.
— Jamie Tworkowski

I had the privilege of photographing my sweet friend Andrea and her beautiful family on a warm, cloudy day a couple of weeks ago. She is one of those friends described in the above quote that I have needed over the last few years. You can read more of her story and her insightful writing on her blog “How the Light Gets In.” Our story is one only God could write and it is another example of how He orchestrates things far beyond our understanding. Her family has become absolutely dear to me.

I want to share a snippet of the story of how God brought us together a little over 5 years ago. When our oldest was getting ready to attend Ridgely Middle School, Wes and I approached the Young Life (YL) area director about starting a division of YL in the middle school called WyldLife. When we met with him he encouraged us to pray about this ministry because he really felt like God was doing something in the community. Little did we know another Ridgely parent had approached him about the same thing:) You see Andrea’s oldest daughter wanted something like YL at her school so Andrea set up a meeting with the YL area director. Since that initial meeting we have prayed, launched and watch God grow WyldLife in a way that is difficult to comprehend.

Walking through life with Andrea and watching the way she and Jason lead not only their family but their friends has been an inspiration. I hope as you look through this gallery of pictures from our time together you see their love and joy-filled spirit shine through the most…

Hofler Sweet 16 | Towson, Maryland {Baltimore Photographer}

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I knew after just a few minutes on the phone during the inquiry that this was a session I wanted to be a part of. Crystal called me and explained that she wanted to do a photoshoot of her three girls that are “almost triplets” as a way to honor her mom. You see every year since the girls were little Crystal’s mom, the girl’s grandmother would take them to get photos during the time of the year they were all the same age. Crystal described the photos always had the actual number of their age in the photos somewhere. Ever since her passing, Crystal hasn’t been able to do it…

Until this year, the girls are 16 and she wanted to honor her mom with a photoshoot. We started brainstorming different ideas of how to include the number and decided on a banner. Crystal ordered a banner but it wasn’t delivered in time for the shoot so she had the girls create one…another special touch that made this so incredibly special.

We met on a day that was grey and overcast but the sun peeked out just as we started shooting and made for a beautiful session with these girls. Hannah, Madison and McKenna Happy Sweet 16! I am so thankful to have been a part of your special celebration!