I first met Adam and Beth a few years back at a has-been "Tuesdays Together" club. Tuesdays Together was a once per month meeting of creatives and business owners in the Wheeling area. I have been following their business ever since, and knew they would be perfect for my photo project. They built East Wheeling Clayworks from the ground up with talent, passion, and loving hearts.

East Wheeling Clayworks is a working ceramics studio that offers wholesale and retail products. They also sell non-ceramic household items and provide a platform for other local artists to display their work. They do private events, children activities, and Sculpt N' Gulps.

When I arrived at their store front/studio, my first thought was "it smells amazing in here" (I ended up purchasing a handmade stick incense burner and incense they had in stock from a company based in California). I was greeted by Adam, Beth, and their sweet baby girl. I took some photos of a few of their handmade items and then Adam took me downstairs to their studio. He started cutting clay off of a block as we chatted. He placed it on the wheel as we talked about how we went to the same college (shout out to Bethany College!!!)- by then, he was already halfway finished. We talked about photography, pottery, and their histories... then he was finished. He said "there you go... a bowl!" I was thinking "how the hell did he make something so beautiful and perfect in 10 minutes?" Honestly, it may have been less than 10.
I was truly amazed. But artists are amazing. 
After talking with him about all that goes into it, I think pottery is also science. It is weight, measurement, temperatures, glazes, etc. Truly amazing.

I had the honor of meeting a few of their employees and got to know them a bit. Honestly, I could hang out with them all day long. They were all just interesting, kind humans. 
If you haven't been to East Wheeling Clayworks- GO! If you have, GO BACK! They're always creating and stocking new items. Being in their store and around all that amazing art and product is just good for the soul.

Thank you Adam, Beth, and the crew for letting me photograph you, your beautiful space, and for letting me behind the scenes. You are truly a treasure.

Midge and I were complete strangers when I messaged her on Instagram and asked to take photos of her in her element for my off- season photo project. 
We talked for nearly two and a half hours about a lot of different subjects. She is passionate and inspiring, and so intelligent. It was a true honor to hear some of her personal history and her thoughts on food, the world, and life. 

As we were chatting, I was occasionally snapping photos while she was preparing for that week's pick up orders. It is my experience that Wheeling is full of true gems if you take the time to open your eyes and mind to find them. 
Midge's Kitchen is just as it sounds; Midge, prepping and cooking, in her very clean, adorable kitchen.

When Midge spoke about the local places she gets her ingredients, and how she chooses her menu, her eyes lit up and I could see her passion. 
It is just Midge-she is the mind, body and soul behind her business and I will always have a deep appreciation for business owners like her.

She asked about my business and we got on the topic of exposure and growth; and how it's okay to say- "I'm happy with I am with where I am."  That also got us on the topic of running a business by yourself and finding time for a personal life. I saw a lot similarities in the two of us- owning a business and trying to balance having time for yourself.

​WHAT AN AMAZING GIFT TO WHEELING: beautiful, gourmet food- made and packaged with love, thought, and passion by a kind human being.

Along with her weekly menu, Midge also caters. Although it is hard work every day, you can tell by her product & by listening to her speak - she is in love with her business & I love that!

Midge offers a weekly menu that is posted on Friday mornings and available for orders until Sunday at 4:00- or until sold out. Pick up for ordered items is on Wednesday at her kitchen downtown. 

Go check out her Facebook & Instagram- see if you can order some of her deliciousness before it sells out! 

Cheers to you, Midge. Thank you for your beautiful food & your kind soul. I hope you got your walk in the sunshine.

It is so much fun to see these girls grow. I have been photographing this family since Grace was 2. They adore Jeannette and watching (and hearing) them giggle is just the best. I am honored that they have trusted me to capture their memories and portraits for all these years. 
Here are a few of my favorites...​

Click play below to hear what Grace loves most about her mom:

Click play below to hear Katie's favorite thing to do with her mom:

Click play below to hear what the girls would give their mom if they could give her anything:

Click below to hear the girls give their mom some love:

Happy Mother's day beautiful Jeannette

xoxo,

Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas.
​You are a bright light in the world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.*

Their shirts say it all- Kayla runs a girl gang; and it's the cutest gang ever! These little girls will steal your heart from the minute you meet them. I am so happy I got to the opportunity to photograph Kayla and her girls. 
Here are a few of my favorites...

Click play below to hear Lydia talk all about her mom:

Click play below to hear the sweetest rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Kayla!

xoxo,
Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas.
​You are a bright light in the world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

My beautiful friend and her beautiful daughters. I have known and loved Lindsey since we were 15 years old. Watching her be the best mom to these three girls is so amazing. Lindsey runs a dental practice and also runs her girls to dance class and competitions. She is the absolute definition of a superhero and I can tell her girls know just how lucky they are. They love her SO MUCH as you can see in their  photos. What lucky babies to be loved so deeply; and what a lucky mama to be loved the same in return.
Here are a few of my favorite...

Click below to hear what the girls like to do with their mom:

Click below to hear what the girls would give their mom if the could giver her anything

Click below to hear the girls give Lindsey some love

Click below for singing and giggles

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Lindsey!

xoxo,
Kristin

​**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas.
​You are a bright light in the world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

These two. We had so much fun hanging out with Sarah and Julia at their Mom + Me session. The amount of times Julia hugged and kissed her mom was the most precious thing. Julia is a loving, funny, beautiful soul and she got it from her mama. I smiled the entire time I edited these photos because their joy is contagious and I remember all the giggles and sweet moments from this day with them. 

​Here are a few of my favorites...

Click below to hear Julia's favorite thing to do with her mom

Click below to hear what Julia would give to her mom if she could give her anything

Click below to hear Julia loving her mom

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Sarah!

xoxo,
Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas.
​You are a bright light in the world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

Some of the first photos I ever took professionally were Brady's engagement photos. We were co-workers and fast friends. It is so special that I get to be a part of all the big blessings in her life. I got to photograph her family in the hospital the day after Peyton was born; I got to shoot from a distance while they sat on their porch during quarantine; I get to shoot their Christmas card photo every year; and tons of photos in between. It is a blessing.

You will never find a more devoted mom than Brady and it shows in the way her babies look at her and are at ease just by the touch of her hand. She is raising strong, sweet women and I couldn't be more proud to witness it. 
Here are a few of my favorites...

Click below to hear Peyton's sweet voice

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Brady!

xoxo,
Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas. 
You are a bright light in this world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

I had the honor of photographing a "Mom + Me" session with Courtney and her adorable little sweetheart, Hadley, at Grand Vue Park. How lucky I am that on this day my "job" was to photograph the love between a mom and her baby. Courtney and Hadley are both obviously beautiful and Hadley is already sweet and fun just like her mama. I thought it would be a nice idea to include audio so Courtney can always hear Hadley's little voice when she looks at these photos years later. There are so many great photos from this session... here are a few of my favorites...

Click below to hear Hadley sweet voice.

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Courtney!

xoxo,
Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas. 
You are a bright light in this world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

Here is a little peek of the photos I shot with Lauren and Hannah at Grand Vue Park during our "Mom + Me" session. I thought it would be a nice idea to incorporate audio so Lauren can always hear her little Hannah's voice when she looks at these photos years down the road. 
Hannah is so sweet and smart and LOVES Lauren so much. Her little voice is the sweetest. Thank you for letting me capture your love for each other in this little Mother's Day tribute. 
​

Click below to hear Hannah's sweet voice.

Happy Mother's Day beautiful Lauren!

xoxo,
​Kristin

**A special THANK YOU to Kate Santonas who helped me all throughout the day with EVERYTHING including asking the little ones questions about their mamas.
​ You are a bright light in this world and I'm so thankful for your help and friendship.**

Abbey and Shane got married! In the middle of the woods in the middle of a pandemic. I really have no idea how we're all coping with this craziness, but I do know photographing their wedding made me feel like myself again. Staying at least 6 feet away, not touching anything anyone else touched, and setting up a ring shot with gloves on are all things I never thought I would be doing as a wedding photographer... BUT it was perfect. 
Abbey's words: "Shane and I have been patiently waiting to plan our wedding until we figured things out with my back. Surgery was finally scheduled April 2 but with covid19, it has been postponed until further notice. We decided we just didn’t want to wait any longer to be man and wife! We eloped! We felt during these uncertain times being legally married now is what is best for us. We plan to be married in the Church and celebrate with family and friends next summer! Feeling beyond blessed and completely enjoying being newlyweds! #ForAsLongAsILivingston"
Personally, this was one of my favorite weddings I have ever shot. Two absolutely incredible people, in the woods, getting married because they just can't wait to be husband and wife is what it's all about. I will never forget all the fun we had a little over a week ago on their big day, the way I was trying not to touch my face to wipe my tears during their sweet ceremony, and when Abbey said she will never forget the way the sun looked on Shane's face as they said "I Do" to each other. 

Here are a few of my favorites...

Getting everything ready for the little hike into the woods..

XOXO, 
Kristin