Back when we were known as the Tattooed Bride Photography Studio, Laura followed our Facebook page and got to be a part of a “tattooed stories” model call. So much has changed since 2015, especially for Laura and Glen who now have 2 beautiful kids; Emma and Benjamin.
When we launched the model call for the Renaissance of Mom, Laura was nervous but excited. Once the session started, Laura let all those nerves go.
“I really felt beautiful and comfortable as soon as we all got changed and the shoot started!”
“Getting to experience [the shoot] first hand after seeing so many other’s photos, it was so fun! We got to listen to music and be silly and be ourselves….it was less posed than I had anticipated but the results were amazing!”, Laura shared.
When the family first saw the images, they were blown away.
“It looked like our family just popped out of a magazine! I thought ‘how am I going to choose which ones go on the wall?!’ And seriously how are these so incredible?!”
One of the best parts of the experience for Laura was how it changed her relationship with her husband, Glen.
“I felt it brought my husband and I closer even though it was a family shoot, because he was so nervous and didn’t want to do the photos at first, then after the experience he raved about how fun and amazing it was and how amazing the photos were!”
“They are beautiful memories that you will literally have forever! Money comes and goes, but these gorgeous memories cannot be replaced, it’s literally like a beautiful amazing snap shot in time in your life”, Laura added.
What is it you’d love to get from an experience like this?
One of our clients’ favorites ways to be transported back to the all the feels from their experiences is through our custom, fine art albums.
During the cinematic reveal of your photos, you’ll laugh and cry and work with your photographer to choose your absolute favorite photos.
You may have those top faves that you know are PERFECT for that space in your home so you can see them every single day.
But what about all of those other moments? The candid ones. The funny ones. The romantic ones. The naughty ones even.
Together, they tell a story. A story of your relationship with your partner, or the way you play with your kids, or the journey you’re on right now… how you want to see yourself every single day.
What would it mean for you to be able to go back in time and relive a day where you felt truly empowered, strong, connected, and loved? That’s the power of the printed photograph. It’s a moment in time that holds worlds of emotions and memories. It’s an anchor to a time you cherish.
So, if you’re thinking about booking a session with us, and you aren’t sure how you want to memorialize these moments, a keepsake album is always a solid choice and an investment worth every penny.
I’d like to leave you with a question to ask yourself…
If you could step into a time machine right now, what are those moments you would want to relive all over again?
There’s this magical thing that happens when you are faced with the rawness of a boudoir session. You’re forced to see what you love about yourself. A lot of people come into these experiences worried all they will see is what they wish they could change. But the truth is, you’re actually forced to admit that there are things about you that you can’t deny are fucking beautiful and downright sexy.
When I finally fixed my hair after my quarantine bleach fail, I was feeling so much better and fresher… ‘almost’ confident. I was considering asking Mike to photograph me but was too scared to open that door. It frightened me to think that, while I felt better, none of that would translate because I’ve been photographed many times before and walked away in tears. Well… Somehow Mike has some weird intuition because my first day back in after my fresh new look, he asked if I wanted a portrait done. I said maybe, because I was too embarrassed to admit I had really wanted to ask him.
So as I did my hair and packed up my makeup, I decided to bring the one and only mildly sexy thing I own. What the hell right? I probably won’t do it but at least the option is there. Well as soon as he walked in the office he asked if I was ready for my photos. I felt that embarrassment rush back into my face. I said that I didn’t know and I felt weird. But, just like the moment he made me be in photographs with my daughters, he took a stand for me and said, in so many words, “let’s go”.
So I put the thing on I brought and even threw my oversized shirt over it because I felt silly. I did my makeup as dark and moody as I could, to match the set he was putting together, and I took a few deep breaths and reminded myself that he does this everyday and I have nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of.
Now, I’m someone who has photographed thousands of people and pride myself on finding those angles that really work with the person on the other side of the lens. But I’ll be damned if I know what those angles are that work for me. I believed I didn’t have those angles. A beautiful and flattering photograph of me was extremely rare.
I think you know where this story is going…
As Mike queued up the photos, I wanted to hide behind my hands. I wanted to peek through a sliver in my fingers so it wouldn’t hurt as bad. Like I do when I know a jump scare is about to happen in a horror movie and I want it to be easier to get through. But I watched as photo after photo of me appeared on the screen. “Who the fuck is that?” “Is that me?!” “There’s no way…” I honestly wanted to cry but my makeup was too on point, so I choked back the tears, threw my head back, and I’m pretty sure I whispered “What the fuck” to myself before saying anything else.
I didn’t see all those things I wish I could change. I was forced to admit to myself that I have really beautiful skin, gorgeous eyes, my hair is fire, and that top I was embarrassed about made my 2 breastfed children-chopped up with a breast reduction boobs look amazing. It was uncomfortable telling myself these truths. I never had the permission to do it before this moment. I hear women talk about themselves, confidently complimenting themselves and how amazing they are, inside and out. I’ve always admired that. I’d even look in the mirror and try to declare positivities about myself but always shied from my own eyes in my reflection because it was too uncomfortable.
But now I get to look at these photographs and think, “god damn I’m beautiful”. That’s a first for me and I have Mike to thank for it. Of course his talent is unparalleled. That goes without saying. But his ability to show up for you, push you outside of your comfort zone to see beyond the criticisms you tell yourself and admit you’re worthy of love in all its forms… That’s what you won’t experience anywhere else. That’s something you won’t ever forget. It’s a feeling you will want to chase. And every single moment you need a reminder, you will have your photographs to transport you back to feeling confident, sexy, worthy of love, and worthy of being seen.
When was the last time you felt beautiful and sexy?
Whatever the circumstances, you felt like your hottest self… Nothing has changed about who you are and how amazing you are. It’s time!
7am-6pm | Eryn planned, diligently, every aspect of her birthing experience. She wanted a natural, at-home, water birth, under the care of a midwife.
For the first half of her over 40 hour labor experience, she was living that plan. With the company of her husband and mother, she patiently worked through every hour and minute of the pain of contractions; and soothed them in the water Mat was carefully monitoring.
6am-11am | Despite all of her efforts, Eryn birthing plan was derailed by her little boy.
Her midwife decided it was time to go to the hospital. Despite the plan changing, the consistent pain, nothing was going to break Eryn’s spirits! She was so close to meeting her baby boy!
3:10pm | Natural birth just wasn’t in the cards for Eryn, and baby Adrian was delivered via c-section.
I wasn’t able to be there so I gave my camera to Mat who did an amazing job (alongside the nurses) capturing what I couldn’t; the first moments of Adrian and parents meeting in the world.
6:00pm-7:00pm | When I was permitted to return, after mom and baby were safe and sound, I got to meet this stubborn little man.
He was so beautiful and peaceful, laying skin to skin with his mama. Eryn, so tired, yet so elated to finally meet Adrian. Two became three that day, and the difficult journey of labor quickly faded in the shadows of this new adventure ahead.
We are looking for 10 families to model for the day
The spots will go quickly, so first come, first serve
For your participation, you will receive a complimentary session, $200 credit towards artwork for your home, and an experience designed to celebrate your family.
Email Erika at hello@allebachphotography.com and share what an experience like this would mean to you.
Submit your story today! Applications due by January 29th.
If you have children, I’m sure you’ve noticed how fleeting moments are and how quickly they change. Capture all those small but precious quirks they possess or things they do that remind you how special they are, right now, in this moment.
You may live together, and/or spend a lot of time together. But when was the last time you truly spent quality time loving and appreciating one another? Photo sessions are a chance to slow down and just be present with each other.
The value of family portraits increase with time. Lots of gifts are exchanged, opened, appreciated, adored, and then forgotten. A photograph created now, is priceless and precious twenty, even thirty years from now. A window to the past, crystal clear.
It’s sad to say but aging really takes a toll on memory. Our elderly relatives, and us as we continue to age, will have the opportunity to look back upon happy memories. Time-traveling brought to fruition.
What better way to say “I Love You” than a photographic love letter. As your children age, leave the nest, and grow their own families, they can channel your love through those special moments frozen in time.
This one goes out to all those people who are great at taking the photos, but never end up IN the photos. I’m certainly one of those, and as a photographer, I can’t rave enough about how important it was to have my own session. Yes, that’s me below!
There is a lot of beautiful artwork out there to decorate your home and it can be overwhelming to decide what fits your style best. That’s the beauty of photos! They can be designed to match your aesthetic. It couldn’t be a more custom piece of art, nor could it be more meaningful.
Now, more than ever before, you just never know the next time you’ll see someone you care about. Capture the love and connection you share, so you can always be transported there when you need it most.
One of our favorite parts of these experiences is getting to know our clients and all about how they spend time as a family. They become a chance to have fun and be unapologetically yourselves. Sure, we do a little bit of posing to set it up, but at the end of the day, we capture who you are as a family. So be silly, dance a little, laugh a lot, sing loud, and hold onto each other tightly.
Hello! I’m Erika, a mother of two breast and bottle fed children. I remember thinking, early on in both pregnancies, how badly I wanted to breastfeed for the first year of my children’s lives. It was a journey I knew would be difficult, but it was one I was committed to.
Neither of my kids made it to 6 months. It was REALLY hard to keep up with, even with pumping constantly. My biggest challenge was, I had no time off. No real maternity leave at my previous job. With my first born, I had only 6 paid days off, then I had to work from home 32 hours a week. I tried to breastfeed at my desk but it was almost impossible to keep up with.
With no government mandated support for paid maternity leave, I had no choice but to end my journey with breastfeeding in order to keep my sanity. And my second born was no different.
So why am I telling you all of this? This isn’t to get you to feel bad for me. Not at all. My children are healthy and I kept my sanity with the decisions I made.
I am posting this because it’s World Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month. I want to honor all of the mamas out there on their breastfeeding journey. I want to help normalize breastfeeding, end the stigma of doing so in public spaces, and donate to a cause that is working to support mothers from pregnancy through their child’s second birthday, via 1000 Days.
“The first 1,000 days are a time of tremendous potential and enormous vulnerability. How well or how poorly mothers and children are nourished and cared for during this time has a profound impact on a child’s ability to grow, learn and thrive. This is because the first 1,000 days are when a child’s brain begins to grow and develop and when the foundations for their lifelong health are built.“
“Studies show that countries that fail to invest in the well-being of women and children in the first 1,000 days lose billions of dollars to lower economic productivity and higher health costs. It is why several of the world’s leading economists have called for greater investments in the nutrition and well-being of mothers, babies, and toddlers as a way to create brighter and more prosperous futures for us all.“
Through the month of August, we will be donating $100 per breastfeeding/family session booked to 1000 Days to support their mission investing in the well-being of mothers and their children.
Hello! I’m Erika, family photographer and studio manager at Allebach Photography. I’m not sure if you knew this or not, but I’ve also been a wedding photographer for over 10 years!
I remember, when I was just a little baby photographer in school, being terrified at the thought of photographing someone’s wedding! So.Much.Pressure!!
But it turned out, after the first one, I had a knack for it. And not just a knack but a passion for it!
I just love people and being asked to capture a day as momentous as a wedding is the ultimate honor as an artist. I laugh and cry along with every single couple and family because I am just that involved in the day.
I’m not even sure I can pinpoint my favorites parts of the day, because every single detail is fun for me to capture. From the details of the dress while the bride gets her hair and makeup done, to every last expression of love and joy and excitement. I seriously love it all!
So, all of this said, if you’re newly engaged or know anyone getting married and haven’t found a photographer yet, I’m here! Ready to hear all about the biggest moments to the smallest details. http://www.meetme.so/erikaschoof
Nicole and Charlie were married in 2014, which is where they first heard of Allebach Photography. Mike got to spend the day with them, capturing all of those special moments that unfold on a wedding day.
Now, almost 6 years later, they have two beautiful daughters who love each other, only in a way that sisters can. (I should know… I have two beautiful sister of my own, as well as two daughters.)
The love Juniper and Iris have for each other is only rivaled by the love and affection Nicole and Charlie have for their girls and each other.
Seriously, how lucky am I to get to be a part of this family’s story? To know that the artwork we designed together will be displayed in their home for years to come gives me goosebumps.
I had the honor of meeting Melissa in college. I remember looking up to her as such a beautiful and strong woman and crazy talented artist.
Now that she is this amazing mother of two boys, my respect and admiration of her has grown ten-fold.
Jackson and Memphis are such loving and vicarious little men. They feed off of each other and love their mama so, SO much! They have soaked up so much of her warmth, creativity, and convictions.
