Back in the day, there was something magical about putting a cassette tape into a boom box. You'd press play, memorize every lyric, and when Side A ended, you'd flip the tape over to discover what came next. It wasn't the end of the story—it was simply a new chapter. Somehow, that feels like the perfect way to describe this season of life. We're halfway through the year. Halfway through summer. And somewhere between chasing golden hour, creating heirloom portraits, building workshops, and making childhood memories with Josie, I've realized just how much can change in six short months.


Looking Back



This summer has been one I'll remember forever. Instead of letting the days blur together, we've been intentionally filling them with adventures. We've explored parks, found hidden gems around Michigan, met superheroes, played mini golf, laughed until our cheeks hurt, and simply said "yes" to making memories. It's been a beautiful reminder that childhood isn't built on expensive vacations or perfect plans. It's built in ordinary afternoons that somehow become unforgettable. As a mom, I've found myself reaching for my camera differently. Not to pose every moment—but to preserve it. The messy hair after swimming. Sticky popsicle fingers. The way the evening light spills across the kitchen while we're making something together. Those are the photographs I treasure most. And they've reminded me why I fell in love with photography in the first place.

 

A film strip collage of a young girl in various outdoor settings including tulip fields, playgrounds, and rustic farms.

 

Rooted Vision Photography


This year has also been a season of growth for Rooted Vision Photography. I've spent countless hours refining my editing, simplifying my workflow, creating new experiences for families, and focusing on what matters most. Less perfection. More connection. I'm finding myself slowing down during sessions—watching instead of directing every second. Looking for the in-between moments that tell your family's real story. The glance. The giggle. The hand squeeze. The way your child still reaches for you without thinking. Those are the photographs that become heirlooms. Those are the images that matter years from now.


Rooted to Remember


One of the biggest surprises this year has been watching Rooted to Remember begin to grow. What started as an idea has become a community. We've learned together. Created together. Asked questions together. I've realized these workshops aren't just about creativity or photography. They're about learning to notice life again. To tell stories. To preserve memories. To build confidence. To connect with people who share the same creative heart. Watching everyone encourage one another has been one of the greatest gifts of this year, and I'm so excited for everything still to come.

 

Women gathered in a bright boutique shop exploring handmade candles and beauty products during a workshop event.
Elderly woman in straw hat decorating a floral cookie with icing at a cookie decorating class.
A small glass vial with botanical ingredients on a table, with a blurred woman working on perfume blending in the background.
Women gathered around a table during an art class, with an instructor presenting in a bright community studio.

 

Side B


So here we are. Halfway through the year. Halfway through summer. Flipping the tape to Side B.


If Side A was about building, experimenting, learning, and dreaming... I hope Side B is about intention. I want to become more organized—not so life feels more scheduled, but so there's more room for the things that matter most. More afternoons making crafts and learning something new. More evenings spent documenting everyday life instead of rushing through it. More meaningful photography that tells stories instead of simply taking pictures.


More opportunities to gather with photographers and creatives who want to grow together through Rooted to Remember.



More presence. More purpose. More memories.

 

Family of three walking through lush green meadow, parents holding child's hands at golden hour.
A child walks with a brown dog along a grassy path surrounded by trees at golden hour.
Couple sharing an intimate forehead touch outdoors, woman in white dress smiling softly, man in green shirt, golden bokeh trees.
A smiling boy in a mint green t-shirt and khaki pants walks through a lush green garden path.
Couple embracing at golden hour in a sunlit meadow surrounded by trees in a romantic outdoor setting.
A smiling boy sits on a large rock in a green field at sunset, wearing a light blue t-shirt and beige pants.
A family of three sits together in a lush green field at golden hour, sharing a tender moment.
A smiling boy and young woman pose cheek-to-cheek outdoors in a green field for a family portrait.
Family of three sitting in a lush green field at golden hour sunset with trees in background.

 

Thank You


Whether you've trusted me to photograph your family, attended a workshop, followed along with our summer adventures, cheered me on from afar, or simply shared kind words along the way...

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.


Small businesses are built on relationships, and I never take your support for granted.

I'm so excited for what's ahead.


For sunflower fields and honey-colored sunsets.

For cozy autumn evenings.

For new workshops and meeting new people.

For heirloom portraits.

For more stories preserved every day.


And for everything waiting on Side B.


Here's to slowing down, noticing the little things, and making the second half of this year even more meaningful than the first.


Warmly,

Cristina

 

"Photography for me is not looking, it's feeling. If you can't feel what you're looking at, then you're never going to get others to feel anything when they look at your pictures."



Don McCullin
Family walking with a golden retriever on a rural dirt path beside tall grass and power line towers at sunset.

The most meaningful moments are rarely posed-

they're simply lived.

My job is to make sure you never forget how they felt.

🤍Cristina