Stricker Photography

A cute little kissy face for you on this Thursday morning!

The post.

The post I’ve been putting off.
The post I have dreaded.
The post that is scary.
The post that is uncomfortable.
The post that holds so so many unknowns.
The post that makes me super emotional.

Here it is.

I have been putting this off for awhile. For many reasons. One reason is because I don’t know if I’m making the right decision. What if I regret it? What if miss it so bad it hurts? What if all my clients don’t understand?

The second reason is because I really don’t have the right words to say. I can’t put my emotions into words. I can’t put my hesitations yet excitement in the way that everyone will understand.

But here it goes…

I have decided to take 2022 off from photography.

After 12 years, I am ready for a break. Not a break from my clients. Not a break from capturing life’s most precious moments, not a break from dancing and sneezing to make your littles laugh, not a break from talking to mama for an hour after our session ends- those are the things that I will miss the most. And honestly is what makes this so incredibly hard. It makes me SO sad.

But I need a break from missing out on my kids. A break from being gone a LOT of evenings during the week. A break from coming and going and a very unset schedule. A break from scheduling family and friend outings around sessions and weather. A break from spending countless hours editing, emails, responding to texts, requests, filling orders around the clock. Around.the.clock.

There is no doubt that my clients are family. I have made many many lifetime friendships. I have watched toddlers graduate from high school. I have shot 100’s of weddings and 1,000s of family, engagement and child sessions. I have watched so many of you become moms and dads. Lots and lots of mini sessions. Agh. I cherish every single one of these moments and every single one of these clients.

Agh, this isn’t easy.

It’s scary.

In fact, this last week I have prayed a lot. I have asked for a sign that my heart is being pulled in the right direction. And every time I pulled up Facebook, there was a saying at the top of my newsfeed. Every.single.time.

I decided to save the images that popped up- because there is no doubt that these were signs. I saved them so I could go back and read them when my emotions become overwhelming.

I decided to post them here too. For some reason they seem to wrap up my emotions.

Clients, I love you all SO much. The support and love you have showed me over the past 12 years… the way you continue to support me in my new business and cheer me on always.

I am so so thankful… I love you all. So damn much.

I will shed a lot of tears in the upcoming days and weeks. So give me a hug if you see me.

And if I have taught you anything, I hope it’s is this…
if you have been wanting to take a chance,

Step.

Leap.

Jump.

Fly.

You’ll be okay.

I’ll be okay.

And… who knows what 2023 holds? 💕

So much love,
Michelle

**This does not include the milestone sessions for 2022 that are scheduled or need to be scheduled for babes with 2021 birth dates**

As I see other photographers starting to post about Christmas Minis, I wanted to make an official announcement.

A lot of thought went into this decision and I have decided not to host Christmas Mini Sessions this year.

My schedule is booked to the rim with family and milestone sessions, sports activities, holiday adventures, and family time. Tis’ the season of having older children with a social calendar 💕

This was a very difficult decision to make and I am so thankful for such understanding clients!

Xoxo!

Michelle

For the last 10 years I have waited for the day I could announce that Stricker Photography won 1st place for Cedar Valleys Best of the Best.

This year, we placed 3rd 💕 And I am just as honored to receive this award as I have been 1st. I am so thankful that God has blessed me with this passion and career for the last 11 years.

But this year, I couldn’t wait to jump on and congratulate my friend, Allyson Schwab Photography, for scoring the 1st place spot.

I have watched her photography career take off since day one. I have shot weddings with her and we have spent countless conversations talking about photography and have done a lot of prop swapping over the years.

There is NO ONE more deserving of this award than her.

My dear friend, I pass the baton to you!

Congratulations, friend!

It was hotter than 100 degrees, but this family rocked the heat!

What a beautiful everything

I have taken this beautiful girls pictures for 11 years. Her mama and I have always said how cool it would be if I took her senior pictures someday… well, here we are! From age 6 to 17. Girl, I have loved watching you grow and I had to fight back tears tonight! Go be a light 🖤

Sweet Skye 🍋

There is just something so magical about the beach. Even if it is the Cedar River beach… 🤪

Adore this family! It started raining on us but we ended up with more pictures than most full hour sessions!

Wrapping my arms and prayers around this sweet sweet family as they lost their husband/daddy and their oldest son/brother due to a horrific accident.

My heart is shattered.

I have captured this family since the beginning. Newborn sessions, milestone sessions, family sessions… and lots of them!

When I think back about their last family session, I believe God had a big hand in it. It was absolutely perfect weather, with the most beautiful colors.

Every session, I had Andy whisper something in his wife’s ear and it was always wildly inappropriate and would make her blush and laugh. He had the best sense of humor.

This last session, Beckett wandered down the path and found the perfect place for his individual pictures that was different from the rest of his siblings. And now I am so thankful we have this memory to hold on to.

I know it’s not easy to plan for family sessions- it’s a lot of work. But Brook always made it happen.

Make it happen. Capture your memories. Life is precious.

Please pray for this family.

And if you are able, please donate 💕

https://www.gofundme.com/f/helping-the-kaufmans-andy-and-beckett-memorial?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR3MxSJg1Ldzy7aY0InZ2Pgr6vuGoWVbjOAOsRk-EkUuCe4gd-2RAw2ZAcs

She thinks she's older than she is!

Sweet baby girl.

After the storm came a double rainbow

Sweet baby girls

The Even Family

The Trzaskos Family

We made it to the TOP 5!!!

Please take a second to click on this link and vote for Stricker Photography!

Check out Stricker Photography. Check it out now!

I just think she's the cutest. EVER.

Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

WHY are they growing up so fast?

I had so much fun with this family and little model

Editing order! 💕

Picture perfect.

Babies with dimples are the best.

Sweet Skye left her smiles at home but her snuggles were the best!

Getting set up for a big prop destash tomorrow!

Tag any and all photographers!

10am-noon!

2338 Blythe Boulevard in CF.

Everything is priced to sell!

*I will not hold or discuss pricing in comments*

Sweet Emmett, a little miracle.

Mickey, you and this hat melt me.