Over the Years: The Coslin Family

The other day I was talking to my favorite person (my grandma Jo) on the phone and we ended up talking about the career paths we chose.  She was a nurse for most of her adult working years and I was an elementary school teacher for five years until I decided to resign and begin my photography business.  She told me there have been times when she thought about doing something besides nursing, but looking back now she couldn't imagine doing anything else.  She LOVED nursing!  Then she asked me what I career I would have chosen if I could start all over again.  As I thought, I honestly couldn't think of any other career choices I would have made.  

I loved teaching, but I didn't love the confines of teaching.  I loved that no two days were ever the same.  I loved having to adapt and be flexible throughout the day as different situations arose.  I loved the students and coworkers.  But I did not love the schedule.  I felt very confined.  When I decided to resign I immediately felt a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could now breathe freely.  

I absolutely LOVE being a photographer!  I love nearly everything about it - besides paying taxes.  I love making my own schedule.  I love creating wall art for families that will be treasured for years to come.  I love it when clients tell me that my work captures so many emotions.  But most of all I love meeting new people and connecting with them!  I love to capture them year after year and create beautiful wall art that showcases their family!  For this reason I have decided to begin a series which focuses on my loyal clients over the years titled, "Over the Years."

THE COSLIN FAMILY

I have known the Coslin Family for several years - after all, we are family! Kelsey and Hunter live in Ennis, Texas so we only saw them a couple times of year at family functions. I had the opportunity to spend more time with them when they got engaged and later when they exchanged vows. Fast forward a few years and they are now a family of four! They make the drive from Ennis to Ben Hur throughout the year to have updated photos of their family taken at various mini session events. It has truly been a pleasure to get to know this family as they continue to grow and I absolutely love being their family photographer.

August 2017 - Hunter and Kelsey’s engagement session

Hunter and Kelsey wanted to have their engagement session on Hunter’s grandfather’s property in Personville, Texas. Since their engagement session the family property has been sold, making the memories captured here between Hunter and Kelsey even more special.

August 4, 2018 - Kelsey and Hunter became Mr. and Mrs. Coslin!

Their wedding took place at the J Bar C Cowboy Church of Palmer in Palmer, Texas with the reception to follow at the family property located near Personville, Texas. It certainly was a beautiful summer day!

December 2019 - Christmas Mini Session…with their little boy, Fisher

January 2020 - Fisher’s 1st Birthday

Fisher celebrated his first birthday at the Children’s Aquarium at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. He was O-Fish-ally ONE!

December 2020 - Fisher LOVES to run! And he ran nearly the entire time at their Christmas Mini Session!

As 2020 was coming to an end, Hunter and Kelsey were looking forward to all that 2021 had in store for them. Within a few months they would be welcoming another baby boy to their family. Fisher was going to be a big brother!

April 2021 - The Coslin Family is now a family of FOUR!

Westin arrived in the spring of 2021 so a bluebonnet field was a perfect location for their family session. They live in Ennis, the home of the Ennis Bluebonnet Trails so it just made sense to enjoy the view in Ennis. Fisher still loved to run and actually fell in a nasty mud puddle during the session! Never a dull moment with this bunch.

July 2021 - Fisher and Westin enjoying a day of fishing at our Summer Mini Session event!

Want to know the trick to keep Fisher from running around during this session? Make him be barefoot!

I have captured many memories for the Coslin Family over the past four years and I LOVE being their family photographer! I am looking forward to capturing many more memories for their family for the years to come.

“Time has a wonderful way of showing us what really matters.”

— Muskan Kumar

THIS IS THE FOURTEENTH FEATURED FAMILY IN THE "OVER THE YEARS" SERIES. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FEATURED FAMILIES!

1. The Wier Family

2. The Lopez Family

3. Tana and Layla

4. The Dale Family

5. The Craven Family

6. The Carpenter Family

7. The Leonardelli Family

8. The Spence-Waldrop Family

9. The Schmedthorst Family

10. The Milstead Family

11. The Erwin Family

12. The Cardwell Family

13. The Harringer Family

Location Is Everything

Everyone has that ONE place that they just love.  For some of us, it's our home.  For others, it's someplace we visit.  For me, it's my husband's family land in the community of Thiefneck.  If I could only use one word to describe this piece of property, it would be "peaceful."  

For the past seven years I have been enjoying this property at various family functions, such as the family reunion.  And three years ago, my aunt invited me to use the property for photography sessions.  Since this time, many families have enjoyed creating memories at this property.  One such family is the Higgins Family.

This is my favorite location for photography sessions...hands down!  There are so many different places to take photographs, which provides an array of background choices for my clients.  Recently the future of this land, the future of the families that call this area home, the future of the businesses here, the future of the wildlife in this area, and the future of all the other families that just enjoy this area is at stake.  There is a High-Speed Rail that has hopes of taking this land.  

As with every controversial issue in the world, there are people for and against the issue.  Obviously I am against this high-speed rail.  I SEE the happiness this area creates for families.  I SEE the memories that are created and captured.   I HEAR the laughs as the children play and families joke with each other.  You can read more about this project here, both against the rail and for the rail.  But before you make a decision based on what you read about the issue, take a look at what I SEE and HEAR when I visit this property.  

Just A Few of My Favorite Locations

I think every photographer has their favorite locations - where they know the lighting, know the location, and secret nooks.  I know I certainly do!  

I get asked quite often where my favorite locations are, which prompted me to put together an Exclusive Client Access Area on my website.  This area has all of my favorite locations, as well as a style guide, wall art inspiration, product care, and frequently asked questions.  You might be asking yourself how you can take a look at that page on my website...and the answer is...after securing your session by paying the required 50% deposit, you will be given a password which will grant you access to this exclusive area.  

I primarily work in two counties in Texas - Limestone and McLennan.  I have several favorite locations in both of these counties, but I am going to share my absolute most favorite location in each of these counties with you now.  

Hands down, my favorite location in Limestone County is a piece of property my husband's family owns near Personville and Donie.  There is a covered bridge, a tin barn, a tire swing, and a cabin.  In the spring, the bluebonnets grow so beautifully and are basically undisturbed.  The covered bridge is perfect for both family and individual photographs.  The tire swing is a "must-do" at this location!  It is perfect for getting people of all ages to smile with a genuine smile.  The porch of the cabin is a favorite among clients because it gives the photographs a feeling of "home."  Since this is private family property, I am the only photographer that has access to this location.

My second favorite location is in McLennan County and is located just outside of Crawford, Texas.  This location is called Tonkawa Falls.  Just as the name implies, there is a waterfall which makes a beautiful backdrop for photographs!  There are plenty of other scenic backdrops as well, such as cliffs, a stone stairwell, a dock type structure, a grove of trees, and a stone wall with a building.  

I am always on the lookout for other locations.  Do you know of some that you'd like to share?