09/10/2026
š» 15 YEARS OF SUNFLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY! š»
Today marks 15 years of Sunflower Photography, and I thought Iād share a little bit about how it all started and how Iāve āgrownā into what I am today. (Pun absolutely intended! lol
Nineteen years ago, my husband and I took a BIG leap of faith and moved our little family to Indiana with NO jobs!! lol Yupā¦ NOTHING! We were in a season where we knew we needed a change. Raising two kids isnāt cheap, and I was a stay-at-home mom, so we prayed about it and asked God for some pretty clear signs that this was our next move! Then a house less than a mile from my husbandās entire family became availableā¦ so we bought it!! (that was scary) Now what?!! We listed our house in Ohio, and within ONE WEEK we had multiple offers AND received more than asking price! lol I meanā¦ Iām pretty sure that was a pretty clear sign!! So, off to Indiana we went! Greg quickly found a job, but I still wanted to help financially however I could. One day I was reading the newspaper (yes, an actual newspaper!) and saw a job posting for Cradle Memories, a newborn photography company that photographed babies at our local hospital, Dearborn County Hospital. While I was in college, I had basically been the campus student photographer, so I appliedā¦ and got the job! I worked 3ā4 days a week for 1ā3 hours at a time. It was just enough to get me out of the house, do something I loved, and make a little grocery money! About three years later, Cradle Memories went out of business, leaving all those sweet newborns at DCH without a photographer. So Greg and I talked about it. The amazing nurses encouraged me to do it. And just like thatā¦
š» SUNFLOWER PHOTOGRAPHY LLC WAS BORN! š»
And thereās actually a little more behind the name than just the fact that I LOVE sunflowers!š»Sunflowers are drawn to the light, and that reminded me of John 8:12:
āI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.ā
I wanted my business to be a reflection of that light. My hope has always been that Sunflower Photography would be more than just taking pretty pictures. I wanted it to be a little piece of my faith, a way to serve people, encourage them, and hopefully bring a little light into their lives. It started with newborns, then I began photographing the nursesā families, their weddings, seniors, familiesā¦ and before I knew it, word was spreading and Sunflower was growing FAST! But through all of it, Iāve always tried to use this gift as my ministry! If youāve been my client, youāve been prayed for before your session! If you delivered a baby at DCH between 2011ā2018, your sweet baby was prayed for!
My goal has NEVER been to line my pockets. (Just ask my business managerā¦ also known as my husband!) haha My goal has always been to provide quality, affordable memories. I truly believe everyone deserves beautiful photographs, regardless of how much money is sitting in their bank account. And along the way, I have had the incredible privilege of meeting some of the most AMAZING people!! Iāve captured happy stories. Iāve captured heartbreaking stories. Iāve photographed beginnings, milestones, celebrationsā¦ and some incredibly difficult goodbyes. Not every birth story has a happy ending, and I was honored to be trusted to capture those moments, too. Those are experiences that will stay with me forever! Iāve had the privilege of capturing some of your firstsā¦ and some of your lasts with the people you love. Iāve watched babies grow into seniors, families grow, and generations come together in front of my camera! And every single time, I am reminded of what a blessing this job truly is!!
So today, on 15 years of Sunflower Photography, I just want to sayā¦THANK YOU. š»
Thank you for trusting me with your memories. Thank you for inviting me into some of the most important moments of your lives. Thank you for your love, your support, your referrals, and your loyalty over the years! It means more to me than you will ever know!! I am one very blessed young lady, and I donāt take a single bit of this for granted!
Hereās to 15 years of Sunflower Photographyā¦ and hopefully MANY more years of growing, laughing, praying, and capturing your memories! š»Shannonšø
**Share a favorite photo in the comments for FUN**š
