Pine And Ivy Photography

10/23/2026

To whom it may concern,

Today marks 14 years since my mom passed. I lost both of my parents before I turned 31.
Two moments in time that feel so far away, yet somehow still feel like yesterday.

I was a young mom who knew she had to keep going. So I did. I buried emotions I didn’t know how to process, carried fears I rarely spoke about, and tried to be the best mother, wife, and person I could be.

I was surrounded by love, yet often felt completely alone.

Losing my parents so young changed the way I see the world. I questioned God, faith, hope, and everything I thought I understood. I feared being alone, losing someone else, and the possibility of another moment that could change my life forever.

And if I’m honest, some of those fears are still here.

At 44, I still struggle with quiet. I still fear loss. I still wonder if those parts of me will ever fully heal.

But something is changing.

My girls are growing up, becoming independent, and building lives of their own. After years of pushing forward and pouring so much of myself into everyone else, I finally feel like I can breathe again.

There is something bittersweet about reaching this stage of life without your parents here to witness it. I wish they could see the woman I’ve become, the girls I’ve raised, and the life we’ve built.

I’ve spent so many years learning how to survive what happened to me. Maybe this next chapter is about learning how to live a little more freely.

To anyone reading this, be gentle with people. You never truly know what someone is carrying beneath the surface. Make the phone call. Take the picture. Say what you feel while you still have the chance. Don’t assume there will always be more time.

And if you’ve experienced loss, please know that you’re allowed to have a life beyond your grief. You’re allowed to laugh without guilt, feel joy without fear, and look forward to what’s still ahead.

You can miss the people who are gone and still love the life you have.

I’m giving myself permission to do more than just push through life.

I’m giving myself permission to actually live it. 🤎

Love,
Steph

10/18/2026

𝓜𝔂 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓵𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓵𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝓷 💙

10/09/2026

Family photos, but make them feel like a whole vibe. 🤎

Mom + her two favorite humans, making family photos look a little less like family photos.

The kind of session that feels like them — and that’s always the goal. jennyl008

10/02/2026

I had the best time with Marcus + Amy capturing their vows. 🤍

These two are just perfect for each other. You can see how much they genuinely cherish their time together, the way they look at each other, laugh together, and just enjoy being around one another.

And not to mention… they are FUNNY. The kind of couple that makes you feel like you’ve known them forever.

It was such a beautiful day to witness and document, and I’m so grateful I got to be there to capture these moments for them. 🥂✨

Congratulations, Marcus + Amy. Here’s to a lifetime of choosing each other, laughing together, and making the best memories. 🤍

07/07/2026

She won’t remember the way you rocked her to sleep.

He won’t remember the way your fingers traced the curls on his head.

They won’t remember how your heartbeat was the safest place they knew.

But one day, they’ll have these photographs.

Proof that they were loved before they could understand love.
Proof that home wasn’t a place—it was you.

The days may feel long, but childhood is heartbreakingly short. The tiny hands, sleepy cuddles, giggles, and kisses on your cheek become treasured memories before you even realize they’re changing.

Don’t wait until they’re older. Let them grow up with photographs that tell the story of where it all began.

I’d be honored to preserve this chapter for your family. 🤍

✨ Message me to book your motherhood session.

Location: Ranch Rentals - by HOMESTEAD

Styling: Styled by HOMESTEAD

Model: Cailey Geile

06/30/2026

Some souls don’t fall in love.
They find their way home. 🤍

In the hush of the forest,
where rivers carry yesterday away,
two hearts learn the language of forever.

Not through grand gestures—
but in fingertips that linger,
in rain-soaked kisses,
in foreheads pressed together as if the world has gone still.

Love isn’t always fireworks.
Sometimes it’s the quiet certainty
of knowing you’ve found the place
where your heart can finally rest.

Here’s to the dream beginning…
and every beautiful chapter that follows. 🤍

If these images made you feel something, imagine having your own story told this way. I’d love to create it with you.

✨ Save this for the day you find your forever—or tag the person who already feels like home.

🍃Creative concept by Mel Cole | South Florida Photographer

06/25/2026

Some love is loud.

And then there’s the kind that barely whispers…
the hand that instinctively reaches for yours,
the space between breaths,
the way they look at you when they think no one is watching.

That’s the story I’m always searching for.

Not perfectly posed.
Not forced smiles.

Just two souls existing together in a way that feels honest.

The wind.
The cliffs.
The silence.
The movement.

Those are the moments that become heirlooms.

What’s one place that feels like your relationship?
The mountains? The ocean? A quiet coffee shop? Tell me below. 🤍

Creative concept by my talented friend Mel Cole | South Florida Photographer
Models Mo + Nathan | Oregon Model Couple

06/12/2026

I’m incredibly honored to be featured in Voyage Dallas Magazine and to have the opportunity to share a little of my story and the heart behind Pine & Ivy Photography.

What started as a passion for capturing genuine connection has grown into something so much bigger than I ever imagined. I’m grateful for every family, senior, and client who has trusted me to preserve their memories along the way.

Thank you to Voyage Dallas for the feature and for supporting small business owners and creatives in our community. 🤍🤍🤍

Today we’d like to introduce you to Stephanie Tocheniuk. Hi Stephanie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?I created Pine And Ivy Photography b...

06/10/2026

Not every photo has to be smiling at the camera.
Sometimes it’s about creating something that feels like you.

A little wild. A little soft. A little untamed.

The best sessions happen when you stop worrying about posing and start settling into the moment.

The magic isn’t in the pose—it’s in the connection, the light, and the feeling you leave with when the session is over. 🤍

Location:

Styling:

Model:

Dress: Reclamation

Dress Rentals:

06/08/2026

𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒔 & 𝑺𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒕𝒔! 🌼