Clarity, Connection, and Family Stories in Lake Como, Italy
Traveling to Italy with a group of thoughtful, creative women was the beginning of a deeper shift I’ve been craving.
I recently had the privilege of joining the Expand & Renew retreat in Lake Como, a gathering of women entrepreneurs led by a dear friend and marketing strategist I’ve trusted to help shape my own business. I was there to support the retreat through photography, capturing the experience and the intentional, slow-paced growth that unfolded for each of us.
But I also walked away with something deeply personal, a reminder of what matters most in my work and my life.
Throughout the retreat, we visited vineyards, connected with family-run businesses, and witnessed what aligned growth really looks like. One story that has stayed with me: a winemaker carefully pruning a perfectly healthy branch. Not because it was failing, but because it was taking energy from what mattered more. That single act crystallized what this season of growth looks like for so many of us, both in business and in family life.
I realized that sometimes it’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what actually aligns.
This is true in the way I serve families through photography, too.
I’ve always believed in the power of documenting the real, evolving story of family. Not just the highlight reel. Not just the milestones. The legacy we are quietly building every day. Being in Italy gave me the opportunity to photograph a multi-generational family session on a beautiful family farm in Lake Como. It felt deeply aligned with my heart’s work. These are the stories I am most passionate about telling, where roots and growth meet, where family history and present-day connection come together.
And honestly, it reminded me why I do what I do.
When we pause long enough to create space, for clarity, for presence, for storytelling, we are able to see the bigger picture of what we are building, both in business and at home.
Lessons I’ve Brought Home:
Growth doesn’t always mean adding more. Sometimes it’s about pruning what no longer serves.
Legacy isn’t built in the rush. It’s shaped in the slow, intentional moments we choose to preserve.
The most meaningful stories are often the ones unfolding right in front of us, if we are paying attention.
I will be sharing more from that Lake Como family photo session soon. It beautifully embodies the heart of what I offer: intentional, story-driven family photography that honors where you have been, where you are, and where you are going.
If you are feeling the pull to slow down, to document your family story with more purpose, or to make space for what truly matters, I would love to walk that path with you.
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