Precious images of George ad his first trip to the Christmas tree farm! Sooooo adorable! Love your mantle, tree and decoration that you add with the fresh garland! Just beautiful! It is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Derkin Home! My love to you all!!!!
As photographers and parents we LOVE capturing images of #babyderkin. George is our constant muse and source of joy, he makes it easy (along with an iPhone) So naturally, we discussed ideas of how we should create an image for each month of his first year (feeling somewhat compelled to do so by the current trend of parents and images FILLING the internet.) Prior to his birth many brilliant and creative ideas were discussed, then George was born and we found one ingredient lacking…time. As it happened Benjamin took several Polaroid images during our first month as a family and thus the tradition began.
Today we are sharing with you the behind the scenes glimpse at the making of a monthly Polaroid. Benjamin got creative and fancy with month number five, using his Graflex 4×5 Speed Graphic camera testing out his New 55 film. Happy Monday and happy five months George!
Lake Au Train in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan – August 2015
Each year we thoroughly enjoy our family trip to the UP! From crossing the Mackinac bridge, to playing cards, lake night campfires, jumping off of bridges, hiking waterfalls and more, the UP is always filled with special memories and time together. After traveling to the UP for years as a child, a couple dating then married, this year we came with our son! George did a GREAT job on the 12 hour car ride and loved all of the fresh air, cool breezes and outdoor time with family. Here is a small collection of images from our trip that Benjamin shot with his Fuji X Pro 1. We look forward to sharing some film shots in the future as well! Thank you mom and dad for another amazing vacation!
-Jennifer
To see more images from our trip check out our instagram accounts: mrsderkworks & derksworks
The newest puppy addition to the family, Daisy (Day-Z) Paul and Stephanie’s ADORABLE golden retriever puppy!
George’s first time in the cool clear water of Lake Superior. He took his time, but soon warmed to the waters.
This week we are exploring the splendor of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula in the age old tradition of summer family vacation. We will returning on Monday, August 24th, hopefully well rested and with a little sun on our skin!
We love our PhotoBooth so much that we enjoy it at our family parties and special events too! This time we brought it out for my mother’s 60th surprise party! My mom is a beautiful, kind and generous mother of 6 as well as a grandma to 6 grandchildren. It was a joy to bring together family and friends to celebrate her special birthday! Happy birthday mom, with love – Jennifer xoxo
Thank you Jennifer and Benjamin for your wonderful gift of this photo booth in addition to the surprise party! They are wonderful! Love them so much! Love you all even more!:-)
Designing and creating a room is fun, building an environment is even more fun and challenging! When creating George’s room we thought about how we wanted the room to feel, what we wanted George to grow up looking at, thinking about and how we could make the most of each investment and piece for future babies and family. the result was better than we could have imaged! Here it is; a peaceful and loving space, calm, fun, useful and filled with personal & intentional expressions of love, art and family! In the few short weeks we have been home, Benjamin, George and I have thoroughly enjoyed our time in his room, even those late night feedings and especially the cuddles & snuggles; we hope you enjoy the space as well.
As we prayed for George in the womb and to this day, we pray that he would grow to be both courageous and kind. Benjamin and I made this piece that hangs above his crib. It was a collaboration, I watercolored the background and Benjamin lettered the words. An expression of love and prayer from mom & dad.
The above piece is the catalyst and culmination of art, family and love for the room. Each image represents an individual memory and aspect of George’s parents, grandparents and great grandparents. My mom drew and painted each image with love and as it hangs above his crib now and in his future rooms, we are and will continue to tell George stories and memories of his heritage of love.
Hello sunshine print (Rifle Paper), a gift from G&G Derkin and a dear nickname for Benjamin as a child.
Handmade, soft, warm blanket from Aunt Courtney, made with love for George!
Love the soft and simple Aden & Anais linens, swaddlers, loveis and blankets.
Investing in a comfortable and beautiful rocker is something I am very glad we did! I have already spent countless hours in this chair and will spend many, many more! This is the West Elm Graham Glider in a custom heathered wool blend.
A little over a week ago on May 3rd, we welcomed our son, George Hall Derkin! God blessed us with our first child and our lives are forever changed as our hearts overflow with love and joy. Surround by family, prayer, lots of love, and many tears of joy we celebrated a smooth labor & delivery. It is our pleasure to share his / our birth story with you, the best way we know how, through pictures.
Words escape me as I try to express the joy, love and blessing I feel as we welcomed our son this Sunday. The love I feel and am overwhelmed by is not only for dear George but also for my amazing Husband. He is already a loving & selfless father, a Godly example of courage and truth, but he also has been and continues to be my rock, my best friend, my love. Benjamin was my constant during pregnancy and even more so in labor. When we arrived home this week from the hospital Benjamin had the most loving array of flowers delivered with the following song. Thank you Benjamin, for letting me be the rose of your heart, You (& George) are the joy of mine!
We’re the best partners this world’s ever seen,
Together as close as can be.
But sometimes it’s hard to find time in between,
To tell you what you mean to me.
You are the rose of my heart,
You are the love of my life.
A flower not fading nor falling apart,
If you’re tired, rest your head on my arm.
Rose of my heart.
When sorrow holds you in its arms of clay,
It’s rain drops that fall from your eyes.
Your smile’s like the sun come to earth for a day,
You brighten my blackest of skies.
You are the rose of my heart,
You are the love of my life.
A flower not fading nor falling apart,
If you’re cold, let my love make you warm.
Rose of my heart.
So hard times or easy times, what do I care,
There’s nothing I’d change if I could.
The tears and the laughter are things that we share,
Two thousand fourteen was dubbed “the year of killing it”, two thousand fifteen will be “the year of nurturing”. A stark contrast, I will admit… allow me to explain.
Last year we had the amazing privilege of being part of thirty-nine weddings! This is way more than we usually take on in a year and was every ounce the challenge that we expected. We kept meeting awesome people…so we took on the work; additionally we photographed some amazing families, graduates, mitzvahs, and businesses. As we found awesome stories to tell we found new ways to express the heart of what was happening in each moment. It was our goal and became our reality to expand Derk’s Works this year by hiring Jennifer full time. This addition gave me the ability to do more shooting and editing, knowing that client communication and business organization was given it’s proper care and attention.. way better than I have ever been able to do on my own (sorry about those late e-mails guys). Jennifer didn’t join the team to just be an office manager though, she is an amazing business mind, growth strategist, and visionary in every sense of the definition. We also had the honor of bringing on two additional associate photographers this year, giving us the ability to connect with even more amazing people this next year.
On a personal level, Jennifer and I bought our very first house, enjoyed our five year anniversary, and each turned thirty! Then, as we thought things might calm down a bit, we found out we were expecting our first child! I can not express how excited I am for this… I’m pretty sure I could cry if I thought hard enough about it right now. To know that the love I have for my wife will be duplicated in a new way as I hold our baby, to know that the way I feel loved and appreciated by her will be replicated for our child, to understand a fraction more of how much God loves us… I know I’ll be a sobby mess at the hospital… and I can’t wait.
Our baby seems like as good of a segue as any to bring us to two thousand fifteen. Life is a scary and daunting thing if you look at it the wrong way. If I get too far ahead of myself, I can ponder what the future might bring and be absolutely terrified. But if I slow down and trust that in this crazy and overwhelming life, God cares about me and wants the best for me, He has a plan, and He wants to use me in the lives and stories of others, then tomorrow morning is always awesome and will always be something to look forward to. It is with this appreciation for new things and beautiful growth that I look forward to two thousand fifteen, to the birth of my child, the growth of my business, to the cherishing of relationships and friendships, to the year of nurturing.
-Benjamin
A Year of Change & Fulfillment
This year was full of moments, memories, challenges and accomplishments that have truly been defining and refining me as an individual, believer, wife, friend, sister, daughter, entreprenuer and now mother. It is simultaneously beautiful and overwhelming to look back over this year. As I reflect at the beginning of 2014, I was on a personal journey of nurturing a healthy & caring relationship with my body emotionally and physically. I officially became addicted to my barre workout, but also discovered a new depth of God’s beauty and love for me, as His daughter and creation made in His image. This journey took me from a constant battle with my body and mind, to loving, enjoying and caring for the way I am eating and living to now, ending this year, allowing my body to be used to grow our new little one.
The change this year was in nearly every area of my life. Benjamin and I started this year thinking about looking for a new house to make our home. In May (and in a matter of literally minutes) we found and made and offer 824 S Remington. We moved in this past July and started building not only our dream kitchen, but the next phase of our life together! Friends and family made our move to Bexley a wonderful experience and as we celebrated our first christmas in our new home we feel so blessed by God’s timing and provision.
When changing your home why not also change your job! This summer I left my position at my corporate job to partner and pursue with passion Derk’s Works with my husband. After many conversations, prayers, financial number crunching and more, we made the leap and I couldn’t be happier!
This Fall we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary and Benjamin and I both turned 30! We wanted to run into this incredible milestones with a big bash…so we went to Paris and London! But before we left we received the most important, surprising, scary and exciting news so far…we are having a BABY….OMG a baby! Paris was filled with sights, adventures, art and delicious food, but it was also filled with long conversations about our child, our new family. It was filled with constant silent prayers of blessing as our baby was being formed, prayers for wisdom and preparing our hearts to welcome and raise this child to know truth, love and courage! Creating these memories with Benjamin and sharing them with our family and friends was truly a highlight and lifelong memory from this year!
Though nearly every arena of my life experienced crazy change there are several constants that surround me and that I cling to today and always. I serve a God who loves me, grants me undeserved grace and provides for my every need, even before I know I need it. I am beyond blessed my the selfless love and hard work of my best friend and husband Benjamin and I am encouraged, prayed for and supported at every turn by my parents, siblings, family and friends.
I am blessed, encouraged, a bit tired, but so excited to enter 2015! Cheers to new adventures, leading with love and enjoying the little moments!
Precious images of George ad his first trip to the Christmas tree farm! Sooooo adorable! Love your mantle, tree and decoration that you add with the fresh garland! Just beautiful! It is definitely beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Derkin Home! My love to you all!!!!