hello there! i'm summer
I love meeting new people and bonding with other mommies over the joys and complexities of motherhood and family life. I am always looking to connect with others, whether it's through photography, our local church, or out and about! After teaching high school Spanish and Home Economics for nearly a decade, I feel so lucky to not only be able to stay home with my own children but also to get to have a creative outlet through photography. While neither of my jobs (as a homeschool mommy or as a photographer) is always easy, I absolutely love them and can’t imagine doing anything else.
My favorite thing in the world is to snuggle sleeping babies... particularly my own, but any baby will do! Feeling their soft, fuzzy heads against my cheek and their bellies swelling and deflating on my chest is THE best feeling! I have five "babies" of my own--an independent, outgoing, creative fifteen-year-old girl, a silly, book worm eleven-year-old girl, a charming, sweetheart of a seven-year-old boy, a spunky, goofball five year old boy, and our latest addition--an attention demanding toddler boy born May, 2021. They are my whole world and my personal models to boot! Being their mommy is my number one priority!
I am a full-time mama, wife, and homeschool teacher and a part-time photographer. Because each photo session requires countless hours of work before, during, and after, session availability is extremely limited to ensure the important people in my life get the attention they deserve. I currently book several months in advance but am able to occasionally squeeze in a last-minute session so please don't hesitate to contact me for session availability.
I look forward to meeting you and your little one!
XOXO,
Summer
testimonials
“Summer is the most amazing photographer!!! Her photos are so incredibly artistic, professional and just picture perfect!! She is a natural at making kids feel comfortable in front of the camera too! She produces great photos...and makes the session fun and relaxed!”
Katherine~Victoria’s Mom
“I can't stress enough how wonderful it was working with Summer of Bella Rose Portraits! I looked at several other photography studios who specialized in children's photography, but ultimately chose Bella Rose because of her gorgeous portfolio. Summer was very responsive and helpful from start to finish. She was so fun to work with and made my one year old (and myself) feel very comfortable during the entire process. She was patient and knew exactly what to do to get my little one to pose and smile. She has an extensive array of backdrops, props, and outfits on hand to style a beautiful photo session. I'm very happy with the variety of looks we ended up with! Our pictures turned out amazing and I HIGHLY recommend Bella Rose Portraits to anyone with children/babies."
Kari~Naomi's Mom
“Summer did an awesome job doing my son's one-year photo shoot. She was extremely patient with him considering he was wiggly and did not want to sit still. Summer is very creative and had great ideas for the shoot. She was able to capture my son's personality perfectly. Summer is flexible and was able to do our shoot on short notice. The pictures turned out amazing! Everyone loved them.”
Darcie~Ian’s Mom
"I searched high and low for an exceptional newborn photographer. I found everything that I was looking for and more in Summer...She was completely gracious and professional throughout. She is clearly amazing at what she does...I enjoy looking at [the photos] as much today as I did in her studio (the reveal actually brought me to tears)."
Quanda~Logan's Mom
“Summer has a fantastic studio with amazing props/accessories. She communicated in detail about our newborn session prior to our daughter being born and thoroughly planned for it. Her online contract and payment system were professional and convenient. During the session, Summer was a natural with our daughter (it was obvious she has plenty of experience with newborns). She was patient and determined to get the perfect shots, even when our daughter woke up mid pose or began to fuss. The photos were absolutely breathtaking and she had them edited in a week's time!"
Amanda~Charlotte's Mom
“Summer captured the magic of having a newborn. Her photos are remarkable. In fact, they made my 94-year-old grandmother cry when she saw them! I really appreciated the time she took to meet with my husband and I and to discuss the style of the photos, including the colors, backgrounds and overall feel. She also incorporated our 7-year-old son in the photo shoot and the photos of the boys together turned out incredible. I find myself looking at our photos every day. Thank you, Summer for creating artwork we will love forever!"
Cheryl~Jackson's Mom
“LOVE LOVE LOVE How the pictures came out. She was great with our newborn and she took her time to get the best shots. She captured exactly what we wanted. Her set ups are adorable...Well worth the money!"
Janise~TJ's Mom
“Summer was wonderful with my baby, getting him calmed down so easily whenever he fussed that I asked for tips after the photo session! She handled my son with such care that it was obvious she has a special touch with babies. She captured priceless moments and poses of our son and the props and backdrops were very cute and added a personal touch.”
Leah~Maximus’s Mom
“Summer did an amazing job with my son. She was so patient with him and paid attention to every small detail, which made the pictures even more special.”
Amanda~Maxton’s Mom