Charleston quickly won my heart with its pastel houses, Spanish moss, and cobblestone streets, and I loved getting to meet Ashley, Matt, and their three girls at Waterfront Park. I was amazed that this downtown park was just steps from the bustling city life as well as the ocean. It had incredible views of the […]

Motherhood can be beautiful, messy, exhausting, funny, and most of all worth it! With Mother’s Day in a couple weeks, I can’t think of a better time to celebrate and honor all the amazing, strong mamas out there. And so, I’m sharing 35 Photos of mothers that have inspired me and allowed me the privilege […]

Julia and Caleb are one of those couples that you immediately see that they are meant to be together. They first met at church, where he is the music pastor, when she wanted to join the choir. As soon as Caleb saw her, he knew that he wanted to get to know her more. He […]

Senior year is such an exciting and busy time – final projects and papers, college applications, and school events! It was so fun getting to know Sarah more during her Senior Session! She is musical and has been involved theater performances since she was younger, which is incredible. And just as amazing is that she […]

This week I’m celebrating 2 years since I launched Karen Schanely Photography! It has been such an honor and privilege to be invited into so many wonderful homes and families to capture such special moments! The past two years have also taught be SO much more than I could have imagined. Here are just 5 […]

This newborn session with SIX boys was such a fun way to start my Newborn Sessions of 2019! Because it’s definitely a party with a bunch of brothers! It was so much fun to watch them go from wrestling and tickling with Dad to calmly holding and kissing their new baby brother. Baby Judah will […]

The last days of summer are always some of the best – wildflowers making their last blooms, golden sunlight filtering through the trees, and cheeks warm and rosy from exploring outdoors. This sweet family loves to be outside – hiking and biking, and I loved soaking up the sun and playing in the park with […]

With the kids now both in school, I’m getting more time to go through our summer pictures and adventures. One of the highlights of our summer was spending a week in Florida on Anna Maria Island. This tiny little island stole a piece of my heart. The shops and restaurants are super cute, and we […]

My kids are now at the age where they are starting to feel more comfortable in water and even starting to swim. This summer, it has been so fun seeing their courage and excitement grow as they move from splashing around in the shallow area to swimming underwater in the deeper areas. I decided to […]

We had a slow start to spring here in Dayton, Ohio, but it was worth the wait when the flowers and trees started to bloom. And the rows and rows of apple blossoms at Stevens Bakery & Orchard in Springfield, Ohio were absolutely beautiful and the perfect setting for a photo session. The Anthonys had […]