Hi, I'm Cheryl.  Glad you stopped in to meet me!  Let me tell you a little bit about my story.  I am a teacher, a wife and mother to three daughters (grandmother to one granddaughter!), and a lover of all things related to photography. 

My first passion is teaching.  I have been teaching in the same school system that I attended throughout my childhood, Oregon-Davis.  I've never found anything as rewarding as working with my little ones and watching them grow. Their successes are my successes, their failures are my failures.  By the end of our time together, we look back at how much they have learned and the expressions when they realize how smart they are now is absolutely heartwarming!

I have been married to my husband, Terry, for over 30 years.  We have three daughters, Aubrey, Gabrielle, and Alexandria (Lexi).  Just last year, Aubrey and her husband, Ben, blessed us with our first grandchild, Korbynn; she is my sunshine.  She has since been the center of our universe and the best little model I could ask for.  We've lived our entire life here in Starke County and love that we have always been surrounded by such amazing people.  

Photography has always been a hobby of mine.  I think it began when the girls were young and I wanted to be sure to catch all those moments to hold on to since they slip away so fast.  With the birth of Korbynn, I found my photography hobby quickly turning into a new passion. I have been photographing her every move (everyone thinks I'm crazy) and I feel I've become an even better photographer.  I know what I want in a image  as a parent/grandparent and I know what I want in a image as a artist. With all of my children out of the house, I finally have the time to really pursue my photography passion, so begins the journey.  I have racked up hours upon hours of studying this amazing profession.  I've attended many workshops and have studied countless hours in order to prepare and educate myself.  And let's not forget about practicing, and practicing, and practicing!!!  

I have loved capturing the moments of my family that most people don't get to see.  I've been able to essentially 'stop time' so we could cherish them again and again. Some of my favorite memories I see in photos...myself at about age 4 sitting in a lawn chair staring up at my dad with my leg crossed just like him, my mother throwing her head back with laughter, and my grandmother's hand on top of a purple balloon at my wedding.  These memories have the power to wrap themselves around you and give you a feeling that all is right in the world.  My very favorite childhood photo is one of me sitting in my mother's lap drifting off to sleep.  I'm betting she was singing, " You Are My Sunshine," as she always did when she sang me to sleep, as I always did when I sang my daughters to sleep, and now, just as my daughter sings her daughter to sleep.

And thus was born, My Only Sunshine, Photos by Cheryl Minix.

It would be my pleasure and an honor to be able to capture your special moments.