Each year, On Angels’ Wings presents the VIP (Very Important Photographer) Award to a select group of volunteer photographers who exemplify our mission and values through extraordinary dedication for the previous year. While our volunteers commit to completing at least four sessions annually, these individuals surpassed expectations—not only in the number of sessions they completed, but in the compassion, travel, flexibility, and mentorship they offered along the way.
We are proud to recognize the following 13 photographers (the most in a year to receive the award) as our 2025 VIPs:
Springfield, Missouri
“Super VIP”: Kayce Newsom – Kayce & Co Photography
Kayce started volunteering with On Angels’ Wings at the end of 2022 and has increasingly become more devoted to the organization’s mission. In fact, she went so far beyond the call in 2025, that we named her our first ever Super VIP! Kayce was almost single-handedly the overnight hospital photographer for both Springfield and Bolivar, answering the call when few others could to make sure that parents received optimally beautiful images of their beloved child. She completed 11 regular sessions, and helped with Santa minis too.
“I’ll never forget the feeling I felt going out to that very first call. As soon as I knew what we were doing here, I knew I would always say yes as often as I could. What OAW is doing is incredible and absolutely life changing – from the families that receive care all the way to each and every volunteer. Once you get it, there is no arguing how deeply important it is. To receive a VIP award is humbling and surprising to me. I think everyone is doing as much as they possibly can and I’m grateful I was able to be in the best place to help so often in 2025.”
Becky Burger – Bloom & Gather Photography
A volunteer since November 2022, she completed an astounding 44 sessions in 2024 alone. Even with a big move at the end of 2025 to our newest service area in Chicago, Becky still completed 10 regular sessions, NICU Halloween minis and Santa minis in Springfield!
“Being involved with On Angels Wings allows me to give back to the communities we serve in ways that go beyond the reach of my own photography business. We meet real life needs on a regular basis for our recipients and step into spaces and stories of grief with tangible ways for these families to grieve or hold onto memories with a child whose life is in danger. I’m deeply honored to receive the VIP award for the third year in a row and don’t take it for granted! I love getting to serve our families and continue relationships with them over the years long after the initial dust has settled because grief doesn’t have an end date. Thank you, OAW!”
Lisa Logan – Little Twigs Photography
Lisa became the first-ever graduate of our Mentorship Program in 2023 and completed 37 sessions in 2024, when she received her first VIP award. For 2025, she still far surpassed the annual minimum, completing 13 regular sessions and participating in NICU Halloween minis and Santa minis.
“I am greatly honored to be an On Angels’ Wings 2025 VIP Award recipient. It’s difficult to find the appropriate words to describe how and why I do this work. For me, there is no ‘reward’ for photographing the loss of a baby. There is no ‘fulfillment’ in photographing these tender and raw moments. It is a painful and tragic experience for these families. I volunteer to share my gift by providing images of a life and dream lost too soon. I do it from my heart as a mom and a 43-year career as a NICU nurse that deeply understands the value and importance of capturing God’s gifts.”
Julie Stoecker – Stoecker Media
Julie has been a volunteer photographer with OAW since 2019 and a VIP Award recipient every year since 2020 (making this her 5th award!). In 2025, she completed 7, did two rounds of Santa minis, and continues to provide free videography for the organization, capturing testimonials and marketing footage.
“Receiving the 2025 VIP Award is a tremendous honor because it represents something I care deeply about—using storytelling to serve families during some of the most meaningful and difficult moments of their lives. Through both photography and film, I have the privilege of getting to know these families, preserving their stories, and helping share their journeys with others. I’m grateful to On Angels’ Wings for trusting me with these moments and for allowing me to use my talents to help raise awareness for the incredible support they provide. This award is a reminder that stories have the power to connect, inspire, and make a lasting impact.”
St. Louis
Jessica Sagerty – Jessica Sagerty Photography
As the first St. Louis graduate of our Mentorship Program, Jessica became a volunteer in April 2024. Despite a myriad of big life events, Jessica completed 5 sessions, conducted NICU Halloween mini sessions, and — at the expressed request of Mercy St. Louis hospital — provided Santa pictures for the entire NICU unit.
“I still can’t believe it. Receiving VIP for a second year in a row has such deep, deep honor to me. Like ahhhh! I love every single one of the families I serve as if my own. Being trusted to document their story is a gift I’ll never ever ever take for granted. Serving the community through On Angels’ Wings is definitely one of the most fulfilling part of my career.”
Julie Wilson – Julia Elaine Photography
Julie became a volunteer photographer for OAW in January of 2025. She’s always the first to respond to a need, even if she can’t make it (communication is a big deal in this work and we’re appreciative!). She completed 7 regular sessions and our Remember minis in 2025.
“Being invited into such intimate and vulnerable seasons of a family’s life to provide visual reminders of their child’s life, love and legacy is a sacred privilege. This is a responsibility that carries deep significance to me. Receiving the 2025 VIP award from an agency dedicated to this mission is especially touching because it is a tangible reminder of the impact we make serving families during some of their most difficult journeys.”
Tara Cory – Tara Lee Photography
Tara became a volunteer photographer for OAW in May of 2025 and by the end of the year completed 6 sessions, doing more in 6 months than most.
“Being involved with On Angels’ Wings has been one of the most meaningful parts of my photography journey. As both a photographer and a mom who understands how precious every moment can be, it is an honor to help families preserve memories during some of life’s most difficult seasons. Receiving the 2025 VIP Award is incredibly humbling, and I’m grateful to be part of an organization that brings comfort, compassion, and lasting memories to so many families. This recognition is a reminder of why this work matters so deeply to me.”
Ariel Ferman – Artistry by Ariel Photography
Ariel just hit a tremendous milestone with On Angels’ Wings: 2025 marked five years volunteering for the organization! She did 6 regular sessions, NICU Halloween minis, and Remember minis for loss families last year.
“Having the honor to be a volunteer photographer for On Angels’ Wings means the absolute world to me. Nothing is more important to me than giving back to our wonderful community. You can just really feel the love and appreciation from every family we work with, for everything that we do. When I received one of the VIP awards for 2025, I couldn’t stop the happy tears from falling. I have been a volunteer photographer for 5 years now and it has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. It’s changed my life and changed who I am as a person in the most positive ways. It is so nice to feel so loved and so appreciated and it means the world to me.”
Oklahoma City
Skylar Morrison – Skylar Morrison Photography
Skylar joined in May 2024, and before the year was over, stepped up as our OKC Area Coordinator. For 2025, not only did she coordinate nearly every hospital need in the OKC area (over 30 of them!), she often fills the gaps to make sure a family doesn’t go without, completing 10 regular sessions for the organization last year.
“Being involved with OAW has been incredibly meaningful to me, because it allows me to support families during some of their hardest days and help honor the memories of their children. Receiving the 2025 VIP Award is truly humbling, and I’m grateful to be recognized by an organization that means so much to me. This award is a reminder of the impact we can make when we come together to serve others with compassion and love.”
Emily Gregg – Emily Gregg Photography
Emily joined the organization in January of 2024. In 2025, she provided a third of all sessions in OKC, which included 13 regular sessions (most of which were in the hospital), and all of the Santa minis.
“Being involved with On Angels’ Wings has been one of the most rewarding parts of my photography journey. Every single one of the families I’ve met through OAW has left a lasting impact on me, and it’s a privilege to provide photos during incredibly difficult seasons of life. Receiving the 2025 VIP Award was completely unexpected and deeply meaningful. I am so, so grateful for the opportunity to serve families alongside such an amazing community of volunteers. It means more to me than I can express with words.”
Katty Johnson – Daisy Images
Katty has volunteer with OAW since 2022, and 2025 was her first year receiving the VIP recognition. Despite a year full of personal challenges, Katty still completed 8 regular sessions and our Remember minis.
“Being involved with OAW means putting something bigger than myself first. If means stepping outside of my comfort zone to provide families with memories they will cherish forever during some of the hardest moments of their lives. Receiving the 2025 VIP Award is incredibly humbling, and I’m honored to be part of an organization that serves families with so much compassion, love, and purpose.”
Springfield, Illinois
Courtney Gray – RG Photography by Courtney
2025 was the first official full year of service in Springfield, Illinois and Courtney came through, completed 5 of the 8 hospital sessions for that community in 2025!
“While I knew the impact of joining On Angels’ Wings would be great, I never knew just how much of a blessing it truly would be. Being able to show up for a family’s hardest days and celebrate the miracles and victories along the way is something I will always hold close to my heart. I am honored to receive the VIP award for 2025 and to be part of the difference On Angels’ Wings makes.”
Minneapolis
Rita Weaver – Rita Weaver Photo
Rita was one of our first photographer in our Minneapolis service area and in 2025 completed nearly a quarter of the sessions in that community. Her schedule required her to take a leave of absence for 2026, but she is still deserving of our recognition and gratitude.
“I certainly don’t do this for the awards. I do this because I want to use my skills to give back to society, and what better way than to help hurting parents heal, even if the healing happens later when we are not around to see it. I truly believe that a hospital’s approach to infant loss is so important to the parents’ mental health. Like partnering with organizations like OAW to provide photos so that parents know, and other can help acknowledge, how important that child is. This work certainly isn’t for everyone, and it’s never easy, but it is SO important.”
