Heather & Matt {Engagement}

Matt and Heather are personally connected to me in two ways, though we have never met before they booked their wedding with me last year. One of Heather’s best friend’s happens to be one of my childhood best friends who I lost contact with once we graduated high school. In fact, Heather brought Trinity along for the booking consultation and it was great to see her and swap stories about our family and life today. Matt and my husband were great friends for years as well and Lord knows these two would be busy for hours telling stories from those days! Being that I am a nice person I am going to let all those stories from our past remain in the past here on the blog, ha!

The generous amount of rain this spring had already rescheduled Heather and Matt’s engagement session twice before we finally met. Although it was raining the day we met, we weren't postponing again and agreed on extending an hour of their wedding day coverage in exchange for a 15 minute e-session outside before the rain chased us to our cars again. Lucky for me, these guys are pretty great at being comfortable with one another and I just stood back letting them play out the scenes as I directed them from afar. Matt, like most guys, was a little weary at first about what an engagement session was all about but he caught on quickly to what he had to do to get the shots that would make Heather light up with happiness.

I can’t wait to share Heather and Matt’s story with you on the blog after their wedding at Golden Eagle in May. You can LIKE my Facebook page HERE to be notified when their wedding blog will be posted! 

Jackson {6 Months}

Jackson is a local internet sensation this week with his hilarious expressions...I couldn't believe all the comments he got for them on my business Facebook page! I think his fancy hair and big ole blue eyes have something to do with it too though. We had  blast during his session and I couldn't believe how he is up and moving around so great these days. Before his parents know it, he will be walking around getting into everything! You can see his past sessions here & here!

Jessica & Will {Engagement}

Growing up, there was nothing better than waking up to a really dark and gloomy thunderstorm…but now? Well, nothing is worse than writing the “I am not cancelling your session…yet…but it isn't looking too good” email that I know every client dreads on the day of their photo session! Lucky for Jessica and Will, one hour after the dreaded bad email was sent, the skies cleared and the sun graced us with warmth, light, and the go ahead on shooting their engagement session. 

What I love most about Jessica is the way she laughs…but not just that, I love that she laughs at pretty much everything! With a vibrant spark for life, Jessica knows exactly what she wants and plans for success. Most come naturally to her since she is a teacher here in Leon County…I can imagine that her classroom is efficient and full of fun! At our consultation, we talked about what to wear and locations for her engagement session and she took the ideas and ran with them. I loved how the final product was perfect: classic and colorful!

Will, quiet and observant, knows exactly what to say to make Jessica glow with happiness and love.  Willing to do whatever takes to get the job done, he stepped up his game and rocked it with Jessica for their engagement session. Like most guys, this wasn't his thing, but knowing how much it meant to his finance he was going to have a great time with it because that’s what you do when you're in love!

Jessica & Will, I am so happy for you both and know that you guys will keep laughing together for the rest of your life! Your summer wedding at Honey Lake Plantation is going to be absolutely amazing and I cannot wait to be there to document the day from start to finish for you guys.

Bailey & Kevin {Couples}

I can admit that I was weary to schedule another session during the week of Christmas since I had all three boys at home with me, 2 newborn sessions, and a wedding to photograph also. However, it was Bailey’s heartfelt email requesting a last minute session that sealed the deal and do whatever it took to schedule a session for her and her husband.

While they met in high school, Bailey and Kevin were not close friends or even hung out that much. Early on in high school, Kevin opted to return to home schooling where he graduated early at 16. It was not until after Bailey's own graduation that they met again. Bailey was waitressing at Gordo’s when Kevin and some friends were seated in her section. While his face was familiar she could not quite place who he was…but Kevin knew who she was right away. After what was undoubtedly a romantic courtship, Kevin continued on with his plans to leave for Virginia where he was attending Tech School for the Air Force. Like so many military men have done before him, it was in a letter that Kevin asked for Bailey’s hand in marriage. This past November, Bailey’s mom drove her to Virginia where Bailey and Kevin were married by the justice of peace in a small intimate wedding. After they were married, Bailey returned home to wait for his word of when he too would be home for Christmas. A week before Christmas Day, she typed out her email to me and that was when I knew I would take the wedding pictures they never had. After my own wedding story, how could I ever say no?

You can see from their session they are just perfect for one another. Mature beyond their years, they see the world in a different way than most. Full of laughter they are playful and sweet but also respectful and intuitive to what the other needs. Instead of posing we talked, I told them to talk, encouraged them to act as if I was not even there...and well, you can look for yourself and see how that plan worked out!

Two days after our session, Bailey texted me and asked me how long her album would be available for before it expired...because Kevin was given his orders and they are relocating to Germany this weekend. You read that right. As of January 4, 2014 at exactly 14:33, Kevin and Bailey will fly to Germany where Kevin is stationed indefinitely. 

This is it folks. Just another story behind why I love being a photographer. I get to tell the story you never want to forget. I get to see a love that is so fearless and bold it makes you feel like part of the story and not just a bystander. I watch sacrifice and devotion unfold effortlessly in what can at times feel like a selfish world otherwise. My job, my work, is exactly what foundation my family strives to build our own lives on…something so amazing that if I did not see it for myself I would question if it ever really happened. 

*The answer to Bailey’s question about her album expiring was that I would have them ready to view and download before they stepped on a plane and leave their album open for as long as they needed me to...it's the least I could do for his service and their sacrifice.

    

Oh, and yes, she is pretty much Reese Witherspoons twin sister. Did I forget to mention that?