Maxwell Family

My middle son, Dylan Cash, and Cadden became best friends last year at school over a series of Pokémon conversations.  For all the money that company spent on marketing, it was a simple act of kindness from a 6 year old (now 7) that convinced me to start buying Pokémon cards for Dylan. For a couple of weeks I noticed DC’s collection of cards getting bigger…but I wasn’t buying them. At first, I assumed he turned on the charm and convinced his Gamma to buy him some but upon inspecting said collection once again I noticed some were a little worn. I asked him about it and he said his best friend, Cadden, was giving him the ones he didn’t need anymore. We went to Walmart that night and Dylan picked out some to give Cadden…and some new ones for himself too. Over a year later the collection is ridiculous, Cadden and Dylan are still swapping cards with one another, and I am broke.

Now, I don’t really know Kelly and Chris (Chris, Max, pretty sure I’ve used both) very well but I can tell the kind of people they are through the few times we’ve seen each other. As a family, I’ve witnessed their kindness, genuine laughter, obvious love, and calm patience. Quiet at first, they make me feel louder than I already am but before I know it they are chattering away like we do here in the south. Kelly and Chris impress me simply because if they think they want to do something…they do it.  One day they mentioned to me they wanted to move. Within a couple of months they did…and renovated the amazing new home. Kelly wanted to start monogramming not too long ago and now owns SOSGifts (check that out below). Max, as a gift, bought Kelly furniture to refinish and even gifted her this photo session…thoughtful and practical. I dig it. What about sweet Liliana? I have a soft spot for this little girl because she is quite literally the spitting image of my son Shane. The funny faces, the laughter, the run, the white blond hair…it is all so familiar so I knew exactly what I had to do to get the picture. Bribe!

Thank you guys for having me take your family pictures! If you guys win the lottery any time soon I hope I get a cut since it was my camera that caused the purchase of so many lottery tickets in such a short time period =)

PS. After checking out their pictures below take a look at Kelly's business, SOS GIFTS. You can like her FACEBOOK page and check out her ETSY storefront. The Sand Spikes are awesome and at that price they are sell in no time!

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?

  

The Vance Family

By this time, a lot of you are pretty familiar with the Vance Family. Brandy was my first client, my first boudoir session, my first bridal session, my first maternity session...well, you get the idea. Flip through the blog and you will find a lot of her and the family in here!

You might already know that Lex is the guitarist for Tobacco Road Band and Brandy was the lead singer for The Audience. Most people who know them would tell you that they are bold and outgoing, urbanized and citified. Which is true...but there is a softer side to the Vance family and I am one of the lucky ones who get to experience it when we hang out...whether it be kayaking down the river, hanging out by the bonfire, or hiking through the woods. You can see from their holiday pictures that the two sides of who they are, while completely different, are perfect mixed together.

Not even gonna lie, they were warning me for a month leading up to this session that they had no expectations for Dru. He is much like his parents: curious, busy, and fast...and they knew the chances of him even looking at the camera were pretty slim. Being the mother of 3 boys, I know a lot about this though and given my photography style, it wasn't a problem at all to plan a session that gave him time to play and capture what we most wanted from the session. It was easy, fun, and at the end of the session I promise you on a stack of cameras he told me, "I love this!" Best photographer ego boost EVER! Brandy and Lex, what can I say? Once again, you guys rocked your session! (Yes, pun intended...cause that's how I roll)

The Bentleys {Family}

When you know, you just know, and I knew before I even met April and Jim, I knew that I was gonna love them. They are the kind of people who always have a kind word to say and find the greatness in everything. They feel most at home in the woods and spent many years as a camp director and horseback director. As we strolled around the land April grew up on we talked a lot about their experiences they had together working at camp and my childhood growing up immersed in the woods. We all agreed we all felt like we were most at home surrounded by trees and dirt. Their session was truly lifestyle, not full of formal posing, and thus reflected exactly who they are. I walked away tons images to deliver to them and it was hard to narrow it down for the blog. I chose my personal favorites in hope you can see exactly what I saw during their session...

I could tell from one morning that as a family they appreciates all the little things in life. They are patient and thoughtful with one another...so much so that even life with twins seemed effortless. Their kindness shines through the lens and the adoration you see on all of their faces is genuine and undirected. I loved seeing how the twins always reached out for a hug from Jim or to brush their hand against April’s face. It’s as if the twins could not believe how amazing their parents are and could not get enough of them. Oh, and the laughter. The twins have the most amazing starts in their belly and rumbles up laughter that is by far the BEST child laughter in the whole wide world. I swear, if they could bottle that sound up and sell it they would be gazillionaires.

April and Jim, I had an amazing time with you during our session and I hope we can do this again over the summer at the beach! You are so blessed to have one another and be the parents of such wonderful children!