Chris & Jess… And a Love Affaire

A good friend of mine is venturing into the world of event planning and with it comes stylizing!! Andie from Love Affaire Events and I teamed up for this adorable engagement shoot… Vintage hankies, an antique record player, records, sherbet, a guitar… Oh my!:)

Chris & Jess… You guys are absolutely adorable!!:)

John & Nichole… Married

All in B&W… my dream.:)

And because this one shot WOULD NOT be the same without color…

And they lived happily ever after…:)

Purpose…

Yesterday I announced that I had made a GIANT step for my photography business. I’m sure so many were wondering what big thing I was doing next, but the truth is it’s not at all what you would think. The giant step I took yesterday was to turn away a wedding for the first time. I know I know, that doesn’t seem that big – but in reality it is. It’s big because it’s not the last time it is going to happen. A few weeks ago I made the decision to no longer shoot weddings. It’s not because I don’t love it, because I DO. I love the clients, the love, the details, the magic of it all. But, at the end of the day my Saturday is gone but more importantly my job is not done. Only a small portion of my job is done – the remainder lies ahead when I return home. As most of you know I have 3 beautiful babies… Kylie is 6, Katie is 3, and Jared will be 2 next month. As I sat in my office editing away for days … My kids come in and out of my office begging me to play, begging me to cuddle with them, begging me to just BE with them. My heart was breaking. I am quite the extremist and at first I felt like I was being led to let go of the business completely. But after ALOT of thought – I decided I just needed to downsize. It’s HILARIOUS because when I first was re-branding I thought all I would do was weddings… no portraits. haha… I laugh at myself now.:)

So I just want to say THANK YOU to every single Bride & Groom…. Father & Mother and Family I’ve met along this journey. I have been blessed to capture the love and wonder of that magical day.

And because I do not like to post here without pictures… Here are my babies!:)

Kylie… The prissy 6 year old princess. <3

Katie… The dainty little 3 year old.

And last but certainly not least Jared… The I can’t sit still, for 2 seconds almost 2 year old.:)

Baby Maddox…Newborn

This little guy weighed a little over 5lbs when I came to photograph him!! I remember looking at him in wonderment just amazed with how small he was. I say this every time I photograph a newborn, but I really could have photographed and held him all day long. There is just something about a newborn that is so magical and amazing. Staring at their tiny fingers… toes… ears… nose, touching their soft hair… soft skin. The newness. It’s just such an amazing time. I am SO blessed to be able to capture this time of life for my clients. Thank you Jeremy & Jess for entrusting these special moments with me.

Jesse & Laura… Anniversary!

These two came ALL the way from JAPAN just to see me! Okay okay, maybe not just to see me – they were actually in town for Laura’s sister’s wedding! But it was just SO cool to get to spend some time with these two. Laura’s father was in the Air Force, and she married a handsome pilot in the Air Force, Jesse!! They are just a smashing couple if you ask me! They are celebrating 5 years of marriage this year!!

 We started our session at the Air Force memorial, sat in some grass and read The Cat in the Hat! They spent some time in a children’s book store reading this book on their first date!! Then we just kind of drove around until we found this parking lot – seemed like it was nothing, but it had a lot of potential… We played with chalk! We then headed to Maggie Moos – where they also went on their FIRST DATE!! And THEN we went up to DC and did a special stunt! haha:)We did SO much stuff and I wish I could share the entire session – but I had to narrow it down…  So enjoy my absolute favorites!

Want to celebrate your anniversary with pictures?! Send me a message!:)