Olivia

Henry

Maury

I must confess: my first love is taking pictures outdoors. I love to be outside, be with people and to take pictures...as formerly addressed on this blog, the combination feels too good to be true. However, it is safe to say that the winter does not offer Alabama's prettiest months (unless you prefer brown, gray, and still more brown and gray). So when Corey proposed that we start doing these indoor in-home shoots, I will confess I had mixed feelings (this would be my typical overanalytic reaction to most things in life). But we had a lot of people who wanted pictures made and it was obvious that this would be a great way to do that in the winter as well as a way to figure out new ways to be creative and offer something different. My third blog confession of the day is this: I love what we have been able to capture in the indoor studio shoots! In honor of them and as a special Friday bonus, I am posting not 1, not 2 but 3 slideshows in this post. As always, feel free to leave a comment and make a photographer's day!

one more...

Here is another one of Jessica and Corey that I love. Her smile just lights up the whole picture!

anniversaries and whatnot

I was so excited when Jessica emailed me last month about her upcoming wedding. She was in a Bible study with Corey back in the day and though we never knew each other well, she is one of those really kind, easy to like kinds of girls. Plus I have to tell you that she wrote me one of the nicest letters I have ever received after she and a friend drove to Memphis for our wedding. It was just one of those things that she didn't have to do but that meant so much to me. I have never forgotten it! What makes the connection even funnier/stranger/cooler is that she is also marrying a boy named Corey and they are marrying on the same day that we did--June 7!
Though hopefully you can't tell from the pictures, this was a pretty cold day last week when we did this engagement shoot. I really love the color in the pictures but here are a couple of others I played around with.

Promise of the week: post something to the blog everyday! I'm sorry that I have not posted all week but I really wanted to leave those pictures up of Lorie. I have a lot to post that I am excited about so stay tuned this week.

For now, here are some of my favorite friends, the Ryans. I have known Kyle and Libby since my junior year of high school when they were Young Life leaders (and just friends). Once I was in college with them, they became dear friends who invested in my life as well as helped me have a lot of fun. I was so excited when they finally (and trust me on this one...finally) got together, engaged and then married. I wish I could figure out a way to post the picture of Corey and me at their wedding because it is pretty funny. I still can't believe that Libby and Kyle drove here from Florida and I got to take pictures of their son, Tucker, who may officially be the cutest little boy in the world. Just spending time with them was one of the best things that happened all fall.

things that matter...

so my friend lisa calls me one day a few weeks ago and tells me that she knows a family that we need to meet and photograph. she insists that we will be changed by them and by the story that God is writing on their lives.

you will probably not believe this story unless you read it for yourself. it is a hard story to hear and yet it is the one that lorie, daryl and their precious boys are living these days. i am still in awe of the fact that we were given the high privilege of photographing them. they have approached this chapter with courage, grace, strength, and great vulnerability. there is also more joy and laughter in their home than the world would ever consider possible in the face of such a journey. i should also tell you that there is also an unfathomable amount of HOPE in this story. i will never forget the testimony that they shared with us of what God has done and is doing. here is a link to their story. for those that pray, i would ask that you would pray for lorie and her family.

happy valentine's day...

More cruise/Mexico pictures to come but I thought I'd switch gears a little and post a session of cute little Ryan. I cannot believe how much he is changing! He is such a big boy in these pictures...I LOVE this whole outfit with the jeans and shoes and sweater. We did these pictures in downtown Helena and as usual, Ryan was totally easy and go with the flow. He is a boy who loves his Cheerios, I do have to say.

way down here...

I like this picture of us in Mexico. If I didn't have these pictures to prove it, I might not believe we were even there.

on location...

Quick blog update...we are back and trying to get caught up. We got home a little later than expected and are also dealing with a couple of unexpected things as well. Emails and phone calls are being returned as quickly as possible! We had a wonderful time and took about a gazillion pictures. We highly recommend shooting a wedding on a cruise ship though unlike us, you may want to wait until after the safety drill.

I realize that it has been forever since I've posted a wedding. As we are on the eve of tomorrow's cruise wedding (our second wedding this week!), I thought it would be fitting to leave you with these. Our fall was filled with some truly beautiful wedding days and I am looking forward to posting more of them in the next few weeks. For now, meet Carrie and Zac. They were a picture perfect couple marrying on the most idyllic of October days. Getting to know them and see their love for one another was such a gift to Corey and me!

welcome...

Babies, babies, babies! I have been photographing so many newborns in the last couple of weeks. And they have all been BOYS! Here is one incredibly sweet family.

You may recognize big sister Libby from previous posts. She is always a joy to photograph because she herself is full of so much joy and light. Seeing her with her baby brother was no different!

Meet Clark. I hope you will be seeing more of him as he grows!