a simple thank you!

Today is the last day of 2015 - whew!  I can't believe it.  Growing up I always heard, "time flies as you get older".  Boy, do I believe it too!  I've also heard before that what you are doing on January 1st is what you will be doing for the whole year.  In that case, this year for me has been so very true to that statement.  On January 1st, 2015, I spent my day cleaning, watching a Little Women (seriously - addicted to that show now, ha!) marathon, & photographing a little girls birthday party!  I've been hooked to watching Little Women ever since (ha!), but more importantly I have dove into photography more this year.  I have been so honored to be asked by so many people this year & very blessed.

In 2015, I photographed countless families, two birthday parties, newborns, engagement sessions, two weddings (eeeek!), & hosted a day of mini sessions.  Each session I learned something, gained more knowledge on what I would or wouldn't want to do, but most of all - I grew.  I haven't been doing this that long (I know I have a ways to go & more to learn), but it is awesome for me to look back on the first sessions I did & compare them to now.  

So to everyone that allowed me to stand behind the camera while you smiled your pretty little smiles in front of it, THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  THANK YOU!  Without you I wouldn't be where I am right now.  Without you I wouldn't be able to have the opportunity to use my creativity on a larger spectrum.  Without you I wouldn't have been able to become more confident in what I am doing.  Without you I wouldn't have been able to grow this year!  

In 2016, I already have family sessions scheduled & two weddings booked!  I absolutely can not wait to see what else God & 2016 have in store for me & my little business!

via

Christmas Mini's: Part Two!

Now onto part two... :)

I want to thank each and everyone of you that made my first mini session day a SUCCESS!  I had so much fun, that I can see myself doing this again!

Christmas Mini's: Part One!

Back in November, I offered a half day of 30 minute mini sessions for Christmas pictures.  I have assisted a local photographer before, when she has shot numerous mini sessions, so I knew the feel of it before I started!  When I posted the information on Facebook at the beginning of November, I was completely booked within TWO DAYS!  Seriously.  I was so excited!  I had several previous clients (not sure if I like that word!?  More like friends!) message me but also had new friends book - which made me even more thrilled!  I had the most gorgeous people to photograph the day of the mini sessions!  Everyone looked so nice in the colors that they had chose to wear.  The kids!  Ah, the kids.  SO precious!  Enough talking!  Here are some of my favorites! :)

Look at their pup smiling for the camera!

Part two coming up!

Engagement | Bruce & Kayla

When Kayla first messaged me on Facebook, I thought she looked familiar, so I started snooping around on her page (guilty!).  After talking back and forth, we realized that her fiance had been on of my husband's instructors in school!  I had actually met her & Bruce briefly before but didn't realize the connection until right then.  Kayla & I also graduated from the same high school!  It really is such a small world!  Crazy how things happen!

We shot their engagement pictures at a park in Hickory, where they used to run at together.  I love that they had that connection with it!  It made it all that even more special.  After spending some time at the park, they wanted to go to the gym to take some fun pictures there.  I had so much fun with Bruce & Kayla!  You can just see the love between them.  It's the sweetest thing.  They were constantly playing around & making each other laugh!

I am SO excited for their wedding next September!  And to beat it all, their wedding is at one of my favorite wineries!  Eeeeek.  A vineyard wedding!  It is going to be absolutely gorgeous.  I mean look at these two...

Engagement | Josh & Larissa

One of my best friends, Larissa, got engaged a few months ago & asked me to take their engagement pictures.  I was honored!  You will probably read on here a lot of how I am so honored to take pictures - it's because I am!  It makes me feel so special when someone ask ME to take their pictures.  Not going to lie, with each session I do, I get nervous every time before we begin.  I want to do my very best!  This session wasn't any different.  I wanted to do my very best Larissa & Josh.  She is one of the sweetest & most caring person you will ever meet.  Josh, you are one lucky man!

We went to two different locations to do their engagement pictures.  We all woke up in time to do a sunrise session...well, the sun never came out!  Didn't stop us!  The first location was in a field with a pond and covered bridge, but what you don't see are the cows that were surrounding us, ha!  It was hilarious!  My husband was my assistant for the day, so he was put on cow duty!  The second location was their wedding cite.   Now for picture overload!

MY FAVORITE! :)

Wedding | Zach & Jalen

In October, I had the honor to shoot my second wedding.  When Jalen contacted me about being their wedding photographer, I was super excited!  Not only because I felt honored that she asked me but because it was a Fall wedding!  Who doesn't love a gorgeous Fall day filled with colorful leaves & pumpkins!?  I know, I do!  Fall is my favorite season - well except for Winter, because Christmas is in Winter, & I am part Elf... anyways, that's a story for another day!

Back to Jalen!  When I had the opportunity to meet up with Jalen & her finance Zach, I knew their wedding day was going to be special.  They were so relaxed & humble.  Zach & Jalen had several special touches throughout the day planned, that fit them so perfectly!  I love when a couple does that.  It makes the day even more special that it already is!

They didn't want to do a first look, but Jalen wanted to take a few moments a little bit before the ceremony to take some pictures of them holding hands without Zach seeing her.  I was so excited about this & knew it would be a special moment!  I could tell Zach was nervous & anxious but excited.  They both kept making sure they weren't getting too close to the edge to see each other!  Especially Zach!  It was too cute!

The ceremony was short & sweet!  Another one of their special touches for the day was their unity ceremony.  Instead of lighting a candle together or taking turns pouring sand into a jar, they welded two circles (representing the rings) together!  They are both welders.  I absolutely love that they made this their own!  It was a neat experience to watch & such a sweet, special time as soft music played in the background.  

These last few images are some of my favorite!  Jalen is absolutely gorgeous!