Snow Day!

Eeeeek, today I was able to cross off one of my photography goals for 2016 - shoot a session in the snow!  When you live near one of your best friends (who also happens to also be one of your 2016 brides!), you beg them to take pictures outside in the cold :)  The snow was barely falling when we began, then it just didn't stop coming down!  Along with some sleet!  J&L, thank you two SO stinkin' much for putting up with my craziness & allowing me to play!  Love yall!

word of the year

I've never been one to have resolutions for each new year.  Instead in the back of my planner I make a list of goals that I want to accomplish.  They are normally things that I want to get done around the house or personal goals that I want to achieve for myself.

For the past few years I have chose one word to help represent for that specific year.  In 2014, my word for the year was better.  I wanted to help better our marriage, myself, my relationship with God & friendships, & life in general.  In 2015 my word was focus.  As a couple, our goal of last year was to focus on finding another church.  I also wanted to focus on what I really wanted in life.  Looking back now, it's really funny how God works.  How each year He really challenged or worked on that certain word for me in my life.

After thinking for the past month, I believe that my word for 2016 is live.  I want to really live & experience life.  It is going to be a busy but fun year, & I really want to live in every single moment.  Time flies by, & I want to cherish every moment.  Whether it is cuddling on the couch watching television with my husband & dog, photographing a beautiful couples wedding, or out with friends.  I really want to be there for each moment.  I want to live in that moment, experience something I have never experienced before.  Make each moment that really matters count!  I want to learn more about myself.  I want to get to know you more.  I want to live!  I am not saying that every moment in 2016 is going to daisies & butterflies because I know it won't be, but I want to live & learn from those experiences as well.  God gave me this beautiful life to live & experience to the fullest, & I want to do just that!

Happy New Year! :)

trusty iPhone pic ;)

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! :)