Rick & Lauren - Engaged

I said it could be awkward since I had never met them before. Friends of a friend, they were strangers to me. Strangers or not, I was so excited to meet them. I sat down with Lauren over coffee and I knew there was no way we would remain acquaintances. She's stylish, adorable, and extraordinarily organized. Almost scarily organized. As we start talking about all her fun details, she pulls out her wedding planning notebook and shows us photos of her bridesmaid dresses, cake, invitations, and color scheme. I LOVED it. Felt like I was getting an insider's sneak peak. Oh, and she was wearing super cute heels. You had me at the heels, Lauren. ;)

We met at Rick and Lauren's house and to tell the truth, I was a little stressed out. I am completely unfamiliar with the area we were planning on shooting in and we didn't have time to location scout. So when I asked if there were any cool place that they knew of and Lauren mentioned there was some abandoned stuff and old trees in the back, I was all over it. Look, how cute?


The shoot was the first time I'd met Rick, and let me tell you. I was so impressed. He is one of those people who is completely comfortable and natural in front of the camera, helping others around him feel comfortable. Not to mention he's a pilot, which means pretty cool in my books.



I love the way he looks at her. His eyes speak volumes of his adoration for her. Can't you see it?



I adored these windows!



Rick seemed to think this would make a better image than the one I planned. It certainly made Lauren laugh and provoked a tickle fight.



Um yes. I LOVE this one.



Rick and Lauren, I am honored you allowed me to capture your love for one another and I am SO excited to shoot your wedding in a few weeks!

Frank & Alyssa - Spring (ENGAGED!)

Yes. I know you already know. It WAS over two months ago. But here it is: Frank and Alyssa are engaged!!!

In case you aren't aware, Frank proposed to my good friend, Alyssa way back in February. It's opening night of the play Alyssa and I were both helping with, so I'm up to my elbows in make up and safety pins when she walks in. *I've known Alyssa for about three years and she and Frank have been dating for two of those years (I think. Sorry for not knowing.) and I kind of thought something like this might be coming. However, being the opening night of the play, I had no thoughts about engagements. * She's smiling but her face is hinting to me that something is different and I should notice. Quickly looking her over and, seeing no new highlights, piercings, or anything, I ask "What?" There's a moment of just smiling and waiting and then she lifts her left hand. I only waited long enough to see the sparkle before I screamed *apparently, though I remember only exclaiming excitedly* and did a swaying, jumping, laughing, squeezing hug. Aaaaaand everyone in the room looked at me funny. But you know what? My friend just got engaged and I'm a little excited! From then on, every time I looked at her I just smiled happily. I sat beside her as the play opened and kept getting distracted by the sparkly catching the lights. I think I hugged her 67 times that night.

So. This is part one of four seasons shoot I am doing with these two people I love. I will put the proposal story in the next installment.

Frank and Alyssa, I am so excited for you as you continue to walk towards Christ, but as your paths continue to merge. These are just a few of my favorites from our 'spring' escapade, but I hope you enjoy them. Alyssa was so giggly and smiley, it was absolutely infectious. Um, yes. She is gorgeous. Hands down, my favorite of Alyssa. So lovely... And I love their interaction in this image. I asked them to sit Indian style on the couch *in a drizzle* and they gave me a slightly odd look, but complied and oh so cute.

Whew!

I know it's been a while, but my computer has been on the fritz lately. Fortunately, I have all of my images backed up twice, just in case it crashes. (I did it, Sarah!) Now on to the long post...

Seeing as I haven't posted post-internship, I figure I should touch on that, since it definitely changed my life! I had am amazing time with Sarah Barlow... up to the very end. The day before I left for home, we shot a wedding, an engagement shoot, and then, since I hadn't actually been to the city, we drove around Chicago for a few hours, grabbed dinner and headed back. What a long, tiring, completely fulfilling day!
I enjoyed everything Sarah and I did together and I learned. So. Much. I can't begin to tell you all that she taught me, from her own experiences and growth.

Sarah, thank you. I wish there was a better way to say all that I mean, but it's that simple. I am so blessed to have been able to some live with you for two weeks, immersed not only in your business, but your family life as well. Thank you for making this opportunity possible and for welcoming me in. And to the Barlows... love you all! It was so fun spending time with you! Shout out to Andrew Barlow, who just graduated from high school... you go dude! Have a great summer before school gets REALLY rough! (lol)

The moment I got back, I've had to hit the ground running... I shot a beach wedding the day before I flew out to Chicago, and, since I was out of state away from my compy, I had to finish the images once I got home. Here's a sneak peak... I'll post more later. :)
On top of the wedding editing, my family is moving and we had to finish the house to put it on the market. (Praise God, it went on the market yesterday! Pray for quick selling!) Then, the Wednesday after I got home, my older sis Ash and I drove out to Southern Shores, on the outer banks, to spend some time with my best friend and her family. It was a blast. I have added some pics for your enjoyment as well.

While I was at the beach, I took some fun, spontaneous portraits of my best friend's boyfriend's sister. She is gorgeous and so fun to photograph! Plus, I love her. Here are a few favorites... It was hard to pick!



On the way home from the beach we stopped by my grandmother's house, and it was closer than I thought to the beach! Pretty cool, if you ask me. My Grandma Doris, my father's mother, has been suffering from some kind of abdominal cancer for a while and seeing her so frail socked me. It hurt to see my wonderful Grandma so small and so uncomfortable. I've never told her this, but my whole life I have dreamed of my wedding - as all girls do - but I've never been able to picture it without her. It is one of my deepest desires to have her share one of the most important days of my life. However, seeing as how I am a rising senior, and thus have no wedding is on the horizon, plus Grandma's current condition, I think God will call her home before I wed. The only good thing about death is this: if we are saved by the precious blood of Christ, it is not death to die. We have Heaven and eternity with our Savior. Watching Grandma decline hurts, but her hope and excitement for Heaven fill me with joy. Wanting her to stay longer than God has planned is not only fruitless, but it is selfish. In Heaven she'll have a body that will no longer be ravaged by disease. She will be made perfect. Please understand; I may be saying strong words, but inside, my heart is torn. I love her , so much, it cannot be conveyed through words. She has been a pillar of strength and joy in her faith for me to model through the years. When her time comes, I pray I will be strong, but I know my heart. The Lord knows I'll need His strength.

Well, that's it. An update. Please pray for my family; for our impending move, but more importantly, for strength as our loved one grows closer to Heaven.

OH WAIT! One more thing... my older sister, Ashleigh, is graduating from high school TOMORROW! I am so proud of her and SO excited to watch her follow all God has called her to. Love you babe!

Here are a few images from an engageement shoot while in Chicago... I will post more images from Chicago shoots later, as well as the wedding images, so stay tuned! God bless and have a lovely weekend.