HAPPY SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY!

My VERY first promo video from about SIX years ago!

It doesn’t really seem like it’s been SEVEN years since I started my business! I remember the excitement so very well! I remember doing a Google search for “How to create a business plan” and all those endless nights watching YouTube videos on how to use my entry level DSLR camera - the fancy Rebel T1i! I had all the drive and SPUNK in the world going into this venture! OH! AND even more importantly I had my husband’s support!!!! 

I had decided to go into a field that I knew very little about and leave behind my massage therapy practice that I had endlessly worked over six years to build! I went into photography with absolutely NO KNOWLEDGE of how to use my camera! Well, other than how to half-click to focus! Haha! Thankfully I was able to play off of my strong suite, I’m good with people! The technical knowledge came later with experience and LOTS of YouTube videos! 

My point in writing this today, is to encourage you to follow your HEART!!! I prayed that God would lead me to discover the talent that he puts in us all - my God given talent. He made it very clear to me and then I started to pray, asking. . .”What should I do with this talent?” “How should I share it for Your glory, Lord?” He made my path very clear and I followed faithfully!

I have met the most incredible people along my way, made some great friends, witnessed many, many marriages, photographed couples become a FAMILY and documented the growth of their children. . .my heart is ALWAYS so full! I thank God for steering me in this direction!!! I have had many different jobs that taught me so many different qualities! All which were preparing me to be your photographer! 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR. . .

• Being so fun to work with!
• Trusting me to capture your most important memories!
• Having babies so I can hold them and photograph them too! lol
• Being my friend!
• Supporting me!
• AND for allowing me to be YOUR photographer!!!

CHEERS to MANY MANY more years together!!!!

Olivia Turns FOUR!

There isn’t anything like seeing your child having the best day of their life!!! Yesterday, we celebrated our beautiful Olivia with our dear friends and family! Olivia requested a Fairy party this year AND as always balloons too! Originally she asked for a Fairy, Troll, Supergirl party! Eek! We settled on FAIRY! We all went to Hobby Lobby about a month ago, and she picked out the Pixie Dust colors (glitter), Fairy houses for our craft project, and all the paint colors. She was very specific in getting her favorite color, purple, AND her sister’s fave color, blue! She would say, “Oh, I want purple!!! And let’s get blue for WyAnne!” Isn’t that the sweetest thing! I love how thoughtful she is!!!

A couple of days before her party, she asked us, “So, when is my party and when is my birfday?” We explained to her that when she wakes up, not that day but the next day will be your birthday party and then the very next day will be your birthday! The very next day when she woke up, she came downstairs and reiterated what we told her. She doesn’t miss ANYTHING! And I love how she really seems to have an understanding of things like time. Don’t you remember when you were little and everything seemed like it was FOREVER away?! 

As I’m looking through these photographs, my heart is bursting with so much joy seeing how happy she is! And RyAnne too! She was so excited for her sister's party! When Olivia was opening her gifts, RyAnne made sure to read all her birthday cards to her! Seriously, HEART. BURSTING!!!! I’m so thankful for everyone that made her day so special! Also, thank y'all for holding my sweet boy and keeping him entertained so I could be with Olivia and photograph her big day! We love you guys!

Cake: Baby Cakes Bakery, Porterdale, Ga.
Party Supplies: Hobby Lobby (don't forget that 40% coupon code while you're standing in line!!!)
Olivia + RyAnne's Fairy attire: Amazon

Social Circle, Ga Engagement Session | Tara & Tommy

Look how amazing these two are together! Tara and Tommy met me at my little farm, Creekview Farm, for their engagement session! We had such a fabulous time in the unreal warmth we were blessed with! I met Tara through her mother, Kathy. Kathy is an exceptional painter and wall paper hanger! We hired Kathy to paint the interior of our home when I was pregnant with Olivia, over four years ago! When Kathy found out I was a photographer she brought her granddaughter, Bella, to my annual Santa mini sessions. Her session was ADORABLE! I remember during her session she had on the cutest little pj’s and she was so excited to meet Santa! The very next year, Kathy brought along her entire crew for Santa sessions and I got to meet Tommy, Tara, their daughter Remi, Bella, Amelia, Amelia’s momma, Vaneta and Bella’s daddy, David. They are the most fabulous blended family and I loved photographing them ALL! 

So, now that you know how I got to meet Tara and Tommy, let me tell you about how they met each other! Waaaaay back in eighth grade, Tara was the “new girl” at her elementary school. Tommy was the “cool guy” that hung out with a crew that he had known most all his life. While they both attended the same school, they didn’t really get to know each other until their Junior year of high school! Tommy would walk Tara to her 6th period class every day. They never dated but remained friends.

Tara ended up moving to a different high school for her senior year and once Tommy graduated he became a soldier in the U.S. Army. After two tours, Afghanistan and Iraq, a big move to New York and several huge life changing events, Tommy found himself on this new site called Facebook! As he was navigating through, finding old friends, he sent Tara a message, “Hey, we went to school together, right?”

Back in Georgia, Tara had just put her sweet daughter, Bella, to bed and was looking forward to some quiet time. As she pulled up her Facebook page, there it was! Tara was one click away from falling in love with her future husband! They chatted through messages for months and got to know each other all over again!

One day Tommy sent Tara a message letting her know he was moving back home to Georgia! Tara felt a rush of excitement and butterflies! It had been years since they had seen each other in person! After Tommy moved back it didn’t take long before they were dating and falling in love! Tommy accepted Bella, Tara’s daughter, and loved her like she was his own. The two moved in together and got the surprise of a lifetime - they were pregnant! Although they were scared, they were also very excited!

Just last year, on Super Bowl Sunday, while our Atlanta Falcons were doing their best to beat the Patriots, the halftime show was on and Lady Gaga was doing her thing! Tara was totally stoked and glued to the TV watching her performance when all of the sudden the TV gets muted and a different song replaces Lady Gaga! Jason Derulo, Marry Me starts playing and Tommy walks into the room. Shaking, he kneels in front of Tara and he asks her to marry him!!! Her response, “YES, YES, YES!!!” 

As Tara put it, “We go together like peas and carrots. Okay, I wasn’t a fan of that combo growing up - let me try this one more time, we go together like sweet peas and mashed potatoes!”

Elizabeth + Dalton | Porterdale, Ga Engagement Session

Oh Social Media! Isn't it incredible how it brings so many lovely people together!? One night, Dalton came across this beautiful lady, Elizabeth. They were "friends" on Facebook due to going to the same high school together. However, Elizabeth never knew Dalton. He sent her a simple little message that opened up a month long of conversations online. They finally set up a date that lasted beyond the hours of the Mexican restaurant! They couldn't stop talking and laughing! They knew they had something special! About three years later, at an over the top birthday party for Dalton's dad, Dalton grabs the mic to give a speech to his father. At the end of his speech, in front of about 50 of their closest friends and family, he walks over to his love, drops to one knee and asks her to marry him! Elizabeth couldn't say YES fast enough!!!

Photographing these two was such a pleasure! Their giggles and love were just so natural and beautiful! I can't wait to photograph their Indian Springs wedding in November 2018!

Milk Bath Session | 38 weeks

We are counting down the days y'all!!! Every day I wake up and I am like, "Will this be the day???" I have got to stop! lol I haven't been feeling well at all and that has made this last leg of pregnancy so hard. I have been in pain for the past two and a half weeks with my back and hips feeling a dull muscle ache. When Rocco moves around it intensifies these pains. . .he moves A LOT! Two nights ago I didn't sleep well because he decided to have a dance party! It was so painful. That next morning I scheduled an appointment with my chiropractor and let me tell you! She worked some serious magic!! I feel SO incredible and have decided to walk around like a granny trying to keep this adjustment in place. lol This Thursday will be my 39 week check up and we will also have another ultrasound done to determine just how much this baby boy is weighing in at. At my last ultrasound, my tech told me he was on track to weigh around ten pounds at birth. Eek! He has consistently measured two weeks ahead at every check up. Praying things will progress in God's time, I will gain some patience and this baby boy will be healthy!

Also, I am bored! I keep getting caught up with house chores and then the boredom starts to set in. Plus, with no weddings or engagement sessions currently on my schedule, work has basically come to a halt. Which was the plan so I can focus on my family and try to relax while we wait on our baby boy to arrive. However, my brain hasn't caught on to this idea yet! My brain is re-branding my photography business, checking out ideas for new website designs and layouts and I am taking an online photography class that is geared towards business. I just can't stop!!! lol I love my photography business and the amazing clients I get to meet. I love that it allows me to be creative and I have SO much fun with my clients during our sessions. Seeing my clients in front of my camera during an engagement session, giggling and loving on each other AND already getting excited about their wedding day photography. . .it keeps me going and keeps me passionate!

So, for now I am trying really hard to stay positive and think happy thoughts. I saw these gorgeous pink peonies at the grocery store and thought they would help brighten my day. Which they do every time I see them! :) They are my faves. I love how fragrant and beautiful they are. They made the perfect prop for my milk bath maternity session too! I had Trey behind my camera rocking out his skills. Thank you for taking these for me babe.