Engagement Session | Jazmyn & Jordan

It would be an understatement to say that I was ecstatic to receive Jazmyn's e-mail requesting to do an Engagement Session. She was only going to be in town for a few more days, and wanted to squeeze in the session so that their engagement announcements would be from their meeting place, Mercer University. All of the factors worked out perfectly, and I was able to fit Jazmyn and her fiance, Jordan, in this week.

Mercer's campus is beautiful. Absolutely perfect for pictures. Photo ops everywhere. Not to mention, the sun was shining, and the weather was at it's best considering the week prior.

I have ALWAYS wanted to do a couple session in the library (it's so Hollywood... kissing on study dates, hiding in rows of books. I love it.) I suggested it to Jazmyn, and she seemed just as excited, if not more! It was a PERFECT setting, and we had so much fun sneaking around the isles of books, laughing as by-standards looked on suspiciously.

I could not be more pleased with these pictures. Jazmyn and Jordan, you are a vibrant couple with so much in store for you. Jazmyn, don't give up on your photography venture. Chase it with all your might. You totally have the art in you! Blessings on the days to come!

And now, our feature presentation. ;)

Mini Session | Tess Harper

My 5D Mark II came with free over-night delivery. Yes, please.

I had already made plans to hang out with my dearest friend, Tess Harper, the day of the camera's delivery, and I secretly wished in my heart that it would arrive in time for me to use it for a mini session with her.

10:30 a.m., I sit sleepy-eyed on our living room couch, restless from excitement, and am startled by a very powerful knock on the door. My heart must have literally stopped, and I know for certain the mail delivery man thought I was crazy. I opened the door and greeted him with an utterly girlie "OH MY GOSH, I'M SO EXCITED!", as though he were in my circle of friends, or even knew what the precious package in his hands meant to me.

Needless to say, I ran into the bedroom squealing, screaming, jumping (startling my husband a bit, I'm sure). We plugged the battery in and waited. I read through the mini-manual, hopped on my computer and admired (for the umpteenth time) other photographer's pages who utilize the 5D Mark II. (This is a regular practice. I love people. I love gawking over the creativity and excellence of those leading the way before me. It gives me hope and this incredible boldness to try new things and reach for the stars.)

My day with Tess was ridiculously perfect.
1:30 p.m. Eggnog Lattes from Starbucks, paired with giggly excitement of new-camera-slash-so-happy-to-see-you-slash-awesome-day-ness.
2:00 p.m. Cupcakes at Hello There Cupcake (Adorable!)
2:30 p.m. NARNIA in 3D (which we might have experienced better in 2D, but were still not disappointed!)
4:00 p.m.ish Photo Session HAPPINESS with the 5D Mark II

Enjoy, my friends.

 I was so happy to nail this shot.

 We're five. We know.

 Work it, work it.

Life | Hello There Cupcake

Yesterday was bliss, and I'd say that's an understatement.

A couple of days ago, I was browsing Facebook and an ad appeared on the side of my browser for Hello There Cupcake. Now, as you all know, I am a photographer, and fell head-over-heals for the crisp lighting and vivid colors in the photographs of their cupcakes. I am also in love with everything cutesy and girly and sweet (sugar and spice and everything nice), so cupcakes are right up my alley.

So, I walk in and unashamedly request permission to take pictures. I was enthralled. The decor, the pastels, the natural lighting streaming in from the huge windowed store-front. A girly-girl photographer's dream.

As if it needs to be said, I did not stop by only to take pictures. My friend (Tess Harper) and I shared two cupcakes: Lemon and Red Velvet (paired with the Starbucks coffee--EggNog Lattes--we picked up prior to arrival).

Sigh...

To die for. Well, you know what I mean; the kind of dessert you daydream about the next day.

So, since excitedly snapping away at Hello There Cupcake (what an adorable name, too!), I have been eagerly awaiting this blog post. I could hardly sleep last night.

Enjoy, friends. And a Very Merry Christmas to you and yours.

 (Tess on the left, Me on the right--my picture courtesy of Tess. She's a natural!)

(Tess' cupcake matched her perfectly! We didn't plan it, I swear!)

 (Evidence of Customer Satisfaction.)

Creative Session | Leanna Brown

I love it when clients contact me for "just because" shoots. For every one of my shoots, I desire to show my clients how amazing they are. Really. I love to show couples how amazing their love is--how their husband still looks at them. I love to see a teenage girl's face light up at a picture of herself; those sessions of which usually start off with a disclaimer such as "I don't usually take good pictures" or "I don't really like any pictures of myself". I love to see a mother melt before pictures of their little one, recognizing the familiar expressions from flashback memories in her heart.

This is what portrait photography is about. Capturing what's there. The amazing, wonderful, genuine beauty that already exists in people.

Leanna's session was just that. I watched as her confidence progressed throughout the session, and I personally became ecstatic throughout the session with expressions such as "Oh! I love this one!" "That was amazing!" "I can't wait to get you these pictures!!!" (For my former clients, you know what I'm talking about. :)

Anyway, enough chatter! Let's get to these fabulous pictures!

Senior Session | Jamie Jones

It's always a special gift to be able to do a photo shoot for someone I am close to. In this case, my younger cousin asked me to do her senior pictures (I can't believe she's a senior! Ah!). Because we know each other so well (she's been my only immediate cousin up until last month), the session was so laid-back. I brought lots of my clothes, and we had a little dress-up adventure driving around the wonderful backdrop of Crawford County, where both of our families live.

I love you, Jamie Jones. Reach for your dreams and don't settle a bit. I believe in you. :)

Here are my favorites from the session! LOVE!

My favorite. She is stunning!