Life…is amazing, isn’t it?

Recently, I’ve found myself having more and more conversations about what I do…but not in the sense of the camera, but in the realm of relationships. When I speak about photography, I always tend to gravitate toward the specialness of my occupation in terms of love and life.

Shooting, for me….is a challenge. Not only is it a challenge to continue learning about lighting and composition, posing and colors…but the challenge to continue obvserving and documenting relationships. I met Summar approximately 8 years ago. It’s kind of hard to believe that it’s been THAT long. I wrote about it in her BRIDAL session …but this meeting was an opportunity for me to meet someone that has and will forever impact my life.

I also find myself thinking and talking about connections a lot lately. It’s SO interesting to me that you either do or you don’t connect with a person. It’s usually pretty instant and you know fairly immediately whether or not you “click” with a person. Summar and I definitely hit it off from the start. We began our friendship and now, here we are 8 years later…and all I can be is completely ecstatic for her.

Summar met Stewart and together they are positively impacting the world. They are both outstanding people, sharing their ministry with others and influencing others to follow their passions, their dreams, and to pursue their love for Christ.

I had the PLEASURE of shooting Summar + Stewart’s wedding in December of 2010. And to this day, their wedding stands out in my mind as one filled with love. The interesting part was, not only was there so much love for each other….but somehow, Summar and Stewart managed to make THEIR wedding day 100% about the people around them. They prayed with their family and their friends, and they celebrated, danced, and laughed with those they love the most.

Months later over coffee, Summar informed me that she and Stewart were pregnant for a little girl. Although Summar was hesitant, I convinced her to document this time in her life. I do not normally shoot sessions outside of engagements, bridals, and weddings, but this was a personal project that I wanted to take on for her. As a friend. 🙂

I felt it was important to document this time in her life….and I encourage ALL of my former brides, friends, etc. to do this. In fact, since Summar’s maternity session, Amelia has started working with all of our former clients during these huge milestones in their lives.

Last Sunday, I met Avery for the first time. With Summar and Stewart now living so far away, I was ecstatic to finally meet her. She’s absolutely beautiful…and I can see so much of both Summar AND Stewart in her expressions. 🙂 I felt priveleged, and honored to have the opportunity to do this shoot….and it really made me appreciate.

For the first time, I’ve documented a couple from their engagements through pregnancy, to the delivery of their first little girl. And it meant the world to me!

Life….is amazing, isn’t it? It’s amazing the way that everything just comes together to create a world so beautiful.

And so, with all of that being said, I just HAD to share two from the shoot….and express how photography I feel is really impacting my life….as are the relationships I’m developing along the way.

….And another of my favorites.