Ben + Brooke//Athens-ish engagement

I just had to write the location for this engagement session as "Athensish" because I'm not quite sure where we were- somewhere near i-85 and Commerce? Ben's mom told me about this park and we decided to give it a try for Ben and Brooke's engagement session and sure enough it was a beautiful place!! The shoals looked like a good photo place, so I asked them if they were up for standing in the water for a few pictures.  Brooke had mentioned wanting to do that so they were good with it.  I found a good place to stand but then my foot started slipping a little bit... so I got to a dryer spot.  Then I look up and see Ben starting to wobble in the water and wooooooosh!!!! Ben went down with the current of the water and got totally submerged into the river!!! I couldn't believe it and of course (being the opportunist photographer I am) I pulled out the camera and took some quick photos of him in the water.  I later thought about how that could have been offensive but Ben was such a good sport laughing about it and glad I got some shots of it.  So poor Ben.  We joked around that we were so glad it wasn't Brooke (every girl knows once your hair is wet there's no rescuing it for pictures!).  Soooo that's how our engagement session started.  I knew this meant good things for the rest of the time:) Ben had more clothes in the car so he changed and we opted out of the water pictures and stayed on dry land for the rest of the session.  You guys were both so good natured about all of it- which says a lot about you! I included some pictures of Ben's swim (with his permission:) just to get a feel for what happened.  But the rest of the pictures worked out great- we stayed dry and happy.  I can't wait for their wedding next year and know that they will be anything but bride and groomzillas based on the engagement session.  Hope you enjoy the pictures!!

and a few pictures of Ben during/after his quick engagement session swim:)

Mr. + Mrs. Jenks//Augusta Wedding

I've known Elisa for more than 5 years- we met while she (and possibly me, too?) were students at UGA and lived in Athens.  The first memory that comes to mind about Elisa is her awesome fashion sense... I remember before EVERYONE was wearing scarves Elisa would wear these funky ones and look amazing.  It's no surprise that her great taste spilled over into wedding planning, from the bouquets she and her bridesmaids MADE themselves to the different bright colored shoes everyone wore.  And Nathan's suspenders, classic glasses, and plaid tie? killer.  Elisa put this whole day together making most things herself or by friends.  Even the benches at the ceremony were made out of pallets by a friend for his wedding and used again at theirs.  I loved the benches and wished I could buy some! The ceremony was outside of a historic library in Augusta and it could not have been more beautiful.  Elisa told me it was the first time a wedding was done on the lawn of the library (she and Nathan had gone to concerts on the lawn there before and thought it would make a great wedding venue).  It really was such a beautiful ceremony and I couldn't be happier for Elisa finding the right man.  And crazy enough as I was taking Nathan's family portraits I found out they are all from Binghampton, NY where my parents bought their first house and not too far from where I was born.  Small world for sure.  I loved this wedding and am so thankful that Elisa asked me to document it.  You guys are great and I hope these pictures reflect even half of how beautiful that day was.

just a quick story about the next picture- this is a tattoo on the arm of one of Elisa's bridesmaids (Julie).  I saw it and had to ask her the story of why she chose that word.  She talked about a hard time in her life and how God really impressed on her that she is his, found by him, redeemed by him.  Julie I hope I'm telling this right... But ironically as I was looking at this picture on my computer the song that was playing on Pandora was "You Found Me" by The Fray.  The song doesn't exactly fit Julie's story except it does say something profound and relevant to how I have felt in the past:

Lost and insecure, you found me, you found me

That just struck me since I was editing this picture and thinking about God's faithfulness in Julie's life.  I'm grateful God continues to search me out when I'm hiding and always finds me, and reminds me of grace and mercy.

Mr. + Mrs. McNaron//John's Creek Wedding

      I have been wanting to blog about this wedding but had some gliches (i.e. my macbook freezing up and now being repaired! ahh!! but all pictures are safe on external harddrives). I love this couple.  Lauren and Alan have been dating since they were in high school (earlier even?) and finally they are husband and wife.  I've said before but I'm a huge fan of high school sweethearts because my parents have been together since 9th grade (and actually were voted "most motherly and fatherly" for their senior superlatives!).  I think the time they have waited for marriage made this day all the more sweet.  I was actually talking to one of Lauren's bridesmaids (either Katie or Callie) about another photographer who blogs a top 5 from the wedding, and I thought I needed to try it out for Lauren and Alan's wedding.  So here's a top 5:

#5: The details of the wedding- from the flowers (which Alan's supertalented mom did- she owns Holland Daze Expressions in Bloom in John's Creek) to the shoes Lauren wore (her mother's wedding shoes).  Alan let his groomsmen choose ties that they liked to wear, so each guy had a different tie.  Oh, and the cake.  It was perfection (see picture).

#4: The dancing at the reception- it was incredible.  I want to especially note how awesome Lauren's mom was at doing the wop (you were amazing!)

#3:How much Lauren laughs and how happy pictures of her are (I should do a whole series of pictures of Lauren happy and laughing, with her sisters, friends, Alan, by herself!)

#2: The grandmothers photobooth pictures.  Wait until you see it- these grandmas are my inspiration.  Part of the reason I love these pictures is because they are wearing nose and glasses, which is what my grandma made us wear for pictures growing up.  She died at the young age of 64, and what I wouldn't do to have a picture of her on my wall in nose and glasses.  I hope to not age and become a grumpy old lady but to be sillier than ever and full of love.  just a thought.

#1: The moment when Alan (blindfolded) prayed with Lauren before the ceremony.  They held hands and prayed while I took some pictures of them (I know, way to ruin the moment).  Let's just say that I was definitely crying as I heard the words they spoke to each other and God.  It was a prayer begging God that they would cherish each other, serve each other, love each other to the end.  It made me want to go home and love my husband better.  You guys have an incredible love for each other and it made my whole day. Number 1 for sure. 

 

The picture above of is of Alan and Lauren leaving the sanctuary... and me excited! I've never actually seen what I look like when the bride and groom walk down the aisle, but thanks to my talented second shooter Christina Schuman I have a picture of me clearly happy.  And check out my crazy alien flash attachment (Gary Fong light diffuser).  Thanks 'tina for the crazy shot.