Twenty minute Quick Shoot with our friends, the Wetheringtons, and they still looked as fresh as they did when they got there. I don’t think these people sweat! Or maybe it’s just that when you’re THAT pretty, sweat just knows better than to ruin the pictures. I haven’t been able to shoot their whole family together since we were working out of our home, YEARS ago! So it was GREAT to give them something a bit more current! Both of their girls will be out of the house this year. Hilary is a theater major at ECU and Hailey just got a full scholarship to the School of the Arts (for high-schoolers). With such talented girls, I know that you’ll be hearing their names in the future. And I’ll be able to say, “I knew them when…”.

Hilary is the oldest, but she is NOT the tallest… though she tried to fool us.

As we were finishing up the girls, I told Beth that her husband needed a “Trophy Wife” shot.

Some shoots have nothing to do with me. Amazing isn’t it? I can get so caught up in artistry on certain occasions, that I miss the deeper meaning behind why I’m a photographer. Lots of times, it’s why I end up with fewer images of my own family. If I can’t make it different… unique… then I just won’t take them at all. Sunday was a reminder of why I need to keep my mind set on the bigger picture (no pun intended).

Barbara has been one of my clients for a couple of years now. We can always count on her family to “get it”. They play, interact with each other, and rarely want to just “look at the camera and smile”. In short, they’re our favorite kind of client. But last week, when I offered up the outdoor Quick Shoot special, Barbara called in because her whole family would be together that Sunday. You see, her mom has brain cancer. And even though she was weak from chemo and totally shouldn’t have been in such extreme heat, they were all expectant about simply photographing their family together… not to be artsy… just to be captured.

Her mom wasn’t strong enough, physically, for anything other than sitting in one spot. But her spirit simply soared. She is a beautiful lady and her heart for her children, grandchildren and her mother was amazingly apparent. She took on the tackles of little Ele like a trooper, and she cuddled up with her grandson as if he were a toddler, rather than the older boy that he actually is. They weren’t interested in my “eye”… they were interested in loving each other.

Families are often the most difficult relationships that we can ever have… but I fully believe that the struggles and the highs are all part of the same thing… our desire to love and be loved. This family braved seemingly insurmountable circumstances so that they could have that love preserved… I was overjoyed to be a part of it.

The Grandkids

Add in the son and daughter…

Three generations… we’d have had four, but Ele was DONE.

The whole family together…

One of the best things about Facebook is the ability to get to know local people that you’d otherwise only see or hear about on rare occasions. Elizabeth is a friend of several of my church ladies, but we’ve only been in the same room once (to my knowledge). However, Facebook gives me the opportunity to follow her daily activities and read about her daughters’ various accomplishments. Isn’t technology amazing? Today we were celebrating one particular accomplishment. Our Quick Shoot session was in honor of Olivia’s graduation from high school… and from what I’ve read, she’s a very smart girl! Of course, you can’t have a session without that pesky little sister nosing her way in… hahaha! So we actually got great shots of both of them! They were hysterical together and it’s clear that Carrington keeps Olivia in fits of laughter!

We were able to spend another Quick Shoot session with the Albritton family. Anne decided at the last minute to add her daughters into the line-up and I was bursting at the seams to shoot them! This requires a little information to try and explain exactly how I feel about these girls…

Amy and Sarah are almost identical to my little sister Maureen and me. Amy, being the oldest, is really outgoing and silly (dare I say flighty?), while Sarah is quieter with a huge silly streak once she’s comfortable with her surroundings. They’re both hysterical, you’re just going to notice this fact in Amy as soon as she hits a room, then figure it out with Sarah once you’ve hung out with her a bit. This is EXACTLY how it was with Maureen and me. She was the shy one and I was the in-your-face one (dare I say flighty?). But together, were our best.

My own sister passed away six years ago last month. And even though we never had the luxury of a photo shoot together, what I was able to do with with these girls made me feel like I was taking pictures of Maureen and me. The smiles, the hugs, the goofing off… even the moments that reflected their heart toward worship (which, in her last couple of years, was Maureen’s favorite thing to do). I hope they treasure these days together… and I pray they have many, many more years of hand-holding, kluztiness and Spiritual growth.

Yesterday we set up our first ever outdoor Quick Shoots… and even though it was 110 with humidity just as high, we all managed to make it through with flying colors! We had a list of amazing clients who were willing to brave the heat and who managed to look like they walked out of a magazine layout even after their 20 minutes in the sun. I, however, looked like a wet rag doll. But that’s okay! I wasn’t the one being photographed! Haha!

First up is Matt and his dog, Charlie. Matt’s mom is one of my favorite people in the entire world. When she heard we were doing these Quick Shoot sessions, she immediately asked about getting a slot for her son. Even though we know Matt the least of all the Albritton kids (cause he’s the oldest and has been gone the longest), it’s easy to tell that he’s just as sweet and kind as the others. We enjoyed getting to hang out with him for a bit. Next time, though, it’ll need to be in an air conditioned house!

I never tire of my time with the Browns. They’re just dear friends who totally roll with whatever is tossed their way. Clay was the first to tell me that I was having a girl way back when I was pregnant with Mabry… then he followed up with three of his own, so I guess he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to girls! Haha! At any rate, this time we thought we’d head to their house to shoot in Reagan’s nursery, and then hit Kelly’s mom’s house (since she has gigantic windows that let in a lot of light!). Besides, I had a little idea that I knew I could do over there, and you KNOW how I am when I get an idea in my head!

We spent a little time with the “big girls” why Reagan nursed.

What was my idea? A baby in a baby grand.

Some of my past brides may recognize Emily as our assistant from their wedding! How special to go from working together to actually shooting FOR her! This is one of those instances were time just flew… even though I’m sure it felt like an eternity to Emily and JT, their pregnancy seemed to just ZOOM by for me! All of a sudden, there was Caroline! And isn’t she just beautiful? We’re so proud for our friends… and we wish them a blessed life with this well prayed for little daughter.

And my absolutely favorite shot…

When we found out that we were having another little boy, I was just a TINY bit sad. Not that I would love a boy any less, just that it’s more fun to dress a baby girl. Haha! So when my friend, Courtney, had her daughter, I warned her that I would be showering her with clothing just so I could live vicariously through their child. Cause really, it’s all about the pink, you know? Now Molly is 3 months old and we are almost as in love with her as we are our own kids… so getting to photograph her was extra special. Her perfect little mouth and those chubby cheeks… it just doesn’t get any prettier.

Here’s Molly with her big brother, Becton, who just turned two. We gave him a moment to shine, too.

There is absolutely NO point to this last shot, other than to be hysterical.

It’s not often that we get to shoot the wedding of people we’re already friends with… so when Tonyu (one of the home-school moms in our local group) started planning her big day, I asked if Jeff and I could offer up our photography as a gift. It’s always special when we can take part in something just for the simple joy of it, and not because we’re “making our living”. As beautiful as Tonyu is, you can see why I jumped at the chance to be there with my camera.

Tonyu’s gorgeous daughter…

And her adorable little boy!

What bride doesn’t want to be sung to on her way down the aisle?

Seriously? Does it get any prettier?

Such a sweet, sweet day… thank you Tonyu & Terrial for allowing us to be with you.

This afternoon I got to take a couple of pictures of my sweet friend, Shannon. She has been diagnosed with breast cancer and wanted to get a series of images that showcased her progression through the stages of chemotherapy. Having lost a sister to the after-affects of cancer, this is a project very close to my heart. Shannon is one of the most Godly women I know… and her outlook during this whole ordeal has been one of amazing strength and courage. Of course, she would be the first to tell you that every bit of it comes from her Father in Heaven. What a special Father’s Day gift to offer Him… a portrait of His daughter that shows the peace and assurance she’s found in Christ alone. Please pray for this family in the months to come… pray that, when September arrives and she’s finished her chemo, there would be complete and total healing. That her story will be one of encouragement which speaks to another way that God creates beauty from ashes.

Here is Shannon with her husband, Clark, and their three children, Saylor Grace, Jake and Mary Margaret.