Road Trips + Photo Sessions

Part of the beauty of being a photographer is that I get to take road trips for my job. I love road trips!
This weekend, I ventured out to a new, undiscovered town north of here for a photo session, and a visit, with my amazing, beautiful cousin, Ericka.

The day started out with us scouting locations, and then we started the fun! She was hilarious! I had the greatest time catching up with her and she is so beautiful that she made my job SUPER easy. Here are a few of her:

After the first location, we actually went to these ADORABLE little kids' birthday party (3-year-old triplets and their 2-year-old little sister). Yes, this weekend was very unpredictable.

After that, I got to meet her boyfriend, and we all ended up heading out to find location number two for their photo session. Somehow, we ended up at a mountain festival? It was actually pretty cool. So, we got their photos taken, and then walked around the festival. Here are a few of them:

The funny part comes in as we were about to leave. We bought some Italian ice, and started to make the trek back to our cars. The guy driving the golf cart shuttle asked if we needed a ride, so we decided to hop on the back. I wish you could picture what happened next: we were trying hold onto our mound of Italian ice (which was quickly melting in the heat) and trying to explain to the guy (who told us he couldn't hear very well) where our car was parked. Little did we know, he took off like lightning, and there we were...almost flying off...face first...onto the pavement. Not to mention all the people staring at us as we laughed our heads off. And then...there we went...THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF TOWN...with this guy driving like crazy. Needless to say, by the time we made it to our car, our ice had melted down our arms, but we were safe. I'm thinking it's probably one of those "you had to be there" things, but I thought I'd share just in case. I'm pretty sure we laughed for about an hour about it.

Morning Routine + Some Laughs

Before venturing off from my small town to attend college for photography, I worked at an accounting office. Yes, imagine this non-math girl working with numbers. It's almost comical, but that job was a blessing, and I'm very grateful to have had it.

However, I've never been a huge morning person, so I have always had a few morning routines to help with that. For example, when I worked there, we always gathered in the kitchen to make coffee and catch up. Then, I would go to my office and read the day's comic on my Dilbert desk calendar. Hey, it's the small things in life, right?

For some reason, most of them would make me laugh so hard, I would have tears. Unfortunately, no one else in the office "got it". Oh well, after all these years, I still have two of my favorites that I kept.
So, as I'm having my morning coffee, I thought I should share them with you.

Hopefully you at least get a little chuckle out of it?
And, remember, these are TWO different ones. :)

Enjoy your day!

Never Say Never + Writing Songs

I still remember how I felt when I walked out of the theater after seeing '8 Mile'. I felt like I could conquer the world. Little did I know, I would very soon get that chance.

I went through some things that made me a better person-a more creative, loving, hard-working person.
There have been countless times where various people have made the comment to me that I always accomplish whatever I put my mind to. It has taken me years to realize they were right. What a wonderful feeling to look back on life and not just see mistakes, but also some accomplishment.
I set quite a few goals for myself in high school (as terrified as I was at the time), and somehow accomplished them all. Well, except for being voted in my Senior year as Student Government Secretary, but I'll live with that defeat. haha! It just taught me that I do not belong in politics.
With every horrible job I had, I gave it my all, and only got fired from one of them-a fast food place...I'm hearing an old Avril Lavigne song in my head as I'm typing this. :)
And as much as I tried to run away in fear from my passion for music and photography, life was pretty determined to push me in that direction despite me. After five years of running from The Art Institute, I went and graduated...and now...after YEARS of running from music, I've officially started TRYING to write. By no means are my goals with this to play in any type of venue, but I simply just want to sit in my living room and throw a concert for one. To be able to turn my words into songs would just put the icing on the cake for me so far in my life.
I realized that when I try to go to sleep at night, that's when songs try to write themselves in my head. So, I've started writing them down. However, my biggest inspiration for pursuing music is my great, and amazingly talented friend, Nguyen. When you surround yourself with people who believe in your crazy little dreams, you figure out quickly that they are the reason you are able to accomplish things in life.
Many years ago, I wrote my first song while at the beach in Jacksonville, FL. That will be the first one that gets put to music, and I hope my new, leather journal gets filled.
Talk about fantastic-if I had the joy of writing music on top of my amazing job of working with the best clients/friends in the world with my photography-I would pretty much have a permanent smile on my face. So, I guess I should never say never, right?

By the way...here's the mentioned Avril song. Seriously, I wished I was her when she first came out. Finally, a tomboy. :)

 

Father's Day + A New Session

Mother's Day is behind us for another year, and Father's Day is on its way! I always love when people get a head start on the holidays. So, here's a new session of a father and son. :)

Father's Day is an important holiday for me because I've always had a great relationship with my dad, and last summer was very scary for us because he had to go through 17 days being in the hospital. He ended up having to go through open heart surgery, but we are blessed to still have him here with us. Everyday memories are already amazing to have in photographs, but once you've had to live through a scare of not knowing, those photographs become even more precious.

Here's your reminder for Father's Day! I can't wait to help you all create new memories with all those dads out there. :)

Christina + Aaron's Happily Ever After!

My best friend is MARRIED! And to such an amazing guy! I couldn't be happier for the two of them!
Their wedding day was so much fun. We all started out getting Christina ready at her hotel, and from there, we were off to the Atlanta Temple, and there was plenty of sunshine! The flowers were beautiful, the dress was beautiful, and Christina was beautiful. It was great seeing all of her family, and it was wonderful meeting Aaron's family! Their friends and family were so incredibly kind to me! That kind of stuff, you just don't forget. :)

Christina and I have been friends since we sat next to each other in choir back in college. After all those years of putting up with me, I consider her a sister.  I suppose that means I also now have a new brother-in-law. haha!

Loved her dress!

Pretty Shoes. :)

Making hilarious memories...

The First Look! AH! You can just SEE how much he loves her!!!

One of my favorites. So sweet!

For some reason, this reminds me of Christina Perri-Christina...I know you will appreciate that.

Newlyweds.

Finally a new photo for our super old "Best Friends" frame. LOL!

So, it wasn't just the kids who enjoyed all of the balloons. :)

LOVE!!!!!!!!!

I am so proud and thankful to know so many amazing ladies!!!!

So, here's to Christina + Aaron's happily ever after!!!!!!

10 Years + Life Lessons + New Hair Cut

This week has been full of photos, music, driving, country roads, and a lot of hours in a salon.
All of that came together to make for a very busy, but fun week.

I took a trip back home to visit my old high school and go to their last choir concert of the year. After all, this is my '10 year' since graduating. They have since built an extremely larger school than I went to, and the choir has grown tremendously over the years.
My parents went to the concert just like old times, and I actually dressed up. Amazing. Heels can almost never be my wardrobe due to running around taking photos all the time, so I figured I should wear them while I had the chance.
I made the decision that if my class has a reunion, I don't really want to go. Just a personal decision. So, since choir was pretty much all I was involved with during high school, going back for this concert was kind of my way of placing that 10 year mark.
It was amazing to be in the crowd watching the show. All I know is that if those kids had been in choir with me, I would have never stood a chance at a solo. We had some talented people, but they had A LOT of talented people! I was so impressed. Not only were their voices amazing, but they had awesome stage presence, too! All I can remember of my days up there were not knowing if I was breathing, and not moving a muscle. It was pretty hilarious.
Even though I didn't get to see any of my friends from high school there, it was still amazing to be there, and to give flowers and a card...just like we used to. :)

Teresa, me, Kerri, Ashley (my choir teacher + her part of her family)

 Another part of this trip was to get a hair cut. I love my hair, but during the summer, there is no way I can deal with it without passing out. I don't have to worry about that now. Thank you, Jamie! I'm still getting used to it, but knowing that it will grow back by Fall makes it easier. haha!

New hair cut...Finally.

The rest of the week was spending time with family that I don't see very often, and my dad putting me to work since I was home. We ended up spending a day building a place for three huge stacks of firewood, and actually stacking all the wood. Let's just say my dad is always working on something, and I guess the good news about that is he's already prepared for Winter, and Summer isn't even here yet. It was fun, though. It felt great to be outside on such a pretty day...with some work gloves on. That is how I was raised.

A Country Session

As a child, I used to love going shopping for that new Easter dress each year. I do believe then, it was the puffier, the better!
Well, let's fast forward to now, and these kids get THE cutest outfits!

Just before Easter, I booked a session for a super cute 9 month old little girl. I was looking forward to this session because we had planned for it to be outdoors, early morning...on a farm. My country roots were excited about that!

I got there, and the fog was super thick. And then, just like a miracle, it all cleared up, and there was the sun!

Here are some of her photos!!

I am certainly looking forward to more sessions with her! She was so adorable!!

Friends + Familiar Places + Mumford and Sons

I have quite a bit to catch up on here.
Last Thursday, I finally got to visit the Georgia Southern University campus, where my husband went to college, and see all the places I've only heard in the stories between his circle of friends. As he attended the job fair, representing his firm, I got the bright idea to walk to the campus Starbucks. The only thing is, I had a bag that probably weighed about 35 pounds and it was blazing hot outside. By the time I got there, I felt like I'd been on an episode of "The Biggest Loser" and Jillian was yelling at me. I survived, and the walk back wasn't nearly as horrible.

When on a college campus. :)

After leaving Statesboro, we headed back home for Easter weekend with our families. Pretty much the whole ride there, I played Mumford and Sons and Adele. I'm sure Christopher wanted to jump out of the moving car. Anyway, the line from, "Blank White Page",  just kept going through my mind: "Tell me now where was my fault in loving you with my whole heart?"  "Please, someone donate a ticket to the sold out show to me." is what I wanted to write in my status update, but instead just simply wrote that lyric. A few moments later, I received a text from a really good friend from college asking if I wanted to go see Mumford and Sons because she had an extra ticket. Boy, the tears went to rolling. Christopher, again, thought I was crazy, but SERIOUSLY?! I was having a heartbreaking moment like when I was 15 and Johnny Lang came to Tallahassee and my dad wouldn't let me go. And I'm sure you can't even believe how excited I am about this show! I'm going to cry-no doubt.

Saturday was amazing! I had an early morning shoot of a BEAUTIFUL little girl, and while in Valdosta, I made sure to call Nguyen, since it was her recital day at VSU, and I didn't know if we could make it or not. I at least wanted to see her! So, she was nice enough to make time in her crazy busy day to stop by Starbucks and see me!!! While inside waiting for my drink, I noticed a photo of Shaun Hopper on the bulletin board-of course, I took a photo of it! Those were the days when Shaun used to play there! That was the first time I got to see my name on his band posters. :) I spent a lot of nights sitting out on the patio there writing and listening to music. Those are some of my most peaceful memories. I couldn't help but sit there, soaking up the sun, with a huge smile on my face.

Shaun Hopper !!!!!!!

Me and Nguyen !!!!!!!

Something FUN: surprising Nguyen and showing up at her recital-after telling her I couldn't make it. I got there about two minutes before she went on stage, and took a few photos so she can always remember what she worked so hard for. I was absolutely blown away at her talent! I look forward to working on music with her again some day soon. The day kind of turned into an old ABAC college reunion. There were several people I remember from my choir days there. That was cool!
Here are a few shots from the show!

I have to say, when they played "There Will Never Be Another You", I had chills. Just amazing! And seeing her face when she realized we were there-priceless!
Nguyen, you are AMAZING, and I can't wait to see where this all takes you!