preview: corinne and josh

beautiful sky over a wonderful couple. engagement shoot preview: corinne and josh.


After rescheduling a couple times due to threatening and prevailing thunderstorms in the area, we finally got to meet up with the newly engaged Corinne and Josh. And boy was it worth the wait! This sky was prepared just for tonight. Just for this couple. Can't wait to share the rest!

marietta courthouse wedding: michael and bardha

At the age of 9, a beautiful blonde Albanian girl moved to the states with her family. Growing up steeped in the rich tradition of her family and culture, she was destined to marry an Albanian man. Little did she know that about a year and a half ago she would fall "heart over heels" for an American she met at work.

Michael knew from his first date with Bardha he wanted to spend his life with her, and he was willing to spend the next 18 months proving this to her family. With time, Bardha's family realized this guy was not going to give up! Seeing her daughter's happiness, Bardha's mother gave them the blessing to marry and to blend two families together in a unique way. 

Bryan and I met the newly married Softys and their families inside the courthouse in the historic Marietta square after their wedding. That evening, rain poured down the courthouse windows while tears flowed down the cheeks of family members in what was certainly an emotional ceremony. Fortunate for everyone, the rain and tears turned to smiles and sunshine and we had a wonderful evening shooting wedding photos in the park.

A big thank you to Miss Mamie's Cupcakes, Cakes and Such! While waiting for the thunderstorm to pass, Miss Mamie let us move into the bakery after hours and use her beautiful space for family photos!

As the skies cleared up, we headed out for a few shots of the newly weds before their dinner reservations. The couple really loves the fountain in the square so lucky for us, the stormy weather had cleared everyone from the area so we could grab a lot of really great photos!

I don't blame Michael for fighting for this gal--she is one stunning woman! I think these two solo photos were the only time they were farther than five inches from each other. Their excitement about their new life together was clear.

Congratulations, Michael and Bardha! With the amount of times we heard the word "family" used in just one hour, we know blending your family members and cultures together will be an important and wonderful part of your lives. We wish you all the best!

wedding preview. michael and bardha

As the storm clouds cleared this weekend in Marietta, Bryan and I captured this shot of the newly married and stunning Softys.

the casey family + honor turns one

There is something beautiful about a town where the owner of the coffee shop knows what book you're reading, the cook at the local rib shack waves as you walk in and directions are given based on turns by old, large trees. A place where rows of corn stalks give way to white-tipped stems of cotton. It was in this place, in the foothills of Alabama, that I dug up scoops for the university paper, sat in the dark room developing film for hours and turned page after page reading novels on my front porch. And it was also "'round these parts" that I met the man I now call my husband. Although both of us are "city mice" at heart, we're both also thankful to call this place, Jacksonville, Alabama, another home.

Now that I've given a little insight into our life, I should really shine some light onto one of the beautiful families we met during our years in Jacksonville: the Caseys. Zack and Brittany both lead worship EaglePoint--an old barn turned church. They are beautiful and passionate people who truly have a gift when it comes to music. And in the time we've known them, we've gotten to watch their family double in size! When baby Honor turned one, it was a privilege to hit the dusty trail and drive over to document this time in their lives. To add to this excitement, my wonderful sister-in-law Vanessa, of Chupp Photography in Canada, was visiting and came along as my second shooter! We were able to capture Honor (and her wonderful family) just days before she started walking completely on her own--what a unique perspective in the process!

Precious little Honor looks like such the porcelain doll with her fair skin and bright crystal blue eyes. Plus, she already has a huge collection of headbands I'm jealous of!

Down by a small creek, we just had to grab some family shots with big brother Asher and Honor's awesome parents. 

A little something I've learned along the way about photographing kids is something I call the success of a Scooby snack! At a wedding recently, I noticed a couple of kids sitting calmly through a ceremony...a little too calmly perhaps. At a closer look, the mom was quietly handing out goldfish crackers! This must be a trick moms know and play well as Asher's eyes perked up at the site of a bag of jelly beans dangling in front of him! (note taken)

I can't thank you guys enough for inviting us out and lasting so long in the heat of the day! Your family is an absolute joy and I hope to see you again soon! (As we'll need an excuse to snack on smokey ribs and fried pickles!)