You guys! This is my FIVE HUNDREDTH blog post on this blog. Holy Smokes!
When I first started this website back in 2013, I had no idea how much it would flourish. Henry was three months old. Max was two and a half. Andrew worked at the University of Arkansas. I was a hot mess of a mom who barely slept at night while I tried to get my business off the ground. And honestly? It was one of the most amazing times in my life.
Sometimes, I still pinch myself that things have worked out the way that they have. I have always been a determined person (and that may be putting it a little lightly) but I cannot believe that, five hundred posts and three & a half years into this blog, so many incredible things have happened. I’ve photographed weddings in museums and in backyards and across the country and in airplane hangers, too. I’ve photographed seniors in bookstores and in tulle skirts and even in a tub full of flowers. I’ve photographed brand new babies and ridiculously happy families and forged so many new friendships just by carrying around a camera as I listened to people’s stories. It’s amazing.
I’ve celebrated family trips and fangirled over the awesomeness of my very own kids and gushed about my husband a million times, too. I’ve written all kinds of lame (but funny!) stories, posted an enormous amount of exclamation marks and, best of all, I’ve gotten to share amazing people with the whole world just by creating a website and posting photographs. The past few years have been the most amazing journey and, honestly, I can’t believe this is real life sometimes. I love it.
And for this 500th post? I am so excited to introduce y’all to Julie and Levi! They are fantastic.
I first talked to Julie while driving home from a session. I’m not going to say that this is the best way to conduct a wedding photography consultation (it isn’t!) but I was in the middle of the craziest week and, after talking to Julie through email, I was super excited to talk to her on the phone and couldn’t wait to get to know her a bit more. Julie has a magic personality: She is hopeful and dreamy and kind and super funny, too. She is amazing and, the second I spoke to her, I knew that I needed to photograph her wedding. This girl has soul!
Julie loves The Sweeplings (they are amazing!) and, while we were planning her engagement session with Levi, we pulled inspiration from two of their videos. The land – and lake! – in these photographs are family property in Sulphur Springs and everything about the property and the sunlight and Julie and Levi’s laid-back wardrobe came together perfectly. I love these engagement photographs!!
Here’s a funny story:
While driving to Julie and Levi’s engagement session, Google Maps took me down the longest dirt road of my life. I had no phone service, I was driving Andrew’s tiny Honda Fit, and the roads were insanely muddy. I ended up being forty-five minutes late (!!!) to Julie and Levi’s house because of this and, when I got there, I found out that there was a highway that basically connected our houses. Eek! I was so embarrassed that I got lost while diligently following a map and also so relieved that I was able to take a highway home and not get stuck in the mud.
And these forest photographs? 100% totally worth the long drive on a dirt road.
I just love all the light and color in these photographs.
Levi has a thing for cat shirts so, naturally, we incorporated them into the session. These next few photographs make me chuckle every time I look at them. #catlife
Also, let’s talk about this lake!! Have you ever seen a more gorgeous spot?! I would totally get stuck on a dirt road again if it meant I got to shoot this session one more time. Julie and Levi were so much fun to photograph and everything about their session came together perfectly. I love these next photographs in – and around! – the canoe!
I cannot wait for your wedding, y’all! If it’s anything like your engagement session, it’s going to be so fun and lovely and lively and I’m so thrilled to be your wedding photographer.
Weddings | Engagements | Seniors | Families | Personal