i remember it like it was yesterday. i was standing in the airport with a tangled web of emotions…longing for my own baby half a world away mixed with an overwhelming sense of thankfulness for my friends who would soon be stepping off a plane from uganda for the first time as a family of seven.
the turner’s is a story that i could listen to time and time again. the lord began weaving it together many years ago, and like any amazing story, theirs includes loss, difficulty, and unimaginable pain all followed by a slow and beautiful appearance of healing.
what was once empty is now full – and what once held only loneliness is now overflowing with the blessing of family.
“god sets the lonely in families…”
psalm 68:6
they were one of those sweet families that started using me way back in the day when i was first getting started as a professional photographer, and recently i had the pleasure of updating their family photos. how darling is this family?!?
“blessed be the god and father of our lord jesus christ! according to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead…”
first peter one:three
it felt a little more like a get-to-know-you chat time than it did simply an engagement session. we walked and talked continually; brittani and i chatted shoes and nick and i talked cameras and post-processing. but somewhere in there magic like this happened…
the relationship between brittani and nick runs the gamut of expression. they’re silly and fun…
but there’s a certain comfort and sweetness to their relationship as well.
thank you, brittani and nick, for spending the afternoon shooting with me. i had such a great time and now i’m even more excited for your wedding in the fall!!
i’ve had the privilege of working with them so many times now that i’ve lost count. but over the weekend, we had a whole new wonderful, tiny reason to meet.
while i was busy shooting this cuteness…
there was another mega-cuteness happening on the sidelines.
congratulations chad, mandy, and cady on the birth of your precious little guy…what a blessing!
(plus, a huge thank you to anna. not only does she second-shoot all of my weddings, but she even came along and helped in a massive way for baby davis’ newborn session. how did i get so lucky?!?)
it was just over two years ago but i remember it like it was yesterday. i stood behind the lens of my camera anxious, overwhelmed, and unsure of all that was going on around me. i was scared but so excited as i shot my first wedding – the perfect wedding of drew and lacey barnwell.
i walked into a quiet room yesterday, locked eyes with drew and lacey, and smiled to myself at the beauty of this full-circle kind of moment. once upon a time i shot their wedding and yesterday i was with them to document the birth of their first child.
minutes turned into hours and lacey worked as none other i’ve ever seen, supported in every way imaginable by a husband who loves her dearly. but as the sun began to lower and the shadows outside the window grew long, a decision was made and what had been relaxed and quiet suddenly changed to a much faster pace.
i had worked with lacey’s doctor before and praise god, she graciously gave me full access to the operating room so i could finish what i started. after a rush job of prep, the OR staff led drew and me into the room where i immediately noticed something: she was anxious, overwhelmed, and unsure of all that was going on around her. she was scared but so excited.
the lights were bright, countless masked doctors and nurses conversed in medical terms i didn’t know, and the room was abuzz with activity. but suddenly a miracle happened – a tiny hand appeared.
and just like that baby jude was born into this world.
there’s an old song that i suppose says it best…hey jude. you are desperately loved.
courtney was every bit the gorgeous bride (with even a touch of southern belle to her)…
her bridesmaids were darling…
and clifton and his groomsmen were a riot.
but courtney and clifton together are nothing short of perfection. i hung back and shot during their first few moments alone, and much to my delight, i think they were blissfully unaware of anyone in the world except for one another.
just watch the way they look at each another; the emotion of their hearts is practically bursting forth through their eyes. love this.
congratulations, courtney and clifton, on a beautiful start to a beautiful marriage!!
in honor of her birthday today, please join me in celebrating the beautiful mrs. amberly burrow through a few of my favorite photographs from her recent bridal session.
i drove up to the house early on saturday morning and thanked the lord for the clear blue skies and the cool breeze that moved the trees above me. the sun was rising above the horizon now and shone brightly on the windows of the house. everything looked perfectly at rest from the outside but inside, her family’s home was a delightful buzz of excitement.
it was an honor for me to begin the wedding day with amberly and her whole family within the very walls that have held their lives for so long now. in between snapshots of the day’s preparations i marveled at the pictures and memories that surrounded me, and i relished the opportunity to step into the intimacy of this precious family’s life.
the girls finished getting ready ahead of schedule (somebody pinch me!), and the car soon arrived to take the bride to her groom.
first looks – you know i love them. i’ve told you why. but seriously, people, these photos just make me swoon…
…not to mention that seeing one another before the ceremony leaves time for all sorts of awesomeness.
there were too many fantastic parts of amberly and derek’s wedding day to fully recount, but their wedding party was definitely among my top favorites. i love these people!!
one of the sweetest times of the day, though, occurred just before the director came to take amberly to the church for the actual ceremony. amberly’s mom, sister, and best friends surrounded her for a time of prayer for her marriage (i can neither confirm not deny the rumor that i was wiping tears from behind my camera).
they committed their lives to one another, exchanged rings, and sealed it all with a kiss. or two.
and then anna and i did something we hadn’t yet done before at a wedding: we followed directly behind the car as it took the bride and groom to the reception venue, and i’ve decided i might have to build this into all future weddings. how cute are they?!?
amberly and derek, i knew the day i met you that i would love the time spent working with you. what i didn’t know was how MUCH i would adore that time…it has truly been an honor and a joy.
much love and congrats to my friends – mr. and mrs. burrow!!
(on a separate note, what would i do without anna? i couldn’t possibly ask for a more wonderful second-shooter and friend!! thank you for all you do.)
i love every. single. thing. about shooting bridal sessions.
except one.
i have to wait weeks to showcase gorgeous ladies like emilee.
