Patti & Harry: Engagement Session

Patti had been hoping and praying for her future husband since she was seven years old. Like most girls, she created “the list” which included all of the qualities her perfect man would have. He needed to be smart, kind, have a good sense of humor, have a big heart, love family, and be a gentleman. It was a tall order which she thought could never possibly be filled in her wildest dreams – until she met Harry.

Harry admired Patti quietly from afar, watching her perform cooking demos and help customers plan their family dinners at a local grocery store. Over sautéing vegetables and bagged groceries, Harry and Patti got to know each other during their after school job and quickly realized that they had found the person their hearts had been searching for. Harry fell in love with Patti’s kind heart and passion for life, and Patti loved the way he looked at her adoringly, how he made her smile, and the way he kissed her forehead when they said goodbye. It was the perfect match. They had found the person they had always dreamed of.

After years of dating, Patti found herself wandering the banks of the Chattahoochee River carrying a large, wrapped gift. This was the last location of the scavenger hunt Harry had cleverly taken her on. After following a note which read, “follow your heart”, Patti arrived at Harry’s apartment and was greeted by another note that instructed her to take this mystery gift to the river. Harry surprised her at the river and watched as she unwrapped her gift. As Patti gazed at the painting he had created for her, she noticed a phrase among the beautiful pink painted flowers that would change her life forever. As she read “Will you marry me?”, Harry got on one knee and presented Patti with a ring. He asked her to make his dreams come true and share forever with him. He asked her to follow her heart, and so she did…

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Patti and Harry, even though we just met, I feel like I’ve known you both forever. You truly are such a special couple – so caring, genuine, and loving – you deserve a lifetime of happiness together. I am so excited for your wedding next summer and am so honored that you asked me to be part of it!

Candy, Josh, Abby, Lexi, & Will: Family Session

I had a great time shooting this adorable family last weekend! I met Candy at a photography conference a few weeks back and she mentioned that she had very few photos of her with her children because she was always behind the camera. So we focused on getting lots of "mom with the kids" shots, in addition to family photos. Abby was great entertainment - dancing and skipping at every location we went to - and the twins, Lexi and Will, were so cute! We had so much fun!

Laura & Erik: Wedding

Since we were little girls, I can remember my sister doing her "happy dance". You could always tell when she was excited about something because she would do a little jittery dance on the top of her tip toes. Erik's mom calls it flying...and really, it does look she's about to take flight and float into the sky. Laura does the happy dance the way people smile - when she's happy, the dance just comes naturally. And it's absolutely adorable.

The ceremony music started and I watched my dad walk my beautiful sister down the aisle to meet her love, Erik. My sister locked eyes with Erik the whole way down the aisle and when my mom and dad stood at the altar to give her hand in marriage, Laura was dancing. She was doing the happy dance like she had never done it before. She just couldn't contain her excitement and her feet took over. Throughout the whole ceremony, Erik and Laura were giddy with joy and love. Laura didn't cry. She didn't get emotional. She just danced.

Through many tears, I gave my maid of honor speech to my sister. It hit me that my little baby sister was now an amazing, beautiful woman who had found the person that made her dreams come true. She had found the person to share her future, love, and joy with and the person that loved her unconditionally. She had found the person to dance through life with.

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Laura, thinking of your wedding day still brings giant alligator tears to my eyes. I am so happy for you and Erik and I am excited to see what the future holds for you two. I love you both more than you will ever know.

Since I was in the wedding, I wasn't the photographer. Luckily, I was able to sneak in about 20 minutes to get a few photos of my sister and her new husband.