Love

Mikayla & Mason |

As longtime friends from college, I was so very excited to capture Mason and Mikayla’s day for them and flattered when they asked me to. Just knowing how kind and fun they’re personalities are, I knew the day would be one for the books!

The wedding took place at their family church, a lovely building tucked away in the deep woods of West Virginia. We gathered with their family and friends to celebrate the love these two share, bride and groom tucked away in their respective hideouts waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Mikayla and her mother had a quiet moment to themselves as Mother of the Bride helped her daughter into her gown as her bridesmaids eagerly waited outside the room in the still hallway.

The ceremony was sweet and loving and full of intentionality just like Mason and Mikayla. More than a few tears fell as she made her walk to her future husband, who enthusiastically waited for his bride at the aisles end.

Afterwards the bride, groom, and guests convened for food and dancing and all the fun that’s to be had as the newlyweds rung in the first of what would be many wonderful days as husband and wife. With mother-son and father-daughter dances that tugged on every heartstring, speeches that bubbled with giggles and friendship, and joy in the air so heavy you could touch it, Mikayla and Mason ended the night with a sparkling exit as their loved ones sent them off full of well wishes and love.

Victoria & Jake | Destination Wedding

Victoria and Jake’s Florida wedding was a beachy dream come true. With a strip of beach houses for the entire family to stay in, the wedding day was intimate and fun with everyone around to help bring the day together. Between that and the beautiful weather, the waves surrounding us on both sides, and love abounding, I couldn’t have asked for a better wedding to shoot for my first time in Florida.

I’ve known Victoria for as long as I can remember—she is my older sister’s long-time friend. I didn’t get to meet Jake until Florida, but his easy going manner made him a photographer’s dream to work with. As most of us know (talking to you, ladies), many of the male counterparts in a couple detest having photos taken and getting them to engage in the photos is often impossible. But Jake was the total opposite. Whether or not he wanted pictures, he was kind and respectful and up for whatever his new bride wanted. That alone was a breath of fresh air. so Jake, I’m so thankful for how wonderfully engaged you were that day. Victoria, you picked a great one. The sweet moments and little surprises you had for each other through the wedding day was a joy to watch and photograph. The loving and tender looks you shared through the celebrations were the sweetest thing. (One of my favorite photos from the day is Jake walking behind Victoria and the love on his face is so precious.)

“I really appreciate everyone who helped set up, clean up, traveled. It was a lot for such a quick trip…I feel like it ended up pretty perfect.”

- Victoria.

Shane & Mary | West Virginia Grasslands Engagement

Press “play” to get lost in the moment….

I spent the months leading up this engagement session bursting with excitement. Though I’d only met Shane a few times and had yet to meet Mary in person, their reputation was enough to make any photographer (and just anyone in general) excited to spend an evening with them. I’m happy to say their reputation was on par and they’re two of the most genuinely sweet and fun people I have the joy of knowing.

When we met up for the shoot, I warned them of the muddy ground and said that if it’s too bad, we can go somewhere else. Of course we didn’t go somewhere else--they simply laced their shoes up tighter and trudged on, laughing when the mud would stick them to ground or they would need to hold onto each other to keep from stumbling. The mild winter weather made for a soft and timeless canvas on which they painted their story.

I like to think that the footprints left behind to sink into the mud told their story to the earth, who in turn got to feel the happiness and love left in their wake.

To start us off, Shane loosened everyone up by twirling his bride-to-be around whilst serenading her with an exaggerated rendition of White Christmas. Their ear-to-ear grins spoke the telltale joy of a young man and woman in love. I’ve never shot an engagement session so full of laughter, dancing, and the sweetest of kisses. Love truly is “the greatest of these.” As humans we tend to mess up love by mistaking it for what it’s not. But, sometimes, a few get it right. I think Shane and Mary are on the right track and I’m thankful for the tiny part I played in capturing these moments for them.