Ray & Melissa // Salt Lake City Wedding

In the beginning of the year, I partnered with Honey Jewelry Co. for a wedding photography giveaway.( Sidenote: If you haven't seen Honey's rings yet, you need to go do that immediately. They are my absolute favorite jeweler & I could not recommend them any higher. If you need a ring, they are gonna make you the best possible version of that ring. Trust me, just do it!)

This was my first time participating in such a large giveaway & I was a bit nervous not knowing what to expect. The fact that it turned out to be such an incredible experience is beyond me. From the moment I showed up at Melissa's parents doorstep, she & Ray greeted me with bear hugs & laughter. 

Since their actual wedding day was pretty tight schedule wise & it was really important to them to get great portraits, Ray & Mel, opted to spend the whole day before with me. To say this was an honor is an understatement. My gosh, it was a great day. We took our time, got ready in her parents bathroom, had a sweet first look in her favorite neighbors yard, ran across the street to take photos with a donkey, & they even treated me to their favorite food truck meals before we set out to the Salt Flats. This was the highlight for me because we had hours in the car to talk about life, share our stories, listen to music, & just simply become friends. To top it all off, we were racing the sun, ended up parking on the side of the interstate, climbing over bushes, water, & railroad tracks to find the most perfect little pocket of Salt Flat where all the magic happened.

The following day they wed & dance partied into the evening with friends & family. Ray & Melissa touched my heart with the story of their love & gave me hope in places that had long felt hopeless. The tenderness in Ray's touch as he holds Melissa's face. The admiration in Melissa's gaze when she's looking into Ray's eyes. The way they make each other laugh. All of it. I loved getting to witness these little nuances of their love. 

Thank you thank you, both for the incredible hospitality, kindness, & openness with which you shared yourselves with me. I loved every minute of my time in Utah with you both & your families. Can't wait to come visit! ;)

Okay okay, enough of my sappiness, here are the photos!! 

The Butlers // At Home Family & Newborn

My oh my, this family is the ultimate. Becca & I both grew up in Orlando & "knew of" each other through overlapping friend circles, but it wasn't until a few years ago when we ran into each other at a concert that we became actual friends. She is a super talented photographer so we quickly bonded over our jobs, our shared loved for getting as many Starbucks points as possible, & just our overall enjoyment of being ridiculous. 

Becca & her husband, Bo, bought their first home together just in time for the arrival of their baby girl, Willa. The house is amazing & beautiful- filled with minimalistic decor & the yummiest light. It only made sense that we would shoot at home, in the incredible space where they are becoming a family. 

Bo & Becca are so dang attractive & fun it almost hurts. Willa is a little treasure. And this day spent shooting with them was a downright blast for me. I love this family.

Jason & Natalie // Intimate Orlando Wedding

Nat & Jason are just some of the coolest people you will ever meet. They are fun-loving, kind, warm, silly & all around incredible. All my time with them is natural, easy, & full of laughter. 

They married on a beautiful spring day in a sweet, intimate ceremony with their closest friends & family by their sides. The ceremony was incredibly special- each member of the wedding party played a part in the officiating. They took turns sharing stories of Nat & Jason, words of wisdom, encouragement, & speaking life over the marriage. It was so unique & meaningful which seemed to match Nat & Jason perfectly. 

It was a simple, but deeply intentional celebration followed by food trucks & laughter. I can't say enough about these two because I love them so much. I feel so lucky to have met such lovely people & get to know them during this time of their lives. They are truly clients turned friends & I'm excited we live in the same city & can go grab beers & talk about the Magic & Taylor Swift. ;)

Alan & Shan // Love

I don't even know where to start with this one today. I'm so in love with these photos that I barely have words. I hope it's no secret that my favorite thing about a photograph is the emotion it portrays. Time and time again it's the sole thing that keeps me motivated in this career. 

I'm so thankful that Alan & Shannon offered me a window into their love, giving us the opportunity to make these images together. I definitely cried a tiny bit during the session & multiple times while editing it. Partly because I'm a big baby, but mostly because I am just so moved by intimacy & connection. I believe it's among the most sacred & beautiful elements of human experience.

I hope these images encapsulate a specific time & place of love, discovery & growth in Alan & Shan's relationship -visual reminders of the life they are building together. 

These are some of my favorite photos I've taken for so many reasons. Enjoy.

Brian & Kami // Elopement

Oh man, elopements are my favorite. They are so intimate & intentional & I always end up crying my eyes out during the vow exchange. It certainly was no exception with Kami & Brian. Last month, these two & myself ventured to a state park near the coast- it was the perfect blend of Florida greens & white sand. I was honored to witness their union & loved getting to spend so much time with them on this incredible day. 

Brian & Kami- congrats on the start of your new life together! May it be blessed immensely!

Patrick & Sarah // Engagement

Last month I was out in California attending a photography conference ( it was incredible, by the way). After the conference, a few fellow photographers & I took a mini road trip to explore & have some fun shooting in new locations. Along the way we had the opportunity to collaborate on an engagement session in Malibu & it was amazing! Patrick & Sarah are the sweetest couple. They were so playful with one another & their love was making me squeal with excitement. Even as I was editing this session, I don't think a smile left my face once. 

Major props to Patrick & Sarah who totally went along with having 3 crazy photographers at their session. It was so much fun! 

Below is a selection of my favorite images from my camera that day! 

Abby & Margot // Mom & Daughter

Get ready for some cuteness overload because Abby & Margot are next level. You might remember Abby from her maternity session in Orlando around this time last year OR her epic powder-filled gender reveal party. Well now, baby Margot has arrived & has been slaying hearts every minute of her 7 month existence. 

I was so happy when Abby asked me to capture some Mother/Daughter photos of her & Margot in their Southern California home. I love when clients want photos "just because". It's not a birthday or an event or a milestone- it's just simply life & relationship. And in my book, that is certainly something to celebrate! 

Abby & Margot have such a sweet & playful relationship. I kind of feel like they are always joking around with each other. Even being so young, Margot has a TON of personality. We had fun making these images & Margot kept us squealing from her cuteness. She hammed it up for as long as her little body could handle, then passed out in Abby's arms & slept for hours, which, of course, was also adorable. 

Enjoy!

Zach & Lauren // Engagement

Birmingham is one of my all time favorite cities & every time I have an opportunity to visit, I most certainly jump at the chance. So when Lauren asked me to come shoot her & Zach's engagement session in the city where they met, I could barely contain my excitement! 

It was such a fun day shooting in various spots around the city that hold meaning to Lauren & Zach.  Below are a few images from the last portion of our day spent in Lauren's amazing loft & running around downtown at dusk. 

Zach & Lauren- thanks for bringing me to your city & letting me run around with you all day. Ya'll are amazing, I'm so glad we are now friends & I am so excited for your wedding this October!!!

Kevin & Hilary // Wedding

Today I'm happy to share Kevin & Hilary's Florida winter wedding! The theme for their day was "tradition" & it was so evident that each & every detail was intentionally thought through. From individual letters written to their guests, to carried family heirlooms, they made sure there was significance in every step.

Hilary even took the time to sneakily figure out all their friends & families "first dance" songs & surprised everyone with a montage of the songs so each couple could relive a special moment during the reception. It was so sweet!

Kevin & Hilary- we had such a blast spending the day with you & dancing into the night together. Thank you so so much for letting us be a part of your beautiful celebration! 

Landon & Alyson // Wedding

This wedding day started at the crack of dawn with groomsmen cooking breakfast as the rising sun peeked through the blinds & with bridesmaids dancing while popping bottles of champagne. There was so much energy & excitement in the air, it almost made me (a super non-morning person) forget it was 6am! Haha. When your ceremony starts at 11am, you have a lot of celebration to pack in before lunch & these two certainly didn't hold back! 

Landon & Alyson married in a sweet little chapel in the heart of Winter Park, FL surrounded by close family  & friends. Their intimate ceremony was followed by a quaint lunch with family & then continued onto a big party where they were joined by lots of friends to dance & celebrate into the evening! 

Thanks so much for asking me to join in on your big day & thanks for trusting me to wake up before the sun. ;) Love you two!