Jacksonville Beach Family Photoshoot

I met up recently with the Tennant family to take some new photos for their Christmas cards! We had a fun time strolling around Atlantic Beach shooting their family photoshoot. Their little boy continued to crack me up with all his crazy expressions you can see in the slideshow that my wonderful Stephen caught on camera.

Here's some of my faves and the full slideshow below:

My heart is full of thanks.

Do you ever feel like you have no idea who you are? Like, as soon as I feel like I've "found" myself, I feel like I lose myself all over again as I continue grow into the woman God is constantly evolving me into becoming. This past year has been a tremendous year of change for my life defined by the word COURAGE:

Courage to accept my father's death and not be mad at the world or God because of it.
Courage to let go of a love I cared deeply for so that he could find his true love.
Courage to love again.
Courage to sign up for a marathon.
Courage to put a smile on my face when some days I'm a mess inside.
Courage to stand on stage for my first speaking engagement.
Courage to admit I don't know it all and embrace different ways of doing things.
Courage to trust God with my finances by tithing first.
Courage to simply get out of bed and face each day.

But I've found that the greatest courage of all is continuing to focus on the positive blessings I've been given and give thanks despite what the circumstances are swirling around us.

"Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever." ~Psalm 136:1

It's that time of year again when our bellies will become full of turkey and gravy and casseroles and pumpkin pie. My mom and I are heading to my grandparents new home in the panhandle of Florida to spend Thanksgiving with them.

As I wrapped up things in the office before the holidays, I was thinking about all that I am thankful for this Thanksgiving. Here's my list. What are you thankful for? Leave a comment and let me know!

Things I'm Thankful For:

1. That I get to go on a road trip with my best friend, my Momma, to spend time with my grandparents for the holiday.
2. That my dad is out of pain and dancing with Jesus this Thanksgiving.
3. My love who continues to inspire me to love God more each day.
4. My dog Rhett who continues to find some way to make me laugh everyday.
5. Being blessed with a job I LOVE and not being stuck in a cubicle.
6. The honor of getting to document that happiest day in a couple's family history.
7. Chocolate and it's magical power to fix any problem.
8. The grace God so lovingly extends me over and over.
9. The beauty of living a life debt free.
10. Pink. Yes, I'm thankful for a color and how happy it makes me when my eyes spot something pink.
11. The ocean and how big it is always reminding me how BIG God is.
12. The health to train for a marathon to help others.
13. The friendships that last throughout the years and the new friendships I continue to meet on this journey.
14. The most comfortable bed in the world.
15. Email and Facebook and video chat. How the simple things of technology can keep us all connected.
16. My camera that allows me to travel all over the world.
17. DVR and how it spoils me with the luxury of watching TV on my time.
18. My new pink snuggly slippers that keep my feet warm.
19. Bubble baths.
20. That even when I have no idea what the future holds, God always provides.
21. Cookies and brownies and the comfort they provide.
22. The creative outlet fashion is.
23. That I live in a place that is mostly warm all year round.
24. That I just got an awesome wedding published in Southern Weddings!
25. The world "fabulous." :-)
26. The contacts that allow me to see clearly.
27. That my skin has cleared up a LOT thanks to Skin ID.
28. My iPhone. How did I ever live without it?
29. New changes on the horizon... from what I here from a little bird giving me hints, January is going to be a memorable month. :-)
28. Every single one of you!

I leave you with this video that Dane Sanders played at his PartnerCon talk. Half the time I was like "What the heck is going on in this video?" but keep watching it, it will leave you going WOW. When the video finished, it all made sense and inspired me to keep having courage as I run toward my goals and jump off the cliff trusting God will help me fly!



Song is "Glósóli" by Sigur Ros. If you can't view, the direct link is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwQmDvuORY0

Trisha & Hub are married! /// Marco Island Wedding

The greatest compliment I could ever get about my work is the referral of one of my brides. Trisha was make up artist at Stacey & Ted's wedding last year, and now it was Trisha's turn to be the bride as she walked down the aisle to her new hubby, Hub. Trisha & Hub live in Atlanta but chose to have a destination wedding in gorgeous Marco Island, Fl where Hub's parents live. It couldn't have been a more perfect tropical day for their wedding at the Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort!

Here's my favorite pictures of the day below!


A little bling!






I thought it was so funny how Trisha was sitting in the sink... literally... while she got ready.


















Too funny!
















I love this shot of Trisha & Hub, and then Trisha's mom & dad!


Yes, that is goldfish for their namecard table! So creative!




All the bridal party was married to each other. It was Trisha's sisters and their husbands!


I'm jealous that that side of Florida gets the sunset unlike Jacksonville!




Beautiful details!








I LOVED seeing Stacey and Ted again at this wedding!


Then Ted took over my camera on the dance floor and played photographer while Stacey and I got our dance on!

Marco Island on Dwellable

Pictage's PartnerCon- My recap!

Whew.... I did. I conquered one of my biggest fears.

Public speaking.

(shudder, chill just went down the spine.)

Earlier this month I had the privilege of being asked to speak at Pictage's PartnerCon conference to a gathering of inspiring photographers from all around the country.

Right before my talk began, I looked in the back and saw they were bringing in extra chairs to hold the attendees. Like, what? For me? Seriously? Get out of here! I couldn't believe it. I think my greatest fear was that I would only have like 10 people show up to my talk, but from what I heard, almost 250 people were in the room. That just blows my mind.

It was such an honor to stand up on the stage that just three years ago I was sitting in the audience as a newbie to photography attending my very first PartnerCon in Chicago. I remember making that scary switch from videography to photography hoping I would be good enough to compete with all the other amazing photographers whose blogs I stalked. I sat in the audience listening to photography rockstars like Mike Colon, Denis Reggie, Carlos Baez, Sara France and more, like a sponge just soaking up any information I could gain on how to start a wedding photography business (Funny, to look at that list back then and how they have all become friends now, ha!). Somehow along the way these past three years, I found my own style and now I get asked a lot how I get my couples to do what they do and open up in front of my camera. So for my talk I spoke about "How To Find The Fabulous In Each Bride & Groom."

For those of you reading this that were there, thank you sooooooo much for attending my first talk. For those of you who couldn't make it, I'll be speaking again about this on the Photog Retreat Cruise to the Bahamas in January. (From what I hear, there are still 4 spots available if you are still thinking of going!!! Woo hoo!)

It was so great seeing old friends and meeting some AMAZING new friends like fellow speakers Zach & Jody Gray and David Molnar. (By the way Jacksonville peeps, the Gray's are coming to Jacksonville for a workshop! They are the most amazing people ever, I highly recommend it! Check out info by clicking here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=156768406553&ref=ts

My fabulous boyfriend Stephen Knuth took a few shots of me speaking. What an honor it was to get to share my heart with all of you. I pray that what I shared can help prosper your own business in return!


Here's a pic one of the PartnerCon paparazzi grabbed of me and my sign from a tag on my Facebook.












Here's a pic from my friend Joe's blog. He's been an email buddy and it was fun to meet him in person.


Joe also took some GREAT pics of Stephen and I one of the days we were in New Orleans. I borrowed a few from his blog to show you below, but you can check out more on his blog!











And lastly, one night Stephen and I dressed up for a special date night, and afterward modeled for a night shooting workshop the fabulous Mark Eric was hosting around the streets of New Orleans. Here's a few of my favorites that we were tagged in on my Facebook.













And I loved this collage of Stephen & I's kiss by Brandon O'Neal:



And for a really embarrassing iPhone video, the last night I was there cruising around Bourbon Street, I dedicated a karaoke NSYNC song to Stephen with my Florida girls (FROM L TO R) Candice K, Corinna Hoffman, Kara Pennington & Courtney Craver! (Did I mention, soooooo embarrassing?)



Such a great time in New Orleans! I miss it already so much! Hope to see you at next year's PartnerCon!!!!!