Engaged::Ray and Candace

There’s no beating around the bush with this one. Candace is one of the best friends a girl could ask for. And this weekend, she’s about to become Ray’s Forever Best Friend. She and I managed to survive nursing school together, all in cahoots with our third partner in crime bestie, Michelle, who you might remember from these posts here and here. And by survive, I mean, of course, that we made it through by God’s grace and a ghastly amount of cookie dough. Anyone in any kind of proximity to Candace will soon find out that she is in love, in love with a 2nd Lieutenant, and that she knows with certainty that becoming his wife is her happiest dream.

We went back to her hometown in NC to shoot this Session of Love, in familiar places with familiar memories of a relationship that started when they were much younger, between two desks in one classroom.

Now, years later, these two are days away from becoming man and wife. Ray took on the honor of pursuing Candace with determination and gentleness, making their engagement day one to remember and retell. Candace was sent on a scavenger hunt to various places around Lynchburg, each with a special memory she and Ray had shared. At each location, she found a note written in beautiful calligraphy (Ray is quite talented), recounting the memory and giving further instructions. At the end of said hunt, Candace discovered her about-to-be-fiance, waiting for her with a warm heart and a beautiful ring.

In just a few short days, Candace will once again walk to find Ray, only this time, he’ll be waiting at the end of an aisle instead of at the top of a monument. He will be there, waiting for her with a warm heart and another beautiful ring.

Anniversary::Javan and Katie

These two hold a special place in my heart. You might remember their lovely Vermont wedding last year around this time, seen in posts here, here, and here. Earlier this year, they asked me if I would like to do a one-year anniversary shoot with them, and I gleefully accepted. You see, there is Something about them that makes you want to be close, to learn from them, to watch them live, to smile with them as they make each other belly-laugh.

It’s in the familiar way he hugs her.

It’s in the way she smiles up at him with her beautiful brown eyes.

It’s in all the big and little ways that Javan and Katie love each, the ways they sacrifice for one another. It’s in the way that they hold tight to their blessing of marriage with thankful hearts.

*Thanks to my awesome photog friend, Sabrena, for the inspiration behind this location. Go check out her blog and you just might find the shoot I borrowed this idea from!

You see, there is Something about them that makes you want to be close. Something timeless.

 

Graduate::Logan

Meet Logan.

She is: from North Carolina, dating a sweet boy named Luke, in love with cowboy boots, owner of the best-smelling car, AND recently, a college graduate!

She is also the loaner-outer of skirts, perfume, and all things necessary to help her friend in a pickle (“Friend” is code for me. I was the one in the pickle haha).

Basically, she’s wonderful, and I was so happy to get to have her in front of my camera for the afternoon!

Logan, I know that you’re going to be a wonderful nurse, and I can’t wait to see where the Lord takes you! In the meantime, if you ever need a laugh, I hear that driving too late at night + listening to crazy music + swerving for “deer” is always a good time

Engaged::Jordan and Beth Part Two

I know that I said in the last post that Jordan and Beth could be described as sweet and creative. And that’s true. But they can also be described as caring for others and full of growing faith. These two have such a heart of love and respect for each other, their families, and their friends. They set a quiet example to follow, and it was pure joy getting to spend the afternoon with them!

This next one is one of my favorites!!!

I love you guys. Especially when you make each other laugh like this.

Beth, you look STUNNING. Whoa.

 

Engaged::Jordan and Beth Part One

When he proposed, she found him holding something small and black, covered with the outside of a Cracker Jack box. Ya know, with the prize inside? Where surprises are waiting?

I know, I thought that was incredibly sweet and creative, too. And that seems to be one of the best ways to sum up Jordan and Beth’s relationship. Sweet and creative. These two have some very entertaining adventure stories together, some sweet and some creative, but all filled with lots of laughs and deepening love. Like how they started going out. It was all pretty much Chick-Fil-A’s fault.

One week, years ago, they were just friends. Hungry friends. And there was a Chick-Fil-A near by. Thanks to Beth’s 52-free-meals coupons, this chicken-sandwich-quest became a regular thing for them. And soon, they were dating. And then they were going to the grand openings together (if you have no idea what this is, check it out here, because it looks crazy and fun, and I think it’s now on my list). All thanks to Chick-Fil-A. So we decided that the best place to start the engagement session was at their first-date hangout.

I had asked them before hand to bring some props along for the shoot, little things that held significance for them as a couple. When we got into the car to leave Chick-Fil-A, I got a little taste of the creative side of their relationship when Beth explained some of what they’d brought along. For instance, they both love root beer, so they came along prepared for cute pictures like these:

I also found out that these two can juggle. And I don’t mean silly-clowns-at-the-circus-with-one-ball kind of juggle. Jordan is a pro-juggler (yes, I’m sure that’s a real title), and he taught Beth some of his wild skills.

Not only is Jordan an expert at these little red balls, but also this crazy, clear acrylic one that he can make “float” around using some crazy slight-of-hand tricks. So we made sure to get it in a few shots!

This was one of my very favorite engagement shoots up to date, and the plethora (yup, I said it) of pictures from it will be taking up several posts. So, I’ll leave you, until next time, with a few of my favorites. Stay tuned!

BFFs: Taylor and Erin

These two have known each other for a long, LONG time. And they’re best friends. Not call-you-once-in-a-while best friends. Oh no. These two are more like let’s-go-do-this-together-because-it’s-more-fun-with-you friends. They’re the laugh-without-words kind of friends. The whether-it’s-good-or-bad-I’m-here-for-you friends. The distance-doesn’t-matter friends. And it’s a good thing it doesn’t, because Taylor lives in California…and Erin is still here in Va. These two went through four tough years of nursing school together, and Taylor just graduated in Dec, while Erin will finish up in just a few short weeks. And since they knew they’d be separated by…a whole country…they wanted memory pictures. Pictures to remember how fun these years together in school have been. Pictures to mark the turning of a new page in both of their lives. Best friend pictures.

Let’s start with the best-friends-and-their-cute-pet pictures. Here I learned that kitty pictures are more challenging than they might seem at first.

After cute pets, we moved on to -best-friends-who-cheerfully-throw-leaves-at-one-another pictures.

The leafy craziness was followed up with one of their favorite best-friend routines: sharing drinks from Hardee’s.

Did I mention that they share a lot of laugh-till-you-cry moments?

We couldn’t go a whole picture session without a couple best-friends-go-through-nursing-school-together pictures!

And then there were the “Hey Jenny, we have some special shoes we brought” pictures. These two decided that they would go in on a pair of shoes together, shoes that would travel back and forth across the country between them. Best friend shoes.

Shoes that would remind them of all the years of their friendship.

They even discovered that they had the same promise rings. Of course, a picture was necessary!

And then we couldn’t help but shoot a few best-friends-and-their-funny-faces pictures!

These two are so much fun to be around, and their love for the Lord and life shines through in their words and their interactions with everyone they meet! Thanks so much, guys! I can’t wait to see you two reunited for Taylor’s wedding!!!

Glitches and Cloudy Days

I was all excitement today when I plugged in my external hard drive and got ready to get the second Ponder Day of Love post up and out there for all of you to see. But the computer decided not to acknowledge that the drive even existed, so instead of a picture post, you have this little story instead. Ahhh technology.

Since I have your rapt attention now anyways (you’re still reading, right?), I thought I would take a minute this Thanksgiving week to share two of the things that I am most thankful for: my wonderful family and friends. As far as family goes, we have a pretty interesting story, but at it’s roots is the faithful and perfect timing of the gracious God we serve. He has blown us away continually with His provision, protection, and watch care over us. As far as friends go, the Lord has been equally abundant with His blessings. He has brought people into my life that push me on in my walk, challenging me to go deeper and to examine my heart and it’s motives. They bless me with kind words and warrior prayers. It never ceases to amaze and humble me when I think about the way the Lord has rescued my life and brought such wonderful people to surround me. So, regardless of the circumstances, even when glitches and cloudy days (which I really actually love) occur, I am profoundly thankful.

Last week, I heard the song “I Have a Shelter”, and immediately connected to the words that spoke of resting securely, of digging in deeper with Jesus and remaining. I’ll leave you with the third verse:

I have a shelter in the storm
When constant winds would break me
For in my weakness, I have learned
Your strength will not forsake me
O Jesus, I will hide in You
The One who bears my burdens
With faithful hands that cannot fail
You’ll bring me home to heaven

 

Family::Andrew and Melanie

I hadn’t seen her in a couple years, not since she married the love of her life and started a family with their black Lab puppy, Buddy. But when she got out of the car the day of the shoot, she was just as I remembered: bubbly, beautiful blond, and all smiles. AND I got to meet her hubby for the first time! Andrew and Melanie asked about a short little session they could use for Christmas cards, and I was so excited to get together with them down by the James!

Mel had just gotten back from a three-hour excursion to the salon, and her hair looked ahhhh-mazing!

Wedding::Doug and Jessica Part One

Doug and Jessica’s engagement session blessed my heart, and you can read all about it here. I saw it as a taste of what was to come. I knew, having had a glimpse of their love in action, that their wedding day could only be more wonderful, more graceful, more respectful, more tender, more gentle, more Jesus filled, and more loving. And let me tell you, it was all that and more.

Jessica walked down the aisle to a man of God who is humble, who seeks her good above his own, who loves to laugh with her and make her laugh, who kisses her with sweet tenderness, and who could not wait any longer to start his forever…with her.

Doug stood at the end of the aisle as a graceful woman walked toward him, a woman who respects him, who lifts him up in prayer, who giggles when he glances at her, who brings her heart before Jesus for direction, who kisses him with sweet tenderness, and who could not wait any longer to start her forever…with him.

Yes, these two are human. And therefore, far from perfect. They’ll be the first to tell you that. But they set an example of what it means to live Christ in the everyday, through their triumphs and their mistakes. And now, they’re married, and learning about life together. Doug and Jessica. The Ponders.

Annnnnd one bouquet shot…just because it’s beautiful!

Preview::BFFs Taylor and Erin

Taylor and Erin laughed the WHOLE time, which kept me cracking up too. And really, who doesn’t love a shoot like that? I was too excited to keep this shoot to myself any longer, so here are three or four pictures to tide you over until their post goes up!