Struck Down

Well it happened. My body finally gave it up and accepted a hardcore cold with warm and open arms. I have roots in daycare so normally my immune system is an impenetrable fortress. Not without sleep. I can count on one hand the number of *ok* sleep nights since arriving in Bellingham. My husband and I have burned the candle at both ends. We ran outta wax.

This week I've had to SLOW. DOWN. Leftovers. Ricolas. Kleenex. Lots of herbal woo-woo witchdoctor wellness tea. (this is not a paid endorsement of Kleenex or Ricola) It's been quite hard.

Today I woke up feeling a little bit better, and clearer, despite a very restless night. I think I see the light at the end of the tunnel, if we can all. just. sleep. 

Maybe, just maybe, we'll all wake up tomorrow rested and well. If not, blogging is a very low-key thing. I'll just prep more posts in this down time. Silver linings  :-)

Boulevard Park

In our short time here we've discovered that Bellingham boasts some of the most beautiful parks. Boulevard has become one of our favorites. It's a great place for a walk or picnic dinner. PLUS it's home to a Woods Coffee shop which overlooks Bellingham Bay. You can't go wrong with a great view and a damn fine cup of coffee. Woods is all over Bellingham, but the Boulevard Park location is our favorite. We've been there for sunsets..and sunrises. It was an absolute lifesaver one morning when we'd been up with our girls most of the night. A hard few hours turned into a beautiful morning for a couple caffeine-fueled, but content, adults. 

So, chances are if you visit us, one of the things we'll do is pack a picnic dinner then head to Boulevard for the sunset and a delightful, warm cup of coffee.

Where Have I Been?

Hello all,

Sorry for the silence the last month and a half. Things have changed drastically for our family in a short time, but no worries, it's a very positive change. 

Around a month ago we decided to move to the Pacific Northwest. Over the last 8 years, we had traveled here often, made great friends, and fallen in love with the culture and environment of Washington. We talked often of moving out here, but the timing was never right. Finally, back in June, our stars aligned, and years of strategic decisions paid off. Very long story made embarrassingly short: WE MADE IT and we're trying out the PNW for a year.  

I'm so excited to be here with my husband and our girls. Hoping to branch out and get some work in the city. However, I'll definitely be easing back into things. Our first is still getting settled, as best as a 3 year old can (putting pictures on her walls, visiting parks, getting our library card).  Our second is still only 5 months and not sleeping through the night just yet.  AND, there's still a lovely pile of boxes of stuff to deal with in our new dining room.

Also, we just moved to one of the most beautiful places in the country, full of mountains and water and great food and all the things... SO, you won't be seeing a crazy amount of "work" from me for a while. But I will try to keep our Bellingham journey updated. It's hard to take family shots these days. When I do, it's so hard to decide what to share and what to keep just for us. Stick around, though. A year in Bellingham, ready, set, GO!

PS:

I'd like to take a moment to shout out "THANKS" to our great friends in Olympia who let me and the girls stay with them while my husband, sister-in-law, and other friends drove the dog and our cars from Alabama. And "THANKS!!" to the people who helped my husband drive out. We couldn't have done any of this without you guys' help <3 <3 <3

Jake

Jake has a unique way of looking at things. His sense of humor is quirky, smart, fun. Be around him for any length of time, and you'll probably end up laughing. And it'll most definitely be at a joke or comment you've never heard before because it comes from the depths of this guy's ever-expanding imagination.

He's also an excellent musician. You can usually find him with a (beautiful) guitar in hand (notice there are 3 different stunning ones in his session), playing something that sounds really cool or catchy.  He strums to the rhythm of his own guitar. Yes. I said that. However, if you know Jake, you know what I'm talking about, and you know this is a VERY good thing!

I've never quite met anybody like this kid. He's one of a kind.

Thanks for letting me take your photos, bro-in-law. Happy Graduation!

Eliza Anne Powell

Our 2nd little lady, born at 12:12am on Feb 9th. 

This first month, while a bit challenging, has been a good one. Overall, things are much easier the second go around, and we couldn't be more thankful for our girls.

I'll be back at things in a couple months, but in the meantime, I'm scheduling weddings for 2016. Check out my wedding package, spread the word, and save YOUR date!

Hayleigh

Hayleigh is an artistic, old soul. She's a great subject for photographs.

She's quiet, but intentional, kind but hardworking. I had a fantastic time shooting her senior images and discussing all things photo.  Hayleigh is growing her own photography business, with a focus on wedding, and potentially, fashion photography. Her work is full of darker tones and colors, which I love. She has a knack for evoking feeling into the images she produces. (View her instagram here)

Thanks for being my first session of 2016, Hayleigh!

Goals for 2016

One of my goals in 2016 is to put my best foot forward in photography. To say yes to more opportunities, thereby giving myself room to fail. It's kind of a scary goal, but that's what I'd like. Room to fail = room to grow, as hard as it is to accept. 

I'd also like to change how many photos I share of each particular project. When it comes to portraits, I'm going to (try to) limit myself to 10-20 of my favorite shots from each session. This is going to be a challenge. Consolidating the images is always so difficult. I want the images to both have variety and flow, which feels harder to accomplish when presenting less.

2016 is going to be a personal transition year as well. As I've written before, we're waiting on the arrival of our newest member, a little girl coming in February. We are really looking forward to this little one. And our first is so ready to be a big sister, she can hardly stand the excitement when we talk about her. It's interesting to see a 3 year old be so involved in what's going on. Her face lights up, she points to my belly, and launches into a (sometimes non-comprehensible) monologue about how great the whole sister thing is. I know there will be new challenges with two instead of one. The dynamic will be different with our family. I don't want to be held back mentally by this by having too many expectations in either direction. The goal is to keep moving, keep loving, keep working..and do it all to the best of my ability. 

So, mov-ing right along.. looking forward to sharing the first session of 2016 with you in the next couple hours (or even tomorrow, depending on how things go)! I need to go pick out those 10-20 images...

Kaylee

I try usually to not place too much attention on a person's physical attributes. However, I do work in a visual medium where the focus is most definitely on appearance. This doesn't have to be a negative thing. There are so many shades, shapes, colors, and textures to people, individual things that make us each unique. I believe this variety can be used to show something deeper. Photography doesn't have to just be a surface-level medium. Whatever positive attribute I focus on should, hopefully, reveal something more about the subject. That's the goal anyway. To make deeper, less superficial portaits of every person I photograph.

All of this being said, let's get back to the initial point I want to make:

Kaylee has amazing red hair. Long, and stunning, and a perfect frame for her welcoming (and usually smiling) face.  She has deep brown eyes, that, when the light catches them just right, turn a similar color to her hair. All beautiful physical characteristics, made all the better by the person she is.

This girl is on fire in the best way. I hope you see what I'm talking about.

Kaylee, best of luck with your photography business, family, and up coming marriage. 2016 will be a big year for you, I know it! Lets keep in touch :-)

Sophie- Part 2

Thank you again, Sophie! It was a pleasure to photograph your senior year photos! I love this second set. I hope you and the fam do to!

Hi all! I hope you had a great holiday season! We certainly did. Thanksgiving hit, then multiple family birthdays, then Christmas, then New Years. It was kind of a whirlwind at times, but so very fun. We needed the break to focus on our family and home. It was wonderful.

After taking said wonderful break, I'm back at blogging for a few weeks. Baby #2 is due in February, so I plan on taking off again for a few months after the baby is born. We have the sneaking suspicion she'll be early, like our first was. Hopefully she hang out in there a little longer though. We need to get all the things done (said the current nesting mom).

34 weeks and counting! Can't wait to meet this peanut.

Onward!

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, Sophie's second installment of senior photos. I'm so glad she chose a new-to-me location. Downtown Athens is great, folks. If you're looking for a fresh spot for your own portraits, this is the place. So many old buildings with variety in color and texture- the perfect location for simple portraits. Any takers for a downtown Athens session in 2016?

Matthew

He's ten years old, curious, and super active.

All of those things, and he did a great job working with me for an hour one Sunday this October. I've been shooting his portraits since Matthew was five, looking forward to doing it again in a couple years.

Rebekah

Class of 2016

Warm, sweet, with a wonderful soul. 

Loving the way the light caught your deep brown eyes, lady. Thanks for spending an afternoon with me as your senior photographer! Wishing you all the best from what is yet to come!

Sophie- Part 1

Sophie is vibrant and motivated, with an excellent sense of style. I really enjoyed walking and talking life with her as we made our way to her favorite spot on one Huntsville's great greenways.

Looking forward to photographing this girl again in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for Part 2!

Woods Wedding

A late summer wedding, short, sweet, simple. There was a chance for rain, but instead of dumping on us, the sky provided a beautiful, defused light, the best light for bride & groom & party portraits.

Thank you Kyle & Kristen for letting me come photograph and hangout a couple hours on your special day!

The Department of Agra Culture's 2nd Pop-Up Caravan

I was very excited to photograph this event for a local company, The Department of Agra Culture  at the beginning of this month. Every so often, the DOA puts on a pop-up caravan, selling handmade items from around the world. Purses, hats, rugs, bags, scarves, blankets, etc- all very beautiful, very reasonably priced, and bought directly from the men and women who make them. I love what the Dept of Agra Culture is doing. They've brought these items to the Huntsville AL area, where similar products are hard to come by. They tell the story behind those goods and are interested in raising awareness of what goes into making each item. They've also hosted a workshop with Encourage Huntsville, to teach weaving techniques to locals (which I missed and hate that I missed!!). I'm so excited to see where this company is headed. The DOA has an interesting vision, and I appreciate their desire to improve the creative community in Huntsville.

If you missed the caravan, and would still love to get your hands on a beautiful, handmade product, check out the D of A's online store here.  Or just check out all the visual goodness on that site. Really, click the link. See what they're about!

Stephanie the Graduate!

This is my dear, dear friend Stephanie. I've known her for most of my life. She has not had things handed to her. 

She decided at a very young age that she wanted to be an engineer for NASA. This, my friends, is not an easy career path. Many sleepless college nights, long conversations running the gamut of emotions, lots hard decisions, lots of money (and loads of time) spent, and plenty of mistakes. 

She made it.

It's so easy to stop when life gets hard. And, in this day and age of "feelings," it's socially acceptable to call it quits when something doesn't "feel" right, or good, or perfect, or (any other positive adjective).

BUT...

There is much to be said for picking a thing, then sticking with and working for said thing no matter what obstacles pop up. As I get older, I'm convinced that good cannot exist without the bad. AND, nothing of value is ever achieved without hard work or sacrifice. 

I would say the best things in life are those you struggle for, sacrifice for, and ultimately succeed for. And if you embrace this idea, you realize life kind of gets interesting when it's hard. It becomes adventure.

Stephanie has already had quite an adventurous life. Looking forward to where she takes it.

Matt & Emily Tie the Knot!

Casual, simple, southern, and warm. 

Matt & Emily's big day.

 A short, elegant ceremony, followed by a reception full of open arms and no closing time. There were family and friends, and friends who counted as family, all coming together at the bride's childhood home to celebrate, visit, AND eat fantastic food (catered by a local restaurant, Shea's). 

I was absolutely taken care of by these two families. Hired as the photographer, but treated as a cousin, and wholeheartedly included in all the love on this day.

(The Engagement, The Bridal Shower)

Ariel: Part 2

A girl, her dogs, and her truck.

The last installment for Ariel's Senior Year.

See the others here and here.

The Spear Family

A sweet Mom & Dad, with a lively little girl who loves to run and swing!

The Spears also included some of their extended family who happened to be in town for Easter. See this bunch below:

Wes

Wes.

Class of 2015

A drummer, a music-lover, and also my brother-in-law. 

We shot his senior photos in some of Huntsville's grungier spots. "Grungy" is hard to find in Huntsville. The city is extremely strict with graffiti of any sort, and most places are kept free of tags, murals, etc. I'm so glad we found areas different from the typical Huntsville setting. Different is so refreshing, and in this case, these two locations were tailored to Wes perfectly.

Ariel & Blake

High school sweethearts, Ariel and Blake, all dressed up and ready for a lovely evening at their Jr/Sr Banquet. I enjoyed shooting this whirlwind pre-banquet session for two young people who made my job easy.