WEDDING // JENA & JOSH // FAITH, NORTH CAROLINA

Jena and Josh are a magical couple. That's plain as day to anyone that meets them and sees how they interact together. They're loving, adorable and so kind hearted. I am beyond blessed that I know these two and was able to be a part of their special day! A couple little tidbits: a) Jena MADE her wedding dress! She used her material from her mother's wedding dress as a sash for her own, and the broach she used for the sash was from her grandmother. How freaking cool is that! So original and so true to who Jena is. She rocked it and looked absolutely gorgeous.

b) You'll see a picture down below of the groomsmen brushing something off their pants, it turns out that I put the entire wedding party in a giant red ant pile! (ahhh.. you guys knew I was going to bring it up) -- and I remember one of the groomsmen telling us to stop taking pictures of it, but I totally thought that was a moment in time they'd want to remember based on the sheer bad luck (and eventual hilarity) of it all. Jena&Josh (and their wedding party) were huge champs and took their shoes and socks off and rocked the rest of their session before I sent them onto the reception.

c) Please look at the amount of old cameras placed as centerpieces. Be still, my heart. And since they're in the film industry, Josh put up film lights as lighting for the reception! So awesome and true to their style.

d) They were married at a church in Jena's hometown and the reception was at her parent's gorgeous home that she grew up in.. I've shot several weddings where a portion of the day was at a childhood home and the nostalgia in the air makes the day so much more emotional. I loved seeing Jena in the library of her parents house, in a princess dress in the midst of a day where she'll leave the nest and become one with her husband. Such a sweet notion.

e) The images you see of them on the phone were a couple minutes out of their bride and groom portrait time where Josh's cousin called them all the way from Africa (at least I think it was Africa - Jena, correct me if I'm wrong!) just to wish them a happy wedding day. They couldn't contain their excitement in talking with her and their sadness about her absence.

Josh and Jena, you two are effortlessly awesome. Thank you for picking me. You can see their engagement session here!

As a side note, I thought Jena's initial inquiry to me laid out her and Josh's story a little bit better than my words could ever do.. so enjoy this little story about how they came to be and why they picked me! //

Josh Moody and I met on a film set, as I said, but that’s an oversimplification. After college, I got a job as an assistant and seamstress to a costume designer in Charlotte.  Josh and his family have a record label and production company in Nashville and hired both of us to do costumes for his 3^rd feature film. Last May, I literally showed up on his doorstep ready to work. It wasn’t exactly love at first sight – both of us were newly single and just wanted to focus on our creative careers. But after two weeks of working 12-hour days in close quarters, we started to notice a little chemistry. He asked me out on set one afternoon while packing up and we couldn’t get enough of each other, even after long days. We were what the other had been praying for for a long time. After production wrapped and I went back home to NC, I made plans to move out to Nashville. I moved in August and we became a two-person production dream team. We were hired to make music videos for his record label and promotional videos for his alma mater, Vanderbilt University. He’s taught me basic sound mixing and camera work. I was also hired by the label to head up their marketing and social media department – and it’s a blast! He proposed January 30^th after a lovely dinner where we had our first date and a little guitar serenade with a song he wrote for me, with an incredible Edwardian engagement ring – it was magic and I cried like a baby. We're also both total film nerds and are subtly planning a Wes Anderson-themed reception (our parents would roll their eyes). I really want the reception to have a quirky interiors-brought-outside feel. I'm gathering up as much mid-century furniture and filmmaking equipment to place around as I can between now and then. Looking at your portfolio, I feel like you'd dig that. 

// HUGE thank you to Kasey Loftin for tagging along and delivering some beautiful shots. //

DON'T GIVE UP.

So, I'm sitting here on the morning of my 25th birthday and reflecting over the incredible, tough, and beautiful year that I've had so far. As many of you guys might know, I made the leap into full time photography from a manager position at a local paper boutique back in May. I prayed and prayed and finally felt peace about making the next step in my life and turning over the leaf to a new season. I have a degree in Technical Photography but venturing full time into the world of photography (which is incredible saturated in Charlotte) was scary and unfamiliar.

But earlier this year, I got a giant tattoo of a ship in stormy waters and the words "fearless" are written above that picture. I had to make that my mantra or else I'd be living in a state of fear. All of my photographer/graphic designer/creative friends understand.. The constant struggle of will I book clients? Will I have money to pay my bills? Is this a giant mistake? .. so I grabbed my fear by the horns and ran headfirst into pursuing my passion.

I haven't regretted it one bit.

That leads me to the reason I'm writing this post! I've been so scared to sit down and actually put my feelings into words because I was afraid I would ruin the amazing memories that I created by speaking them out loud. But it's time that you guys understand why I shoot the way I shoot. Why I love the way I love. Who I am because of what I asked God to do in me this year.

Back in early June, I read an article from The Define School by the Parsons (Ash and Jeremy) and their humble spirit struck a chord in my soul. I loved how they put themselves out there as open and honest and hurting and imperfect people but unbelievably PASSIONATE about each other and their family and their photography. They aren't afraid to fight for what they love. So, like any normal person would do, I emailed them. I thanked them for being beautiful people and for showing the world how important moments are. I told them I would pray for them and asked them to never stop teaching. So they emailed me back and told me to come to their workshop (or at least to apply).. it was more than I could afford at the time but I poured over it in prayer and felt a tremendous relief about going, so I said HECK YES and booked my reservation.

Little did I know that I would meet twenty strangers who blew my mind and rocked my world with their humility and honesty.

I know it sounds so cheesy but in those three days up in a cabin in the middle of the mountains of Colorado Springs, my soul awakened.

I kept hearing stories about the workshop (btw, it's called the Don't Give Up workshop) and how it would change your life and how you needed to be open and honest and vulnerable, but I just shook my head and laughed because what's that even mean? These people were STRANGERS. Why would I open my heart completely to them? But I went in and gave it my best shot.

That same day that we got to the cabin and exchanged the initial awkward introductions, I was sitting on the porch with Ashley just talking openly (after about an hour of meeting her) about my insecurities in this photography business and she just looked me and smiled and said in her calm, Ashley way, "The same God that created the universe and all of this (she gestured to the sprawling hills and gorgeous mountains in the distance) created you. Just remember that YOU are enough.   (Thank you for that, Ash.) And as we sat around the cabin and answered the (seemingly simple) questions of "Who are you?" - I heard stories that made everyone break down (even the guys, which was so awesome to see).. all of our walls fell and we were raw and honest and crying ugly tears and sharing our fears and passions and worries.. their stories are not mine to tell but I can whole heartedly tell you that I'm a better person for meeting my DGU family. We broke bread together, cried together, we drank together, laughed together .... cried together. I am a better person because I picked up a little strength from each of their vulnerable moments.

As for the actual workshop, the teachings from Ash & Jer were less about HOW to shoot and more about the importance of WHY. (Don't get me wrong, you have to know how to use your camera, that's a no-brainer.) But they stressed that the "why" in life & photography is so much more important than the other little things. We were able to make pictures with each other, put beautiful moments into memories, see rainstorms sneak up on us in the middle of the afternoon, count the stars together and bond over sound machines and bunk beds (I'm looking at you, Jess!) We woke up to watch the sunrise and took some pictures of a beautiful expecting family. And ate some damn good food.

But after each session together, the phrase that kept creeping back into my mind was "being intentional" - the gentle reminder of making each moment count.

So I started to think: Why is this moment important? Why am I working with these specific people? What is their story? Do I care? Why am I telling them to do this? What's important about what I'm doing? In a culture where it's the "cool and prestigious" thing to get featured on a bunch of blogs because your detailed weddings are gorgeous, it's so hard to remember that I'm there on a wedding day to take pictures of PEOPLE. Of a union between two humans who love each other more than anyone else in the world and have decided to become one. The burlap table runners and succulent centerpieces should come secondary. And it's not to say that I don't absolutely adore details, because I do. But they shouldn't be the reason for booking a wedding. Now I ask myself, things like: will these images outlast me? Am I showing an honest portrayal of who these individuals are? .. you get the gist.

And it made me realize a couple of things: I want to be a visual storyteller of a love. I want to be there for the moments that you can't remember because you were too immersed in an emotional haze. I want to capture each tear falling, each loud laugh, each little smile, each imperfect moment. I want to spend time getting to know each person I work with on a deeper level. I want our relationships to be more than a working one.

I understand that not everyone agrees, or cares about bonding with their photographer, and I'm totally okay with you thinking I'm weird. But I invest time into people that I work with. It's a mutual & beneficial relationship. I want people who are EXCITED about my work because they can tell that *I* am. I want to be known as more than just "the photographer".

Coming back from the Parsons' and readjusting back to my everyday life was one of the hardest things I've done in a long time. I was in a state of complete reclusion for .. well, a really long time. Just a time for a lot of reflection, you know? Since then, I've changed my business model (the introduction of the questionnaire that you've heard me speak about), realizing that my work is *not* for everyone, realizing it's okay to turn people away and give them a referral for someone better suited, my approach, and even my mentality about LIFE.

Being engaged, or expecting a child, or even celebrating your love many years after your wedding day.. those are all beautiful moments. We're given one life to life and for some, that comes and goes way to fast. So just remember to take a deep breath and look around.

So, yeah! As I mentioned before, I was surrounded by so much incredible talent it's insane. Here's a list of their sites, go check them out!

In no particular order // Ash & Jeremy Parsons  •  Gladys Jem  •  Magnus Lindqvist  •  Sam Le  •  Jessica Cudzilo  •  Alec Vanderboom  •  Emily Tebbetts  •  Brian Kwan  •  Dana & Zac Tavares   •  Isabel Furie  •   Kerri Green  •  Nate & Jaclyn Kaiser   •  Tara McMullen   •   Nathan Russell   •  Jessi Lueck  

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(These images are by no means perfect - I'm okay with that - and I actually rarely picked up my camera, aside from the group shoots and individual assignments, but enjoyyyy!)

DON'T GIVE UP // 2013 from ALEC VANDERBOOM on Vimeo.

MARRIED // HAILEY & BEN // CONCORD, NC

You might remember Hailey and Ben from their engagements earlier this year? Or maybe Hailey's beautiful bridal session at the Ivy Place? I knew from those two times and numerous conversations with Hailey that their day would be beautiful and totally centered around their love and family. I've absolutely loved being able to get to know Hailey as both a friend and fellow photographer (she's a budding one, always had an interest in it and clearly has the eye!).. and seeing her sensitive heart for those around her.

It was absolutely adorable to see how nervous Hailey was the entire time up to the ceremony, and LET ME TELL YOU, I normally prefer the dark and moody light but their ceremony was one of the most beautiful ones I've ever been able to photograph. How gorgeous was that light? We were blessed with beautiful weather for sure. Her nervousness faded away as soon as she saw him and she really started to settle into contentment when we finally did their bride and groom portraits. I knew how important they were to her (as they SHOULD be) and we had a long time set aside to do them. And even when we were faced with a handful of people coming up to us to end their bride/groom session early (because of a cake falling over) - she shook her head and said, "I don't care about the cake! It's there, it's fine. Let's do this!" and that made me so happy.

Huge thank you to my partner in crime, Allison Kuhn for coming alongside and having fun and making some beautiful shots with me. Love you, friend!

FAMILY SESSION // DIANE, MARC & LEVI // WILLIAMSBURG, NY

If I had to only say ONE thing about the Rodriguez clan, it's that they're a loving one. Every snuggle, laugh, smile, tear, moment that you'll see here is genuine. Diane (who is an awesome photographer) and Marc (who is an incredible graphic designer) lovelovelove their little one, Levi.. and who could blame them?! He's adorable, well behaved and has the creative mind of someone much older. Let me tell you, that kid is going to be famous. There wasn't a moment of the day where he wasn't singing or "playing drums" or just listening to our conversations. He's spoiled rotten with tons of love and I can't wait to see the little man grow and explore the path that God's created for him!

You've probably seen me admit time and time again that I am by no means a family photographer.. and if they do happen on the blog, you might notice, it's always for a close friend! (or a mini session) -- but I absolutely love Diane and Marc and couldn't think of another way to thank them for letting me stay with them at the end of August. I know that being a photographer means that you rarely get time in front of the camera and it's so important to have photographic memories of this special time in their lives! I had so much fun just exploring their turf (these were taken in Williamsburg), eating at yummy places with Diane and having intense, long conversations that lasted into the nights.. you two are an awesome, Godly couple and anyone who knows should consider that a blessing.

Without further ado, the Rodriguez family!