another little thought.

at this point in my career, i've shot around 30 weddings.

i think that we, in the wedding industry, (including brides + grooms and vendors) need to redefine what "PERFECT" means. i hear that phrase a lot and it immediately makes me so sad. 

wedding days won't be "perfect". it will rain. things will fall behind schedule. people will not listen or be where they're supposed to be. your dress will get dirty. your hair will eventually fall from it's hairsprayed style. the sun may shine too bright and make you sweat. who cares. it may be windy. it may not be straight off Pinterest (and shouldn't be. STOP comparing your sessions/wedding to stuff you've seen on there, or instagram - it more than likely isn't real and only a carefully selected portion of what life is actually like). someone may spill wine on you. maybe people won't throw the lavender you bought and spent hours folding into little cones because they didn't realize they were supposed to. people won't show up that said they would. people that said they wouldn't come, might. your cake may fall over. the best man may get a little too drunk and give a terrible speech. your DJ may play the wrong songs at the wrong time. 

i want to work with couples that realize that PERFECTION is unachievable, but if we had to put a label on it, it'd be falling in love and finding that one person you want to spend every waking hour with. perfection is finding JOY, regardless. perfection is the little moments in-between that mean and matter more than the over produced portions of a wedding day. perfection is feeling a little bit of Heaven on earth by committing forever to the one your soul loves.

don't put stock & faith in your wedding day, put stock & faith in your MARRIAGE. 

perfection redefined is being married to your best friend at the end of the day.

featured // mywedding.com

it's always, always, always an honor to be featured on a blog, a publication, what have you. 

when the lovely ladies at mywedding approached me to feature kelly & jeremy's beautiful wedding in charleston from last november, i said a big heck yes! loved seeing these two on their website, and also in PRINT! mywedding is putting out their first ever print edition and i'm super excited to see my work live and in person. 

until then, check out the mag online and read kelly & jeremy's feature! 
click here. 

just a thought.

random thought for the day.

if you follow me on facebook, you aren't a stranger to my random PSA'S.

but i felt like i needed to put this on my blog, too. with wedding season upon us and people starting to inquire/book for next year, i wanted to write again on my blog how important it is to me to work with people that i jive with personality-wise, spiritually, emotionally, and stylistically for their weddings.

this weekend, while shooting two engagement sessions and a wedding, i had a handful of people ask me how i get "such good-looking couples" or how i "take such amazing pictures". it always makes me laugh because yeah, my couples are beautiful (inside and out), and yeah, my images are beautiful, and yeah, i have an awesome camera.. but i'm truly nothing without my couples. 

being "selective" and working with people that i truly connect with gives me the opportunity to get to know them on a different level. it isn't to hurt someone's feelings or to seem picky.. it's because i have YOUR best intentions in mind. sometimes, although you love someone and think their work is beautiful, they aren't the best fit for you and your vision for your wedding.  

simply said: when i work with people who i easily mesh with, it's easy.

when they let me in and we become friends, i get to see that they're head over heels, giddy in love with each other. my couples have the sweaty-hands-can't-wait-to-see-eachother-can't-stop-smiling kind of love. the messy-imperfect-but-absolutely-beautiful kind of love. the kind of love that watching it unfold, makes my heart full and happy. the key isn't good hair, or makeup, or even good clothes (although all that totally helps) - it's being comfortable to just be yourselves in front of the camera (nose crinkles and laughing double chins included), to listen to my (or your photographer's) direction and trust me (them) whole-heartedly. 

to be honest, your pictures are only as good as YOU are. if you have insecurities, if you're nervous, if you despise having your pictures taken, it all shows. 

we are not perfect. but always remember that your love is SO worth capturing - so be honest and open and don't be afraid to let your photographer into the secret of who you are.