Tyler + Karly | Anniversary Session at Columbia Riverwalk | Columbia SC Photographer

Tyler + Karly | Anniversary Session | Columbia Riverwalk Photography

These two are just one year into marriage but have years of friendship + dating one another to build upon. Karly Richardson is a sweet photography friend that I met last year and it has such a delight to get to know her and shoot alongside her at weddings. She had talked about really wanting some photos with Spanish moss gracing them and I told her I knew just the spot.

The Columbia Riverwalk (not to be confused with the West Columbia Riverwalk riverwalk) has several spots along the water that are dripping with that gorgeous Southern moss. As photographers, it can be somewhat daunting to be the one getting photographed, let alone photographing another photographer. Not the case for these two - all smiles, laughter, sweet embraces and picky holding (seriously, so adorable!). Get to know Tyler and Karly, and you'll get to see their heart for each other, the Lord, their family and others around them. To this wonderful couple, happy first anniversary!

The Prophet Family | Photos for Columbia | Saluda Shoals Park Photographer

Meet the Prophet family - Leonard, Vanessa and their fabulous children. Vanessa reached out to me after the flood as part of Photos for Columbia. It was delight to meet this beautiful family and see all the laughter, warmth and smiles they exude for life, and for one another.

We had a wonderful time exploring Saluda Shoals Park for their portrait session. Watching all the siblings hug, joke around and have fun with their parents was such a sweet sight. The bond they have as a family unit is truly a solid foundation, despite the bumps and curves and valleys that have come their way.

Though the rains came, and the flood waters rose, the Prophet family stood firm. What a fantastic thing to be able to look back and remember - how God was faithful in the midst of the storm!

The Lewis Family | Photos for Columbia | Columbia SC Portrait Photographer

"Cherish today, for tomorrow is not promised."

For this family of nine (including their 4 fur babies), the Columbia flood last fall reminded them just how true that statement is. Photos for Columbia was the perfect opportunity for the Lewises to spend the afternoon enjoying time together as a family - walking the dogs, laughing and smiling together across the beautiful green expanse of The Horseshoe at USC. 

Jeff and Deborah, along with their son Domenique, daughter Tonika and grandson LJ, have not allowed hardship from the flooding to their home, and to our city, keep them down. It was Deborah who told me the quote above and said that their family words are: strong, diverse, think positive.

From snuggles with the dogs and kisses from adorable LJ to cozying up and laughing at Jeff's silly antics, the Lewis family showed remarkable resilience, tightknit unity and warm love that helps keep their bond going strong.

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Jake + Dana | Anniversary Portraits | Nashville Portrait Photographer

One of my absolute dearest friends married her husband 5 years ago this weekend. Dana and Jake had a beautiful ceremony and reception in Tampa and I was so privileged to be standing by her side as they wed.

Crowsy, as I still call her, and I met in high school - specifically, during the first period on the first day of junior year - where we were both the new kids on the block.

Friendship from that early morning English class also led to many musical adventures (including a snowed-in trip our senior year to NYC!), outdoor movies in Hyde Park, driving around and singing Destiny's Child/country music in harmony, beach trips, taco shack visits (may it rest in peace) and then continued on into 4 years of garnet and gold.

The fun continued at FSU with Worship on Landis, BCM activities, jumping/getting thrown in the Westcott Fountain, sitting through scorching hot and pouring down rain football games, driving to Dothan for some Bojangles and ended college as roommates.

Literal roommates, as we liked to say. We somehow shoved two full-size beds in one bedroom and shared that space with late night guitar jamming out to Little Big Town, talking about what God was teaching us, studying or not studying for our respective majors, catching up on each other's day (Jake entered the picture about this time!) and trying to survive the apartment fire.

Side note: Dana once saved my life from what she thought was a fire in our kitchen. Our bedroom door backed right up to that space and when she smelled smoke one morning, she jumped out of her bed, tested the door for heat with the back of her palm and shouted something along the lines of, "It's all going to be OK, Lorin!" Meanwhile our other roommate had just burnt something in the microwave. And I slept through the whole thing. But I still count that as her saving my life :)

Thanks to one of Jake's friends at our dear friend Christina's birthday, the two met our senior year. Although I was SHOCKED that they didn't already know each other, since they have like 100 friends in common!

Their love for the Lord, affection and major talent for all things music (Dana has an extremely beautiful voice and is awesome on the guitar! Jake is an incredibly talented composer and musician!) and silly yet sweet personalities made it so abundantly clear that they were meant to be like two peas in a pod.

We traveled to Nashville to ring in 2016 together with the sweet LaVallees and in between eating delicious food, playing Ticket to Ride and exploring East Nashville, we snuck in sunset anniversary portraits of Dana and Jake in Percy Warner Park, right in the same place they strolled around after Jake proposed!

For the days, weeks, months and years of love past and many more to come, happy anniversary to this incredible couple!

The Parker Family | Photos for Columbia | Columbia Portrait Photographer

In one weekend, life changed for the Parkers.

In October, Mike, Eugenie and their daughter Sarah were among the many families in Columbia who lost their homes, their car and their possessions during the record-breaking heavy rains that flooded the Midlands. The 1,000-year-flood spread across the Famously Hot town, leaving behind destroyed roads, crumbling foundations and hurting people.

Through Photos for Columbia, I had the opportunity to photograph the Parker family, whose home and belongings were flooded, including most of Mike and Eugenie's wedding photos. Despite the incredible loss and hard time they've been through, this sweet family was all smiles, joy and laughter during their portrait session at the South Carolina State House.

Although nothing can replace the waterlogged photos, picture frames and albums destroyed in the flood, Mike and Eugenie's tried-and-true love for each other was shining despite their current circumstances.