A Look Back at 2015 | Columbia South Carolina Wedding Photographer

Why hello, January. Nice to see you again!

As the new year has kicked off I find myself now with the margin to reflect and look back a few of the beautiful, funny and wonderful engagements, weddings and portraits LMP had the opportunity to capture in 2015. So without further adieu, here are the top 10 moments of last year:

Incredibly joy-filled portraits on Folly Beach

The most adorable little ring bearer (those suspenders!)

A tender embrace that makes time stand still

Beautiful, thoughtfully selected wedding reception details

A kiss between newlyweds

A beautiful fall wedding (at the very venue Dean and I said I do!)

Romance in the rain

Exquisitely arranged bridal bouquet

Swept up in love

A bride's tribute to the Palmetto State

December Gratefulgrams

"Far from what I once was but not yet what I'm going to be." {Unknown}

Happy 2015!

It's so incredible to look back, over the weeks, months & year to see how the Lord has led, directed & worked through our lives. In the span of just 5 months, Dean & I found out we were pregnant (August), celebrated our 1-year anniversary early in Canada (September), decided not to renew our townhome lease (October), began the job search (October), slept in a hotel/friend's basement/apartment/on a pull-out couch (November-December), traveled to visit different companies (November), accepted an offer (November), said good-bye to our church community & friends (December) & moved into a new little rental home in Columbia, SC (December).

We are thrilled to have this opportunity for newness - a new location, a new job, a new season of life. Like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, 11, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born ... a time to uproot... He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Here's to living each day of the year in light of God's mercies, which are new each morning!

1. A place to keep all my prayers #Vmpjournals/ 2. Sunrise + photography + beautiful friend / 3. An incredibly (bitter)sweet farewell from my SG ladies / 4. Sharing the news about #MyFairweatherBaby / 5. Hosting our very first Christmas / 6. Capturing moments like this of my amazing sister

BIG News for the New Year!

As you can hopefully see from the bump above, that's not just a burrito belly or an extra piece of chocolate cake. Drum roll, please ... the Fairweathers are becoming a party of 3 this spring!!!

Baby Girl Fairweather's debut: April 2015!

We could not be more thrilled with this incredible blessing the Lord has brought into Dean & I's lives! It has been an eventful, exciting journey so far & we still have a ways to go before our little one - My Fair Baby as my mom is affectionately calling her - arrives (get it? That's for you, musical fans :) ).

I'm 23 WEEKS along as of today & about to turn 24 tomorrow. It's so funny how when we first found out we were pregnant, it felt like YEARS waiting for 12 weeks to roll around for our first doctor's appointment! And it seemed to take so long to wait to share the good news with everyone & for a baby bump to appear!

Practically every day I'd tell Dean, "Look, I'm bumping!" He would usually smile & be like, "Sure you are" when barely a smidgen of a curve had become visible. Now that bump isn't going anywhere anytime soon & I'm definitely bumping every day haha. And, we're over halfway there to meet our sweet little girl woo!

God has so showered us with an abundance of prayers & support from our family & dear friends over the past few months. We can't thank everyone enough for the encouragement, phone calls, emails, advice & gifts that been shared with us! And that's not all we have to share...

The Fairweathers have relocated!
Falls Church, VA --> Columbia, SC

In addition to adding to our family, we've also added a move/new job/new home into the mix. After much prayer & discussion, Dean accepted a new position with an awesome construction firm in Columbia just 2 weeks ago. Was it a a lot to leave our church, community, work & comforts behind for a new city where we know very little & don't have any close friends? And to not resign our townhome lease & sleep on the couches/pull-out beds of dear friends for 6 weeks as Dean went through his job search? You betcha.

But God :) Two of the very most powerful words. He allowed all things to work together for His good throughout the whole process. He affirmed & reaffirmed our faith in Him alone day by day. Although right now it still feels like we're on a trip & should be headed back to NoVA any day, this fresh new season is filled with so much peace & joy. We can't wait to pour out our lives here in this new town, which does happen to be close(r) to both sides of our family! Yay for visits to & from grandparents :)

Now is the start. The words of this song have been playing over in my head. We're right where we're supposed to be. Take comfort in knowing you're exactly where the Lord wants you to be, friends! Here's to an incredible new year, walking each day by faith & not by sight.

Since we're still getting settled into our new home & I'm nesting like crazy (ask Dean!), LMP won't be accepting any new inquiries for weddings or portrait sessions in Northern Virginia or SC for now. I'll start accepting new clients in the early spring for mid-fall dates, as my planned maternity leave will be April-August.

P.S. A shout out to my awesome sis for taking these photos!

{January Goals}

It may be the middle of the month but it's never too late to write out your goals :) After several afternoons of reflecting on & writing all over Lara Casey's #PowerSheets, I've named my fears, written down what I want to be filling my mental mason jar (such a great visual, right?) & the vision I have for these next days, weeks & months. I had 14 goals for December. 11 done! Still would like to bake goodies to share with our neighbors, finish our thank you cards & marshmallow roasting in our fireplace yet. 

January Goals

>> Continue reading through the Bible in a year with Dean. (We chose this plan by Nav Press, available for the You Bible app, too.)
>> Continue serving my spring bride well
>> Wrap up all our wedding thank you cards
>> Fill & drink my water bottle 3x daily
>> Review Scripture memory verses from the past few months & meditate on them
>> Brainstorm a design for a family prayer board in our home
>> Leave encouraging words & love notes to Dean throughout the week
>> Update the LMP website to reflect my heart & mission for this business
>> Sign up for a photography class/conference &research investment for future conference/mentor session
>> Faithfully serve my SG ladies & invest in them

"Your playing small does not serve the world." Marianne Williamson, via Lara Casey

happy 2-0-1-4!

It's here - 2-0-1-4!

And I couldn't be more excited for this. Now. Not just what's up ahead months from now. But Wednesday, another day that the Lord has so gloriously made & given us the opportunity to live it to the fullest for His glory.

How was 2013 for you, friend? Did you set goals & achieve them? Were you making positive changes in your life? Maybe some scary ones like moving, starting a new job or trying something completely foreign to you.

As I sit typing this, I'm reflecting on the highlights of past 12 months which included getting engaged, switching jobs, starting LMP, shooting my first 3 weddings (Fatima & Marlin, Bekah & Steve, Lara & Dan!), planning our rustic barn wedding, marrying my handsome hubby in Winchester, traveling to St. Lucia, moving into a new home & turning 26, to name a few.

Instead of posting my monthly goals for today, I wanted to share about what I'm using to help dream big this year: PowerSheets a la Lara Casey. Y'all, if you haven't visited her site before, go mosey on over there now! She is an incredible source of business, wedding & spiritual inspiration as she challenges so many to make. things. happen.

Lara Casey

And I've still got quite a bit of dreaming, reflecting & praying to do as I walk through the PowerSheets. That I would be led by the Holy Spirit & walk in the Lord's footsteps.

Here's to this new year! 

"May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart  
be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14