{August Goals}

Thanks to this beautiful Be Still print by Julie Song Ink, I've been reminded of the importance of being whom I'm called to be over doing what I feel like I have to do. It's currently gracing my laptop background as a, "Hey, this is what you should be about" prompting throughout the day.

August Goals

>> Finish reading A God Entranced Vision of All Things (carryover)
>> Relax with Deano & celebrate our anniversary in Canada/Vermont!
>> Share sample album(s)
>> Budget for new lens or flash
>> Plan & gather inspiration for upcoming portrait sessions
>> No sugary foods! Sugar Fast, Round 2, here we go
>> Continue apartment searching & line up visits

What is your tending list for the month?

July Gratefulgrams

"You are the Rock on which I stand.
By Your grace, it is well.
My hope is sure in Christ my Savior
It is well with my soul." {Hillsong Live}

Earlier this month, Mike Kelsey preached on idolatry at our campus & how we were created to worship our Creator, & yet we often manufacture other idols in our hearts to bow to instead. Idols that can't handle our worship or devotion.

He put it like this: When we don't believe God is truly sufficient, we try to take matters into our own hands & often times take good things & elevate them to be God things. Check out Isaiah 44 & Jeremiah 2 to read about the Israelites' problem with idolatry.

In light of our worship problem, Mike challenged our congregation to live our lives, every day, by the following truth: Everything I need for fullness of life is already available to me through Jesus Christ.

Everything! He is the Bread of Life, the Living Water & our all in all. Only Our God deserves our life-consuming devotion. He is the one we should lift up in our hearts & sing praises from our lips, from now into eternity. I don't need or deserve anything more & I'm beyond grateful that He does give good gifts to us as His children that are constant reminders of His provision.

1. Patriotic celebrating / 2. Frolicking in God's creation / 3. Outdoor summer nights / 4. Time with our adorable nieces & nephew / 5. YUM. Hubby & the ice cream / 6. Silly family photos

Advice for Brides: Bridal details checklist

This post is not only beneficial for brides but for photographers, too! The morning of your wedding there are usually so many things happening at once - last minute to-dos, caterers arriving, centerpieces being dropped off, family members milling about & more!

Definitely not the time to try remember off the top of your head all the bridal details your photographer will shoot as part of your beautiful wedding day details.

So how about we go over a list of them now? Peeeerfect. (P.S. What if you don't have all of the items on the list, or if you're including other details? Great! Bring the other details along :) )

After arriving & exchanging big, you're-getting-MARRIED hugs with my brides, it's time for the photography storytelling to begin! By having all of your bridal details gathered together in the bridal suite or hotel room where y'all are getting ready, getting gorgeous photos of your details is a snap.

Bridal Details Checklist

>> Your dress PLUS a heavy-duty hanger -  Wooden or personalized are great! Much prettier options than the standard white plastic hangers.

>> The bridesmaid dresses - If you have the bmaids' dresses out & ready to be photographed, it's another snapshot of your wedding that we can easily capture.

>> Your veil or hair accessories - Whether it's a hair comb, flower or rhinestone pin :)

>> The rings - This is probably one of the trickiest details to remember. Definitely make it one person's job to be responsible for the whereabouts of all 3 rings. Goodness, my hubby & I actually didn't even bring the rings out to Winchester with us for the wedding! They were locked away in our safe about 90 miles away. SO thankful for an awesome brother-in-law who jumped in the car & made the drive to go fetch them.

>> Shoes (or boots!)

>> Garter

>> Necklace - It's much easier all around if I can shoot your jewelry all together before you begin getting ready.

>> Earrings

>> Perfume - Confession time: I actually picked out my own wedding day perfume based on how pretty I thought the bottle would look in photos. Yep :)

>> Your bridal bouquet - Beside rings, bouquets are one of the other wedding details that can be tough to track down on wedding mornings. If we're taking bridal party photos or doing a first look before the ceremony, I would definitely recommend having your bouquet & bridesmaids' bouquets ready to go & ready to be photographed in your getting ready location. And if a friend or family member is helping DIY your beautiful floral arrangements, make sure to let them know what time we need the bouquets to be finished.

>> The boutonnieres - Ditto to above

>> Something borrowed/blue/old/new - It's SO wonderful to see the meaningful keepsakes bridals choose to include on their special day. From hand-me-down hankies to love letters from a generation ago, these are the intricate details I want to photograph as part of your love story.

>> Invitation suite - Including RSVP card, directions, map & any other details you had printed. Already planned to or have mailed an invitation to your photographer? SCORE! You rock!! One less thing to bring with you on your wedding day :)

>> Gift or letter for your groom or bridal party - Whether y'all are exchanging gifts during a first look, having it delivered to your soon-to-be hubby's room or handing out gifts to your best gals in the morning, this is another special moment to capture.

Bridal Details Checklist

>> Your dress PLUS a heavy-duty hanger

>> The bridesmaid dresses

>> Your veil or hair accessories

>> The {3} rings

>> Shoes (or boots!)

>> Garter

>> Necklace

>> Earrings

>> Perfume

>> Your bridal & bridesmaids bouquets

>> The boutonnieres

>> Something borrowed/blue/old/new

>> Invitation suite

>> Gifts or letters for groom or bridal party
 

Happy planning, y'all!

Advice for Brides: Making Decisions

Advice for Brides: Get more sleep

Advice for Brides: Seeing your groom

Advice for Brides: Your bridal party

Advice for Brides: Putting the wed in wedding

Slowly but surely

"Because of you, I can feel myself slowly but surely
becoming the me I have always dreamed of being."
{Tyler Knott Gregson}

Framed memories + LMP Giveaway Winner

From life's most cherished occasions to the everyday ordinary moments, my grandma has photos framed throughout every room in her white house. From table to table, you'll spy chunky baby cheeks from her grandbabies, regal graduation photos of my dad & Aunt Susan, class portraits, family gathered by the fireplace at Christmas, wedding photos that span 3 generations.

Isn't is lovely? The photo was taken at Grandpa Tye & Grandma Betty's wedding in 1952 in downtown Lynchburg. Although my grandpa has since passed away, Grandma still shares memories of their 57 years together daily & wears her wedding ring close to her heart, on a chain around her neck.

Their love for one another fills her house just as it appears in the stillness of their wedding photos. A handsome young man, raised in the country, taking the hand of a beautiful girl, who lived her life in the city. Together, they were two lovebirds in a nest, side by side, until the very end.

GIVEAWAY WINNER

Thanks, y'all, for entering the Lindsay Letters print giveaway over the past week! After drawing a name this morning, the winner of the lovely vows print is Lynsey Knisely! I'll be emailing you later today :)