{some.recent.almond.leaf.wedding.shots}

just wanted to share some of my recent 

wedding shots with almond leaf studios.

{enjoy}

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{a groom & his gentleman}

one of my favorite shots from wedding season...

gents in light suits.

old, rustic barn.

sun ring happening on it's own...

yes please.

 

(view full post here)

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{be present}

ohhhh mexico.  

i spent last wednesday through sunday in sunshiny mexico.  it was absolutely fabuloso.  i had the incredible opportunity to travel with almond leaf studios for my first destination wedding where we also got to enjoy a little vacation and relaxation.  it was exactly what i needed after this fall of insanity and i'm so grateful for my time there.

 

 last week also got me thinking a lot about being present.  when you have the opportunity to check out of your so-called reality and just think for a while, it's amazing what your brain can come up with.

{be.present}

this has continuously popped into my mind over the last few months.  i have a tendency to zone out, distract myself too easily, and not. be. present.  i don't want to live selfishly like that any longer.  all my days in mexico i tried my best to be present in the moment, soak up all of God's magnificent creation, the sun on my skin, great people all around, and just be.

it can be challenging to be present and honestly sometimes it feels like an art... one that i tend to fail.  i make excuses. pick up my iphone too easily, get bored, my insecurities creep in about what people around me think about me, so i check out.  i leave the present and try to drift off to lala land... then i had an epiphany... if you're on the receiving end of someone checking out and not being present, it can really, really hurt.  it can feel as if you don't matter and in no way do i ever want to make someone feel that way and take their friendship or relationship that i've been blessed with for granted.  life's too short.

no more i tell ya.  i'm challenging you (and myself) to be present this week. (side note :: i know you can't be "on" 100% of the time so i'm challenging you to be aware and make your best effort)  think about the many, many things you do have to be thankful for, even if your current circumstances aren't the best.  make the best effort you can with the people who you have relationships with even if you see them everyday.  your friends. your family... aren't they the ones we can easily NOT be present with because it can be so familiar?  nurture those friendships and family relationships this week.  discover even more about the people around you, the life that you live, and be present. 

{happy.tuesday}

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{some.recent.almond.leaf.wedding.shots}

Here are a handful of my recent shots for Almond Leaf weddings.

there are many more where those came from and maybe some day i'll get around to posting a few more.  until then...

enjoy!!

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{almond.leaf.studios :: a few recent shots}

the spring and early summer wedding season was a busy one for us at almond leaf studios.  we jumped from a sweet wedding in winston salem, nc, to a super hot, yet beautiful southern wedding in orangeburg, sc, and lastly to one in our own hometown of charlotte where we snuck out on a local golf course for a beautiful intimate ceremony underneath a beautiful weeping willow!

{enjoy}

{almond.leaf.studios}

how oh how have i failed to blog about this?  i'm seriously failing on the blog front, but i digress... i just can't do it all and that's ok.  it's really ok.  moving forward...

meet elizabeth marx.  isn't she just lovely? who is she exactly, you ask? 
well, let's rewind about a year (crazy talk that it's been that long)...



http://www.almondleafstudios.com/

there's no doubt in my mind that the Big Guy Upstairs, you know... the One who created the universe yet loves my little soul in such an unfathomable way.  yeah.  that One ;) ... well i know that He orchestrated quite a few events for my path to cross with elizabeth's and i am sooo glad He did.   through a "chance" meeting and later over lunch, elizabeth offered me an opportunity i just couldn't refuse.  elizabeth is the creator and mastermind behind her fine art photography business, almond leaf studios, that she has grown over the last 2 years.  she asked little old me if i'd come along side her as her official 2nd shooter for the next year of weddings.  ummmm... YES PLEASE!!

we have now shot 6 weddings together, become great friends, and i absolute love her!!  she has such a beautiful heart, a passion to see justice in this world, and a heart for God and His creation that i connect with on many levels.  plus we have F-U-N folks.  lots of it!  for 2 single gals shooting weddings, we have to keep our wits about us in some way.

i've been blessed in so many ways by elizabeth.  she has been a confidant, an encourager for my heart, a teacher of this craft i'm learning, and most importantly, a really great friend.  we're off to SC this weekend for our 4th wedding of this year and i'm excited for our little road trip!  here are a few of my favorite images that i've taken this year so far.

make sure you show elizabeth some loving because she's one rad chic!
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