Abby + Cody

I’ve posted so many of these on my instagram but I wanted The Joneses to have a spot on the blog! I have known Abby for a long time! Since my college days when I started seeing her to get my hair done. She is the kindest, coolest person and I am so thankful that I have been able to capture her family for several years now.

Abby and Cody’s wedding was the best! They had their ceremony at Our Lady of Wisdom on campus, which is actually the same place where Jeremy and I got married! After the ceremony, the reception was at Black Rabbit on the Square! It was the best venue. They had long wooden table in Kissing Alley and it was just so pretty. And of course we had to make a stop at the Shade before the reception! It is the place where Cody proposed to Abby!

The best couple, the best venue and they had the best party to celebrate their love! I am so thankful I was there to capture their special day.

Yours,

Buse Family 2022

My summer goal is to blog more and share the beautiful people I have been capturing. I should probably go in order but I couldn’t help but share this session with the Buse family. I started taking photos of this family when Ashley was pregnant with her little girl. I love capturing this family multiple times a year because kids grow so dang fast! These two littles have the best energy and are so so sweet. I always look forward to their session because they are so fun! I think my favorite photo is the one where Ashley and Mike are looking at each other. Life is crazy and being a parent is even crazier! But having a partner to do life with is the best! When life gets hard you always have someone to look to and confide in.

Yours,

5 of My Biggest Life Goals

Happy Monday everyone!

So we are halfway through the year and I wanted to talk about goals! I feel like usually every one always talks about goals in the beginning of the year but I wanted to share with you all more longterm goals. I would love to see what your life goals are!

1. My first life goal is already complete. To be a mom! Leighton is the light of our life and I’m so glad that she is ours! I pray that our family continues to grow but for now, Leighton brings so much life and energy into our life.

2. My next life goal has to do with health. Having a baby is hard y’all! My body changed and it has been hard to get back to where I was pre-Leighton. But my goal is not specific as in a goal weight. I just want to feel good about myself. I want to exude confidence so Leighton understands what it means to love yourself.

3. I feel like all my goals so far have been about Leighton. ;) But she’s my world. My next goal is for my whole family. I feel like our strength in God is strong and we have a strong faith but the c word has definitely kept us away from going to church. I want Leighton to understand the importance of faith and Jesus Christ. I made the decision to become Catholic because I wanted us to go to church as family. I’m going to start by getting Leighton toddler bible stories! She loves books so this should be a great start!

4. Speaking of books, my next goal has to do with my own book list. I definitely read to Leighton all day, every day; but I rarely make time for myself to read. My favorite types of books are historical fiction. I love to learn about history through fictional characters. I like to think that there are happy endings in real life too.

5. Finally my goal has to do with why you clicked on my website link. I want to grow this business of mine! Year by year, I have grown with a lot of help from you all! So many of you have let me capture your life events and told your friends and family members about me. I am truly blessed to have the best clients that become friends. Being a small business owner is not easy but it definitely is worth it.

I enjoyed sharing my goals with you today! I think it is good to reflect on where we want our lives to go. It helps us be intentional about what we spend time on and who we spend it with. I hope you can relate!

Yours,

Cover photo credit: Kendall Dean Photography

My favorite childhood memory...

Hi there!

Today I am talking about my favorite childhood memory. Becoming a mom has really made me think back on when I was a little girl. Now that Leighton is a walking, talking toddler, she is starting to have favorite things (as well as things that are NOT her favorite). ;) But Jeremy and I really try to give Leighton experiences so she has fond memories to look back on.

If you know about my family, you know that I grew up a military child. Both of my parents were in the Air Force and my dad served for 27 years. My best childhood memories, are from when we were stationed in Germany. I could go on and on about the amazing memories we made. But I think my favorite childhood memory is living in the German town, Mackenbach. It was the quietest town with the best little bakery and restaurants.  My sister and I would walk to the local market with a few euros to get gummies. As a family, we would go on nightly walks in the trails behind our neighborhood. We also learned a lot about German life just living in that town. They take care of their lawns with special care and they do not work on Sunday’s. Even the shops are closed. The people were the best too. My sister and I would race home so we could see our favorite ice cream man when he drove down the street; and the ladies across the street would always bring us candy. Our landlords were the best as well. They still live in our house and we got to go visit them 12 years after we had left.

One day, when Leighton is older, I would love to take her back and show her where I grew up. I want to make new memories with her in one of my favorite places. Then she can have a fond childhood memory just like her momma.

Yours,

Here are some of my favorite pictures of Mackenbach.

branding session with starla

Hi there!

I wanted to share a fun session I just did in the beginning of June! A local real estate agent, Starla Barlow, reached out to me and wanted some branding photos. She wanted images to share on social media that made her stand out and represented her brand.

I was so excited to work with her and the photos came out amazing! She had a clear vision for what she wanted so it made it so so easy to work with her. We walked around downtown Austin and found the cutest coffee shop called Codependent. We had so much fun sipping lattes and I got to learn more about what she does and about her family.

I cannot wait to do more sessions like Starla’s! We had such a good time capturing her personality. It is so important to show the face of your business so people can really get to know what you bring to the table!

Yours,

@starlabarlow

@codependentatx

Doing BIG things in 2020!

I just wanted to say a big CONGRATS to anyone who accomplished anything in 2020! I know people who have graduated, gotten engaged, planned weddings, had babies, and worked through so much in 2020. This year has not been easy for anyone and I just wanted to tell everyone GREAT JOB! You may have had your doubts this year or lost your faith at times…..but you made it through better and stronger.

I reflect on this year and I think that it’s times like these that make us who we are. God finds ways to get us through the hard things in life but it is not without a little work on our end. Even though this year was a doozy, I really believe that I am coming out a better and stronger person. I am so ready for 2021 and all the joy that it will bring. And even if 2021 still has its challenges, I am going to hold onto those moments of joy because there is so much to be thankful for.

I am thankful for my friends and family. I am thankful for my little Leighton Lee. I am thankful for each one of you. Here are some moments that deserve a big applause for 2020. Remember the good times and think of how far we have come. You are strong and capable and I believe in you! :)

Yours,

Abby and Cody --Maternity--

Rolling with the baby trend, because that’s all I can think about……I wanted to share Abby and Cody’s maternity session. Abby is my dear friend and our due dates are literally THREE DAYS APART!! She did my hair back in December (side note: She works at Monroe’s in San Marcos and she’s the best.) and I remember us talking about having babies and when that was going to happen for us. Well turns out, we were both pregnant but didn’t know it then! So crazy how God has a plan for each and every one of us! :)

I’ve known Abby since she started doing my hair in college! I was so stubborn when we started moving around that I would wait until I was back for a holiday to actually get my hair done. Well laziness also played into not getting it done. I just never wanted to find someone else. ;) ANYWAYS, I did Abby and Cody’s wedding back in October of last year and it was so much dang fun! They’re my favorite. And now they are about to welcome sweet Ephraim into the world! I cannot wait!!!

For this session, we redid their engagement pictures down at the square in San Marcos and it was equally as hot as when we did them last time (especially in Texas in July). We got some great shots in a short amount of time, because Cody did not want to either of us going into labor during the session. ;) I just love that every time I do a session with these two, there are so many laughs and funny moments. They are going to be FANTASTIC parents and I can’t wait for both of our babes to get here!

Yours,

Baby Carli

Since my baby’s due date is less than two weeks away, I’m really loving looking back at all the little babes that I have gotten the joy of taking their first pictures. I met Ashley and her gorgeous fam when we did her maternity pictures just a few months before Carli arrived and I instantly fell in love with all of them! I definitely still need to share those maternity pictures because Ashley was such a model but the baby fever is real y’all!

Ashley asked if I was willing to do hospital pictures for her since she never got them done with her oldest and I was SO pumped that she asked. To be completely honest, this was my first time doing a session in a hospital but Ashley was still so awesome to trust me to capture those moments. This has to be one of my favorite sessions because there is just something so sweet about a brand new baby! I loved watching Ashley and Mike just hold and love on their new little one. Cooper was also very entertaining and I got some fun shots of him running around the room!

I hope Ashley and her family look back at these photos with awesome memories of when they became a family of four. Even though there’s not a fancy background there was so much love in that hospital room and those are memories that last a lifetime.

Yours,

Sade and Jalen

I’ve been thinking about Sade and Jalen a lot throughout this pregnancy because our due dates were so close. It is so fun to have someone you know that is going through the same things….especially growing a baby! Fast forward to today, they have a week old baby named Cruz and I am so so excited for them to start the journey of parenthood. (As I am patiently waiting for my little one to arrive). But I am eating up all of Sade and Jalen’s posts of Cruz.

I actually met Sade in college because we were in the same sorority. My time in Chi Beta was filled with service and friendship and I will have those memories forever. I’m so thankful I met awesome ladies like Sade! Even though we don’t talk all the time, I love seeing where her life has taken her after college. Social media is my favorite because I get to keep up with everyone, even in quarantine. ;)

We did their session down at the Pearl in San Antonio and I would LOVE to go down there again and again. There are so many fun spots with all the cool architecture. It was such a perfect day and you could really see the love between them two. My favorite part of this session is when we did our final shots on the bridge. I loved the candid moments we captured.

Yours,

10 Things You May Not Know

Hey y’all!

I thought I’d share a little bit of me today on the blog. Some of these facts are serious and some are just for fun! My hope is that by showing you a little more of myself, we can find another way to connect…instead of just through your photos! So here it goes, 10 things you may not know about me.

1. I’m a teacher! This is something I don’t share a lot about because I try to just share the photography part of my life on this platform. But that is how I started this business of mine. I started taking pictures of my teacher friends and it’s my favorite because I have such good relationships with those families. I have a few that have been around since the very beginning and it warms my heart to visit them and see all my photos on their walls. But my teacher skills also come in very handy because I LOVE kiddos. And happy kids means good photos. ;)

2. Romans 8:38-39 is my favorite. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

3. I’m a big sister! My little sister is a year younger and we are so so close! She’s the most beautiful, driven red head I know and she’s my favorite.

4. I am pretty musically inclined! I did marching band in high school and college and those memories are some of my favorites. If you know anything about Texas, Friday night football games are a big deal! Football season was definitely a busy time for my family but we loved every minute of it. But I have been singing to the top of my lungs (not super well) for as long as I can remember. I just think music can really give life to a lot of things and I really love all kinds!

5. Going with the music trend, I am super good at naming songs even in the first couple seconds. My best genres are country and Disney but it is so much fun! I am your girl if you need help on a trivia round….music rounds are my favorite!

6. My husband is an athletic trainer! (I know not technically about me!… But he’s my better half.) Therefore, football runs are lives for half the year but we love it! He’s extremely good at what he does and I love watching him on the field.

7. I love to read but I’m such a slow reader. Audiobooks are definitely my jam and my husband and I love to listen to a book together before we go to sleep.

8. I’m an extremely fast typer. It’s a skill that came in handy when I left those ten page papers until the very last minute in college.

9. I love to travel but hate traveling alone. I get motion sickness so my biggest fear is getting sick surrounded by strangers.

10. I’m about to have a baby!! I’m a first time momma and so freaking excited/anxious/every other emotion. ;) Definitely ready for this baby to come because this Texas heat is no joke!

I hope you had fun reading these! Leave a comment if we have something in common or tell me something about you! I would love to hear more about you. :)

Yours,

Grano Family

This is the Grano family! I worked with JoJo in Albuquerque and every year, I get the pleasure of visiting and taking their family photos. This is truly one of my favorite parts of being a photographer. I get to see families grow. I love seeing how tall Nora and Owen have gotten over the year and every year their personality has blossomed even more!

JoJo and Kris have an amazing relationship and they are such good parents. I love seeing their love for their kids and their love for each other. No matter how crazy things get, they still have that “look”. That’s the kind of love I think we should all go for!

The Grano family sessions are always active because that’s what you need to do when you have two littles. But those are my favorite moments. I love running ahead of everyone and getting those candid, action shots. To see the joy in their smiles and their adventurous spirits. Even though the New Mexico weather is not always on our side, we always stick it out and get some great photos.

I’m sharing my favorite photos from the past couple years because you know, still catching up! :)

Yours,

My Favorites

Today I wanted to talk about my FAVORITE type of photo sessions. As I was thinking about this I was a little torn because I love it ALL! I love babies, families, weddings, and seniors….just all the things. I think that is the great thing about photography is that it captures all of life’s moments. The basic simple things like walking through a park and the big things like getting married. But I feel like out of everything, my favorite sessions are families.

The reason I love shooting families so much is that I get to see the love that is between them. We get to run around and play and these shoots are just so fun. I’ve said this before, but another reason I love doing these family sessions is that I usually get to do them every year. That means I get to see how big the littles have gotten and how they have grown as a family.

I personally value family so much that it makes family sessions so important and special to me. It shows me the joy of being a parent and the joy of being a kid. It makes me look forward to being a parent with my husband one day and sharing that joy together. I’m going to share some of my all time favorite family moments below. Enjoy!

Yours,

Norried Wedding

Next up on my series of catching up….Kylie and Dustin’s big day! I am so glad I was able to be a part of this day in the beautiful mountainside! I met Kylie and her mom through a recommendation of a friend! Kylie and Dustin have been together for many years and it was so apparent because you could just see the love in their eyes all day! It was a perfect fall day and the sun was shining!

Kylie and Dustin had so many people there to celebrate them and a lot of their wedding party was made up of family! I loved it because it really made the day special. Kylie also put so much into her day. All of her flowers were handmade and they decorated her bouquet and all of the reception decor…….so pretty! The venue also made the day unforgettable! Tannenbaum is straight up Mt. Rose Highway and the views are fantastic! It is the perfect place to get married. The outdoor ceremony was the perfect start to this couple’s forever!

My absolute favorite part of the day was watching Dustin’s reaction when he saw his bride. You could just see on his face how much love there is between the two. He couldn’t wait to kiss her and be her husband! Watching the groom’s reaction will always be at the top of my list because it makes me think back to my wedding and seeing my husband as I walked down the aisle! Ahhhhh, the love…..it makes me tear up just thinking about it.

Yours,

stylin'

I wanted to spend some time today talking about what to wear to your session! Personally, I feel like planning out your outfits is one of the most important preparations you can take! I want to give you photos that you will cherish and print and put up on your wall for everyone to see. Here are some tips and examples to make your outfits bomb!

1. If one person is wearing a pattern, have the other person wear a solid color that accentuates or matches that pattern.

2. Pick one piece and take the colors out of it to dress the rest of your family. Different shades of the same color work as well!

3. Use layers to make outfits more put together. Also, use dark, medium, and light neutral colors to add variety.

4. Make sure to not overdo patterns. Putting your little in a pattern is a great idea because they will usually be in the middle…creating a balance with mom and dad in solid, coordinating colors.

5. Keep it light and simple. Jean and white are a great, classic combo that will go with any background!

I hope these tips will help you plan your next session! Need more help? Hit up Pinterest or lay things out and send me a pic! I am happy to help you achieve that stylin’ look you are looking for!

Yours,

Corbett Wedding

I have a confession to make. I am wayyyyy behind in my blogging. But I have so many sessions that I want to share with you all! So here we go! I met Austin and Madison because Austin was one of Jeremy’s football players. My husband was the Athletic Trainer for the University of Nevada and mentioned that I did photography.

Madison and Austin are such a fun, loving couple! Madison played volleyball and Austin, football. So they are both way more athletically inclined than I am, HA! But in all seriousness, I loved shooting this wedding because you could see the love between them and it was an all day event! They got married in the morning, then we got to play around on the football field before the reception. It was a beautiful sunny day and it was so fun doing group photos at the temple. My favorite part of the day was going to the UNR field and getting some action shots. We even had Madison get down in Austin’s football stance with him!

Another great part of their day was their wedding party. They had such great group of guys and ladies that made the day so enjoyable! The guys definitely made the night with their dance moves! ;) Lavender Ridge was such an amazing venue and they handled everything beautifully!

Now Austin and Madison live in Cleveland because Austin was drafted by the Browns!! It’s so exciting that he has made it to the NFL and it couldn’t have happened to a nicer couple! They truly have the best hearts and I am so glad they had me be a part of their day! So if you are watching a Browns game….root for #63!

Yours,

hi, there

Hi y’all!!

I thought I would tell you all a little bit about myself and how I got here. I grew up a military girl and it really has made me who I am today. We lived in Germany for five years and this is where my love for photography really grew. I saved up all my allowance money to buy a little point-and-shoot (pretty sure it only had a 3.1 megapixels) and I was in love. We saw so many amazing things and learned so much about culture and history.

Fast forward to high-school graduation and I got my first Nikon! I went to college and majored in education but I always worked on my photography here and there. When my husband and I moved to Albuquerque after graduation, I really started my business. Some amazing co-workers took a chance on me and let me photograph their families. I still photograph them to this day! So crazy!

Then we moved to Nevada for my husband’s job and I started doing weddings. These are so much fun! My wedding was the best day of my life and I love getting to capture that for other couples. I really cannot decide if I like family sessions or weddings better. Both are so joyous and I love them! I love seeing families grow each year but I also love wiping my tears during a father-daughter dance. I truly love it because my creativity flows through my photography and it is so much fun. It literally does not feel like a job at all!

Yours,

Leland Family

Now that we have experienced a winter in Nevada, I know that a cute Columbia fleece will not be enough to get you through the winter. This Texas girl has had to adapt to this cold Nevada winter and now I'm wishing ole Punxsutawney Phil had not seen his shadow. I am definitely ready for the sunshine and some HEAT!

When I scheduled the Leland's session, the weather was actually starting to look promising. But mother nature had another idea of what she wanted to do on that Saturday afternoon. Even though it was a little rainy, the Lelands were great sports and their two little ones are just the cutest. And the session ended with cake! How much better can it get? So glad I got to meet this awesome family!

Yours,

Class of 2017

Seniors are so much fun! I had the pleasure of working with these two during two separate sessions in Gruene, TX. Megan will be graduating from New Braunfels High School and Michael from St. John Paul II High School. I am so excited for them and cannot wait to watch them grow as they move onto college!

I love working with seniors because it brings me back to my high school days. Those were the days! I really just looked forward to Friday night football games and 7 am marching band practices. But you have so much life ahead of you and literally no clue for what you are in for. It’s just such an exciting and surprising time!

Yours,

Delaney, Domino, and Fam

Christmas time is my favorite because everyone comes together as a family. I have known this family for quite some time and I'm so glad I got to catch up with them while in Texas. Delaney did not make it easy on us but she is such a cutie. And I just love the little police car her grandparents have for her. Curtis just retired from the police force and I am so thankful for his service and the service of police officers everywhere!

Luthi turned Martinez

Weddings are my favorite. They are such happy days and everyone has a perfect excuse to dance! Even though it was a hot, Texas day the pretty sunflowers and sunset definitely made up for it. So glad these two let me capture their special day!