Nacole and Jeremy are a sweet couple that have two sweet boys, full of vibrance and energy. I love how little boys are different than little girls. They want to run - all the time. They want to play - all the time. They want to show off - all the time. I mean, little girls want to do all of those things, of course, but not as recklessly, carelessly, and extensively as boys. I just love that about them. I wish… I just WISH I had the energy that little boys do. I would probably get a WHOLE lot more done in a workday.

So back to the Morgan family. I had such a wonderful time at the park taking some family photos for them. You could tell how much fun they all have together and how much love surrounded their family! Thank you, Nacole, for asking me to document this time in your familie’s lives! Enjoy your sneak peek!

Isn’t this cute?

Two happy boys!

Brother knows how to make the baby laugh!!

Oh yes, bubble fun!

Don’t you hate when this happens?

Hey everyone! I wanted to give you all the heads up about my Wedding Package Prices that will be taking effect in the next couple of weeks! I’m really excited for all of the new options and revised packages that I will be offering for future clients! I know that when a bride is looking for a photographer, there are lots of things that are taken into account. For me, when I booked my photographer, I considered 5 major things, and as I thought about those things, I decided that many (probably most) brides are considering the same things! Take a look at what I considered valuable in my photographer and what you can expect out of me as your photographer.

Style/Uniqueness: With my photography style, I truly want to capture each couple/family/bride’s uniqueness and qualities. I consider myself to be very photojournalistic, trying to capture the candid moments that really display personality rather than a bunch of “Smile and say cheese” shots. I valued those in my own photos, so I take to heart that style in my own photography. I try to be unique and I try to make you look unique. Really, it’s a pretty good trade!

Package Options: With my new Wedding Packages, I am catering to the bride who wants to remember her day like a story in a book. She will be able to turn the pages of her album and see how her wedding day unfolded just like she’s been imagining since she was a little girl. Oh yes, every package comes with an album. Now you REALLY can’t wait to see the new packages, can you?

Pricing: When I hear people say that they are on a “budget” for their wedding, I can totally relate. Especially in these times, being frugal and smart with your money is something that you don’t want to take too lightly. I always encourage my brides to consider what they want most for their wedding. Is it the venue? Is it the dress? Whatever IT is, that’s what they need to focus their budget on. For me, it was my photographer. On my wedding day, flowers were whirled around, cakes were ushered in, the venue was decorated precisely…. and all I remember is being with my husband. All the time I’d spent planning and researching and creating…. I didn’t remember seeing the end result at the wedding! The whole day was a big (fun) blur! THEN, I got my wedding pictures back. All of the little details of the day… the text message my husband sent, the sprouts of color in the bouquets, the toole on the candelabras, the laughter I shared with the bridesmaids while getting ready…. ALL of it was captured in my pictures. When I say that I consider wedding photography as an investment, I truly mean that it is an investment in the memories of your wedding. As anniversaries pass, you remember less and less of the day in your mind, but your pictures will always hold a thousand words.

Availability: Availability for your day is a must (duh)! For my brides, I reserve the entire weekend to you. I do not do any “shoot-and-burn” weddings the day before or the day after yours. I will be 100% rested and ready for YOUR day (because let’s all admit that the wedding day is exhausting for everyone)! I always attend your Rehearsal the night before to get a feel for your wedding location and the order of events. I also offer rehearsal coverage (since I’ll be there anyway), so that’s always a neat thing to consider! I also am only booking 3 weddings per month. As of right now, for 2010 I have at least 2 open dates for every month but January and I only have one left for June, so if you are engaged (or as soon as you are), check for availability! I do not hold dates until I get your deposit, but I always schedule consultations as soon as I hear from you!

Compatibility: This is something I valued highly in my photographer. Right when I met her, I knew she was perfect for me. She was kind, sincere, warm, and welcoming. All things that I value in a friend. And who better to be your photographer than someone you would want to be friends with? (Notice the difference between hiring your friend to do your wedding photography and hiring a photographer who could become a friend…. LOL… but seriously). When I have a consultation with a future bride and groom, I am just as much checking my compatibility with them as they are with me. If a photographer and the bride cannot work well together, the wedding day will NOT go smoothly and you will not be pleased with your pictures. The best compliments that I have gotten when shooting a wedding were when people told me that I wasn’t even noticeable, yet I seemed to be getting every picture I wanted. Perfect. That’s exactly my goal on your day. Because that’s what it is. Your day. Not mine. I want you to feel like the star. I will get every picture I need for you to remember your wedding day perfectly, but not once will you have to say “Excuse me, but I can’t reach over your camera to feed my husband cake!”

So, now that you understand a little bit more about me, my style, and my thought process for your photography, you’d better hurry up and book your wedding or session! New Prices Coming Soon!

I love the lyrics to the song “Tear Down the Walls” by Hillsong United. Hillsong is the whoppin’ huge church in Australia that seriously loves them some Jesus. I mean, tens of thousands of people attend their worships services each week. It’s so amazing! At StoneWater, we do a lot of Hillsong and Hillsong United (their Youth band) songs… so when Hillsong United was touring in America, we were PUMPED. So pumped that we totally forgot that they were coming (woops). That is, until some sweet friends from church asked us if we wanted some extra tickets they had for the concert. OH-MY-GOODNESS… did someone say “Tickets to Hillsong United”?? Holy Moly… once again we were PUMPED and this time we did NOT forget!

One of my favorite songs that Hillsong sings is called “Tear Down the Walls” and it speaks truth about how love can tear down the walls that people have formed about Christianity and Jesus. If we would just love, God’s glory and mercy would be so obvious and everyone would want to come to know God. I like how the song says “There is so much more than this.” So many times I hear people who have tried to do life on their own…. then they end up somewhere down the road, whether they are happy, sad, content, or angry… EVERYONE at one point or another thinks “Is there more to life than this?” The answer is yes. So much more.

I would love it if you would listen to this song and read the lyrics below…. They are truly incredible. And by the way, if you don’t have the newest Hillsong United CD (or any of their CDs for that matter), you NEED to get it.

Tear down the walls see the world. Is there something we have missed?
Turn from ourselves, look beyond, there is so much more than this.

And I don’t need to see it to believe it. I don’t need to see it to believe it.
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning deep inside my heart.

Look to the skies, hope arise, see His majesty revealed.
More than this life, there is love, there is hope and this is real.

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it. I don’t need to see it to believe it.
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning deep inside my heart.

This life is Yours and hope is rising as Your glory floods our hearts.
Let love tear down these walls that all creation would come back to You, It’s all for You.

Your Name is Glorious, Glorious.
Your love is changing us, calling us, to worship in spirit and in truth as all creation returns to You.

Oh for all the sons and daughters who are walking in the darkness You are calling us to lead them back to You.
We will see Your spirit rising as the lost come out of hiding.
Every heart will see this hope we have in You.

Cause I don’t need to see it to believe it. I don’t need to see it to believe it.
Cause I can’t shake this fire burning deep inside my heart.

This life is Yours and hope is rising as Your glory floods our hearts.
Let love tear down these walls that all creation would come back to You, it’s all for You

Your Name is Glorious, Glorious.
Your love is changing us, calling us, to worship in spirit and in truth as all creation returns to You.

Here are some pictures I took at the concert a few weeks ago! It was BY FAR the best rock/worship concert I’ve ever been to.

This was their countdown! Sweet!

Hello amazing lighting.

And just for funzies, another Hillsong United video that ROCKS MY FACE OFF.

AND, since I’m posting pictures of bands… I thought I would add a couple from last night’s StoneWater youth preview service Elevate. Eric is training up some younger musicians and so he led worship last night. I think it’s appropriate that their first song was the Hillsong United song posted above!

Our youth are a wee bit timid… but they’ll come around!

I love that my man loves Jesus more than me!

Long post, but hope you enjoyed it! New pictures from a wedding up soon!

On August 8th, Jace and JP became husband and wife at a beautiful outdoor wedding overlooking Jace’s parent’s lake. Yes, it’s their own lake… they made it themselves. It was a magnificent wedding, with so many intricate details. I was in heaven shooting so many details of the wedding…. It was a warm day with no rain. Perfect for a summer outdoor wedding.

I know I’m a little slow at saying so, but thank you Jace and JP for letting me be a part of your day. Micah and I had so much fun running around trying to catch all the parts of your day so you can remember them vividly forever!

Here’s a little collection I put together of the “Save the Date”, the Invitation, and the Wedding Program!

So fierce!

He looks like one confident man!

Sexy mamas!

I caught the two Jr. Bridesmaids chatting during the girls portraits.

Isn’t she stunning?

My FAVORITE shots of the day. I love how her daddy is looking at her.

I love the transformation during a wedding…. the bride goes down the aisle with her daddy and comes back down the aisle with her husband. Such a symbolic procession.

2nd Favorite shot of the day!

We barely caught the last of the light for some after wedding portraits. I love these so much.

I had to put these up. These two flowergirls were dancing and twirling and when they spun around they bumped heads! Sooo sweet!

It’s almost been 6 months since Eric and I bought our first home. Still, even tonight, we talk about how huge of a blessing it is that we have a house at 22 and 23 years old. We know that we know-that we know-that we know…. God gave us this house as a gift and a tool to use for ministry and we are so incredibly humbled and thankful for him entrusting us with a home. We don’t deserve it. We didn’t earn it. But we couldn’t be more proud to be the stewards of this earthly gift.

When we moved into the house, we were well aware that it was an old fixer upper. It was build in 1972, the first house on our street. When we first saw it, we had VERY open minds and the ability to see past so many “opportunities” that buying this house would bring…. So, in the first 6 months of living in our new home, we have slowly been working on enhancing its “inner (and outer) beauty.” We’ve mostly done decorating and painting, but it has made the ugly duckling turn into the pretty swan and we are so incredibly proud of our house! So, I thought I would show some before and after pictures so you could see what it looked/looks like! Also, I want to give a HUGE thank you to my mom and dad for helping us paint the outside of the house. It was no easy task, but they stuck it out with us outside all day in the heat, and what amazing results it yielded! Thank you soo soo much. I have the best parents in the WORLD. So… enjoy the before and afters! (I LOVE Before and After… I think that’s why I’m addicted to HGTV!!)

Outside of our house when we were getting it inspected in February. Can you say, “Hidden Potential?”

Our house TODAY! :)

The paint is not quuiiittteee finished… but it’s an amazing transformation!

Our walkway to the front door! Can you spy Hazel?

The front room BEFORE: (Notice the green AND purple in the room)

The front room AFTER: It’s now my Photography Studio!

There was a cute round rug in the room to cover up the ahem… interesting floor. BUT, Hazel was quite the stinker her first week in our home, so we had to remove it. Literally. She was a stinker. Oh, well.

Our kitchen BEFORE:

Another view with little Romie!

Our kitchen AFTER: It’s GGGGRRREEEEEENNNNN!!!!

And don’t you like the little Bistro table in the corner that Eric brought home for me one day?

And finally, our living room BEFORE we even moved in:

Same view AFTER (today):

Here is another view with the furniture we had when we first moved in…. the apartment furniture didn’t quite furnish our home the same as it had before! lol!

Another shot of our old furniture. I can’t help but have sweet thoughts of our $100 table from walmart, 2 hand-me-down couches, and ottoman that was half off at Target because there were a couple rips in it…. it’s all we could afford when we first got married and it was PERFECT for us while we were trying to finish up school. Such sweet memories.

View with our new furnishings!

Do you spy something cute hanging on the wall???? I DOOO!!!

Here’s a close-up of the 20X30 Canvas Gallery Wrap print I got of my precious niece and nephew. I LOVE this picture!

Also, I thought I’d throw a picture up of our bedroom. It hasn’t changed much, but I wanted to share it. If you want a tour of the upstairs, I guess you’re just gonna have to come over and let us fix you dinner!

That’s it. That’s our home. We are so thankful. It’s perfect for us and we are determined to give back out of the overflow of what God has given us!