Warren, AR Wedding: Chris+Bethany

It may have been the middle of November, but the weather was beautiful for Chris and Bethany’s wedding day. Bethany and Chris didn’t want the normal wedding. Her wedding dress was a beautiful shade of maroon and the same with the tux that Chris had. The venue was a local church, but they didn’t want to have the ceremony inside. They opted for a spot outside under a beautiful oak tree. The sun was going down while the ceremony was taking place and the light was really good. It was a simple ceremony surrounded by family and friends and I am so glad I got to be apart of it.

Chris and Bethany, thank you for allowing me to caputre your life moment!

Til next time,

Do Well and Do Good,

J

El Dorado, AR Engagement Session: Chris+Bethany

I’ve know known Bethany a long time. We met when we were involved in the same church. But I hadn’t seen her in a while because of life. We all know how that goes. But thanks to the power of social media, I kind of got to keep up with her family. But recently I saw her again at another wedding I was shooting and found out she was going to be needing a wedding photographer also. So of course, I had to ask! Not long after she messaged me about my wedding packages and yada yada yada (inside joke for you Seinfeld fans) I get the pleasure of shooting her wedding. I met Chris for the first time at their contract meeting. Super nice guy and a perfect match for Bethany! And their little boy, Ezekiel, is absolutely the cutest!

Chris and Bethany, I had so much fun shooting you guys and I can’t wait until your wedding day!

Til Next Time

Do Well and Do Good

J

Hermitage, AR Engagement Session: Chase+Brandy

You know what I love?? A good photo session out in the country down some gravel road or in a field. That’s exactly what Chase and Brandy wanted.  I loved this session! It was laid back. It was easy. And it was quiet. I haven’t known Chase or Brandy very long, in fact I met Chase for the first time at the session. But I can tell they love one another very much.

Chase and Brandy, thank you for letting me photograph you guys!

Til Next time

Do Well and Do Good

J

Hayes Maternity

Miracle. That’s the word that comes to mind with this blog post. Why? Because that’s exactly what baby Holden Silas is. He’s a miracle. Let me start a little farther back. Tracie and T.J. have been married around 14 years. Tracie is my best friend. A few years ago, I did a shoot with her and I called it “Twelve Years a Bride”. At the time she and T.J. didn’t have any children. It wasn’t because they didn’t want any. They have wanted children for 11 years. But there have been none. They, like many other couples in this world, have struggled with infertility. They have tried fertility drugs, IVF, and a couple of other options to help, but nothing ever did. It has been a long and heart breaking journey.
But there’s something that makes this post so much more special than anything I’ve ever posted. Earlier this year she and I were talking and she was telling me she felt bad. She started naming off the symptoms and in the back of my mind, I somehow knew. But I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to get her hopes up. In the meantime, she had been to the doctor to get a few tests run to make sure everything was okay. The doctor’s office called and let her know everything was normal. But God!!!
She got another call from the lab a little while later. They asked if she was driving and told her to pull over. She did and sure enough they ran a pregnancy test and it came back POSITIVE! Yep, you read that right. She found out that day that she and T.J. were expecting! When she called me and let me know, I may have cried as much as she was.
It was an honor to be asked to do this shoot and I CANNOT wait to hold Holden Silas. He doesn’t know how long we’ve all been waiting for him. He’s already so loved!

Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good

J

Monticello, AR Wedding: Chris+Tabitha

If there were ever two people meant for each other, it’s these two. No, I’m not saying that to be cliche’. I’m saying it because it’s the truth. They really are meant for each other. I can tell from the outside looking in that they make the other a better person. They both love Jesus and they love the other’s children as their own. It’s a rare quality you find in a couple. I can tell they put each other first.
Their wedding was so laid back with no stress! That, also, is a rare quality on a wedding day. Tabitha even talked about how she just felt so relaxed. I’d work with them again in a heartbeat!

Can we just talk about the tears in Tabitha’s dad’s eye here??

When a wedding ceremony has a worship song, and the bride and groom ask the congregation to join them in worship…I have no words. It was probably my favorite part of the whole day.

Chris and Tabitha, keep Jesus as the center of your marriage. Love each other unconditionally and be each other’s best friend.

Til next time

Do Well and Do Good,

J

Warren, AR Wedding: Steed+Kenna

Another warning!!! Long Post!!!
Okay, now that that’s out of the way, I can continue. I don’t even know where to begin with this post. I’ve known Kenna since the day she was born. Literally. I was a part of her family’s life before she was born. I think I may have spent just as much if not more time with her family as I did my own. She has two older sisters and I fall right in the middle of them age wise. So it wasn’t uncommon to see me at their house on any given day.

When I found out she was engaged, I was very excited for her and Steed. And then when they messaged and asked me to shoot the wedding, I teared up. There was no way I wasn’t doing this wedding. But this post isn’t only about Kenna.

Steed is a great guy! He loves Kenna so much that you can see it on his face when he looks at her. And she looks at him in the same exact way. He loves her children like his own and treats all of them like they were always family. It’s a fantastic love story!

The six pence belonged to Steed’s grandma and Kenna got to wear it on their day

The day started out like any other wedding I shoot. Everyone getting ready.

Little girls always love days like this. The get to feel grown up and wear make up and get their hair fixed.

And they’re always watching! I love these two images. Kylee watched mom touch up her mascara and then decided to try it for herself.

Brides getting ready is one of my favorite times of the day to shoot.

As we all know, there is a lot of emotion from a lot of people. Capturing that is always nice!

Nothing like a dad seeing his daughter for the first time.

This reception was a whole lot of fun!

I had such a good time shooting this wedding. It didn’t feel like work because it was family. I love my job, but getting to work with family, for me, always makes it better. Kenna and Steed, I can’t say thank you enough for letting me capture the beginning of your life journey together. Love you guys!

Til next time,

Do Well and Do Good

J

El Dorado, AR Wedding: Jacob+Jade

I think I need to warn you before you get to far into this post. This, is going to be a lengthy one. There were too many good images and I had a very hard time narrowing them down. I always do with weddings. Maybe it’s because weddings are my favorite event to photograph. Reguardless, there are a lot of images that you are going to get to see as you scroll. The venue for this wedding is beautiful! The Granite Club, also known as the McKinney-O’Conner House, is a 7500 square foot mansion that was built in the 1920’s oil boom. It’s got a plantation like feel and a victorian vibe. One of my top favorite venues for sure!

The day started like any other wedding day. I got there as Jade was getting her hair and make up finished. A few people from the wedding party were on the grounds. You could feel the excitement. Her colors were navy and pink they complimented each other very well. The air smelled of fresh flowers and Summer. Slowly the wedding party arrived and things really got going. There were boutonnieres of lavender and bouquets of roses and peonies. It was lovely . The atmosphere was laid back and relaxed.

I love the look on Mom’s face as her oldest daughter was being buttoned into her wedding gown.

This flower girl was so much fun.

Per usual, the groomsmen showed up ready to have a good time. It was a little rowdy, but all in fun and you could tell they were having a good time.

As the morning passed and everyone got closer to being completely ready, it was soon time for Jacob and Jade’s first look. One of my favorite parts of the day.

And then finally, ceremony time.

The reception was a blast. Great people and amazing food!

Jacob and Jade, I can’t say thank you enough for letting me be apart of your day! It was beautiful just like you!

Til next time,

Do Well and Do Good,

J

Hair & Make up:  Jordan Carter
Flowers:  Jason Roberson
Venue:  The Granite Club
Dress:  Low’s Bridal
Bridesmaid’s Dresses:  David’s Bridal
Catering:  Woods Catfish

Warren, AR Wedding: Josh+Becca

I met Josh and Becca at our first meeting, which is when they signed their wedding contract. I knew right then that they were going to be a great couple to work with. They are easy going and laid back. And that’s exactly what this wedding was. Bride-zilla was no where to be found on this Saturday. Becca was the opposite. She went with the flow and even appologized if we ran 5 minutes late. I just laughed and let her know we were fine and she definitely didn’t have to appologize. Josh was funny and relaxed. Even his guys (and a couple of ladies) in his party were chilled as well. I repeat, it was so laid back.
I could tell right off the bat that they were the right fit for each other. They bring out the best in the other and their love is unconditional.
Becca and Josh, the honor was all mine. I’m grateful that you included me in your extraordinary day. I got to see your story begin. And I can’t wait to watch it grow!

I absolutely love the look on Josh’s face when he saw Becca for the first time.

Til next time,

Do Well and Do Good

J

 

Dress:  Low’s Bridal
Make up:  Hope Campbell, Salon Hello Beautiful
Venue:  First Baptist Church, Warren Arkansas

Monticello, AR Elopement: Sam+Becca

What was supposed to be a beautiful day outside with decent temperatures turned into cold, rainy one. This was Becca and Sam’s elopement. But by saying that I don’t mean that it wasn’t beautiful. Two people who love each other promised to love each other forever and spend the rest of their lives together. I have never shot an elopement before this day, but I’m always up for new kinds of events. I treated it like I would any other wedding. When I arrived at the salon, Becca was just starting with her hair and make up. She had two people working on her. Now if that doesn’t make you feel like a princess, I don’t know what does. The ladies doing the work were quick and efficient. They did their job and did it well. When it was all said and done, Becca was a beautiful bride!

I think there is something about an elopement. It’s just the couple and the people that mean the most to them. In this case, while Becca got ready, it was just her and her mom. The atmosphere was relaxed and a cool kind of quiet surrounded us. Becca’s dress was gorgeous. It almost reminded me of a wardrobe that came from decades past.

I loooove the next image. It shows the intimacy of the moments she spent getting ready.



She even decided to take the relaxation one step further (no pun intended) and pair the dress with some very sparkly Kate Spade Keds. Genius!

Becca and Sam decided to opt for a “First Look”. Now normally, I would take the couple to a place outside to do the first look, but due to heavy rainfall, we weren’t able to do that. But in times like that, you roll with the punches and take it at it comes. No our background may not have been an open field with warm sunlight, but what mattered most was getting to capture the look on their faces. It was very sweet. I can tell by the way they look at each other, how much they’re in love.

The rest of the evening went off without a hitch and Sam and Becca are now a happily married couple.

Sam and Becca, thank you again for allowing me to capture your day. I wish both of you nothing but the best!

Til next time

Do Good and Do Well

J

Dress: David’s Bridal
Make up: Allie Hawkins
Hair: Shear Design, Anna Norris
Cookies: Rachelle Mann
Cake: Shelly Byrd

Monticello, AR Wedding: Brandon+Brittany

The sky was clear with the exception of a few clouds on Brandon and Brittany’s wedding day. The was a continuous breeze and the temperature was a little chilly. But that wasn’t going to stop this small, intimate ceremony outside of their family church. The chairs and haybales were set up, waiting for the guests to arrive. Brandon and Brittany were beginning the day that was going to start their lives together, forever.
The reception hall was almost ready and so were the girls. Finishing touches were being put in place. I could feel the excitement as the bridesmaids helped Brittany into her gown. She was more than ready to make Brandon hers.

The guys were a little more rowdy, but very cooperative, which is always a good thing. It was easy to laugh while hanging around this bunch. I could tell it was going to be a great day!

The ceremony went like most do. With no problems. It was perfect!

They even added a confetti cannon for the kiss.

The rest of the evening went very well and everyone had a full belly and good time.

Brandon and Brittany, I am honored to have met both of you and I’m excited to see where life is going to take you. I wish you nothing but the best!

Til next time.

Do Well and Do Good.

J