I go back and forth on whether I want to start shooting seniors. Part of me really likes only doing weddings, but then I go and get an incredible senior like Sarah and it makes me feel like I’m missing out on a whole world of fun.

This girl was crazy and up for anything. I saw this truck when our family did a little photo shoot one time, but the combination of tetanus, sharp glass, and little people kept us away from it. I was so glad to have this crazy girl basically run towards the truck!  

This shot was at a cemetery. Her idea. Once again proving that seniors may be the coolest kids in town.  

This may be my favorite from the whole session. I just love the look on her face.  

What’s so funny is that her mom told me that Sarah “hates” having her picture taken but that she “loved today and had so much fun.”
That is absolutely the best compliment I can get. Thank you guys. you were both so much fun.

So I decided to start a little project this year.  I am taking a photo of Sara & Luke pretty much every single day.  (Jo was invited to join in, but apparently is too cool for this type of shenanigans.)  Anyway, Luke will “change” the most, and Sara changes clothes the most so I figure it will be pretty fun to look back on.  I’ll post the final project at the end of the year, but here is a sneak peek of the first couple weeks of Sara.

 
The worst part is now every time I’m  shopping somewhere I think about buying her a new outfit for the shoot.
I wonder if I can write off 300 size 4 tops?

Around our house we don’t really do Valentine’s Day the “official” way. We call ours “I Love You Day” and we each draw a name and buy that person a small little gift. It’s a fun little treat, but not the card/chocolate/musical fiasco that Hallmark would want it to be. What’s funny is that even before we had kids Danielle and I never celebrated it much. For us it’s just never been a big deal.

It’s not that we love each other so much that every day is Valentine’s day, but it’s more just the realization that marriage is a beautiful, hard, fun, long, and incredible journey. It has it’s ups and it’s down, it’s great days and it’s not so great days, but it’s nothing that a once a year holiday is going to make or break. We find “I Love You” in the day to day routine. Folding laundry for each other, letting someone sleep in, doing the dishes, all of these are little acts that make up our life together.

So about that vase… Early on in our marriage sometimes I would leave the little plastic that you peal off a milk jug on the counter. I didn’t do this because I was a bad husband. I did it because I was thirsty and wanted to get right to the glass of milk. Soon I found out it drove Danielle crazy!

Instantly I loved it more and started doing it on purpose. :)

I told her that it’s my way of saying “I Love You.” I soon started looking for creative places to hid them. In the sock drawer, the cereal, the jello in the fridge, anything that would catch her off guard. Anyway, we started collecting them and now they sit in our kitchen. I’m sure it’s strange to some people, but for me it’s a little reminder that it’s the little things that add up.

So here is my Official Valentine’s Day though:
Find a way to say I love you that only the two of you get, something in the everyday parts of life, and then say it over and over till death do you part.

To Danielle:  These crazy blog brides will come and go but you will always be MY bride.
 I could not imagine a better life.  Thank you for sharing yours with me.  143.

I knew this session would be pretty relaxed. I had no idea it was be as much fun as it turned out.
On the way there it looked like it might rain but I knew it would be OK because The Belgium House has some very cool indoor spots, but I was hoping it would not upset Britni. Once I got there I realized that Britni already had a rain plan. Pink rain boots and an umbrella. :)
So then I started wishing for rain, but alas it never came. Oh well.

Britni went the “non-traditional” rout for her bridal session. Of course we got some great “normal” shots for parents and grandparents to love and frame little 5x7s, but in the end she decided she wanted more of the images to be catered towards Chance and went out of her way to make them fun for him as well. (You’ll see what I mean.)

  Props! Boots and umbrella in case of rain. Flowers because, well, she’s a bride. A gun because Chance likes to hunt.
And get this… she STOLE his Texas hat, guitar and fake ducks to use them in the shoot as well! How great is that?

  Britni can’t play at all, but she is really good at faking it and smiling.

  The gun was not loaded, but still I was glad Britni liked her engagement session photos. :)

  How cool is that crazy tree?

  Her mom and Krista came along for the fun.

Your wedding is such an intimate day and the worst thing possible would be to to have some creepy stranger taking pictures of you for 8 hours.  That’s why I love to get to know my couples as much as possible along the way.  That’s why I think engagement sessions are so important and that’s why I ask you guys to fill out a goofy Q&A form once you have booked.  The more about “you” that I know the more like “you” your photos will be.

Just today I booked this great couple over sweet tea at Stanley’s Bar-B-Que.  They also sent me the video of the night they got engaged.  They love to look at Christmas lights so Cameron decided to include them in the proposal process.  Take a look.

If anyone else has footage from when he popped the question, send it over.  I’d love to see it!