Dr. + Mrs. Hutchins//Celebrating God's Goodness

I just love this couple.  The groom, Julian, was my husband's roommate in college and a good friend of mine, too.  Julian was in our wedding almost 9 years ago, and at that point he was just beginning medical school.  It was so good to get a message from him a few months back asking me about wedding photography because he was about to ask his then girlfriend, Emily to marry him.  Jared and I did a little stalking of Emily on Facebook (shameless) and saw that Julian landed a beautiful lady and realized we had met her before at UGA through Reformed University Fellowship (RUF).  Emily is a amazing- beautiful and smart and heart for people and God.  She is PA (physician's assistant), so between her and Dr. Julian Hutchins their wedding turned out to be full of more physicians than I had ever been around.  I think someone from every area of medicine was represented!! I am so so so glad that these two were brought together.  They clearly adore each other and the wedding was such a celebration of God's grace and goodness in bringing them together.  So now for some pictures...

Right across from the historic First Presbyterian Church is Macon's Grand Opera House.  So it only made sense that we ventured across the street to get a few pictures in front of this cool building!

Emily- you are BEAUTIFUL! these next two pictures just radiate beauty!!!

I don't think I've ever posted a benediction photo from the ceremony, but this shot just really meant a lot to me.  A benediction is just a pronouncement of blessing on something.  I love the hand raised by Rev. Stevenson- it just speaks volumes of God's blessing on this couple.  I love Julian's face as he takes in the blessing of God on his marriage, and the smile on Emily's face speaks a perfect satisfaction in that moment.  I just feel like it is a picture of God saying, "this is good."

I asked Julian and Emily to come over to another spot for pictures, and they over a little wall and then jumped from the bench to the ground... and so of course we had to get their picture being wild and free husband and wife! I know you see pictures of wedding parties jumping in the air but usually not the bride and groom! they are that laid back and comfortable with themselves and each other:) 

Emily grew up going to First Pres Macon and climbed up this tree on numerous occasions when she was little, so it was significant to capture a few pictures of her and Julian under the same tree she spent so much time on when she was younger...

and now for the reception at the amazing Macon Terminal Station! This place was grand and beautiful.

love the smile on Emily's face in this shot!! Good job with the first dance Jules:)

Jules and Emily breaking it down..

this photo cracks me up- it is of Julian after throwing the garter with his friend from college, Tim.  Julian was on stage and after Tim caught it, he ran and hugged Julian like a victory hug after winning a game! It was an epic moment.

Thanks so much to Page Hall for second shooting with me, and for Julian and Emily and their parents for planning and hosting such an incredibly meaningful and fun wedding!!!

Mr. + Mrs. Lee//Cupcakes, bow ties and lots of smiles

 

There are way too many lovely things to say about this wedding and this couple.  Ethan and Kimberly are salt of the earth kind of people, which was easy to see by how many close friends they have, how many people came to their wedding, how well the ministers spoke of the both of them, and how they genuinely cared for everyone around them.  Their wedding was at a new venue near Augusta, GA called the Barn at Perry's Landing.  Ethan and Kimberly and their friends and family put so much into making the wedding just perfect.  Some of the best elements of the day were the old doors used as an entryway for Kimberly to walk down the aisle, the wedding advice cards created like the Adlibs game, and the bowtie wedding favors... these were SO cute.  Ethan's creative mom sewed hundreds of bowties for each guests to have, and guests partied on the dance floor with them around their necks.  I was even able to have 2 to give to my little boys:) The setting was beautiful with chickens and horses and pecan trees... It couldn't have been dreamier.

Kimberly had her makeup done by Meredith Tompkins of Bella Faccia in downtown Augusta and she did an amazing job... Meredith does makeup by airbrushing and after watching her and seeing how beautiful Kimberly's face looked I decided I need some serious makeup help!! Covergirl might not cut it anymore for this photogramom:)

another favorite part about photographing this wedding: Kimberly's smile.  She has the best smile to photograph because it's just genuine and usually accompanied by laughter and it happens a lot.  Those are my favorite kind of pictures and people:)

How talented is Ethan as a groom?! He cut and carved this sign himself.  I wonder where this sign is now. How awesome would that be to have it somewhere in your house?! or maybe by your mailbox:)

I should note the AMAZING cupcakes Ethan and Kimberly had at the reception.  There were so many flavors, including key lime, s'mores, birthday cake, french toast.  I couldn't believe the beauty of a cupcake.  Especially since I'm not really a cupcake kind of girl.  But I was so excited to eat one of these; even looking at these pictures makes me wish I could get married again and have them at my wedding! So here are just a few to give you a taste of cupcake heaven...

Kimberly and her dad started out with a slow dance, and then broke into some killer dance moves, including the WOP.  I have been known to be obsessed with this song at receptions, but nothing beats hearing the Wop and seeing a dad and his daughter dance to it together, dance moves included.  I'm pretty sure I also got a picture of them practicing their moves right before Kimberly walked down the aisle.

There was a real photo booth at the wedding (photo strips and all!) and we were able to get some pictures of the guests getting ready for their booth shots- with some amazing Pharoah hats and glasses.  I just LOVE photo booths- I wish I owned one in my home.

Special thanks to my second shooter and friend Alyssa Alig for shooting with me.  She was so patient to be up for my post-wedding reindeer games by writing "love" in cursive and backwards with the sparkler:) That is some serious talent, Alyssa.  And here's a picture of us with our bowties on from the wedding.  Apparently I thought it would be better to wear it on my head.  Gotta love a picture of yourself after 11 hours of shooting- photograsweaty but loving our job:)

Daily Life//Babies + Toddlers

I decided about a year ago to shoot weddings/engagements and not family or babies or kiddos, but sometimes when friends have babies I do pull out the camera and take some of these little nuggets.  At our small church we had 3 babies born on the same day, and 2 of them within minutes of each other.  I have had the opportunity to love and hold each of these babies (baby Gus, Lucy, and Jeff:).  I took pictures of baby Gus and his big brother, Vincent, at their house.  They share an awesome room that Emily designed/decorated with fun robots and cute Ikea touches.  Here are a few of these two little guys...

Gus' face in this picture below kinda cracks me up.  Love some 6 week old baby faces!

This photo below isn't necessarily an awesome shot in terms of the photography but I love it because of Gus' long look at his mommy's face.  That is so much of what you see when they are babies- they can't hold their head up or do much but they do stare at their mommy's face a lot.  It is one of the most precious memories I have of Ethan and Andy.  I love how they study the face that carried them for so many weeks as if they know that this is the one that has given them life.

okay, Vincent looks like one of the most adorable kids ever (see picture for proof).  He's going to break some hearts on the playground.

I also took a few pictures of baby Lucy and her mom, Kristy.  Here is one of mom and baby (those are always my favorite!)

and finally just a few of my little guys... Ethan was cracking me up with his faces.  These are blown up big in our house and everytime Ethan looks at them he tries to make the same faces.  He is an awesome little guy!

here is little Putza (aka Andy).  We have been calling him Putz/Putsie/Putza for most of his life and I'm not sure if knows his real name is Andy.  Here he is, drool and all.

My heart has grown five times its normal size since having children, and I feel more deeply than I have ever before because of them.  Children really are a blessing.  Lots of times a heavy and hard blessing, but a blessing for sure.