WHAT. A. YEAR.

I love a good year-end recap! Highs and lows, new career adventures, new clients, new weddings to share.. and a new baby! My 2018 started out giving birth to this wild little guy in January. Here's Elliott!I gave myself space for five weddings this year, because I wanted to make sure I devoted plenty of time to watching this little boy grow. I know how fast it happens, my first is almost SEVEN. So it's been a wonderful year of intentional slowness, and soaking in all of Elliott's baby moments. 2018 was also the creation of the Pricing for Profit Bundle for photographers. Special thanks to one of my past brides, Kristin Coulter for going back and forth with me through dozens of changes to achieve the final presentation! I could not be happier with what we created together, and I think it's an investment EVERY photographer needs to make in their business.You know how they always say big things come in threes? That was 2018 for me! A baby, a dream of creating financial management content for photographers was realized, and I took on an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT career in addition to photography- I became a realtor! You can read all about that and why here.2018 has been a wonderful year. Weddings and sessions all over the state, photographing marriages begin, babies first moments in the world.. I can't complain! Here's a wedding recap of my 2018. I had my first wedding of the year in April, and brought along one of my greatest friends Julia to shoot it with me.One of my most favorite weddings I've ever shot, the styling and the florals were out of this world (Fern studio always knocks it out of the park). Elizabeth created absolute perfection, and it was the FIRST time Julia and I photographed a wedding together! Creating art from something already beautiful, spending the day with a couple who is so easy to be around, and working with your friends, there's nothing better.

Looking good Dave!

You can see this full wedding right here.

My next wedding was Katie & Chase! Katie holds the record for my fastest inquiry to consult to booking, we were sitting together about two hours after her inquiry hit my inbox. I love a 701 Whaley event, and I'm so glad I had one this year with Katie & Chase!Out of this wedding came the most favorite image I've ever taken of my life. Their dog's face in this image makes me want to frame it and put it on my desk. I need someone to make it into a meme.Dancing the night away, eating lots of great food, and shooting my first wedding with Narissa, who came on for every wedding for the year from that point!

You can see this full wedding here.

Next up was Staci & Brandon- scheduled for Saturday, September 15th. Weeks prior, we were all getting word of a possible hurricane. Week of, we knew it was coming and we were all preparing. All over the news. Plans were still on for the wedding, and we were just hoping it was going to be okay! Fast forward to Thursday night, Staci texts me and says "any chance you can do it tomorrow?". My instant thought was "no!" I wasn't prepared, I didn't have a sitter, my batteries weren't charging, my cards weren't ready, my second shooter was scheduled for Saturday... but I sorted that all out and we moved the wedding to the very next day. Which kind of cracks me up because now their invitation suite and signage have a date that is NOT their wedding day! The weather was beautiful though. Didn't rain on us, gorgeous crazy looking sunset, and the hurricane came in big on Saturday just as planned. But this time, Staci & Brandon were married, everyone was safe where they needed to be, and we got it done!

Little behind the scenes, Narissa is so quick to jump in and fix a belt, a veil, pull back a piece of hair from your face. Love her.

You can't see this full wedding yet, because it's on my "to blog" list!

This next wedding of Jamie and Michael was at a venue I had done a styled shoot in, and got to come back for a real wedding for! Thanks go to Alisha Millwood for hooking up this booking! Jamie & Michael had some GREAT details full of color. We were battling some rain, and even made the call to move the ceremony at one point which was a bummer because it was supposed to be under some beautiful large trees with chandeliers hanging from them. At the last minute, the ceremony was moved BACK to the original beautiful location and I am so glad for them, because the photos of it were beautiful!

This reception was a PARTY. My favorite kind of reception!

Savannah & Grayson had the chillest day. They just needed me for a few hours, didn't have a big party after, and had a small crowd of select close friends and family. Sully was my second wedding dog of the year! I could get used to this.My 2018 closed out with Rebecca and Caleb. I am always thrilled when I book a Lace House wedding, so to have two of them this year was wonderful. Narissa and Brianna both shot this wedding with me because it was a longer than normal day with a tight schedule, so I brought in some extra resources to balance the load! One of us was always able to photograph Raleigh, their sweet little girl, while the other was doing something else. Here are some of their day!

How you get a great dress shot in this room- reflectors and teamwork!

Here's a fun set at what location scouting looks like for me. I bring someone along and make them get in front of my camera, what comes from that is always interesting!

First look time!

2019 is going to be a bit busier than 2018, and I'm excited for that! I've thoroughly enjoyed my slowed down year this year, it has been so nice to have so many Saturdays at home. But I'm not gonna lie, I miss the busy wedding life and I'm ready to jump back in!