Welcome
I am deeply grateful when parents like Sean and Cassie Myers open their homes to me and allow me to capture the sweetness of a new baby in their lives. Baby Beckett is as precious and snuggly as you would imagine him to be. He cooed softly to his mommy and daddy as they talked to him in a wash of window light. Sister Ella was close by to help with any details that needed big sister attention. She is already a good one, and a daddy’s girl through and through. I loved listening in on their conversation and play time, her little girl giggles delighting in her daddy’s focus. It took me back to those days that seem like just yesterday for me. Precious, beautiful moments now captured in photography for them to have and remember.
Here are just a few from my time with them.
Sibling Sweetness
Hello Beckett
Brother and Sister Toes
Cherish
Daddy Love
Daddy's Girl
Beauty
Drinking him in
Chatting
Tea Party with Daddy
Flying
Tiny Toes
Family
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Beauty
I am excited about this post for many reasons, the first being that I have a NEW STUDIO! It is everything I could ask for, this little space in downtown Jefferson, Georgia. Natural light, old wooden floors, and the vibe of downtown are a few perks of my new place. I have been dreaming about a new path for my photography for some time and this studio space is a step in that direction. I am so excited and I hope to share more about that soon. But for now, I will share some images of two stunning women, Ana and her mom, Mary.
Ana is a beautiful dancer. You may have seen her lovely senior photo session we did last fall. She is leaving for college next week and her mama is already feeling the grief. I know it well. When daughters move away there is a tearing that runs deep. I am grateful that we were able to capture Ana dancing before she leaves, along with some sweet mother-daughter images for Mary too keep. I am honored that they were my first session in my new studio space.
The result of our time together is dreamy and soft. So special.
Best wishes to you, Ana. I look forward to seeing you again very soon. Mary, I will pray for your mother’s heart this week and in the days to come. Blessings are on your horizon, I just know it.
Psalm 126:1-3 ~”When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”
Dancer
Light
Grace
Elegance
Symmetry
Portrait
Gazing into the Light
En Pointe
Beautiful Feet
Worship
Poetry in Motion
Happy
Dreamer
Stunning
Laughing with Mom
Growing Up
Sweet Moments
Two Beauties
Gorgeous Mom
Stay
Just Like This
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Kissed by Glory
I remember it so well, the day God gave me the clarity I sought so desperately. I wanted a mission statement, a purpose on paper from him. I was reading Ann Voskamp’s photography version of One Thousand Gifts. Tears fell onto the beautiful pages as I prayed and savored each word she had written. She was retelling the story of the man born blind in Luke 18. When Jesus asked him what he wanted, the man bravely said “Lord I want to see.” In her own book, Ann is empathizing with this man in her spirit. Yes, we want to see, not just with our eyes, but with our hearts. We want to see the Kingdom of God here on earth. We want to see the glory. Everything clicked into place for me in that moment. That is it! I feverishly began to write. It wasn’t anything I could practically explain. God had just deposited a truth in my spirit.
I want to see, but not just see — share! My purpose, the passion that drives me, is to see the glory, God’s glory, and to share it with others. That glory is everywhere. When I am gleaning the beauty with my eyes and my camera lens, I am gathering treasure. I am in worship. I am in deep awe of my creator God. I see him in dewdrops and also in the eyes of women who do not know their own worth. Just like the blind man, he gives me eyes to see that I would not have had otherwise.
I find God, and I want to show him to you. See? There he is,shining like diamonds on the tips of the strawberry leaves. He moves like the weeping cherry that stretches fingertips up and then down to the earth again. He glides like the puffy summer clouds and surprises us with the vibrant colors of the bluebird on the spring green grass. He shines the brightest in the eyes and spirits of people. I see him there. He is kind, gentle, strong and loving.
I want to see more everyday, because when I see I worship, bowing low and soaring to new heights every time. When I share what I see, I become a visual evangelist, sharing the good news with everyone who will dare to see with me. God is alive, he is infinitely good, and he wants to love you if you will let him.
James 1:17 ~ “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
Row of Perfection
Jewels at our Feet
Gathered Glory
Sparkle and Shine
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Rooftop Beauty
I had such a great time photographing this stunning young woman. Taylor is graduating high school this month and she and her mom wanted to celebrate with a fun portrait session. We decided to adventure to Atlanta for our shoot, and it was well worth it. Taylor is an outgoing, confident girl, with a gentle and kind spirit. When she laughs everyone around her can feel the sunshine. She is a joy.
Congratulations, Taylor! I wish you the very best. The world is waiting for you.
Sunshine and Laughter
All Dimples
Saxophone City Girl
Stunning
Pretty Girl
Joy
Happy
Beauty
Sweet Spirit
Classy Girl
Gorgeous Graduate
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Strawberry Leaf Rick Rack
In the rain, there is hope. The earth is given a clean slate, softening it’s hard places allowing new life to emerge.
I love the rain. I long to for this new place, a fresh start. I thank God that his mercies are new every morning. Today we can love again. We can our hope in a God who saves, redeems and forgives.
See how the rain clarifies the glory?
Lamentations 3:22-23 ~ “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lift up your heads
Almost There
Depth of Color
Bloom
Open
Unfurl
Bringing Beauty Inside
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Rainy Day Play
It’s raining outside, so come on let’s play. Let’s fold colorful paper into paper boats and slip on our rain boots. We will get wet, but I don’t care. We are alive.
Let’s rest our knees in the cool water and race our boats until our hearts are soaked with joy. Let’s be children again.
Come on! Let’s go!
“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I’ll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!” ~ J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Sailing Dreams
Colorful Vessels
In the Lead
Tether Me to You
Soft Blue Sailing
Joy
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Winning Smile
I had such a great time photographing David for his senior portraits this week. Although the rain tried to chase us away, we persevered and got some great images of this amazing young man. David is genuine and a lot fun to work with. As you can see from his images, he is a real natural in front of the camera. He reminds me of my Johnny, who also finds himself at ease in front of my lens.
David is a musician and hopes to work in film and video someday soon.
I wish you the very best David! I sense there are great things for you on the horizon.
Handsome in a Suit
Distinguished
Amiable
Working the Camera
Debonair in Denim
But Seriously...
Cutie
Look out, girls
Musician
Dashing in Blue
Out for a Walk
Urban Side
Handsome in Black and White
You Talking to Me
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Covered
Because we need to pin up flowers in each other’s hair. We need to giggle, hold hands and bless. We need to pray and cover one another. That is what women need from each other. We need the mothers to come and cover, the sisters to whisper smiling secrets. We need each other. How I love the community of women.
Our dance ministry has done this for years. Each time a dancer is to be married, we set aside time to pray and bless. We read scripture, we dance, we celebrate. We cover her in rose petals to signify the prayers tangible and fragrant. This time was no different when we gathered to celebrate our Erica. She is to be wed the love of her life in May.
Blessings beautiful Erica. God is with you, and the best is yet to come.
We love your dearly.
Showers of Blessing
Loved
Celebrated
Fragrant Prayers
Happy
Community
Beautiful Bride to Be
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Sweet Spring
Posted on 07. Apr, 2013 by maryanne.
Pastel Pink
It appears effortless, this changing of the seasons. We open our winter weary eyes, and there it is. Life is returning to us all. The sky is peppered with sweet pastel blossoms and soft purple stars hover over the earth. Spring is here. It seems so easy for her, for earth to make this transformation. But in my deepest places I know it is not. This changing of the seasons is actually grueling. There is an immense amount of trust needed to open our softest, most beautiful parts to the open sky. “Here is the best of me” she seems to be saying. She knows there may be another frost, and that there are pests that may destroy. She opens anyway.
Trust is not easy. It is not a one time resolution that makes the rest of our lives simple. It is a daily, and sometimes minute by minute, decision. It is gritty and tough, and yet yields vulnerability and softness.
I find myself in these places these days. I can relate to the pastel petals, to the unfurling leaves that surrender tender vessels to the sometimes contrary atmosphere. It seems I am being asked to change and yet I find I just want to hide a little longer in winter’s roots. I often dig my heels in, even though my gentle God is asking me to release my fears to him.
So I gaze out my window and sigh. I admire her, this earth that obeys the bidding of her Creator God. He teaches me daily through her and I will try my best to trust Him. And bloom.
Psalm 143:8 ~”Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”
Trust and Bloom
Purple Stars Hovering
Spring Rains
Color and Texture
Release
Spring Barn
Sweet Sunshine
Open
Worship
Through the Blossoms
Breathe
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Lovely Louise
Posted on 04. Apr, 2013 by maryanne.
Glowing
She is an elegant, beautiful woman. She is funny, compassionate, intelligent and well loved by family and friends.
But she is more than that. She is a warrior and a fighter. She knows how to dig deep and find that extra grit that it takes to finish the race. She will also tell you that all of this comes from her God on whom she depends deeply.
In the last two years, she has come through cancer and completed a fitness journey that helped her drop 4 dress sizes. Wow! I am humbled to be around such an amazing woman.
In her own words, Louise says, “God is so good! I I have been doing it right for the first time in my life. I have learned to eat real food (not out of a box) , healthy portions and how to make my food work for me. I work out everyday now and I have so much more energy. I love it! I feel like I have gotten my life back. I have lost 48 lbs. After having bladder cancer in 2011 and feeling like I had been run over by a truck, God spoke to me and said I am not done with you yet, press on. I want you to be your best for me, look up, I have work for you to do. What a Mighty and Awesome God we serve! God is continuing to grow me in many ways and helping me to put on my full armor for Him.”
I love her words. I can’t wait to see what is next for her.
When we met at the studio she was slightly nervous about what was to come, never having been photographed alone before.With her blue eyes sparkling she said, “just tell me what to do”. My lovely assistant Kelly and I smiled a knowing smile. We knew she was in for a fun and dreamy afternoon. From the time she sat down with a make up artist to when we said, “It’s a wrap!”, we giggled like little girls. She was so much fun.
Louise would like to point everyone to Avid Weight Loss for helping her on her fitness journey. (It is where I am currently training now too.) Dr. Alex Roig and Susan Meek head up the program. You may remember Susan Meek from the post I did about her when she completed her fitness journey. She has since gone back to school where she studied exercise science and is now a certified personal trainer. I am so very proud of her too.
Now, wouldn’t you like to see more of our fun afternoon together?
I thought so.
Classy
Confident
Sparkle
Laughing
Show Stopper
Sharp
Beauty in Blue
Fun
Sassy
Cosmo Girl
