In light of last night’s big win, I thought today would be the perfect day to blog Maverick’s senior session.  Maverick is one of the outstanding members of this year’s Flying Jets basketball team, who now also hold the title of Sectional Champs!!!!  We watched the game last night from our living room thanks to the live stream (7:30 tip off with two kids who require lots of sleep meant we didn’t go) and an impressive game it was.  This group of boys is a true team.  The talent is obvious but to see how they work together is an added bonus.  My husband was so keyed up watching it that I caught him THREE times actually clapping after an AC shot made…all from the comfort of his recliner ;)

While my kids attend the same school as Maverick, I came to know him from my years working at Gibby’s.  His mom and dad would bring the kids in (Maverick has a younger brother and sister) for our holiday specials and I came to know and look forward to their bleach blonde hair, huge smiles…and wise cracking dad.  Maverick’s dad has a nickname for me…I can’t for the life remember it exactly, but I’m thinking it’s “Blondie.”  And yes, he calls me that for all the reasons you’re thinking of !

We shot most of Maverick’s session in Monroe, something I’ve wanted to do for some time.  Most people wouldn’t think of it as a great place for an entire session but if you follow the pretty light, any location can work!  Maverick’s mom, Kim, also suggested we try a few locations near their home so we took a little field trip to incorporate some locations that had meaning to them as a family.  Along the way, we met up with DAD and the blonde jokes resumed ;)

Being the basketball god that he is, I knew Maverick would want some shots in his uniform so we ended the session back at the school in the very dark locker room!

Maverick, Congratulations on all of your accomplishments thus far!  Looking forward to the next game and seeing how far you boys can go!  I know the entire community is so proud of you already-GO JETS!!!

I always adore photographing people I have a relationship with outside of my  job.  It adds a connection for me that is kind of hard to explain…maybe it’s more like the comfort of knowing everyone’s names ;)  Dusty’s family has been in my life for many years as we attend the same church.  His sister, Katie, was one of the first people to trust in my work and hire me to photograph her wedding without having much to go on…I’ll always be grateful to her for that.  When Dusty and Jennifer contacted me to photograph their wedding last Spring, I was again grateful to have another friend trust me to be with them on the most important day of their lives.

I always squeal with delight when I find that a bride will be wearing a cathedral length veil…my favorite.  Dusty’s uncle, Brad,  is an amazing pianist and plays from this piano on many Sunday mornings :)

Dusty and Jennifer opted for a first look which was the best decision they could have made.  I don’t think Jennifer knew how emotional she would be about seeing Dusty and it helped to calm her nerves and enjoy the rest of the day.  I had Dusty all ready to go and we were both waiting for Jen….and she never came out!!!!  I went back in to find her with her sister…Jen had looked out the window and saw Dusty from behind and was so overcome that she needed a few extra minutes to gather herself back together to meet him at the end of the sidewalk :)

With a Spring wedding, you NEVER know what you’re going to get when it comes to the weather.   We were so lucky that it was perfect…if you don’t count the soggy mess we called the ground!  What you can’t see is Jen sporting some big ole brown boots under her gown to walk through the yard!

Oh my…I just love this kid.  Brason is Dusty’s nephew and the cutest, most ornery thing you’ll ever see!

Loved their first dance so much….and while Dusty and Jen were on the dance floor, Dusty’s nephew Bear was trying to stay awake for the party ;)

Wow, can’t believe they will soon be celebrating their first anniversary!!!  Dusty and Jennifer, I am so thankful to have been a part of your day…many more years of happiness to you both!!!!

I love when I get emails from new clients…and find out that I’ve actually known them for years!  This was the case when I was contacted by Ashley.  I can’t remember if she knew the connection herself but as it turned out, she was the little sis of one of my high school friends.  I remembered Ashley as the cute little girl with the big brown eyes and gorgeous complexion…she’s all grown up now but the eyes and perfect skin are the same.

She and Joe are big outdoor people.  They love their ATV’s, camping…and noodling catfish.  That’s right, I said noodling.  If you don’t know what that means, look it up ;)  They wanted their engagement pictures to be very earthy and finding a wheat field was an absolute must on Ashley’s list!  I casually asked if there was anything else that had meaning to them and Ashley told me, “Well, Joe works for the power company so many something with that?!”  I don’t know if she thought I was serious or  not, but I took the idea and ran with it!

I think we found the last wheat still on in the area.  And as the field is close to my house, I knew when the wheat was cut…THE VERY NEXT DAY!  Whew!

More power lines :)

Hope all the wedding planning is coming together for you two!  Congrats on all the wonderful years to come!