You know for so long I've been known as "The Crazy Dreamer" by my friends and family.  I used to think of it sometimes as a curse.  I would ask, "Why do I dream such impossible things...why can I see them as a reality"?  Now before you start feeling sorry for me, my friends and family had every right to think me crazy.  I had a new fantastical dream every other day or so.  One day I wanted to go to culinary school, the next I wanted to be the next Louise Bourgeois and sculpt a masterpiece that would make history, the next i was going to own my own Interior Design business...and on...and on...and on.

As you can see, this seems like more of a curse than a blessing.  BUT...there's more!  I have a direction now.  I've channelled my dreaming to my photography.  It's all I dream about...literally.  There are some nights I can't go to sleep because I'm so excited about a shoot and I'm thinking of what I'm going to do.:)

Along with opening up my abiility to dream big about photoraphy, this has been such a sweet time with God.  I truly give Him ALL the glory for my gifts, my talents, my growth and healing and channelling my dreams and aligning them with His dreams for me.  I spent an hour last night in worship just praising God that He is allowing me to live my dreams.  I praised Him because I know that EVERYTIME I click my shutter He is glorified.  The thing that astounds me is that I FINALLY understand that when I am operating in my purpose (photography) that His heart is filled with joy.  IT MAKES HIM HAPPY!  That is when the tears came and I spent the next 30 minutes weeping realizing that God is so happy that I am living my dreams...HIS dreams for me!

I am so inspired by other dreamers before me who dared to dream outside the box...who dreamed the crazy and impossible.  Those are the people who left their mark on this world.  I don't want to be just a local photographer.  I want to make a mark on this world.  

My ultimate dream is using my photography in the lives of women to empower them...WOA..slow down, crazy, I KNOW.  Impossible...I don't think so.  I love that I get to take images of women and reveal them (on my blog) and let them see how truly beautiful they are.  We women are so hard on ourselves, always picking ourselves apart and telling ourselves what's wrong with us.  My ultimate joy is giving a woman an image that dispells those lies she tells herself because she sees her beauty revealed in front of her.  Sometimes they can't believe it's really them.  That's my heart.  It hurst my heart when they see the images and say how ugly they are...not because I think they hate me or my work BUT because I see this flawless, beautiful goddess who doesn't see her beauty.  I want to help women love themselves.  That's it...

Okay, so that's not it :).  I want to be a fabulous photographer respected in the industry and sought after by fabulous people.  I want it all.  But my ultimate joy comes when women see their beauty.  I challenge you to love yourself today.  I'm not trying to be cheesy and be all Stuart Smalley, although you are good enough, smart enough and dog gonnit people like you.  I just challenge you to find your beauty.  Find the things you love about yourself.  We are all stunning.  We need to walk in that!

Here are my favorite images of the goddesses I've had the joy of shooting this past year.  Ladies, thank you for trusting me to capture you.  I look at your images and I am stunned at how stunning each of you are!

Shelley Holt, Robyn Jones Clark, Cheryl Whitley (from my day with Scarlett)

Ashley Yaun, Lauren

Courtney Goolsby, Mandi Gaskin (bothe of these amazing women are now prego)

Kami and Kellie.  I think pregnant women are so beautiful!

Lyndsay of pink coffee photoart and Cristina of Red Fly Studio

Nevilla and Stephanie

Molly of Red Fly Studio and my BFF Casey

Michelle and Dana

Our dear family friend celebrated his 60th birthday and what a celebration it was!  There were so many friends and family and we managed to surprise him...somewhat.  He knew something was up when famiy started trickling in from all over the US.  He didn't know how big the surprise was.  It was a total Southern affair complete with Mississippi Caviar, a roasted pig and goat, cornbread, and collard greens.  Hope you enjoy the pictures!

Some of the details...boots, quilts, baskets, bandanas and sunflowers...you can't get much more Southern!

Boys will be boys...they had a mini tv watching a football game...

Merrill's surprise...

Looks like Anne Margaret gets her love of the camera honestly (from her Joy, Joy)

All Merrill asked of me was that I give him some images of his 3 grandchildren together...here they are:

I am OBSESSED with Chucks!

Deborah's brother's and sister's...

Deborah's family

The whole clan:

Merrill and Deborah's kids and grandkids:

The happy couple :)

One of the coolest walking sticks I've ever seen.  I think someone made that just for him:

My attempt at shooting myself with mom and Memaw.  I love how my Memaw is looking at me like, "What int the world is she up to now".

Deborah is an incredible artist.  She made the quilts...no the beer, just the quilts:

Noelle wanted a shot of the 4 generations of women...Anne Margaret was not so keen on the idea:

Deborah and her parents

One of my dear friends made a comment to me the other day.  She said, "Man, you are really pushing the envelope with your work lately".  

That is the best compliment someone can give me.  If you want photos that look like your grandma Mildreds, let me assure that I am NOT your gal!  What I can promise you is a once in a lifetime experience.  I see it as my job and my ultimate joy to make you feel beautiful, confident, and perfect and document that!  

I approach every sitting/wedding as an opportunity to make each person feel like a rockstar.  Then when I edit them, I get to make each image look like they should be in the pages of Vogue or W.  

In that regard, my approach is very editorial aka evelope pushing :).  I want you to get to find your inner diva and work it like the supermodel that you are!  I don't want to take the typical cheesy prom pose of you and your love.  I want to give you an image that your children will look at and say, "Wow...that was you?  You look awesome"!  That is what you deserve and that is my promise to you.  

I don't want to be traditional...I think you deserve more.  I think you deserve a photographer who will push the envelope and make you look and feel fabulousl.  So, if that's what you want for your life and your images...THEN I AM YOUR GAL!  Give me that chance to push the envelope in your life and give you images that will document a moment in time and make you look like a rockstar for the rest of your life!  After all, YOU ARE TOTALLY WORTH IT!

Photo courtesy of Red Fly Studio

I have had such a great time getting to know Chance and Shelley.  They have such joy and their love is contagious!  We went to their hometown and did our day after shoot.  There were so many delicioius locations to choose from.  I could have stayed there for hours.  But we didn't have that many hours.  

I am in LOVE with the shots we got.  The landscape, the buildings, the railroads...it was a visual feast.  Hope you enjoy these shots...be sure to check out the slideshow at the end.

Shelley was a trooper.  She climbed trees IN HER WEDDING GOWN!

One of my faves!

Sexy, cute, laughy :)

They look like the could be on a magazine cover...

AND.....

NOW....

THE.....

SLIDESHOW....

I wanted to take some time to introduce you to my photo assistant.  Her name is Ashley and she's a Junior in high school.  She has a great eye for photography and it's been wonderful to mentor her.

We decided to do a little photoshoot.  What fun we had.  She was amazing in front of the camera.  She dropped her shy persona and put on a show for the camera.  It was wonderful seeing her come out of her shell.  

The one on the right is one of my faves

I LOVED those weeds with balls on them:

She's absolutely stunning...

I loved the potty.  It's amazing what you can find in people's barns :)..

Gotta love John Deere:

Her twin, Kristen decided to join in the action

And their friend Meredith joined in the fun

I HEART this shot of Meredith

Sweet...Feroche...

AND

 NOW

THE 

SLIDESHOW (PRESS PLAY TO START THE SHOW).......