Over Easter weekend, I had the opportunity to capture this gorgeous family! My friend, Shanley, and her husband and son went to church with us in Ocala - but she's originally from Jacksonville and was in town to visit both sides of their family. It was the perfect opportunity to bring both families together for a beautiful session at one of my favorite locations in Jacksonville! Here's a few of my favorites from the day. 

There is something about being in Alabama that makes me feel at home. We only lived there for three years and yet, each time I go back, I am flooded with the open sky and good memories. There is space to breathe and a slow pace of living that I always find refreshing. In my most recent visit, I was able to stay with a good friend of mine in her heirloom home and take some portraits of her little girl in the blooming azaleas. Children are probably my favorite to capture, because of the challenge it is! One of the easiest ways I've found to take portraits of small children, is by letting them play naturally and working to get those smiles and laughs. It was easy with Rylee because this was her "home." She loved picking berries and flowers and running down the dirt road. We were outside in the middle of the day, but the contrast in lighting really made for a beautiful scenery. This entire shoot took about 20 minutes - simple and quick - but now they can cherish these adorable portraits of her at this age forever. 

Since moving to Jacksonville last May, we have had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with some wonderful military families. Jacksonville is home to several military facilities and has the third largest military presence in the country. It is an honor to be able to walk alongside these families, especially the wives and children, in community while their husbands (and some wives!) are away serving our country. There is a special connection I feel with these families, as they choose to plant and invest their lives in a place they may not end up calling home forever. Being married to a pastor and moving around a lot for ministry, I understand that. But what I don't understand, and have never experienced up close and first hand, is the sacrifice.

We met Dan and Nicole Enfinger at church a couple weeks after moving to town. We sat in on their Life Group and learned that Dan would soon be heading out on deployment in the next week or so. Over the last few months, I've gotten to know Nicole and have admired her as someone who is intentional with their time. Whether a Navy wives bible study or a play date with another mom, I have greatly admired how she chooses to invest in others while her husband is away.

When she reached out to me about shooting Dan's homecoming, I was a little nervous to be honest - but, really excited about the opportunity to capture such a special time! After my first experience at a Navy homecoming, I can honestly say, it was beyond anything I've ever imagined it being. I've seen the pictures and videos before, but nothing compares to witnessing first-hand hundreds of people rushing to greet their loved ones! There was one dad that met his 6 month old son for the first time (you'll see them make a cameo in the gallery below - look for the couple with the tiny baby!) I expected them to be emotional, but I didn't expect to be the one tearing up behind the camera. I remember verbally saying aloud, "I can't handle this!" But I pulled it together long enough to capture what has become one of my favorite sessions to date (and definitely the most touching!) Thank you, Nicole, for asking me to come alongside you on this special day. It was an honor! And thank you, Dan, for your dedication to serving our country so faithfully. Welcome home!