Jessica for ROK15 | Fort Smith Portrait Photographer

Whoa! I have been away for too long!

Winter has passed (thankfully!) and here we are in this very, very wet month of May! The Arkansas River is unreal. I can't get over it.

Today I would like to share with you one of my favorite sessions so far this season. I was so privileged to photograph Jessica for a super fun event you may have heard about… Rocklahoma. As it turns out, Rocklahoma was this past weekend, Memorial Day weekend.. and it was a huge mud fest with all these  storms! I hope everyone still had fun, though!

We did this session in downtown Fort Smith, one of my favorite places in the world! I love this city and everything she's given me over the last two years.

Thank you, Jessica, for rocking with me for Rocklahoma 2015!

Julian | 2015 {Fort Smith Senior Photographer}

Hello!

Today I'm posting about Julian. :) He's a super sweet high school senior out in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. I had the pleasure of meeting Julian while I was at the Deck The Halls event at the First Assembly of God out in Sallisaw. I was showcasing my photo skillzzzz :) haha and he was helping out with his youth group (the event was to raise money for the youth ministry!).

Anyway, we started talking about senior year, senior pictures, senior rings, you know.. all that exciting stuff! The rest is history. I had a fun day hanging out with Julian and his youth pastor Ashton during his session. Thanks, guys!

Julian told me he feels very called to youth ministry. That is so cool! My heart is so full when I encounter someone with such an evident love for God. To see that in our future generations is seriously so amazing. 

Jessica + Leroy {Fort Smith Couples Photographer}

*waves*
HI!

I've been dying to share this session since the minute I started photographing this sweet couple! In Arkansas, the leaves are afire with gorgeous reds and oranges, shades of green, and some yellows. It is perfection. The sun is golden and warm, and the breeze is chilly and perfect for a fire, a mug of hot cocoa, and snuggling!

Finally Fall!

Happy Fall, y'all! It is finally here… the season I wait for all year long.

F A L L

Yes, autumn, Whatever you want to call it. I love it. Unfortunately, even though it is technically "fall" here down south in Arkansas, it isn't totally autumnal weather. We're having highs in the mid-80s this week and well.. I'm just done with that.

One of my favorite parts about autumn?? NO MORE SWEATING while shooting! Or, for you, my sweet clients.. no more sweating while POSING. HA!! Doesn't that just make life so sweet?!

I have had a couple of A M A Z I N G sessions in the last two weeks and I'm just dying to post a huge preview for you.

Sorry… I can't, yet!

But what I can do.. is post the previews I've already given on Facebook. My lovely clients haven't seen all their images yet, and I don't want to spoil the surprise. I'm beginning in-person gallery viewings THIS WEEK so I can have that lovely customer experience… oh, you know.. seeing the client's face when you see your images for the first time. I can't wait. I can't wait to see the light in a young girl's eyes when she sees the photos I've taken of her and actually SEES herself for what seems like the first time. I love that. Showing a girl just how gorgeous she really is. Seriously L O V E.

So, before this session, I had never worked with a horse. Now, I would prefer each client to bring a horse. FOR REAL. Such majestic animals. Dignified. Beautiful. Looking at a horse just reminds me of how great my God is. Like looking at a brand new baby, or a beautiful woman with a lifetime of wrinkles on her face. There is so much beauty everywhere, and I'm so incredibly thankful that I get to capture that magic.

After I posted this preview, I had a couple of my number one fans text me and tell me how amazing they found this image to be. I seriously have never felt such love from people not involved in the photo whatsoever. It was a profound moment. 

While this was a fabulous session, both of them.. it was so, so incredibly hot and sweaty. YES! I'm so excited for upcoming sessions in the coolness that is fall! :)

One more tiny photo for this post… my sweet kitty cat. Well, my girls' sweet cat. His name is Sir Wall-e Sprinkle the first, but we just call him Wall-e Sprinkle for short. HA. He was super mad in this photo, we had been on a walk and this adorable, fluffy little gray kitten had followed us home. Wall-e Sprinkle would not look at any of us until the kitten left our yard. Animals are hilarious. :P

Supporting One Another {Fort Smith Portrait Photographer}

Something is on my heart lately, and I'm excited to get to tell you about it.

Recently, I got to tour the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House. This place is amazing. The staff is amazing. The house serves as a meeting place for cancer patient support groups, a hotel for cancer patients that need a place to stay when traveling to Fort Smith for treatments, and a safe haven for newly diagnosed cancer patients.

My sweet friend Susan runs the House, and she does a beautiful job. All the volunteers at the House are so warm and welcoming. There are event rooms that can be used for various things, but one of the best things she told me about- parties for kids. Kids that have cancer, that deserve so desperately to have a moment like any normal kid. A birthday party. A valentines party. A just because party.

Cancer sucks. To put it bluntly. My grandmother is a breast cancer survivor (Thank You, Jesus!). I remember how terrifying it was to know that I could lose my Grandma. I know that fear that kids have. The fear that parents feel when their kids are diagnosed. The sadness that anyone feels when they or a loved one are diagnosed with this life changing and sometimes life ending disease.

So last night, when Susan asked me as a last minute favor, if I could photograph today's Butterfly Release for Ovarian cancer survivors and in honor of those lost, I couldn't say yes fast enough. I have told her since the day I toured the House that I am happy to volunteer my time and talent as often as she needs me to. These people are amazing. As I was photographing, and looking on at these amazing survivors, I said a little prayer. A thank you, for allowing me to be here. A special blessing on these women. And a prayer of comfort for the families that lost their loved ones.

This was such a beautiful event! The House is very near to my heart and if you would like to donate there are quite a few ways. If you live in Fort Smith or near by, you can check out their wish list and drop the items off during weekday business hours. If you're out of town, you can always order things from their wish list off amazon (use smile.amazon.com and you can even choose to have a percentage of your purchase price go to the Support House!) and have the items delivered. And if you're local local, you can always volunteer your time. 

Find out more about the Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House here.

Senior Special {Fort Smith Senior Portrait Photographer}

I love love love my SENIORS!!

Beth & Her Girls

I had such a fun day photographing Beth & her daughters! I loved seeing the family dynamic, and imagining what my own girls will be like when they're older! Thanks, Beth!

Cameron + Paige {Engagement}

I enjoyed photographing my brother and gorgeous sister in law to be! Thanks sweet kiddos for letting me be a part of your special time!! xoxo

Chelsea + Ronza {Engagement}