A Pinterest worthy Anniversary Photo

After Paul and I got married and we got our wedding photos back from our photographer, I was (of course) obsessed with them and couldn't stop looking at them. Out of the hundreds of photos that were taken that captured our day, one image in particular stood out among my favorites. That image is the one I have used as the main graphic for my Team '76 blog series.

Its funny how even then, before a photography business was even a twinkle in my eye, I had a thing for negative space. 

Around that time, I saw an idea floating around on Pinterest and this photo fit right in with that idea. Ever year on your anniversary, take a photo of yourselves holding the photo from the previous year. 

We have had great success so far in keeping up with this tradition although this years photo is a few months late. I blame it all on moving across the country. That's a good enough excuse right? 

We thought for this years photo, it would be appropriate to take it in front of our new home. This was on a Saturday afternoon, after Paul and Kyle had been working on Kyle's Jeep (obviously from the dirty arm) and I set everything up and then had Kyle take the snap. Its imperfect and our pose is all wrong and I have super random creeper hand on Paul's waist, but I love it and I wouldn't change a thing.

Happy four years to the man of my dreams! 

And since this is real life, heres a couple of outtakes from when I was getting my positioning and settings all dialed in. I was trying to get in a spot where the tree behind Paul and camera right would be blocking most of the sun that was pouring in. Kyle was having a great time throwing his football and Paul was playing "subject" per usual. 

Then we let the puppies out into the front yard. Its a super exciting time when they get to come in the FRONT yard. So of course we couldn't let that photo op go by and had to get some nice portraits of them sitting on the front step. 

The 2nd photo down cracks me up. Puppy portrait outtake. Toby's eyes are closed and Guinn has his mouth open and we can see our reflections in the screen door. We were all a hot mess! Finally got our act together further down! 

All photos were taken with my Canon 6D and 24-105mm f/4.0 lens

LeJeune Anniversary // Ridgecrest Anniversary

"Even in the midst of tragedy, she can still smile." 

A little over two years ago, Emilies father passed away. It was during that exact same time frame that a guy who had recently moved to town started attending her small group Bible study. They had both been to the same party a few months before (and both noticed each other) but they didn't actually talk that night. They began talking at their weekly study and one night, instead of making his normal quick departure,  James hung around after it was over and waited for Emilie to finish talking with her friends.   It was that night that he asked Emilie out for dinner. He knew this girl had just gone through something so devastating, but yet she was still managing a smile. He saw her sweet spirit in the midst of her personal loss. 

Their first date was awkward (aren't they all!) but full of generous conversation. This was something special. They both knew. It was the first serious relationship for both of them, but they knew. 

A few months later and despite the fact that they were already discussing marriage, James surprised her on a Monday afternoon hike with a sweet proposal overlooking the city. It was an otherwise average ordinary day, except for these two. These two were about to embark on something magical. 

They had a quick engagement filled with excitement and wedding plans. They began their covenant on March 1st, 2014. 

When I asked them about their first year of marriage, they both remarked, "if the first year is supposed to be the toughest, then the rest of our lives is going to be pretty amazing!"

Happy one year anniversary to Emilie and James!