Have you ever had one of those “ah-ha” moments?  Where everything finally seems to be coming together the way you ACTUALLY pictured it in your mind.  This right here- this is one of those moments.

 

We all question ourselves right?  Or am I just the overly-OCD one here who tends to question EVERY. LITTLE. THING. that I do.  Is my lighting right?  Is my contrast right?  Does it look “editorial”?  Does it fit in?  I was having one of those moments the other day where I was just questioning everything that I do.  I even got as far as questioning if this is what I’m even supposed to be doing (vulnerable moment here).  I admit it.  I’m a perfectionist.  And with that little friend-yet-enemy we like to call Instagram, I can easily find myself in a whirlwind of comparison.  You start the daily scroll and start thinking, “Gosh, why doesn’t my work look that good?”  Or, “Why didn’t I think of that?!  I’m so unoriginal.”  The truth is, is anything original anymore?  I like the way one of the hosts of a recent workshop I went to put it:  “You are not copying by being inspired by someone else’s work.  We all need to be inspired.”  Word!  Like they say, “do not let comparison steal your joy.”  I needed to put these insecurities I was feeling to a halt ASAP.

Then this sweet anniversary session happened.  I have had the honor of capturing several different seasons of Nate and Brittany’s life.  I did maternity pictures for their first pregnancy.  I’ve done family photos several times for them.  And now this.  They wanted to celebrate their seven year anniversary with some updated photos of just the two of them.  I love this.  Family photos are so important, yes.  But it’s also crucial to remember where that family started- with just the two of you.  Two people who continue to say “I do” even after seven years and many different seasons of marriage.  

And for me, this anniversary session was that “ah-ha” moment.  I actually posted a comparison of one of the maternity photos I took for them nearly three years ago with one of these anniversary photos and it brought the biggest smile to my face.  I loved those maternity photos that I took three years ago.  But putting them side by side, I can see immense growth that has happened over these last three years.  That was confirmation to me that I am still going in the right direction and that I am right where I need to be in this season for me.  Not to mention, a friend who saw the preview said “I love how light and romantic your pictures are looking.”  BAM!  That was music to my ears!

Nate and Brittany are truly some of the most beautiful human beings both inside and out.  They are some of the nicest and genuine people you will meet, and I love when they ask me to take their pictures (especially when they show up looking like THAT- I mean, come on!)  The light, the romance, but most of all the genuine nature of these images are what make me so excited.  Happy upcoming seven year anniversary you two!