Ah… family… When we see portraits of a beautiful family like this, why does make us feel so warm inside? Why does it make us stare at the monitor and just smile? What is it about seeing loving parents adore their children, and why does seeing kids grow up make us reflect on life?

It’s not everyday that you wake up super early, get ready to get to your photo shoot by 7:30am, and look THIS good! Yup… that’s what Prerana + Garrett did, and made today happen!

This is our 6th year shooting for the Dunsons, and every time, it’s an honor and a pleasure! They actually have a daughter as well, but she’s in another state pursuing her call there, so she’s unfortunately not photographed here, but they’re a stunning family of 5 that we adore!

There are photo sessions that go beyond portraits… They become moments of reflection, gratitude, and pride. Gaby’s senior session was exactly that.

Relationships… It’s everything. When you find friends who get you. Keep them. When you find friends that understand you. Keep them. When you find friends that you can joke around with and have fun in life… Keep them. When you grow to deeply care about them, keep them.

I was having a serious conversation with our kids the other day about “fulfillment”. I believe that our hearts are designed to be fulfilled… This is exactly why just doing a job or just getting a degree or just doing our duties of any kind in our lives become meaningless very quickly.

Senior shoots are so special because it’s a moment in time where I clearly remember how I felt. I remember having that “senioritis”, and just wanting to graduate already and move on to the next chapter of my life… COLLEGE!

Why are family portraits so emotional? I seriously get teary looking at photos of families especially when I know them! We had the privilege of shooting David and Kristen’s wedding how many years and to see their family grow beautifully is just amazing…. God is SO GOOD!

I don’t know what it is about our clients, but our couples always seem to be so at peace. In our chaotic world, peace is truly such a gift to have, isn’t it? That’s what I felt the moment I got to meet Misaki + James. They felt so calm…. there was no stress.

~Linda and Hudson under a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage! That’s their love story in a nutshell! lol! But, there’s so much between the lines there…

46…. A number that I never thought I’d associate my age with. Wow! Does time fly? Heck yeah! Now that I’m really in the peak of being a middle aged woman, I’m realizing how it’s not as bad as society makes it seem, and you know what? I’m really embracing it!

Want to hiking and/or camping, but don’t know where to start? Trust me, that’s the way we felt when we began too. There are so many products out there and if you don’t have much experience, it’s hard to know what you REALLY need.

Chris Graves / The Avalon Senior Portraits

Monica + Josh / The Pavilion at Five Gables Wedding

Do dream weddings exist? Oh, you better believe it! As soon as we stepped into the cabin at Lake Lanier to begin Marissa + Evan’s wedding day, we just knew it was going to be good. We knocked on the door, and the bridal party greeted us so welcomingly, and the vibe was just the way you wanted it to be! HAPPY!

Some have asked us if weddings all seem the same to us? Of course there are aspects of weddings that we have to do over and over, but let me tell you… EVERY wedding is different, and we learn something at EVERY single wedding.

I must say… We get to meet some incredible people through our job. Earlier this year, we went to D.C. to meet Roxi + Josh to do their engagement shoot and had the best time with them. Getting to know them through the shoot and dinner afterwards made me feel so comfortable going to their wedding.

Lauren + Chris Engagement

What a pleasure it was to meet up with Angelina + Jake at my favorite city in the US - CHICAGO! I’ve been to every major city in America, and hands down, Chicago is my fav for sure! The unique atmosphere that it has with the river running through it, and the beautiful architecture just can’t be beaten.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - This place is special to us for a few reasons… First, DC was the destination to our first vacation as a married couple in 2006! Wow… are we seriously that old? Can’t believe that was almost 20 years ago.

Graduation photos for Vivi at West Milford Farm was incredible!

F.I.F.T.E.E.N. Quinceanera… I love the Latin American culture, and how they celebrate this time of life in a young lady. It marks the passage from girlhood to womanhood, and It’s truly a beautiful celebration. It’s similar to how we celebrate sweet 16 in the U.S.

Mikyung + Alex Wedding

Courtney + Jack’s Engagement

Ya’ll… My heart sinks more and more as we do these senior portraits because we are only ONE year away from doing this for our own daughter. We can relate to the parents and how they must feel more and more as well.

Ok… so, are we seriously this old? What I mean is… We knew this young lady when she was just itty bitty, but now she’s taller than us? What is happening? Just hold up, for real! How is she a SENIOR in high school about to become a superstar in the world of basketball?

“Love is patient, love is kind…” This popular Bible verse goes on to describe more characteristics of love as God defines it. His love is so immense that for me, I can’t even get the first characteristic right which is being patient. Although everyone wants love, it’s not for the faint of heart by any means.

It’s special when you get to shoot a couple’s wedding, but it’s EVEN more special when you get to shoot theirs AND their sibling’s! It means the world to us when you feel like this distant uncle coming to visit the family to take photos. :)

Senior portraits really hit me differently nowadays because our oldest is only two years away from it… Knowing that and feeling that, we completely understand how sentimental this season is for the seniors and for their parents.