Cory & Mae // Downtown Staunton Engagement Photographer

How do you begin a post about your closest friend and your older sister getting married? I suppose I will start with thankfulness - that my sister is getting married, that Cory came into Mae's life, and that I get to be a part of the whole thing. A couple weekends ago, I visited Mae with plans to take all of their engagement pictures. Halfway through dinner that evening, though, it started to rain harder than I've seen in a long time. We laughed it off, thinking we would just have to take pictures the next day.

But then, the rain stopped. The clouds stayed overhead, but as the sun continued to set, the colors became more beautiful and vibrant with each passing minute. So for one hour, we spent time together laughing, talking, taking pictures, and witnessing something beautiful. Trust me - we'll get more later! But these are a good start :)

Cory and Mae are perfect for each other. From the sweet way she has to stand on her very tippy toes to kiss him, to the gentle way he bends down to hold her and kiss her back, they just fit together. Mae is kind, beautiful, and gracious, and Cory is steadfast, gentle, and thoughtful. Together, they are constantly making each other laugh and peppering in as many kisses as they can in the meantime.

As I look back over the first set of their engagement pictures and wipe away the little tears from my eyes, I continue to realize that God made these two for each other, and God made Cory for our family. I love you both so much, and I'm so thankful to be your photographer, sister, and friend!

Lottie Moon Services // Hampton Roads Photographer

Greetings, everyone! I hope your holiday season so far has indeed been merry and bright :) Yesterday I had the privilege of photographing the services at the Harbour View campus of Liberty Baptist Church. Every year they make it a point to have a special time of giving to the Lottie Moon offering.

I didn't know about Lottie Moon growing up since I didn't attend a Baptist church, but she was a missionary to China back in the 1800s. She sacrificed her life to bring the Christian message to those who had never heard it before. Each year, a lot of Baptist churches have a special offering time in honor of her work. All of the money goes to international missions - none of it stays with the church.

Last year Liberty began having mangers as a place to drop off your gift rather than the traditional baskets that are normally passed. I love it! Not only does it give the sanctuary a more Christmassy feel, but it also gives more weight and meaning to your gift as you drop it in. I'm so thankful that we are privileged to give to this special offering each year, and yesterday was such a wonderful day.