Five and a half years ago, Jarrett and Leanna were planning their wedding. Five and a half years ago, I was planning my wedding and preparing to move across the continent. Five and a half years ago, I met with Jarrett and Leanna over a cup of Starbucks and loved every minute of dreaming wedding dreams together.
My cross-country move meant it didn’t work out for me to photograph their backyard wedding awesomeness, but in the power of modern day social media we stayed in touch and I have watched from afar as they’ve walked life (the ups, the downs, the good, the bad) and navigated with such strength and grace five years of marriage.
When Leanna asked if I would be able to photograph anniversary photos during my trip home to North Carolina earlier this month, I almost had to say no — I had been fully booked for several months, so the only option available meant meeting at 7am. Talk about dedication: they were willing to meet me just before sunrise for a glorious, moody, dewy, brilliantly magical anniversary session.
Some of my all-time favorite images are from my last sunrise session (note to self: take more sunrise photos!) AND it rained the whole session! So does that even count as sunrise? (P.S. Just before I scheduled Leanna’s sunrise session, I put one on the books for November — ready or not, here comes more magical mornings!).
Leanna and Jarrett are exactly my kind of people: happy to sacrifice a little sleep for sake of the art, very willing to laugh and have fun even though I’m asking for them to canoodle in the wet grass at sunrise, and ridiculously hilarious as they love each other.
I wish I could remember all the lessons they’ve learned in five years (they kept me laughing while packing good truths in between locations!), but there was one that sounded something like “When [my wonderful, caring, supportive spouse] says ‘you’re right,’ I know [my wonderful, caring, supportive spouse] is lying.” (Name removed to protect the innocent. :-P)
Happy official fifth wedding anniversary, you guys! (A couple days late. :-P) May the next fifty be just as marvelous as the fifth as been.
P.S. We photographed in the same place where they held their backyard wedding five years ago. How’s that for perfect symmetry??
Let’s take a minute to acknowledge: it takes an inordinate amount of brave to be willing to hire a photographer before even meeting in person! And especially to hire a photographer from across the continent to come into your world and celebrate your marriage. But. That’s exactly what Michelle & Zachary did. And I love them for it….
When Josh & Sara chose snowy Grouse Mountain Engagement Photos, I’m not sure any of us could have predicted the immense level of … [cough] …. dedication required to look so beautiful on such a blizzardy day. Yes, that’s right: the snow was coming in heavy and didn’t stop during our entire time together. BUT…
It’s routine. He walks to the car with her, leading the way. Because he’s half a stride ahead of her, he is there just in time to hold open her car door and help her get settled on the passenger side. By the time he makes it around to the driver’s side door, she’s buckled…
Dear Noah and Darbey, When I first had you in a photo nine years ago during a dinner theater production, you were barely friends just navigating early High School. (Were you even friends? Maybe just passing acquaintances.) But then. Friendship blossomed and relationship grew and watching you two flourish has been one of the great…
Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. “Pooh!” he whispered. “Yes, Piglet?” “Nothing,” said Piglet, taking Pooh’s paw. “I just wanted to be sure of you.” Watching Jordan and Jillian is beautiful. They effortlessly love each other, selflessly serve one another, graciously enjoy the other’s company. Jordan holds the door open for Jillian every time. Jillian…
I am a huge fan of pre-wedding portraits. In fact, I have three main reasons to plan pre-wedding portraits (along with amaaazing photos of Lexi & Tanner) already blogged so I won’t tell that story again (you can click on the link to see their photos WITH COWS!) but with that backdrop you can imagine…
![Engaged: Stephan & Brittany [Vancouver Engagement]](https://jennimarie.com/wp-content/uploads/theblogofstephanandbrittnay-13-L-768x513.jpg)
