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You may or may not know that in addition to my passion for writing, blogging, fashion, and life – I also have long had a passion for photography.
The truth is, I’ve ALWAYS been that girl with the camera. I have so much fun learning the ins and outs of my camera, coming up with interesting image ideas, and honestly just the creativity of it all.
And in the last year or so, I’ve really tried to take my passion and get even better. There’s SO MUCH to learn and I know that I’m nowhere near the level of a big-time photographer, but I’ve honestly been proud of how much I’ve grown over the past few years.
Anyway, these past few weeks I’ve had the pleasure of shooting some super fun senior portraits for a bunch of different UNC Chapel Hill students.
Each session was seriously a BLAST and it just reminded me how much FUN I have doing these. So, I thought I’d share some of my absolute FAVORITES!
I told them this looked like the cover of the next Spice Girls album! I am OBSESSED with this picture. I got my inspiration for this one from one of my own engagement photos that our photographer Katelyn took.
So yeah, so many great women and I had such a fun time behind the camera.
While I’m not a full-time photographer, I am loving growing and learning and having a BLAST while doing it.
What about you? Do you have any hidden (or not so hidden) passions? Anything that you just LOVE to do and you never get sick of it?
Well, I was SO STINKIN’ EXCITED / HONORED when Dani asked me to shoot their pregnancy announcement images for them this past weekend! I mean, I’m just so excited they’re having a baby! And then for me to take their images? I was like YES!
Since Keith is THE name behind King BMX Stunt Show (and The American BMX Stunt Team) and since Dani, his better half and my bestie works by his side in the business, they had the perfect vision for what they wanted to do for their pregnancy announcement photos.
I just wanted to share a few of my favorite shots from the day:
I have pretty friends. Just saying.
I LOVE THIS IMAGE! They did a similar shot for their engagement announcements, so we had to recreate it. You know, no big deal. Just Keith jumping over his pregnant wife and a tricycle.
Then I just wanted to snag a few photos for them, you know, sans baby.
Their dog Truffle hung out for a few, too.
And these were the announcements I put together that they shared with friends and family. I love the way they turned out!
Anyway, I know a little random for a Thursday – not my usual outfit post or anything. But I love sharing other aspects of my life on here and I couldn’t NOT share these photos of my friends!
Plus, as I’m exploring my love of photography more and more, I love sharing my favorite images – it’s a way for me to see how I improve in my picture taking. And whatnot.
You guys, you’re probably thinking, “Uhh, Molly, you’re already married. Why are you talking about engagement picture outfits?”True. I am married. But there was a time not too long ago that we were engaged and about to get engagement pictures taken.
I was stressing. Seriously. It was bad. I couldn’t sleep the night before. I felt like it was the night before school pictures or something. But even MORE important. And since I was living alone in my apartment, I had no one to tell me if the outfits were cute or if they would work or not.
I wanted to look like ME. SO, I took so many phone pictures and texted them to my friends and got feedback that way. LOL. Ahhh good times.
Anyway, I thought I’d share with you guys the photos I took and the outfits I considered and then I figured I’d share a couple pictures showing off the looks I actually wore. If you want, you can check out more of our pictures on our photographers blog by clicking here.
Please excuse the mess in these pictures. These were taken in my old apartment during the midst of cleaning out my apartment, so yeah, it was not in it’s peak condition.
option one: (i later came to learn that my husband hates doesn’t like this dress… so needless to say i didn’t wear it)
option two:
option three:
option four:
option five:
option six (without jean jacket):
option six (with jean jacket):
And here’s one of our engagement pictures. I went with outfit six! My favorite. I love this outfit. I felt confident and I loved that hubs and I weren’t matchy-matchy… we coordinated.
And then this was our last look. I ended up really loving this outfit and this picture below is one of my favorites. I actually have a giant canvas of this picture on our wall in our living room. It’s husband’s favorite picture of us. I don’t know why I love it so much, but I do!
Plus, I think my husband looks so darn handsome in this picture!!
Have you ever had portrait-outfit-anxiety like I did? Have you had any fancy pictures taken lately? Share a link below! I’d love to picture-stalk you! jk. but seriously.
You guys, this is going to be a long post. I am not sorry though because this post, while long, is FULL of pretty people and pretty things. So, check it out.
This past weekend, some girlfriends of mine from church got together and threw the SICKEST Baby Shower for our dear friend Emily. Emily + Dustin are expecting a baby girl, Austyn Blakeley in July. Emily + Dustin are both worship leaders at our church and so when I was coming up with a theme for the shower, “Born To Rock” I knew IMMEDIATELY would be PERFECT.
To start, I’m gonna get the boring stuff outta the way – my outfit for the shower!
[i wanted to look cute, but also be comfortable since i knew i'd be running around and setting up. hence why i went for my trusty pink cowboy boots rather than heels. i would have DIED in heels. plus, the pink boots went with the theme.]
Okay, now the outfit part is over with – let’s get on to the party details. Again, the theme was “BORN TO ROCK” – so, we just went with it.
[so, these were the invitations i designed. i wanted them to look like a "band flyer" - i designed them in photoshop and then had them printed at kinkos! it was super easy and i loved the way they came out. (i blurred out the details obviously haha)]
[my A-MAZING sister made the cake for the shower. she made the cake for my wedding and when i asked her if she would do the cake for the shower, i was PUMPED when she agreed. and it was SO awesome (not to mention SO DELICIOUS). you can check out my sister's stuff on facebook!]
[i lost my pin almost right away]
[my friend ariel put these swag bags together - they had DELISH cakes pops, DIY hair bows, and sweet bracelets in them!]
[in lieu of a guestbook, we had a guitar case for "tips" - guests wrote tips to the new parents about parenting, love, and life! it was a hit!]
[emily has been craving breakfast foods throughout her pregnancy, so we had BREAKFAST foods galore! jackie pitched in and helped to get the coffee and paper plates and my friend dani worked SO hard and made ALL the food.]
[you know, just posin']
[so many wonderful gifts! austyn is so loved already!]
[my friend ashley came up with all the baby shower games - she did such a great job finding really fun games for us to play!]
[time for me to cut the cake!]
[some other fun shots from the party]
[seriously, how cute are they?]
[the beautiful mom to be and ashley!]
[our game planner!]
[yeah. i had a piece of cake with black icing. woops. i am awkward.]
[it takes A LOT for me to post this on my blog. those onesies should be carolina blue, but i'll deal for now cause i love her.]
[swag bags!]
[the gang]
[emily and her mama are so pretty!]
[the party planners and the mom to be!]
[seriously, how pretty and awesome are my friends? these are some of the most wonderful, godly, caring, selfless women i know.]
[the mom to be and me]
[and this is what i love about her! hahaha doesn't take herself too seriously.]
so then, we decided to have an impromptu “maternity portrait session” – note: i am no professional photographer. i just love taking photos (always have) and emily is a pretty dang good model! i’m so glad she’s allowing me to share some of these GORGEOUS photos.
Enjoy:
[beautiful]
[emily (and dustin) play the guitar - so this was only appropriate...]
[i want her eye color!]
[gorgeous]
[emily could seriously be a model]
[my attempt at being artsy]
[how gorgeous are they? such an amazing couple! these two love the Lord and are going to be amazing parents]
[dustin cracks emily up all the time]
[oh my gawsh]
[hahahahaha bellies!]
[beautiful]
[austyn is going to be so loved]
phew. okay. that was a LONG post. i know. but wasn’t it AWESOME? what was your favorite part?
pin your favorite photos! comment below and tell me what you loved the most! oh, and ALL the photos from the day are going to be up on my Facebook page later today!
thanks for sticking with me. i’m so blessed by amazing friends!
xoxo, all for now.
OH, and one more thing, I made a “baby shower” playlist that played in the background of the party and I kept getting questions about what songs were on it – here’s the playlist for those who are curious:
“Baby Baby” – Amy Grant
“Baby I Want You” – Amos Lee
“Baby” – Brandy
“Hey Baby” – Bruce Channel
“Baby Blue” – Dave Matthews Band
“American Baby” – Dave Matthews Band
“Beating Heart Baby” – Head Automatica
“Baby Be Mine” – Michael Jackson
“Little Bitty” – Alan Jackson
“I Wonder” – The City Harmonic
“Born to Run” – Bruce Springsteen
“Born for This” – Paramore
“Sweet Child O’ Mine” – Guns N Roses
“Always Be My Baby” – Mariah Carey
“Baby I Need Your Lovin” – The Four Tops
“Baby I Love You” – The Ronettes
“Baby Love” – The Supremes
“Baby” – Justin Bieber
“Baby It’s You” – The Beatles
“Be My Baby” – The Ronettes
“Baby, I Love Your Way” – Peter Frampton
Oh, and yeah, I’m out of control and ALSO made a little video of the day! I’m an amateur, but thought I’d share it anyway.
You may or may not know that in addition to my passion for writing, blogging, fashion, and life – I also have long had a passion for photography.
