This shoot. Where do I start? How about the VERY beginning! We had just landed and were in our rental car when I noticed that it was only 2:30pm and it seemed DARK to me. The clouds were heavy and the rain was coming. I knew about the rain but the dark clouds and dreary skies had me worried about LIGHT. If we started at 5:30…. two hours before sunset, by the time 6:30 rolled around, I would be struggling to keep this couple under cover and also exposing properly without a flash.
So, like any worried, natural light photographer, I texted Melanie and asked if there was ANY way that they could move the shoot up to 4:30! She agreed that it would be a good call and immediately checked to see if Jonathan could meet us early! He was able to leave work in a hurry and we met up in a quaint little park just outside of the city where a photographer friend of Melanie’s had told her about a blooming tree that we should check out! It was MAGICAL!!!! Just amazing!!!!!
You all know that I love blooms… but this tree just took it to a whole new level! The blooms on the ground made for a bright, light pink glow all over and I was in a photographer’s heaven!!! Not only were there blooms on the ground but there were also blooms on low-lying branches to shoot through!!!! What a DREAM!!! I’m so excited to share these images with you!
Jonathan and Melanie met this past fall and they just KNEW they were meant to spend the rest of their life together. Coming from someone who dated their high school sweetheart for 8 years, this is incredible to me! What an awesome story they will have to share for the rest of their lives! We loved getting to know Jonathan but we already knew how much we adored Melanie because she is a past KJ Workshop Attendee!!! It’s such an honor to be invited back into Melanie’s life for this sweet season. Her sweet spirit and calm demeanor makes her so easy to love. I can’t wait to see her as a bride and capture their gorgeous Texan wedding!!!!
Thanks for reading!
— Katelyn
MORE RECENT POSTS
The day started with bubbly personalities and bubbly drinks in the historic Linden Row house in downtown Richmond. I walked in, found Leah and then one by one I met her amazing bridesmaids. From the moment I met them all, I knew this was going to be a fun day, not lacking any energy! I loved the way this day started…. however, it got even better the moment dad walked in.
It’s an exciting day in Youtube land! We have just launched a brand new series that we’re really excited about!!!! So often when I’m going through KJ All Access episodes and editing our behind the scenes coverage of our wedding days, I find myself noticing a lot of scenarios that require a lot of thought and problem solving in order to create a FINAL image that I love!!
Gosh it feels good to do what I love to do again! This was my first shoot back since maternity leave ended and I loved every minute of it! I have known Matt and Abby for years and years and so while this was a true portrait session with paying clients and outfit changes, etc…. it was also a shoot with dear friends and it was wonderful to spend some time with them!
First of all, let me just say, I do NOT endorse not hiring a professional birth photographer! As you read this, keep in mind that I desperately wanted to have my friend and fellow photographer Jill with me during my fourth birth. I was heartbroken that she wasn’t allowed to be there!
Have you ever showed up for a wedding or a portrait session and took one look at the location and thought…. “You’ve got to be kidding me!!! How am I going to make this work?!” I have. I have had so many scenarios in my career where I have thought….“Ok, how in the world am I going to make this lousy location work as a great portrait location!!?”.
It still feels surreal to tell people about what we do for a living. We photograph weddings and we teach other people how to photograph weddings. It’s quite literally a dream job for a creative like myself who loves people! Every month when we do these Student Spotlights, I’m reminded all over again how much of a privilege it is to be a part of these photographer’s lives and play a small role in their stories.
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