I just have to give a little shout out to all my photographers and potential photographers. I have to say when I first started shooting weddings, I was ecstatic about my new Jessica Claire shootsac! It was just what I needed to tote around all my equipment for weddings. But here I am 8 months later, not too excited about what carrying around a ton of bricks (ie camera equipment) over my shoulder has done to my back. Nothing against Jessica Claire . You know it’s pretty bad when your photography partner has the same back pain — in the same place — and carries the same equipment and shootsac! Oh my.

So I was doing freelance work for the Abilene Living Magazine and showed up at Advanced Chiropractic for a quick photo shoot. After taking a few pics, I leaned over the counter and BEGGED for a quick adjustment. Thankfully Jake was so awesome to squeeze me in. What was meant to be a quick adjustment turned into a month of chiropractic care!! And meeting the beautiful, expecting Crystal. I had a BLAST shooting Crystal’s maternity pics. She a beauty . After you check out her pics, be sure to stop by Advanced Chiropractic in Abilene. They rock!

Brandi is one of the sweetest people I have met. She loves her family and has such a beautiful heart . I have to say her husband Shane was quite the trooper! He never once complained about the heat or the length of the photo shoot. It always makes it more fun for me when the husband enjoys this special moment with his wife! You will fall in love with this family — so watch out!

Brandi, it was so great meeting you and your family! Many blessings on your move .

Mikey is such an awesome dad! His daughter came to visit for a few weeks, so we snagged a few pictures while he had his kids in Abilene. We had a great time… well, maybe humorous is a better word  

I was a little worried about the weather. Stacy told me that in Cypress, TX it always thunders and clouds up. And it’s common for rain showers most days. The last night of my stay with Stacy we weren’t too sure we could pull off a photo shoot, but thankfully the clouds parted and the lighting was perfect! Most of all Baby Roan was in a wonderful mood and was ready to clap Clapping = big smiles! I have never had such an easy photo shoot with a 10 month old! Aren’t they such a cute family? Miss you guys!

It seems like everywhere I turn I’ve been hearing raves from moms about My Baby Can Read. Even before I flew to visit my friend Stacy in Houston. The last time I saw Stacy was when I shot her maternity pictures the previous summer. I was not able to be with Stacy when baby Roan was born so I have been counting down the days until I got to meet the little guy. Stacy and Ryan have been working with Roan on his My Baby Can Read flash cards and he just learned how to clap!! I didn’t realize how much this would help me through the photo shoot. You can imagine the attention span of a 10 month old, so our favorite phrase to get Roan excited was “Clap your hands!!” He is quite the  little clapper . I love u guys. It was so much fun spending time with you all!
Roan is a thinker. He loved the camera. He would army crawl towards me when I put the lens in his face. See him reaching for it?

I love baby toes

Sitting up like a big boy…so you think!! We propped him up while Stacy stood close by. Every time he started to topple we would dive towards him to catch him!  

He was teething so he wanted to put everything in his mouth. Stacy was getting something in the car when I was trying to take this photo. He loved eating the mulch. I repeatedly had to sit down my camera to run and get the mulch out of his mouth. But when I turned my back he had it in his mouth again. He thought it was so funny!

Isn’t he adorable? I love his hats!

I (Micah) LOVE details! When we arrived in Lipan for Brooke and Hunter’s wedding, I got so excited. It was perfect… details, details, details! If I were to plan my wedding over, I would totally steal Brooke’s ideas . Their ceremony was in a field — awesome!! White chairs, fun vintage ideas… creativity galore! The weather cooperated, so it made for a perfect day! Brooke and Hunter met at a family friends house, so they thought it was perfect to get married where they met . And the landowners are some of the sweetest people I have ever met!

Aren’t these details phenomenal?

Here are Hunter and his guys. Hunter surprised Brooke with matching pink sunglasses. He whipped them out for the pictures and I couldn’t wait to see Brooke’s reaction at the altar

Check out Brooke’s necklace… the landowner, family friend of the Benefield’s made it!! How cool, huh!

Below is the horse and carriage that brought Brooke from the field to the altar. Wow. Breathtaking.

We had so much fun photographing Brooke and Hunter. Our favorite part of each wedding is when we get to spend alone time with the bride and groom. With no one else around. Here are a few of our favorites !

I will never forget the day I met Arlie — she was so quiet and reserved, yet wasn’t afraid to speak her mind! I was so excited to have her in my small group at Sam Houston State. I felt like I had nothing to offer her since she was an upper classman but I immediately fell in love with her heart. Over the course of my sophomore year, Arlie and I developed a very special bond that has continued over the years. I am so protective over Arlie and knew it would take one special guy to capture her heart… VERY special.

Arlie was driving through Abilene one afternoon and stopped by to visit me in my new hometown – Abilene. She began to tell me how she was hanging out with this guy… but just as friends. I knew in my heart this guy was THE ONE she was waiting for (but I didn’t tell her). It wasn’t long after we met up in Abilene that she called me to tell me they were dating, and not much time later when I received THE phone call that she was engaged!!

Keith, you are one blessed guy. You are marrying a princess. Arlie, isn’t God SO FAITHFUL?!? . I love you both!! Can’t wait ’til the wedding!

Alyssa and Ester have a friend who lives in a beautiful part of Abilene right by the lake. When we drove up the long driveway that weaved up to the house I was so giddy as I was surrounded by OPTIONS. We had no plans to shoot Alyssa’s bridals inside but the lady who graciously let us use her house, come to find out, is an interior designer. Ester insisted I see how talented her friend is so as they were showing me around the house it took my breath away! We quickly made change of plans and moved Alyssa’s bridal shoot inside! You will see why!! A chandelier over the bed?!? Wow. Seriously. Alyssa your are stunning, my dear !

I met up with Haley, her mom and sister at the Waco Arboretum for a fun day of shooting bridals!! Stay tuned for her wedding!