I use the hash tag #lovewhatyoudo often when posting on social media. Throughout my work days, I’m constantly reminded about how much I really love being a photographer and small business owner. Despite all the challenges and all the various hats I have to wear to make it all happen, I truly enjoy this job and am so grateful to be doing what I do. 

And when it comes down to it, it’s because of the people. My clients. Those who trust me to capture their special moments and memories. Those who invite me to document their wedding days and their growing families. Those who meet with me early on Saturday mornings and those who drive across state borders to have a session in my backyard. Those who snuggle in front of the camera, make laughing on cue look natural, sing Frozen to distract their kiddos, and who don’t mind standing in the rain for the sake of pictures. It’s because of all of YOU that I love what I do! I can only be as good as my clients and man on man have I been BLESSED with some awesome clients during my JFP years. 

My most recent reminder of this joy for my job and thankfulness for my clients happened yesterday when I was going through my portfolio to pick out some new pictures for my next order of MOO business cards. (Check them out, friends…such awesome stuff!) With Moo, I’m able to print a different picture on the back of each card. I get to share my portfolio AND my clients! So cool! And now I’m going to share them with you. 🙂

Kylie and Zack were married on September 3rd, so just over a week ago. But that’s not when they initially intended to get married. They came to me with the hopes of marrying on September 2nd, but after finding I was already booked, they decided to entertain other dates. I suggested considering the 3rd instead because weddings don’t need to happen on Saturdays and because it was Labor Day weekend, they’d still have a day off the next day! So they did. Kylie and Zack were married on the 3rd instead of the 2nd and I was completely flattered that they’d make changes so that we could work together. Thanks a million for that, you two! You had such a beautiful day!

Invitation suite design by Hannah of Dainty Daisy Designs and florals by Jason at Bella Fiore Designs…

Lauren and Matt drove from Harpers Ferry, WV late on Friday night, got a hotel room at Deep Creek Lake and met me at 9am this past Saturday morning for their engagement session. They didn’t mind a little bit of travel, a little lack of sleep and they were happy to do plenty of snuggling in front of the camera. Their awesomeness made my day and I’m so thankful we’ll be working together for their December wedding next year! 

You bet your bottom dollar I couldn’t pass up putting this one on the back of a business card! SUCH A FAVORITE!!

This is the Dooley family! Mom Cindy contacted me to capture their growing clan on another visit to Deep Creek and I was so excited to reunite with them! I first met them during Maggie and Throop’s wedding at North Glade Inn two years ago. I felt blessed to work with them then and was doubly blessed to work with them again this year. And it wasn’t just any old visit to the lake…it was their vacation! I like to think my clients deserve extra high fives for not only wanting to invite me to hang with them on their vacation but also wanting to take family pictures while on vacation! Photographing vacationing families at the lake has become one of my favorite summertime activities…

Maggie and Throop now have baby Olive! So neat to see my couples grow their families!

Singing Frozen to distract the kiddos. What a pair of parents these two are. 🙂

This group picture on the dock is one of my favorites from the whole summer!

This session comes with thanks to the F family and Chanteclaire Farm. Abby contacted me in early summer to reserve a space on my calendar for she and her little family of three. But they didn’t want to visit a nearby park or even use their home for the session. They wanted to revisit the place they married three years ago…and thankfully, Chanteclaire was happy to allow them to return and for us to use the grounds for pictures. In the midst of our great plans, we were struck with unfortunate weather and I am so glad Abby was understanding of Garrett County conditions (and how they can be so different from those in our surrounding neighbor states…#tundraofmaryland 🙂 ) and was flexible when needing to reschedule. Thanks for making this session happen, Abby, Carl, Baby J, and Chanteclaire!

Love that mama and baby smile. 🙂

And lastly, so many thanks to Elizabeth and Emmett, who were just featured here on the blog (and will be featured on Borrowed & Blue soon!) in their full wedding day glory. Without your willingness to make things happen despite the 45 degrees and rain, we wouldn’t have captured the loveliness that we did! Thank you for braving the cold and standing in the rain, both for the lakefront ceremony you were determined to have and for the portraits I requested. It was all so worth it and I so very much hope you feel the same way. 🙂

Only sharing a few because there’s MANY more to see in their blog post!

So once again, to my clients, THANK YOU! This all wouldn’t be possible without you and I’m so thankful I have all of you to continually give me reason to love what I do! 🙂