Worth 1,000 Words: Caroline Logan Photography

Mr. Cameron and Mrs. Alexandra Roberts on their wedding day
Photo credit: Caroline Logan Photography 

Welcome to the final feature for my "Worth 1,000 Words" series! It's been an adventure, wouldn't you agree? And now you can always visit my Summer 2015 archives to find wedding photographers who you can recommend to friends and family who are ready to get married! If you're not married yet then when you get engaged, you now have a lovely resource within this "Worth 1,000 Words" blog series!

Today, we're featuring beautiful photography from Caroline Logan, a destination wedding photographer who photographed her first wedding at the young age of 14! She's quite a brilliant, determined and wonderful person to know.

Enjoy getting to know Caroline today! Read on for details.

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What loves means to Caroline Logan as a wedding photographer: 

While I’m not yet married myself, I’m so grateful for the strong examples of God-centered marriages I’ve been able to look to. I’m especially thankful for my parents who have always taught me that marriage is not a point to be reached, but a process to be nourished. I believe marriage is a lifetime commitment and I am just as excited for my couples to celebrate day ten thousand and one of their marriage as I am about day one!

With that in mind, I believe wholeheartedly a photographer’s job spans beyond perfect composition, nailed exposure, or a technically flawless image (although that’s certainly important too). I feel that the foundation of what I do is to capture a joy-filled and genuine connection between a bride and groom that tells an authentic story of who they are together in that moment…so they can look at the images years down the road and feel it too. This is my heart and something I feel so incredibly passionate about.

~*~

Photographer bio (in Caroline Logan's words):

Caroline Logan, photo credit: Anna K. Photography

I’m Caroline Logan, a wedding photographer, adventurer, story-teller, and believer in love. I like to think I’m a Southern girl at heart, although I was born and raised in the land I’ll always love and find most dear: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. 

I started this journey at the ripe old age of fourteen when I took a crazy leap and photographed my first solo wedding. (Yikes, I was just a baby…I know!) I’ve come a long way since those early days in business, and today, have the joy and privilege of waking up each day to pursue my dream, pouring my heart into work that is truly my passion!

I’ve gotten to travel across the country photographing weddings, attending conferences, and meeting incredible people and it has truly been the greatest of adventures. However, for me, it has been the relationships I’ve built with each one of my sweet and amazing clients that has been the biggest reward that has come from running my own photography business. I truly feel so blessed and grateful to be welcomed into my clients’ lives, to learn their love story, to share in their joy, and to celebrate with them as they make this amazing marriage commitment!

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Connect with Caroline:

Website - http://carolineloganphotography.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/carolineloganphotography
Instagram - https://instagram.com/carolineloganphoto/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/carolineraush/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/carolineraush

Worth 1,000 Words: Alisandra Photography

"First Look" photo captured by Alisandra, featuring Mr. Jacob and Mrs. Laura Barker

Today we've got a different picture worth a thousand words, it's what wedding photographers call the "first look." Featured in today's picture are Jacob and Laura getting a "first look" at each other before their wedding ceremony. The first look is really for the guy to see how beautiful his bride looks in her wedding dress in a private moment shared between the bride, groom and their professional wedding photographer(s). But after seeing this picture, I believe Laura was just as excited to see her groom in his tuxedo as he was to see her in her wedding dress! 

Alisandra Williamson of Alisandra Photography captured the picture of The Barkers. Ali dreamed of a career in the music industry before wedding photography caught her eye. She's pursued her passion for capturing lovely wedding day memories with her camera and I'm delighted to introduce Ali to you today! 

Read on to learn more about Ali as a wedding photographer and feel free to connect! :)

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How Ali views love through her lens as a wedding photographer: When I started as a wedding photographer, I really just loved being around the raw emotion and energy of a wedding. But the more weddings I photographed, and teared up at, I realized the depth of what I do. LOVE propels the wedding day, and of course, it propels the marriage. I view my work as a tool in this process. As my couples look back at their wedding photos year after year, I believe they hold the ability to remind the couples of their vows, emotions, and their LOVE as it was from the beginning.

~*~
Photographer bio (in Alisandra's words): 

Featuring Alisandra Williamson, photo credit:
Andrea Pesce Photography

I never had dreamed of being a photographer, in fact, I wanted to work in the music industry! 

I still love music, but I love my job even more. I began my career as a wedding photographer after a few years of second shooting under my belt. 

After attending photography school in the heart of Washington, D.C., I started my business in 2010, and now shoot an average of 20 weddings per year. I’ve had the privilege of meeting amazing couples and documenting their love. 

I view my job as an honor and a gift, just as I view marriage itself! I'm based in Richmond, Va. where I live with my husband, Chad. We'll be married 5 years in October!

~*~

Connect with Alisandra:

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AlisandraPhotography
Instagram - https://instagram.com/alisandraphoto/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/alisandraphoto/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AlisandraPhoto

Website - http://alisandraphoto.com/home.html

Worth 1,000 Words: Nikki Santerre Photography

Nikki's clients: Mr. Adam and Mrs. Madison Teufel

Welcome creative photographer Nikki Santerre to the blog today! Nikki works two jobs and still manages to devote time to her wonderful photography business! I think you will love visiting with Nikki. You are welcome to leave a message for Nikki in the comment section and connect with Nikki through the social media links provided below.

~*~

Nikki's view of love through her camera lens:

I think the thing that most adequately equips me to serve my clients on their wedding day is that before I am anything else, I am a wife. 

What marriage has taught me is that love is a choice, that everyday my husband and I wake up and choose one another. 

The images that I produce for my clients aren't just pictures, they are heirlooms. Heirlooms that are thoughtfully curated and meant to be tangible, to be passed down through the generations as evidence of the love and legacy that all started with saying, "I choose you and our love is worth fighting for."

What love means to the bride (Madison) before and after the wedding:

Knowing how detail-oriented and wedding-obsessed I have been for most of my life, I thought I would be a total ball of stress on our wedding day. That was certainly the case during the comically disastrous week leading up to the big day - which played out like something from Father of the Bride (the movie). Except instead of a supermarket meltdown over hot dog buns, it was a fluke back injury that almost rendered my dad unable to walk me down the aisle, a mysterious virus/food poisoning that made its way through the entire Steckler family, weather that wouldn't make up its mind, shoes that never arrived, staying up until 2 a.m. every night trying to finish the DIY projects (I blame Pinterest!), and the list goes on.

But somehow, the wedding day came and I felt a calm come over me. It suddenly didn't matter to me that my hair wouldn't cooperate or that I didn't have my perfect monogrammed Jack Rogers I'd ordered. All I cared about was getting to that church and making my best friend of so many years my husband. Truly, I think I looked in the mirror once before I walked down the aisle. I think that's love: not getting wrapped up in the things that just don't matter when you are surrounded by the only thing that does. When Adam took my hand from the other side of the door and prayed with me before our ceremony, his love and calm brought me to center the way it has so many times in the past. I am so grateful for that moment.

Now, as I sit on the couch across from my husband of almost two months, that same love is there and growing everyday. As Nikki captured so well, our wedding was beautiful and perfect despite the comedy of errors preceding it. But our marriage is so much more beautiful than our wedding. Everyday isn't glamorous or Instagram-worthy (ex: I'm currently wearing scrubs from work and eating rice), but it's finally ours to share with each other. And that's all that really matters to me.

What love means to the groom (Adam) before and after the wedding:

As a groom preparing to start life with my future wife, I knew I wanted to do everything I could to make her happy and excited for our marriage. Between the engagement and months of wedding planning, I tried my best to make her smile, and assumed that was the best way to express my love.

After our wedding and commitment to each other, wonderful honeymoon, and starting life together, I soon found out love is more than just seeking happiness together. Love became the mutually shared responsibility challenge, improve, and to be present in the little moments of each other's lives.

During marriage, love has become more exciting and fulfilling than I ever could have imagined. Looking at Maddie, I am reminded daily of just how lucky we are.

~*~
Photographer bio (in Nikki's words): My name is Nikki Santerre, and I'm a Fine Art Film Hybrid Photographer (that's basically a fancy way of saying I shoot both film and digital and I harvest light in order to curate beautiful and timeless heirlooms for my clients). I'm married to a handsome fella named Matt and we have two pups who have stolen our hearts, couch cushions, and my side of the bed. 

Nikki and her husband, Matt. Photo credit: Anna K Photography in Charleston

Earlier this year, I launched Love Came Down, a wedding blog dedicated to preparing for a marriage deeply rooted in Christ. I'm passionate about motherhood (although I am not yet a mother), serving others through my business, education (specifically educating other photographers regarding running a Hybrid digital/film photography business through my monthly newsletter, The Hybrid Society) and doing everything with love and to the glory of my Heavenly Father.

~*~

Connect with Nikki:

Website - http://nikkisanterre.com
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/NikkiSanterrePhotography
Instagram - https://instagram.com/nikkisanterre/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/Nikki_santerre

Worth 1,000 Words: Annamarie Akins Photography

Mr. Robert and Mrs. Erin Preston

Today, I'm introducing the work of another wonderful wedding photographer. Let's welcome Annamarie Akins to the blog! 

I love the photo of Annamarie's clients, newlyweds Robert and Erin Preston! Don't you love the old town car in the picture and the way the bride and groom are perfectly positioned?

Annamarie is talented, right? I think you will like her view on love, photography and the people and things in her life that bring her joy! Enjoy her visit with us and interact with Annamarie by leaving a comment at the end of this blog post.

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Annamarie's view of love through her lens as a wedding photographer:
Love is the foundation of what I do as a wedding photographer! My vision is to remind couples of why they fell in love in the first place and to give them an heirloom to treasure for a lifetime. The wedding day is just the beginning of the story…it’s the love that is built in the months and years afterwards that I truly believe is worth celebrating everyday. It’s a love that grows from knowing a person so deeply and from sharing your highs and lows as well as the little every day moments of life together…It grows when you experience things that you love together no matter how big or small…This is the reason I also specialize in Anniversary Sessions! I think that true love takes a lot of sacrifice and it’s such an honor to get to capture photos that couples will hopefully look back on to remind them of where it all began…

~*~

Photo credit: Katelyn James Photography

Photographer bio:
I’m Annamarie, owner of Annamarie Akins Photography and am an International Wedding Photographer based in Virginia. I enjoy traveling to capture love stories and photograph around 25 weddings a year. I’ve been so honored to have my work published in magazines including Destination I Do, The Knot, and Washingtonian Bride and Groom.

In my experience I’ve learned that the best images result from spending time getting to know my couples and their story so that I can capture their love and laughter in a sincere way.

I live in an old house (with virtually no closet space!) just outside of the city in Richmond, Virginia, with my husband + high school sweetheart, Ryan, and our sweet pup, Lexie. Some of the things I love most include relaxing with them and friends in our backyard, a good coffee date, and trying new local restaurants. I’m a self-professed travel loving homebody — as deep as my love is for exploring new places, sometimes there’s no place I’d rather be than cuddled up on the couch with my french press and a good book.

But I love that my job is constantly allowing me to visit new places and build new relationships with the most incredible people!

Connect with Annamarie:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AnnamarieAkinsPhotography
Instagram - https://instagram.com/annamarie_akins/
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/annamariea/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/annamarieakins

Worth 1,000 Words: Katelyn James Photography (Part II)

Mr. Josh and Mrs. Katie Wootton, photo credit: Katelyn James Photography

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The beautiful images above are from the wedding of Josh and Katie, the newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Wootton.

The creative talent behind the camera who was responsible for capturing these captivating images is Katelyn James! She's a sweet person and smart business woman. I am delighted to feature Katelyn and her photography on my blog for the second time in this series! She takes such captivating, romantic and sweet photos of her clients that I had to double-book her for this photography feature. After looking at the photos from Josh and Katie's wedding, I'm sure you may agree.


Katelyn started her photography business in 2008 and never stopped shooting! She's come a long way since her college days when her dorm room was the base for her photography business. After graduation, Katelyn continued her creative work and chased her dreams. Now, Katelyn and her husband Michael (they are a team) photograph an average of more than 30 weddings annually. When not shooting weddings, Katelyn keeps busy with more of her favorite creative endeavors: blogging, speaking and owning a shop.


What loves means to Katelyn as a wedding photographer:


"My view of love has changed so much over the years. I recently watched a video that really encompassed all that I think love is. It was a video of a young engaged couple who got to see what they would look like 60 years from now and it was so amazing. I realized watching that video that my job is so important. I'm preserving memories in their purest form and that is such an honor!"



*See more photos of Josh and Katie's wedding by visiting Katelyn's blog, http://katelynjamesblog.com/a-mill-at-fine-creek-wedding/

~*~

Photographer bio:

Photo credit: Michael Alsop (Katelyn's husband)

Katelyn James started her professional photography career as a Junior in college and was shooting 25+ weddings annually within her second year. After growing her business and gaining recognition in national publications such as Professional Photographers Magazine, The Knot, Southern Living Weddings, Southern Weddings and Eco Weddings, she began teaching and coaching photographers from all over the country and internationally.

Katelyn hosts workshops throughout the year and monthly coaching sessions at her home in Richmond, VA. Recently, Katelyn has been joined by her husband Michael and they are officially a husband/wife team. 

Since joining forces, Katelyn and Michael average 36 weddings annually. Their work has also been featured numerous times on national wedding blogs such as Real Simple, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled, Inspired by This, Grey Likes Weddings and Green Wedding Shoes.

~*~
Connect with Katelyn:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/katelynjamesphotography


Instagram - https://instagram.com/katelynjames


Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/katelyn_james


Twitter - https://twitter.com/katelynjames
Website - http://katelynjames.com

Worth 1,000 Words: Katelyn James Photography

Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Bryana Pooler on their wedding day (Sept. 12, 2014)

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The beautiful images above are from the wedding of Tony and Bryana. The creative talent behind the camera who was responsible for capturing these captivating images is Katelyn James! She's a sweet person and smart business woman. I am delighted to feature Katelyn and her photography on my blog today!

Katelyn started her photography business in 2008 and never stopped shooting! She's come a long way since her college days when her dorm room was the base for her photography business. After graduation, Katelyn continued her creative work and chased her dreams. Now, Katelyn and her husband Michael (they are a team) photograph an average of more than 30 weddings annually. When not shooting weddings, Katelyn keeps busy with more of her favorite creative endeavors: blogging, speaking and owning a shop.

What loves means to Katelyn as a wedding photographer:
"My view of love has changed so much over the years. I recently watched a video that really encompassed all that I think love is. It was a video of a young engaged couple who got to see what they would look like 60 years from now and it was so amazing. I realized watching that video that my job is so important. I'm preserving memories in their purest form and that is such an honor!"

*See more photos of Bryana and Tony's wedding by visiting Katelyn's blog, 
http://katelynjamesblog.com/morais-vineyard-bealeton-virginia-wedding-venue/
~*~
Photographer bio:

Photo credit: Michael Alsop (Katelyn's husband)

Katelyn James started her professional photography career as a Junior in college and was shooting 25+ weddings annually within her second year. After growing her business and gaining recognition in national publications such as Professional Photographers Magazine, The Knot, Southern Living Weddings, Southern Weddings and Eco Weddings, she began teaching and coaching photographers from all over the country and internationally.

Katelyn hosts workshops throughout the year and monthly coaching sessions at her home in Richmond, VA. Recently, Katelyn has been joined by her husband Michael and they are officially a husband/wife team. 

Katelyn and Michael, Photo credit: Annamarie Akins Photography

Since joining forces, Katelyn and Michael average 36 weddings annually. Their work has also been featured numerous times on national wedding blogs such as Real Simple, Style Me Pretty, Ruffled, Inspired by This, Grey Likes Weddings and Green Wedding Shoes.
~*~
Connect with Katelyn: 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/katelynjamesphotography
Instagram - https://instagram.com/katelynjames
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/katelyn_james
Twitter - https://twitter.com/katelynjames

Website - http://katelynjames.com

Worth 1,000 Words: Terri Baskin Photography

The newly married Jerrod and Tinita dancing during their wedding day reception

The kiss that ended the wedding celebration and started life together as Mr. & Mrs. Kearney:

 

Photo credit for the featured wedding day pictures: 
Photographer: Terri Baskin (Terri Baskin Photography)- www.terribaskin.com

Couple: Jerrod and Tinita Kearney
Married: May 8, 2015
Location: The Bolger Center- Potomac Maryland

Terri is the principal photographer/owner of Terri Baskin Photography and as you can see from these two beautiful photos, Terri is a talented wedding photographer!

Welcome Terri to the blog today and feel free to connect with her through the links she provides at end of this post. Please leave a comment for Terri to share your thoughts on her guest post today. She'll be happy to hear from you!

Enjoy today's feature! :)

~*~
What love means to Terri as a wedding photographer: 

The moment they first lock eyes on the wedding day and the reaction that each one has towards one a other, whether it be a smile, a tear or a subtle laugh because the day they've been planning and praying for is actually happening or some inside joke that only they will ever know...those are the moments that remind me of why I love being a wedding photographer.

Growing up with a father who spent his Saturdays photographing weddings, I remember being excited about two things when he returned home- the piece of wedding cake that he brought me and the pictures that developed in his in-home dark room! However, being around a successful marriage by having two loving parents at home helped me to understand that it's not always easy to blend two lives into one and make it work but the beauty of wedding photography is that even during the toughest moments, a couple’s wedding photographs can remind them to fight through the tough times and return to the happiest ones. The ultimate love story, in my opinion, is to remember why you started and never give up!

My goal as a wedding photographer is to document those fleeting moments during a wedding day that the couple themselves may have not even realized had taken place. When a couple looks at their wedding images, I want them to remember their day all over again. I want them to reminisce on the happy moments, reflect on the moments that brought them to tears, and share with one another what they were thinking as the day began to unfold. While I’m never present during this conversation, I ensure that when I curate and deliver a couple’s wedding images that the photos themselves can initiate this type of conversation.

~*~

Words from the newlyweds, Mr. Jerrod and Mrs. Tinita Kearney...

Tinita: Love is a word that was once quite easy for me to describe. Prior to getting married, it simply meant family, smiles, laughter, comfort, and deep affection. It meant having someone that I could depend on and trusting that someone would always be in my corner. Yet, now, after marrying my husband, the word that once was so easily categorized has become something much more difficult to define. Today, the word love embodies many things; namely, God and Jerrod. The love that I associate with God is wholly indescribable, and similarly, the love that I hold for Jerrod is difficult to capture into words. Yet, when I think of the deep love that binds my marriage, I realize that it goes beyond laughter and smiles, comfort and affection. Our love is patient, kind, does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonor others, is not selfish, is slow to anger, keeps (almost!) no record of wrongs, does not delight in evil, protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres (I Cor. 13:4-7). Our love is biblical and heaven sent, as is my husband, in whom I have all confidence. Because we both acknowledge that our collective mission is to fulfill our God-given purpose through the ministry of our marriage, we are powerful, and our love is our strongest weapon. 

Jerrod: I have always believed spousal love was purely the final stage of an emotion two individuals felt for one another. The emotion grew into love based on the amount of commonalities, attraction, intimate communication, shared experiences and duration of time spent together. Having never experienced spousal love, my belief was formed from watching movies, reading books, hearing others describe why they loved someone, and the like. After being married for just over two months, I have learned love is much more than an emotion. Love is complicated, love is sacrifice, a new experience and most importantly, love is an action. Love is sacrificing your wants to make your spouse happy, putting your spouse’s needs before yours, studying your spouse to know her wants before she knows her wants, being consistent in all that you do, and love is communicated on a daily basis. Although there are many facets to love and definitions of love, the best way to sum up love is to say, outside of Christ, spousal love is the best thing a man has the privilege of experiencing.

~*~
Photographer bio (in Terri Baskin's words): 

Photography is how I creatively express my clients' love story...It gives me the chance to document your "Day One" as husband and wife and create images that may be cherished by a couple for years to come!

My love affair with the camera unknowingly happened when I was about 8 years old when my dad gave me a 110mm camera to document life through my young eyes. It was also my dad that came to my first year of weddings to make sure I documented authentic moments as they unfolded.

Fast forward to today, photography is my stamp that tells the world that on this particular day and at this particular time this is where we were, who we were and what we were doing. We grow, we age, and we change- it's inevitable, but when you look at a photo that I've taken I want it to be your visual reminder of how you looked and felt at that specific moment in time.

I create timeless, romantic and modern photos for the fun couples in love! I am based in Virginia, but I love to travel! Contact me today to discuss your BIG day!

~*~

Connect with Terri, principal photographer and owner of Terri Baskin Photography: 

Photography business website: www.terribaskin.com
E-mail: tbaskin@terribaskin.com
Phone: 703.791.9111
View: The Wedding Experience!


Let’s Get Social! Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Terri's photography is featured in the following publications: Style Me Pretty, Munaluchi Bridal, The Knot, BuzzFeed, The Washingtonian Bridal Blog, and Every Last Detail!

Worth 1,000 Words: Emily Ross of Dreamy Elk Photography & Design

Photo credit: Emily Ross of Dreamy Elk Photography and Design, capturing the "first look" between the now Mr. Daniel and Mrs Jennifer Sakaida who were married on April 25, 2015

"The photo I chose was Daniel's immediate reaction to seeing his bride Jennifer for the first time that day. Reactions are always different for every couple, but I remember tearing up at this one. Some guys laugh, a few cry. But Daniel promptly kissed Jennifer's hand with all the grace of a gentleman completely in love with his beautiful bride."~Emily Ross, wedding photographer

What love means to Emily Ross, the wedding photographer: 

Every wedding day is different. Yes, they all have a ceremony, they all have flowers, they all have some kind of cake.

But love is present in different ways at each wedding. Sometimes it's in the dedicated hard work friends and family put into the weeks leading up to the wedding day. Sometimes it's in the whispered moments in the dressing room or on the dance floor. Sometimes it’s in the quick hug goodbye before the newlyweds drive off into the sunset.

Love is always present in the smiles and tears of everyone involved. It's always in the hand holding between parents as they watch their baby wed the love of their life. It's always in the way the bride and groom's faces light up when they finally get to see each other. It’s always in the sweet words spoken by maid of honor and the best man.

I don't always get the chance to get to know the bride and groom very well before their wedding day, but it's always very easy to see how well loved they are by their friends and family. When I see that, I get overwhelmed with happiness for them. That makes my job so incredibly easy. That makes me love my job even more than I already do.

What love meant to Jennifer (the bride) on her wedding day and what it means to her now (as a wife):

Love on my wedding day abounded in so many sights and sounds. I saw the love on my husband-to-be's face during our first look—the sweet unfurling of his smile, the way his eyes lit up as they took me in. I saw the love of my family and friends when I walked down the aisle—all eyes on me, the realization that everyone came here for us wanting to share in our joy with laughter and tears. I saw the love in our pastor's beaming grin—the knowing look of someone who'd watched us “grow up" before his eyes. Above all, the love of Jesus Christ surrounded us: hearing the various Scripture readings, the special music, and our pastor's loving, tailored-to-us sermon stirred up so many emotions in my heart, many of which welled up in my eyes.

Now, on the other side of my wedding day, love reveals itself in so many new, small yet profound gestures. Love is when my husband cooks me breakfast even when I am being an emotionally dysfunctional basket case (which is more often than I would like). Love is when I open up my lunch box and find my meals already packed into individual servings (because my husband knows I need the help). Love is this commitment my husband lives out every day to have and to hold me, for better and for worse.

Without Jesus, the love between Daniel and me wouldn't be possible, and with every passing day, I learn more about what it means to love and to be loved. Married life has been filled with many firsts and ups and downs, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.

What love meant to Daniel as the groom on his wedding day and what it means to him now as a husband:

When I look back to our wedding day, love for me was about the future: the excitement of anticipating. Of course, I have known from day one that I loved her, but weddings are forward-looking by their very nature. Friends and family came from all over the country to see us begin our journey together; we made promises to each other and before God; and we stored away as many memories and photos as possible. Months of planning came together to celebrate the future we were yet to have.

Now, love is here in the everyday, woven into the variations the daily grind produces. Sure, we still look forward to spending the rest of our life together…but I get more satisfaction from realizing that we are spending our lives together now. There’s something beautiful about being able to love each other day in and day out as we imperfectly imitate Christ. The commitment of marriage gives us the freedom to accept each other, mistakes and all, and to bless each other daily in little ways from meal planning to going on simple dates. Maybe it’s not as “romantic” as our wedding, but I treasure this everyday companionship.

~*~

Photographer bio:

Photo credit: Emily Ross of Dreamy Elk Photography and Design

Emily is a wedding photographer based out of Austin, Texas. She’s been in the wedding industry for seven years. She is forever grateful to clients for trusting her with their special day, to her friends and family for their love and support and to God for bringing her the sweetest couples to work with. Emily loves design, the color wheel, Dr. Pepper, musicals, fancy dresses, DIY projects, her husband and Jesus, although not necessarily in that order.

Visit Emily's website to see her beautiful wedding photography and connect with this creative and brilliant photographer, www.dreamyelk.com

Worth 1,000 Words: Ilse Eisele Photography

Featured couple: Tim and Julie Vandeman
Photographer: Ilse Eisele

Today, our special guest is Ilse Eisele, wedding photographer. Ilse and I share a treasured experience--meeting my favorite wedding photographer Jasmine Star at her event "The Fix: D.C." which was held in the Gala Theatre in Northwest, Washington D.C. a few years ago. The event was memorable and Ilse captured a great photo of me with my role model (J* is awesome)! 

The photo above features Mr. Tim and Mrs. Julie Vandeman, friends of Ilse, on their wedding day. Today we're focusing on the photo above that's worth a thousand words and the photographer's bio. The lovely couple is beyond busy, as is the photographer so they did not have time to write a short essay on the meaning of love. 

Reach out to Ilse in the comment section, letting her know what you think of her photography. She'll visit to reply to any questions you may have for her about her work.

Enjoy! 

~*~
Photographer bio:

Ilse Eisele is a professional wedding photographer whose love for horses and people gives her a zest for capturing memorable life moments with her camera. Ilse's photography of horses has been featured in magazines and her wedding photography is a cherished treasure by her brides and their husbands.

Ilse is a pastor's daughter and Auntie to her brother's and his wife's children. She loves helping people so much that she's in graduate school to become a counselor. 

Visit Ilse's professional website, www.ilseeisele.com to see her award-winning photography.

Worth 1,000 Words: Loren Jackson Photography

Photo credit: Loren Jackson Photography
Featured clients: Mr. Justin and Mrs. Stephanie Ray

Loren Jackson returns to the blog today to show us her lovely work as a wedding photographer! She's also speaking about what love means to her through her professional lens.

Loren's clients, Mr. and Mrs. Ray, are featured in the photograph above on their wedding day. Read on for their comments about how they look at love. 

~*~
Mrs. Stephanie Ray (the bride) says:

To me love is starting everyday together. Sharing unforgettable moments even if it is the simplest of things. Love is knowing that you can always count on him through toughest of times. Last not but least, love is ending everyday together!

Mr. Justin Ray (the groom) says:

Love is just a word until you find some to give it a definition. Love is facing obstacles and overcoming them together. Love is a short word, easy to spell, hard to define, and impossible to live without.

Loren (the wedding photographer) says:

As a wedding photographer, love is spending the most important day with two people who are about to begin a journey with one another that will impact and shape lives for decades to come. Love is capturing tiny details that help write the couple's love story that is going to be shared with generations to come. Love is 50 years down the road when my Brides can sit down with their granddaughters and flip through their wedding album together telling stories, laughing, and maybe wipe away a couple tears.

~*~

Photographer bio:

 Photo credit: Courtney Cannon from Cannon Candids Photography

Loren is a Wedding Photographer in Northeast Ohio. She’s a wife and a fur-mommy to two huskies and a Rottweiler. She loves spending her Saturdays with her Brides and their handsome Husbands. Loren strives in giving all her couples wedding photos that will be cherished by future generations.

Learn more about Loren's photography business through her official website,
http://lorenjacksonphotographyblog.com/

Worth 1,000 Words: Mrs. Loren Jackson

Featured photo:

Photo credit: Kaitlin Noel Photography, featured bride: Mrs. Loren Jackson

Welcome Loren to the blog today! :) Loren is a professional wedding photographer and today she's here with her husband to talk about what love meant to them on their wedding day and what love means to them now as a happily married couple. 

Loren, who is a dear friend of Kaitlin Noel, will also speak about what love means to her through the lens of her work as a wedding photographer. 

So without further ado, I introduce you to Mrs. Loren Jackson! Take it away, Loren! 

~*~
Loren writes about what Love meant to her as a Bride:

Love is dreaming of your wedding day since you were a little girl.

Love is butterflies, excitement, and anticipation.

Love is hearing your soon-to-be husband whisper in your ear “You look beautiful!”

Love is walking down the aisle holding onto your momma, staring at the man you will spend the rest of your life with.

Love is hour long bridal portraits, and your soon-to-be Husband not complaining one time about all the pictures.

Love is your Husband promising not to smash cake in your face, but he does it anyways.

Love is I don’t dance and God gave me You.

Love is celebrating your wedding day with your closest friends, family, and being blessed to have four sets of Grandparents who have been married for 50 plus years. 

~*~
Mrs. Loren Jackson writes about what love means to her now as a Wife:

Love means always thinking of your spouse before yourself.

Love is stopping at the gas station for one thing, but bringing home a bag of M&Ms.

Love is getting up in the middle of the night to leave the dogs out, even if it’s not your turn.

Love is going one (or five) steps above just to make their day a little brighter.

Love is random texts throughout the day.

Love is watching a basketball game with your husband, and all you want to do is watch a chick flick.

Love is watching a chick flick, and giving your crying wife a box of tissues.

Love is the soft forehead kisses hello, the hugs good-bye, and the “I miss you” texts while away.

Love is hearing him say “I love you, baby.”

Love is feeling goosebumps race across your body after hearing him say “I love you, baby."

Love is backrubs, encouragement, cuddles, and support.

Love is promising your life to one man. Promising unconditional love through all the good times, and all the dark times. Promising to put your marriage first, and always finding new ways to fall in love.

Love is dreaming big together. It’s looking at house plans, and envisioning that dream home decorated for Christmas, with the pitter patter of little feet running around and giggles filling the air.

Love is forgiveness.

Love is his smile, and his hand to hold.

Love is tears falling as I sit here and type this, and explain just the few things that makes me love my husband more and more everyday.

Love is marrying a man so good to you, you question yourself daily what you did to deserve a man so loving.

Love is my Husband.

~*~
Loren writes about Love As A Wedding Photographer:

Love is seeing a nervous but excited Bride putting on her dress.

Love is the white dress, the veil, grandma’s jewelry, and love notes.

Love is the first look and the tears in the Groom’s eyes.

Love is my Brides crying when they see their wedding photos.

Love is capturing memories for not just my Bride and Groom, but for the generations that are to come who can share in those memories, as well!

~*~
Joshua (Loren's husband) writes about what love meant to him as the groom:

Love was seeing her for the first time

Love was saying “I do”

Love was making her my wife for the rest of our lives

Mr. Joshua Jackson writes about what love means to him now as Loren's husband:

Love is unconditional

Love is annoying your wife until she is ready to kill you (not really…)

Love is comprise

Love is counting the seconds until you can get home after work to your wife

Love is dreaming together - big and small plans

Love is road trips in the truck

Love is spending time together

Love is going on vacation to new places

Love is movie nights with a bowl of popcorn

Love is tickle fights just to hear her laugh

~*~
Photographer bio:

 Photo credit: Courtney Cannon from Cannon Candids Photography

Loren is a Wedding Photographer in Northeast Ohio. She’s a wife and a fur-mommy to two huskies and a Rottweiler. She loves spending her Saturdays with her Brides and their handsome Husbands. Loren strives in giving all her couples wedding photos that will be cherished by future generations.

Learn more about Loren's photography business through her official website, 

http://lorenjacksonphotographyblog.com/

Worth 1,000 Words: Kaitlin Noel Photography

Featured photo:

Photo credit: Katelyn James Photography. Featured: Mrs. Kaitlin Noel Hebert
with her husband and children during their wedding "the second time around."

Today's Worth 1,000 Words post is a bit different than the rest because the featured photo is from the wedding photographer's own wedding, the "second time around" after being married with children. The photographer who captured the photo is Katelyn James and while Katelyn's wedding photography will be featured later on in this series, today is all about her friend Kaitlin Noel of Kaitlin Noel Photography!

Kaitlin would like to share the story of what love means to her through the lens of her work as a wedding photographer, her special day as a blushing bride and her life as the wife to the man of her dreams. 

So here is what love means to Kaitlin, she wrote:

"Love is family!”

My husband and I renewed our vows on our 5 year anniversary in 2014 in front of all of our family and close friends. Our first wedding was a very rushed, last minute and ill-planned event that was more focused on the "wedding" than the marriage. After five years of marriage and two kids later, we really thought about our marriage, all we have been through...all our love for each other and these kids has done for us as individuals, a couple and as parents. We wanted to create a day where we could REALLY focus on our love and our family which are the core values of our marriage.

Love is so much more than attraction, gifts on holidays, date nights, trips, and romantic gestures. It’s about being able to just sit next to this person. Breathe in the same air. Sitting in silence, and be PERFECTLY HAPPY. Perfectly content. A feeling of home. Acceptance. And ultimately, unconditional support and respect.

Raising children is TOUGH! We had our boys, Nicholas and Ryan, back to back and it was by no means easy. It was taxing. We were tired. Poor. And our "romantic fire" was turning into ashes. We knew that we loved our kids and loved each other, but often OUR love was the furthest thought...it was all about the kids.

As of lately, we LOVE showing the kids how in love we are. When cooking dinner, Michael will often come up behind me and offer to help. He will grab me away and dance with me by the stove and the boys come running in. They even scream..."Kiss her dad!" We are TEACHING them about love by SHOWING them what true love is. Love isn't perfect. It is not roses and chocolates and jewelry all the time. It’s about MAKING THE TIME to show each other that you on their mind and always in their heart. We are a huge fan of little notes tucked in each other’s work bags, coffee mugs, or suitcases before we travel on separate business trips. We figured out that we speak VERY different love languages and need different types of support.

For us love is absolutely effortless, but CULTIVATING love is hard work in that you must never, ever stop. Marriage, though a blessing, is work. BOTH members need to work to make sure each other are respected, supported and FEEL safe. His pain is mine. My sadness is his. We are a TEAM.

As a wedding photographer, I get to capture HUNDREDS of love stories. Though each one involves a pretty wedding with music, drinks and captivating floral arrangements....each wedding is perfectly unique. My couples are truly radiant and spirited people that THRIVE on each other. They get their joy from their spouses and vice versa. I love capturing the way each specific couple uses their OWN love language to communicate. I have had grooms that are hair brushers (they constantly sweep their spouses hair from their brow line and cheek). I have had hand kissers and holders (where they never let go of their spouses hand and always lift it to their lips for a soft kiss). I have had twirlers, ticklers, funny-facers and tacklers. Each expression of love in unique and quite frankly ADORABLE to watch play out. I am a blessed girl to see so much love in my life time, let alone be the one that gets to capture it for their generations to look at for years to come.

I am blessed with a wonderful husband, amazing children, and an incredibly moving career. Love surrounds me every day and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

~*~
Photographer bio: 

Kaitlin Noel in action, capturing a moment of love

Kaitlin Noel Hebert is a professional wedding and portrait photographer based in Cape May, New Jersey. She’s the mother of two perfect little boys, Nicholas and Ryan. Kaitlin is the “police wife” to her husband Michael. She is also the mother to a French bulldog named Ellie who was named after her favorite movie character Elle Woods from the movie Legally Blonde.

Kaitlin is approaching her fifth year as a professional photographer. She enjoys traveling for destination weddings around the world and traveling to new locations with her husband and family.

Kaitlin spends her free time with her family at their beach house and up on the boardwalk eating as many deep fried Oreo cookies as possible. Kaitlin’s DSLR camera has become an “extra limb” over the years, so she finds it challenging to ever lay it to rest. However, she finds that it’s nice to unplug and invest in more photography education. Kaitlin attends retreats to become motivated and re-inspired to do what she loves most—photography.

Visit Kaitlin Noel of Kaitlin Noel Photography's website to learn more about Kaitlin and her photography business, http://kaitlinnoelphotography.com/about

Worth 1,000 Words: Sara Roney of Roneyfield Photography

The featured photo captured by Sara Roney of Roneyfield Photography

Mr. Joe and Mrs. Ashley Rogan share their first kiss as a married couple

Sara's definition of love through the lens of a wedding photographer:

What is love to me through the lens? 

Love is sharing in those irreplaceable moments of our brides and grooms on their magical day, crying with them when they're so happy they don't know what else to do, and being able to be a part of their family and friends who are there to witness these special moments. 

Love to me is being able to CAPTURE those emotional, personal, and physical memories, to be viewed forever.

The bride's definition of love:

Love to me means that my wants, desires, and needs are no longer my own. My husband deserves my everything. Love means giving my all to ensure his happiness is met before my own. Love means that I am complete.

The groom's definition of love:

Love means remembering my vows every day. It means enjoying the easy times and pushing through the hard times. It means never forgetting how that first kiss felt.

~*~

Photographer bio: 

My name is Sara Roney. I am an experienced photographer of 14 years now. Continually, I am growing more, learning more, and striving to do and serve better! I love photography! I love serving and being a part of those “irreplaceable moments” that are so special in everyone’s life! It’s a real blessing to bring people happiness by using my talents that God has given me, as well as giving me more opportunities to learn and grow too!

I have always loved photography. Growing up, I was always into art, drawing, and taking pictures. I guess you could say it was a built-in passion that God put on me. I am the eldest of 5 kids, (3 brothers, one sister) and my family was always very supportive of my skills and passions too…and for that, I am extremely thankful! I think it’s very important to be supportive of what your child wants to do with his/her life. They even enrolled me into a painting program with one of the top 5 artists in Maryland, Steve Burdette. That led me to a competition, which one of my paintings won 1st AND 2nd place in the statewide Md. competition! I even got to take one of my paintings to a National Art Competition, too!

I am also a graphic designer by trade…so it's kind of neat to be able to see the photography and the graphic design walk hand in hand too. I'm just grateful for God's blessing on our business/es! We wouldn't be where we are without His favor and guidance! 

Connect with Sara:

Website - http://roneyfieldphotography.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RoneyfieldPhotography

Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/sararoney/

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+Roneyfieldphotography/about