The other day I was talking to my favorite person (my grandma Jo) on the phone and we ended up talking about the career paths we chose. She was a nurse for most of her adult working years and I was an elementary school teacher for five years until I decided to resign and begin my photography business. She told me there have been times when she thought about doing something besides nursing, but looking back now she couldn't imagine doing anything else. She LOVED nursing! Then she asked me what I career I would have chosen if I could start all over again. As I thought, I honestly couldn't think of any other career choices I would have made.
I loved teaching, but I didn't love the confines of teaching. I loved that no two days were ever the same. I loved having to adapt and be flexible throughout the day as different situations arose. I loved the students and coworkers. But I did not love the schedule. I felt very confined. When I decided to resign I immediately felt a huge weight was lifted off my shoulders and I could now breathe freely.
I absolutely LOVE being a photographer! I love nearly everything about it - besides paying taxes. I love making my own schedule. I love creating wall art for families that will be treasured for years to come. I love it when clients tell me that my work captures so many emotions. But most of all I love meeting new people and connecting with them! I love to capture them year after year and create beautiful wall art that showcases their family! For this reason I have decided to begin a series which focuses on my loyal clients over the years titled, "Over the Years."
The Milstead Family
I first met Bailey and Jack in April of 2017 when they asked me to photograph their families on Jack’s family land in Kosse. I distinctly remember driving up to the house and I couldn’t believe how many trees they were surrounded by. Truly stunning property and I was really looking forward to their session! As I walked from my vehicle to meet Bailey, she quickly gave me a head’s up that Jack’s mother had dementia. Later on in the session, Bailey and Jack told me that these photographs would be so important to their family and they wanted these to showcase the love their family has for one another. They also expressed that it was extremely important to have these taken while Ms. Milstead was still able to enjoy the session. Since that first meeting, I have photographed their family the following year and then later I was fortunate enough to photograph their stunning wedding. It is such an honor to be considered the family photographer to the Milstead Family and I’m truly looking forward to capturing many more memories for them!
April 2017 - So much love in this family portrait…even though little man was not happy about photos at all! We finally realized he would be happy if he ate applesauce. So he ate applesauce :)
During this session, I enjoyed spending time with the family, but we did end up capturing some fun images of just Jack and Bailey as well. Jack’s father had an antique car that we even used for some of those images.
The following year Bailey contacted me about a family session at the same beautiful property in Kosse. I remember this session as vividly as the first. It was a cloudy, windy day. So windy in fact that we contemplated rescheduling, but decided to go ahead with it since Jack had such a crazy work schedule. A good portion of the photographs were taken up close to the shrubs around the house because they were blocking the wind.
March 2018 - Kaden sporting his cowboy outfit on a very windy day.
A few months later Jack and Bailey decided to have their engagement session on my husband’s family land near Personville. The weather was amazing! I love being around their family, but it was great to spend some time with just the two of them. It was a great way to learn more about them before their wedding later that year.
June 2018 - Jack and Bailey’s engagement session in Personville.
The week leading up to the wedding of Jack and Bailey on Saturday, September 15, 2018 was filled with tons of rain. The forecast was even calling for high rain chances for that Saturday. As the week crept by, those high rain chances slowly begin to decrease. As everyone continued to cross their fingers, Saturday arrived and those rain chances were pretty much gone. The sun was shining and it was a perfectly calm day. It was a picture perfect day - literally!
That Saturday at 6:30 pm, under clear skies, Jack and Bailey would say, “I Do,” at the beautiful Wind Dancer Retreat in Bryan, Texas.
September 2018 - Jack and Bailey had a stunning wedding in Hearne, Texas.
I have captured many memories for Jack and Bailey over the past few years and I LOVE being their family photographer! I am looking forward to capturing many more memories for their family for years to come.
“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
THIS IS THE TENTH FEATURED FAMILY IN THE "OVER THE YEARS" SERIES. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER FEATURED FAMILIES!