To say I am excited would be an understatement. It’s more like jump in your chair and scream for an amazing opportunity OR become a hot mess because I am so incredibly nervous. Nervous because there are a couple of things in life I hate. It has nothing to do with anyone else, just me and my kellyisms. Last weekend, I tackled one of these things head on. I am working on a project with Craig Obrist and cant wait to see what his creative genius has put together.

There are a number of things that were needed to make this happen and are as follows:

Craig Obrist: check

Gorgeous couple that are amazing and super patient and willing to let me reek havoc: check

Awesome location: check

Full noon sun that makes it hard to find shooting locations: check (that was a joke)

Super nice girls in a nearby clothing store for wardrobe change: check

Free parking on Sundays: check

Help of  Evie Perez: check

Here are a few of the pictures from the shoot:

I really love this picture. Look at the light! That’s noon light!

Oh Jennifer…Go on with your hot self.       

So I saw this Gucci ad about a year ago and I was inspired. Here is my take on it. More to come from this awesome engagement session.

When we first discussed scheduling an engagement session, Aileen had a plan.  She wanted to shoot at Canoe Restaurant. Tim had proposed to her there and it understandably held a special place in their heart. I had never heard of it, so I immediately googled it and squealed with excitement when the pictures came up. Oh yes…What a great idea Aileen!

We met this past weekend and after spending a couple of hours with them, I can say that Aileen is one of the most heart warming people I have ever met. She is warm, friendly and inviting. I immediately felt comfortable with her. Tim? Well he is a pretty nice guy too AND He has the best smile…especially when he is looking at Aileen.

Here are a few from the day:

Aileen was BRINGING it!      It was only fitting to take a picture with a Canoe.

We briefly reminisced about old times. About how she was just a wee little youngin when we first met. I was a leader in our youth group. She was beautiful. Even at 11, she was beautiful. Boys flocked to her. I was almost immediately protective of her. I watched those boys like a hawk. Even to this day I still feel protective, as if I have some say her love life.

One summer Alicia spent a lot of time with me and one night(along with a friend) we snuck into a neighborhood pool- ha remember that Alicia?! (I was apparently was a terrible influence) but we spent the night talking about all things boys.

Now, Alicia is engaged and getting married. This falls so close to my heart because I am so proud of her and the woman she has become. John is a great guy and its also worth mentioning he is in the military and ridiculously buff. You’ve done well girl

Here are a few from her engagement session:

Well hello beautiful people.

WORK.IT.OUT. Alicia…work.it.out. girl.   

After a quick wardrobe change…  It started to rain during the shoot, so we found cover under this gazebo. If rain is what it takes to get images like this…then BRING.IT.ON.

Alicia, you’re beautiful. Fo real. This one was Alicia’s idea and I love it!

I met Mark and Abigail last week. We spent the evening exploring Piedmont Park, discovering several new sides I had never seen. The weather was great, the birds were chirping, people were picnicking, love was in the air. Smiles were had by all. Mark couldn’t keep his hands…or lips off Abigail. It’s not hard to see why. She’s GORGEOUS.

Mark and Abigail are getting married next weekend and I am so excited to document their special day. They have some serious wedding plans and I can’t wait to photograph it all go down.

Here are some of my favorite images. They made my job easy and were willing to shoot anyplace, anywhere, anyway I could find. Here they are, WORKING.IT.OUT.

It’s a love story. Their friends insisted on them meeting. E-harmony matched them together. hmm…a little meant to be? April decided to go along with friends one weekend to meet this Nick she had been hearing about and matched up with. Since that weekend last May, they have been inseperable.

I have known Nick since I was a kid. We were in the same youth group at church and shared our first jobs, along with all of our friends, at Chick-fil-a. We ran that place. For real. It was awesome going to work and hanging out with your friends. Now Nick has been titled our “most successful friend.”  He flys F16 planes in the Air Force. He’s pretty cooollll. April is a dance teacher.  Its a case of the ultimate guy and girly jobs. The quarterback and the head cheerleader(not them, just for reference), the fighter pilot and ballet teacher.

Nick was scheduled to leave for Iraq on May 11, so the weekend before we decided to shoot their engagement session. The plan was for Nick and April to wed when he returned in September. When I met up with them that day, they casually mentioned they secretly GOT MARRIED the day before! What?!?!?

They met. They knew. They got engaged. A few weeks later they married. It fits. Just like they do.

This engagement turned wedding shoot falls really close to my heart. I am so happy for you Nick and glad you knew to snatch up a girl like April. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for the two of you.

I love, love, love photography. I fall in love with it more and more every single day. Today is a good day. Today, I opened my door and welcomed with open arms a package with my new Canon 5D camera! I am so excited and cannot wait to use it! It is my new little baby- it will be loved, nourished, cleaned, and well taken care of. Now, onto the session:

WORK.IT.OUT.DANA
















A little fun time.







We headed over to Atlantic Station before sunset for a few city shots.

This past weekend I moved into a new place. I recruited my little brother, Kyle, yesterday (who is still out of school because of the flooding) to come and help me finish cleaning my old place and get all the little leftover items out. I bribed him with chocolate chip cookies. ☺

I found out that Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. were shooting a movie at Gwinnett Medical (my work) and were going to be there all day. Being the cool big sister that I am, I took Kyle up there so he could shamelessly brag about how cool I was and how he got to go on a real “movie set.” Really, I just felt bad for him sticking with me the 4 hours it took me to clean. Thanks again Kyle!

This morning, I packed the final items in my car, completed the move out inspection with the leasing office, and said my last goodbye to the first place I ever lived on my own. I am excited about the “new” feeling that comes with moving and I am sure glad to finally be DONE and have all my stuff in one place!

I still don’t have internet, so I am at a friends using theirs to get some pics up. This is an anniversary session of my dear friend Julie and her husband Jonathan. In October they will be celebrating their one-year anniversary! Happy anniversary ya’ll!

P.S. please note how stinkin photogenic Julie is…in light of this, be warned that there are a ton of pictures below. I couldn’t pick just a few.

Favorite!

In the moment!

I LOVE Jonathan in this picture! Doing his thing!

Another favorite!