For our First Anniversary, I commissioned the fabulous Jenni Westbrook to do a little photoshoot for us.  I thought it was a cute idea for the traditional “paper” anniversary.

The photos are important for us for a few reasons.  For one, we feel it is really important to have personal photographs of the two of us.  We have to ton of photographs of ourselves individually or the really classy photographs where one of us holds the camera and we squeeze our faces close together (you know which ones I’m talking about!  Just imagine doing it with a DSLR that weighs a little lot more than your iPhone).  The following are photographs from our anniversary trip to Asheville, NC.  The first two are taken at the Biltmore Estate.  The photo of the two of us was taken on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

For two, so often once people get married, they stop taking pictures!  This is the man that I love so much.  That I got to choose to live the rest of my life with.  And he chose the same thing (woohoo!)!  I want to document our love as it grows and matures.

And final reason?  Our apartment complex had just informed us as we were about to leave on our trip that we had one month to find a new apartment.  I loved our first apartment and the great first year that we spent there.  We wanted to document a little of that before it was torn down (probably to make way for some ugly condos.  Currently it’s just a flat lot with nothing on it.  So sad!)

Jenni is a great friend who you might remember from our blog post where her fiancée Alex proposed.  You can see some of her work on her Flickr site.  I’m only posting a few of our favorite images.  If I wanted to post all of our favorites, this blog post would be way too long.  Jenni shoots a lot of film.  I’m so impressed with that because film kinda… scares me!  I don’t get the instant gratification of seeing if my images are good, if eyes are closed, etc.  Maybe Jenni will give me some lessons in patience and film shooting.  For our session, she shot with a Nikon D300s and some of her crazy cameras.  I don’t even know the names…

Okay.  Too much talking (err. Typing, I suppose).  To the photographs!  We broke out my wedding dress for a few shots.  I still love this dress, but I don’t think I’ll be keeping it.  Anyone know someone who needs a wedding dress who is about my size?  :-)

I almost just wrote “favorite” in front of all of these.  I’m ordering a bunch so they don’t just sit on my computer forgotten!  Thank you so much Jenni for the amazing photographs!  I’m so thankful that we were able to make this happen.

If you are way overdue for couple photographs, please let me know.  I’d love to give some of the same joy that we got from seeing our love in print form.  Jenni is, of course, available too and I’d love to get you guys in contact with her!

With love,

Rachel

The Miller’s are a family that I have known for a long while.  When I first met them Anna (their youngest – now ten!) wasn’t born yet.  Kris and Tori headed up the young adult group for most of my college years so they have known Matt and I since we started dating.  I remember going on double dates with them and asking them dozens of questions about how we should date well, live life to the full, and how to do so with purpose.  They have plenty of stories about us that are hilarious, I’m sure!

Matt and I trusted them because we lived in community with them.  And when you live in community with someone, you get to see their heart for the people around them and for God.  Seeing their marriage working day by day with small children and job changes and all that life could throw at them, we had hope for a great marriage for us as well.  When Matt proposed, all I knew is that we should have Kris to officiate the ceremony.  He and Tori had been with us through thick and thin, leading by example, and helping when asked so who else to help us in celebrating?

A few Saturdays ago, Matt and I spent the day hanging out with the Millers.  The kids got to show off their skills, they played together as a family, and we took a few photographs.  I am loving these Narrative Sessions we’ve been doing.  It really lets the family’s story shine through because we don’t just spend 45 minutes at a pretty park taking photographs.  It’s hopefully getting what being a family looks like.  It’s finding what makes your family different and unique and capturing that.

Kris and Tori will be celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this Wednesday!

Enjoy the photographs

Kris and Anna

Anna showing off her soccer skills

Kollin is a great guitarist.  He and Matt played together for awhile while I was outside with the girls playing volleyball.

The beautiful Tori

Kris attacking Tori.  Don’t worry, this is normal!

Watching the girls doing something silly

The whole crew

Anna!  How cute are these striped pants??

The awesome Molly

The gorgeous Noel

Kollin

Kollin brought his very sweet girlfriend along for part of the photoshoot.  Aren’t they cute?

Moving from one cute couple to the next…

I know I posted this one on my Facebook Photography Page, but I couldn’t resist posting it again.  Love this…

At the start of the session, Kris asks us, “I need a professional photo for speaking engagements, do you think you could get one of me?  Please?”  Of course!  Here ya go, Kris!

I hoped you enjoyed this little peek into the Miller family.  Their gallery can be viewed online, but you must have the super secret password.

With love,

Rachel

To book your own Narrative Session, please feel free to contact me!

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Sometimes you just know.  When Alex caught glimpse of Jenni while dancing at our wedding, he came up to Matt and asked, “Who is that girl over there?”  He thankfully didn’t hear my new husband tell him that he thought she was seeing someone, but went and talked to her.
I feel blessed to be able to have seen their relationship grow from a new friendship with shared interest to romantic love shown by mutual respect and deep caring.  When we heard that Alex was going to surprise Jenni by taking her on a nice date and then proposing, we were so excited.  And then… we got to help set it up and photograph it!

They started out the night with dinner at The Bird and the Bear and Alex told Jenni he wanted to go on a walk from there.  They ended up in front of Bethany Christian Church on Westheimer (where Matt and I got married almost a year ago) and happened upon a courtyard lit with white Christmas lights and our living room floor lamps.  He asked if he could have the dance that he missed out on the night they met (cue the “awww”s) and they spent a minute or so dancing.
From there, he led her to a bench that had a basin with a towel and a jar of water near it.  Just like Jesus showed his disciples that he came to lead with a servants heart by washing their feet, Alex washed Jenni’s feet.  And with tears in both of their eyes, he asked her if she would spend the rest of her life with him.  Cue the kissing and hugging and laughing and such…  And now they are engaged!  And I have photographs to prove it!

 

I hope you enjoyed these photographs.  I’ll be posting the rest of them all on my Facebook Page in the next couple of days, so check back!
With Love,

Rachel

I think I’ve started this post over three times.  I can’t decide exactly what to say.  Do I start out saying happy Father’s Day to the newest dad I know?  Do I start talking about how part of my heart is definitely here in Houston, but another big part of my heart is in Kentucky where my two best friends live?  Because truly, I feel that way.  One of those best friends, Gabri, just had her first baby, Emma Rose.  I was so blessed to be able to visit Kentucky this year on Gabri’s birthday and see her beautiful baby bump.  Now I desperately want to visit to see Emma!  I’ll have to wait a few months, I suppose.  Without further ado, here’s the photos of one of my bestest friends in the whole world, her husband Matt, Wendy their dog, and the baby bump.

Wendy reminds me of a muppet.  I’m not always the biggest fan of dogs, but I found myself missing Wendy.  She’s a pretty fantastic dog!

I love how Gabri and Matt love each other.  You can see it in the way that Gabri looks at him, in the way Matt prefers Gabri.  It’s good when seeing another relationship makes you want to love and care for your spouse more.  That’s how I feel after spending time with Gabri and Matt.

We might have gone a little crazy buying cute little baby girl clothes. If you follow me on Instagram (RachelHPerry), you might remember all the cute clothes I posted…

Gabri and Matt, I love you guys.  I am so excited about your little Emma and I know you both will be great parents.

With love,

Rachel

When two people love each other, you can see it in the way they look at each other.  In the way they talk.  In the way that they touch.  Morgan and Jeremy show their love in little ways seen in their actions.  When asked how others might explain their relationship Morgan said, “They would say that they see us as best friends who already seem to be married.  We have a lot in common, are mutually respectful and loving.”  Both Matt and I could see little glimpses of that throughout their narrative session.

Love this photo…

Morgan and Jeremy have been dating for over 5 + 1/2 years.  After dating long distance for a few years after college they finally live in the same city again.  Love it!

For my long time blog readers, you may have noticed that I’ve started writing about doing Narrative Sessions.  I have been wanting to find ways to accurately portray my clients through my photography.  Matt and I have been working on focusing our photography business into what we really wanted to be photographing.  The sessions that have meant the most to me have been sitting in people’s homes where they are the most comfortable.  A Narrative Session is a way to spend more time with a client and seeking to tell their story.  A narration of a part of their story is what I am seeking to create.

Morgan and Jeremy were awesome enough to let me and Matt into their cute apartment to photograph them.

This also gave me the chance to meet their cat – Romeo!

Some of the pretty things on our nature walk…

Morgan and Jeremy, thank you for allowing Matt and I to come into into your lives at this exciting time.  I loved spending time with you guys at the park and in your home!

Rachel

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Yesterday, I updated my Facebook Page that I was downloading Lightoom 4.  Updating the software for photography is like buying new paintbrushes would be for an oil painter.  I had recently been looking for ways to continue make my workflow more efficient and to work towards the look I am going for in my editing.  After spending time researching post-processing techniques, I decided to add the Visual Supply Co. (VSCO) editing software to my repertoire.

Now this is the problem I have.  I love almost all of the VSCO film effects.  They are fantastic!  I have always loved the special look of film and the unique effects it has.  Hopefully you’ll agree as you see it come in through my photographs.  I can hardly decide which sort of editing tool I want to use to each photograph.

What do you think?  Black and white or color?  These are from Gabri and Matt’s Narrative Maternity Session.  I was able to visit them in Kentucky and photograph them in their adorable home.  There are more to come!

Sometimes I get the amazing joy to photograph a wedding of people that I truly love and cherish.  Ashley and Thomas’ wedding was one of those and I’m so excited to share some of the many many images I took on March 24, 2012!

The beautiful bride!

Now, this bridal party will probably always be some of my favorites.  First, it contains my previous roommates (Ashley, Heather, and Sara) and I knew the rest of the bridesmaids through Ashley!

The handsome groom, Thomas!

As we were walking over to the church from the hotel the girls got ready at, Ashley decided to recreate the scene from Bridesmaids.  And of course, I needed to share it here!

One of the many things that I loved about this wedding was how much of an emphasis was placed on putting God first.  The guys prayed together, the girls prayed together, and the wedding party prayed together right before the ceremony.  You shall see more later…

Ashley and TK didn’t want to see each other until the wedding.  This didn’t stop them from praying together though before the ceremony.

The girls praying.

Could there be any cuter ringbearers?  They forgot the pillows walking down the aisle, but I don’t know if anyone noticed!

There was a time of worship before their vows.  Matt and I played this song at our wedding.  I actually walked down the aisle to this song so it has great meaning for me.

First dance.

Father Daughter Dance.

Couldn’t help but get a photo with my previous roomies!  I love these ladies!

They had lavender there for people to throw as they were leaving.  It smelled SO GOOD!

All in all, it was a great wedding with some great people involved in it.  Thank you Ashley and Thomas for trusting me to photograph your beautiful wedding.  I love you both so much!

Rachel

Man… It’s been awhile with the updating!  Let’s see.  Since the last post I’ve gotten married, flown overseas for the first time, moved into a super cute apartment. It’s been an exciting time in my life and hence… No photo sessions and no posts.  :-(

 

When Lindsey called me about a session, I was very excited.  First of all, I’ve missed doing sessions over the last few months and was excited to stretch the little creative part of my brain.  Secondly, Lindsey is so stinkin’ cute!  You’ll see what I mean…

 

I mean, look at these big brown eyes!

Thanks, Lindsey, for thinking of me to do your senior session!  Good luck with the next exciting phase of your life!

Love,

Rachel

I always love the opportunity to photograph a family.  The Clingans are a great family that my fiancé grew up with at Bethany Christian Church (where we are getting married in less than FOUR MONTHS!).  I really enjoyed getting to walk around and chat with them.  Along the way we got some pretty awesome photographs in my humble opinion!

I asked them to give me their best GQ face.  This is what I got…

And thank you, Sarah, for helping out with the session.  You’re the bestest!

Man, I’m a little behind on getting some of these photos out the door!  I’ve known Jason and Kristin for a while now through church.  You can see a family portrait session that we did last year here!  They are great people and had an awesome wedding!  If you would like to see all the photos, please meander on to the GALLERY.

Venue – House Plantation
Dress – Weddings by Debbie
Florist – Arteflora
Band – Drywater Band
Catering – World Cakes and Catering

The bride getting some stuff together.

Some details…

The rings!

The dress!

I got a lot of great photos of Kristin getting ready.  This one just happens to be my favorite because her eyes are HUGE!

Checkin’ herself out.

Jason and Julian.

Some of the beautiful centerpieces!

Kristin’s son, Julian.

Jason was so happy to see his bride!

Kristin’s parents looking on.  Her mom has gorgeous eyes just like her!

The Drywater Band was one of the best wedding bands I have seen.

There was lots of dancing to be done.

And people danced.

And the getaway…

I’m so happy for you guys.  You’re finally married!!!  I hope you had a wonderful time on your transatlantic cruise.  I can’t wait to hear about it!

With love,

Rachel

And for your viewing pleasure…  Me smushed up against the ceiling to get a photo.

The second shooter for both this wedding and then the day’s wedding (blog post coming soon!), Kris Fulk!  She is also a great friend that will help you put on your bracelets.  That’s why I keep her around!

My assistant for the day, Amy Reed, gettin’ the shot.