• This is my friend Joe. My favorite memory of Joe took place in Australia on a month long trip with 6 students including us. We didn’t really know each other that well before. We were at Austinmer Beach one day, just relaxing. It was about two weeks into our trip and we had become good friends. He and I started to explore the small tide pools...we must have been over there for hours. We talked about all the fascinating creatures in the water and how crazy it was that all of these tiny animals and plants made up this huge ecosystem. As we were walking, we found a small fish in the tide pool that had about an inch of water in it. He was struggling because although he was small, he was too big for that tiny bit of water. Joe was carrying a cup of water so he just scooped him up and said, “I’ll save you, little dude.” After examining the poor thing, he gently put the fish in one of the bigger pools where he belonged. And I snapped this first photo of his hand. “Be free, my friend,” he said. We talked a lot on that trip. We shared a lot of secrets. For whatever reason he trusted me. And I trusted him. For whatever reason, he loved me. And I loved him. We talked about his past and some of the scary things that haunted him still. But I never saw any of that, especially in Australia. It was his favorite place. He was the best Joe in Australia, I think. It’s like all of those horrible things we had talked about just vanished because he was free to be himself, away from all the scary things. I think he saw himself as a better person in Australia, even though he was good all along—genuinely so, at home and in that place he loved so much. He loved others fiercely and made everyone he talked to felt heard and appreciated. I think it’s important to remember him and share my memories because he was so important to me. He might have been misunderstood sometimes, but there were a lot of people that loved him and cared deeply about him. I loved him a lot. And I miss him every day. Be free, my friend.
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    This is my friend Joe. My favorite memory of Joe took place in Australia on a month long trip with 6 students including us. We didn’t really know each other that well before. We were at Austinmer Beach one day, just relaxing. It was about two weeks into our trip and we had become good friends. He and I started to explore the small tide pools...we must have been over there for hours. We talked about all the fascinating creatures in the water and how crazy it was that all of these tiny animals and plants made up this huge ecosystem. As we were walking, we found a small fish in the tide pool that had about an inch of water in it. He was struggling because although he was small, he was too big for that tiny bit of water. Joe was carrying a cup of water so he just scooped him up and said, “I’ll save you, little dude.” After examining the poor thing, he gently put the fish in one of the bigger pools where he belonged. And I snapped this first photo of his hand. “Be free, my friend,” he said. We talked a lot on that trip. We shared a lot of secrets. For whatever reason he trusted me. And I trusted him. For whatever reason, he loved me. And I loved him. We talked about his past and some of the scary things that haunted him still. But I never saw any of that, especially in Australia. It was his favorite place. He was the best Joe in Australia, I think. It’s like all of those horrible things we had talked about just vanished because he was free to be himself, away from all the scary things. I think he saw himself as a better person in Australia, even though he was good all along—genuinely so, at home and in that place he loved so much. He loved others fiercely and made everyone he talked to felt heard and appreciated. I think it’s important to remember him and share my memories because he was so important to me. He might have been misunderstood sometimes, but there were a lot of people that loved him and cared deeply about him. I loved him a lot. And I miss him every day. Be free, my friend.
  • This week I am already thinking of things that are lost forever. It’s incredible how quickly something can vanish. Still in shock over the events of today. It’s just heartbreaking. Thinking of you today, Paris. 🖤
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    This week I am already thinking of things that are lost forever. It’s incredible how quickly something can vanish. Still in shock over the events of today. It’s just heartbreaking. Thinking of you today, Paris. 🖤
  • I love this space Caitlin decided to get ready in on her wedding day. ⠀ 🖤⠀ Getting ready rooms are so important—windows, plenty of breathing space, and beautiful details are definitely something you need to consider when choosing where you prepare for the day. ⠀ ⠀ Not only do these things make your photos better, but they also bring more peace and enjoyment to your day! Choose it wisely!
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    I love this space Caitlin decided to get ready in on her wedding day. ⠀ 🖤⠀ Getting ready rooms are so important—windows, plenty of breathing space, and beautiful details are definitely something you need to consider when choosing where you prepare for the day. ⠀ ⠀ Not only do these things make your photos better, but they also bring more peace and enjoyment to your day! Choose it wisely!
  • Taking off for the night and finally going to that @boniver concert with Mr. Bentley. ⠀ ⠀ We have taken some time every month to go on dates because it’s important to our marriage to spend quality time together. It was so much fun surprising him with his bucket list concert and I’m excited for even more dates this summer. ⠀ ⠀ Maybe our next big date should be in Paris? I know all the good spots. @tannerbentley
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    Taking off for the night and finally going to that @boniver concert with Mr. Bentley. ⠀ ⠀ We have taken some time every month to go on dates because it’s important to our marriage to spend quality time together. It was so much fun surprising him with his bucket list concert and I’m excited for even more dates this summer. ⠀ ⠀ Maybe our next big date should be in Paris? I know all the good spots. @tannerbentley
  • I’ll be real honest right now—I’m very nervous to post this. But I’m doing it anyway. @carlyconklin says to me, “It’s hard to be a person sometimes.” And it always makes me feel better, because sometimes it really is just hard to be a human. And that’s okay. ⠀ 🖤⠀ Losing someone is never easy. Losing someone to suicide is especially hard, I think. April is such a confusing month for me...for the past 4 years it’s been a month of restarting, recharging, renewing—all the exciting new things about springtime. But for me, it also comes with a lot of not so great emotions that come from my past, creeping up on me around this time. It’s not fun to think about it. But this year, I’m especially thoughtful of my emotions, triggers, and deep issues on this subject that I haven’t quite worked through yet, even all these years later.⠀ 🖤⠀ I haven’t talked much about this subject for several reasons... one being that it’s very difficult. Two being that I never want someone to think that I’m exploiting my friend by talking about his death on social media. And three, I really don’t want to feel like I’m asking for pity points or attention from this. The reason I AM speaking up about this, the reason I’m talking through this to you, is because I do not think it’s talked about enough. I think it would be a disservice to not talk about it. To not feel. To not share my experience. Because if I can help start a conversation, or help make one person feel a little less alone, then it will be worth all of the pain that comes from talking about it. ⠀ 🖤⠀ I just wanted to say right now that I’m an imperfect human, out here trying to figure out my place in this big beautiful world, and that I see you. I hear you. It’s totally okay to feel like you don’t have all the answers and it’s okay to be human. Sometimes it’s really hard to be a person and that’s just how it is. But I am going to keep trying and keep talking about the hard stuff because that’s what matters the most.⠀ 🖤⠀ More to come on this, I’m sure... please, if you have read this far, tag someone you love in the comments section and let them know you are thinking of them. 🖤 Love this very human image of @camillabinksphotography
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    I’ll be real honest right now—I’m very nervous to post this. But I’m doing it anyway. @carlyconklin says to me, “It’s hard to be a person sometimes.” And it always makes me feel better, because sometimes it really is just hard to be a human. And that’s okay. ⠀ 🖤⠀ Losing someone is never easy. Losing someone to suicide is especially hard, I think. April is such a confusing month for me...for the past 4 years it’s been a month of restarting, recharging, renewing—all the exciting new things about springtime. But for me, it also comes with a lot of not so great emotions that come from my past, creeping up on me around this time. It’s not fun to think about it. But this year, I’m especially thoughtful of my emotions, triggers, and deep issues on this subject that I haven’t quite worked through yet, even all these years later.⠀ 🖤⠀ I haven’t talked much about this subject for several reasons... one being that it’s very difficult. Two being that I never want someone to think that I’m exploiting my friend by talking about his death on social media. And three, I really don’t want to feel like I’m asking for pity points or attention from this. The reason I AM speaking up about this, the reason I’m talking through this to you, is because I do not think it’s talked about enough. I think it would be a disservice to not talk about it. To not feel. To not share my experience. Because if I can help start a conversation, or help make one person feel a little less alone, then it will be worth all of the pain that comes from talking about it. ⠀ 🖤⠀ I just wanted to say right now that I’m an imperfect human, out here trying to figure out my place in this big beautiful world, and that I see you. I hear you. It’s totally okay to feel like you don’t have all the answers and it’s okay to be human. Sometimes it’s really hard to be a person and that’s just how it is. But I am going to keep trying and keep talking about the hard stuff because that’s what matters the most.⠀ 🖤⠀ More to come on this, I’m sure... please, if you have read this far, tag someone you love in the comments section and let them know you are thinking of them. 🖤 Love this very human image of @camillabinksphotography
  • I have been working my BOOTY off the last couple of weeks to bring you content that you want to see. And let me tell you, I have a lot of things to say and knowledge to give. ⠀ ⠀ When I was planning my wedding two years ago, even as a photographer, there were still things I wish that people had told me...things about budgeting, things about finding a dress, what I should DIY and what I should absolutely not do myself...etc etc. ⠀ ⠀ I started asking around and listening to what my couples had told me and what other people had told me they regretted or wish they had known when planning their wedding. ⠀ ⠀ So COMING SOON I’m going to drop a Freebie your way—20 Mistakes To Avoid When Planning Your Wedding. A lot of these tips I haven’t seen anywhere else so you’ll definitely want to check it out. I want to help you have the best wedding possible!! Planning & Design/Host - @birdsofafeatherevents Lead Photographer/Host - @charlastorey Workshop series - @theelevateseries Flowers - @maxowensdesign Venue - @theolanatx Stationery - @tiethatbinds Cake - @layeredbakeshop Linens - @latavolalinen Rentals - @bellaacento Gown @lovelybridedallas @marchesafashion Shoes - @bellabelleshoes Menswear - @theblacktux Hair and Makeup - @nataliaissa
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    I have been working my BOOTY off the last couple of weeks to bring you content that you want to see. And let me tell you, I have a lot of things to say and knowledge to give. ⠀ ⠀ When I was planning my wedding two years ago, even as a photographer, there were still things I wish that people had told me...things about budgeting, things about finding a dress, what I should DIY and what I should absolutely not do myself...etc etc. ⠀ ⠀ I started asking around and listening to what my couples had told me and what other people had told me they regretted or wish they had known when planning their wedding. ⠀ ⠀ So COMING SOON I’m going to drop a Freebie your way—20 Mistakes To Avoid When Planning Your Wedding. A lot of these tips I haven’t seen anywhere else so you’ll definitely want to check it out. I want to help you have the best wedding possible!! Planning & Design/Host - @birdsofafeatherevents Lead Photographer/Host - @charlastorey Workshop series - @theelevateseries Flowers - @maxowensdesign Venue - @theolanatx Stationery - @tiethatbinds Cake - @layeredbakeshop Linens - @latavolalinen Rentals - @bellaacento Gown @lovelybridedallas @marchesafashion Shoes - @bellabelleshoes Menswear - @theblacktux Hair and Makeup - @nataliaissa