2022 Journal

Thank you for being here, whoever you are.

I landed the plane on my full-time photography career in 2021, but that sure didn’t stop me from taking photos in 2022. Maybe this is what people do when they “retire”… keep working. Who knows. Anywho, it is good to reflect and to remember and so here I am doing just that. The scroll you’re about to embark on is long, but she is full of beauty and God’s goodness and will hopefully make you smile.

If nothing else, I will scroll back through this in 5 years and know once again that God loves me, making this a worthy endeavor to create.

Let’s start things off with my friend Mik’s wedding! She was my roommate during my last summer working at Pine Cove and we became fast friends. This day was really special to be a part of.

Ah, the legendary Thrift Shop Prom for Paradox College. Maybe the best event I’ve ever thrown? Time will tell. There was punch, a balloon arch, and DJ CBreeze was born.

Annual January portrait for Corinne at her bridge in New York. I love her so!

When I met Keegan, I thought he was Gracie’s brother. But he’s actually Gracie’s lover. haha oops

Cleared out my room to take some maternity photos for my sister-in-law in her cutie yellow dress. Also, featuring my favorite painting by Brynn Casey :)

Dinner parties in this backroom are something to behold. Cozy, dimly lit, a little ratchet, and holy. Bailee is reading “A Liturgy for the Marking of Birthdays” over her sister in that middle photo. I always get weepy during the part that talks about the unrepeatable gift of that person’s life that displays the glory of God in a way that no other person in all of history will :*)

Slay. Gabi + Jake get engaged after loving each other since like Middle School or something. Wild, folks. The best part was watching their parents watch them. Love you, Jake + Gabs.

THE MOST SPECIAL THING I HAVE EVER PHOTOGRAPHED IN MY LIFE.

There is something about a birth that will shake you up from the inside and just make you cry tears of joy that God is so amazing and his designs as so good and beautiful. And when it’s your NEPHEW that’s being born and your BROTHER that you’re watching become a father and your PARENTS that are becoming “JoJo and Papa T”… oh man. A different DIMENSION of * weep *. It was the most peaceful, joyful birth and there are not many things I could compare to the honor of witnessing and capturing it. These are my people and I love them.

Mom and I attempt to care for the garden in Lake Tahoe.

My lil LincDawg

Got to capture Jake + Gabi’s rehearsal dinner at Hotel Drover which was obviously a joy!

The texture of Tahoe from the top of Cave Rock.

uh oh! Not Allison Riffe’s jaw line on full display and belated senior photos!!!

My bestie, Corinne, got engaged to my really dear friend, Nathan in Central Park. We drank amaro, witnessed larping, laughed, cried, and partied at the Dead Rabbit. One time a couple years ago over dinner at Whiskey Cake, I asked Corinne if Nathan was her type and then dropped it. Playin’ long game out here people. But on the real, God brought these two together, UNDOUBTEDLY, and I can’t believe I’ve been able to drop hints of the glory to come through capturing their story and making passing comments at Whiskey Cake ha love it.

The Jones are havin’ a baby boy, y’all. Praise the Lord.

The Weekender for Paradox College. Don’t worry everyone, I scored a goal.

Photoshoot for my pals and their really cool band, RELIC. Sometimes I called it Relish in my head. I dunno. Nathan, Jake, and Carson are like brothers to me and being around them is so easy + fun. Relish’s #1 fan over here! Cheering y’all on forever!

Senior portraits for my dear friends, Madelyn Hicks + Julia Light. Wanted to make TCU look like the steps of the MET. How’d I do?

I always take about a billion photos in Lake Tahoe every year, but here are a few that I couldn’t leave out. They’re kinda moody… idk y’all haha

And to close the loop, GABI + JAKE’S WEDDING! Woo! The best part about these photos is that they got pregnant SO shortly after them with the most precious little girl and I can never see their wedding photos and not think of that hahaha.

This day was exceptionally beautiful. The whole thing carried these undertones of generational faith, generosity, and prayer. One of my favorite moments was their private last dance. This is normally a least favorite moment for me on wedding days hahaha but THIS ONE… it was light-hearted, giddy, genuine, and the connection that Gabi + Jake had felt so simple and electric. Watching Jake spin her around to “Dressed Up In White” is a moment I’ll never forget.

Love you mom + dad. You are my favorite.

Probably will be coming back to this photo for all of my days as the best one I’ve ever taken? hahaha time will tell!

The fact that I captured this is actually insane because the number of things that went “wrong” and plans that changed for me to providentaly arrive with my feet in this spot at this time with this lighting…. well God is just like that. Should’ve never seen this view at this time of day, but here we are! #thanksGod

Playing rich for the day for my uncle’s birthday!

“Will you take our family photos?”

I mean who could say no to these kids???

Jess + Logan got married in Fort Worth and danced and laughed and tried not to sweat too much!

The Church Plant. May it never die.

Nikki + Nathan are both special friends to me from different times and spaces in my life, so capturing their wedding was suchhhh a treat. It was genuinely the most worshipful wedding I have witnessed. These two love Jesus and their friends and each other and the whole day was a microcosm of it all!

Family photos for the Rhodens. Again, who could say ‘no’ to these kids?

C + B got engaged and it was allllll smiles!

Bowlin Family photos. This was the first family that ever payed me to take their photos wayyyy back in the day and capturing them each fall feels like a marker for how far both I and their family have come. It’s also the ULTIMATE challenge to get teenagers to give you their * real * smile, but don’t you worry, I won that battle.

Me and all my friends. 2022 was a year of capturing the lives and stories of people that are really dear to me and I will always be thankful for that. It’s wild to consider the period of time when I was learning to use my camera and how intentional God was to stir that passion up in me… I never imagined that it would get me the front row seat to witness the miracles of marriage and birth and family and every day mercies. My heart is obviously bursting. God, thank you.