The year of 2014 will be marked in my life as one to remember. When I started off in photography it was never a dream of mine. It just sort of fell into my lap. I was taking photos of Bella Grace as a baby on my film camera and then decided to try digital. After several months of friends asking me to take photos for them, I began charging a small (and I mean small) fee for my time. As that year went on, my little hobby grew into a business. It reminds me of a quote from the movie "The Wedding Planner":

"The appreciation grew to respect. Respect grew to like. Then like grew to love. A deeper love than I could ever hope for."

The Dad was speaking to his daughter (j-lo) about his arranged marriage with her mother. And how he grew to love her. This is exactly how my passion for photography grew as well. I almost feel as if it were an arranged marriage with everything just falling in my lap. Now I truly love what I do more than I could have even imagined. But something has always been lurking in the back of my mind, not letting me let go of the dream. I was at a crossroads a few months ago trying to decide what I truly wanted to do with my life. One was an easier road without much risk but without much passion either. The second was scary for me because it was a true dream of mine. Even as I write this my heart is beating fast and my hands are shaking. I decided to go for the dream. So here I am going for the dream of being a wedding photographer. I am doing it. And I feel more alive than ever before.

And this beautiful couple will be one of the first weddings I will photograph as I embark full time on this journey. I am pretty sure God could not have given me a more beautiful couple - inside and out. They are truly a joy to be around and had me laughing the entire time we were together. So... Here is to new beginnings and following our dreams!