What a lovely bride Kristin was on her wedding day!


She's been the apple of her mama's eye from the day she was born...

...and I think this guy is pretty sweet on her too:

While I was following Kristin around documenting her every pre-ceremony move, Tim was hanging out with his best buddy Mason:

And then JOY! flooded the church as soon as Kristin and Tim saw one another. Oh my!

Mason delivered a touchingly hilarious toast to the new couple. I think he could take that show on the road:

And if Tim and Kristin ever get tired of teaching, they could probably begin new careers as dancers:

Sparklers added a special touch to their departure, and surprisingly, no one's hair caught on fire in the process:

We were all left feeling sad that they were gone but even more certain of their blessed future together. Since Kristin is a beloved family member of mine, I love shots that show how much Tim adores her too -- like this one:

It was truly a beautiful day, Kristin and Tim, made even better by knowing that it was only the first of many for you. Thank you for including the rest of us in your circle of love.

Be good wives to your husbands, responsive to their needs.

There are husbands who, indifferent as they are to any words about God,

will be captivated by your life of holy beauty.

Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.

Be good husbands to your wives.

Honor them, delight in them.

As women they lack some of your advantages.

But in the new life of God's grace, you're equals.

Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don't run aground.

Summing up:

Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble.

1 Peter 3 MESSAGE

My mom (a.k.a. Actress Granny Jane making a funny face up in the right-hand corner of my banner) was in town last week, and we made time for a visit with the Welsches, two of our biggest inspirations and greatest cheerleaders.

Mrs. Welsch was my creative arts teacher at West Columbia Elementary School, and boy was she fun! I loved everything we did in her
class -- drawing, painting, singing, square dancing, puppet shows and plays -- and I loved her even more. She always made me feel welcome in her classroom, and I had no doubt that I was the most creative, artistic child ever to step through her door. Her home studio reflects her whimsical approach to art:




She was quick to give credit to her creative counterpart for building her art studio. Mr. Welsch is a very artistic fellow himself, although his palette typically consists of tenderly nurtured plants and carefully measured lengths of wood. His precision beautifully balances her whimsy:




Both Welsches have made an enormous impact on life in the West Columbia area and beyond, she as an energetic teacher and volunteer, and he as a school superintendent and personal mentor. My mom and I are living testimonies to their influence and encouragement. Do you see the warm connection that flows out from them? This is not a pose but simple, constant reality:


How do I begin to thank you for the ways in which you helped to shape my life, Mr. and Mrs. Welsch? I hope that these images of yourselves will let you see what the rest of us see in you -- zest for life, generosity of spirit and a knack for making the world a more beautiful place.

This resurrection life you received from God
is not a timid, grave-tending life.
It's adventurously expectant,
greeting God with a childlike, "What's next, Papa?"
God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are.
We know who He is, and we know who we are:
Father and children.
And we know we are going to get what's coming to us --
an unbelievable inheritance!
Romans 8:15-17 MESSAGE

When you've been married for 20+ years, what sort of anniversary gift can you give to your beloved? Well if you're Shawna and Steve, you get spiffed up, leave the teenagers sleeping peacefully, and meet me for an early morning portrait session. And the results? Priceless.

What girl doesn't like to be whirled around the dance floor with the sunlight sparkling in her eyes?

And what boy isn't tickled to be rewarded with a kiss for his fancy dance moves?

I think we could have taken pictures for most of the day and still not exhausted the willingness of these two troupers.

It was great to get to see you again, Steve and Shawna, and I'm so glad you treated yourself to this gift. I hope your kids get a kick out of how lovey-dovey you let yourselves be! May your next 20+ years together bring you continued joyous, devoted love.

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes,

is ever ready to believe the best of every person,

its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances,

and it endures everything without weakening.

Love never fails --

never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 AMPLIFIED

P.S. Shawna brought along another one of her favorite guys for the beginning of the session. I think she learned a lot about loving from her dad!

Remember what I said here about siblings enjoying one another's company as they journey through life together? Well I think Hawk and Jamie have mastered this fine art:

Hawk is definitely the ringleader of this joyous duo, but Jamie is a more than willing accomplice. When I said, "Do something silly," Hawk immediately struck a pose and little sister happily joined in:

I just think it's neat that they're so at ease with one another. Each personality is unique...

...yet they complement one another perfectly!

I hope your mom and dad love these portraits as much as I loved creating them with you, Jamie and Hawk. May your shared journey be long and filled with love and laughter!

Be generous with me and I'll live a full life;

not for a minute will I take my eyes off Your road.

Open my eyes so I can see

what You show me of Your miracle-wonders.

Psalm 119:17-18 MESSAGE

When Doug's family started planning a get-together to celebrate his birthday recently, they also ganged up on him and persuaded him to let me come and take photos of the whole group. I think the experience was much less painful than he'd expected, and we got some nice shots to help commemorate the evening. Other patrons at the restaurant surely wondered what we were up to in the banquet room as flashes of light made the orange walls glow even more vibrantly!

There you go, Doug. You are now officially an internet star!

Oh, that my steps might be steady,

keeping to the course You set;

then I'd never have any regrets

in comparing my life with Your counsel.

Psalm 119:5-6 MESSAGE

I'm exceedingly proud of this young man. Deon has been a friend of mine since he was just a little kid bouncing around the halls of Westside Elementary and up and down my street. In between bursts of rapid-fire conversation, we captured some beautiful images. These first three are my absolute favorites:

Here are a few of Deon just being cool:

And here he is just being...well...Deon! I feel sure he was telling me something very important while I kept snapping away. With this guy, nine successive shots will always produce nine different expressions:

Deon has worked diligently to achieve his high school diploma, and the halls of Angleton High School will not be the same without his energy and enthusiasm. With plans to someday become a special education teacher's assistant, Deon will continue to touch lives in ways he can't even imagine yet, thanks to a heart big enough to love everyone he meets. LOVE you, Deon!

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

doesn't have a swelled head,

doesn't force itself on others,

isn't always "me first,"

doesn't fly off the handle,

doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

doesn't revel when others grovel,

takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

puts up with anything,

trusts God always,

always looks for the best,

never looks back,

but keeps going to the end.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 MESSAGE

This little guy's blue eyes are so potent, I thought we could only safely look directly into them in black & white. Say hello to Jack!

And here's his equally mesmerizing big sister Keely:

Jack is at that exquisite age when rocks and blades of grass provide endless nibbling enjoyment, and all is well as long as mama remains in plain sight and preferably no more than an arm's length away.

Keely is at that marvelous age when flowers and leaves and sticks and bugs are to be carefully studied, and all is well as long as mama doesn't insist on silly things like hair bows and smiling directly into the camera.

Jack and Keely are still learning to figure each other out. Well, mainly Jack is just making sure that mama doesn't leave him all alone with Keely, and Keely is doing her best to understand what grownups mean by the word "gentle" when it comes to loving on Jack. I think they're making great progress, don't you?

These early years will set the pattern for their whole lives together. As a parent blessed to have two kids who've enjoyed one another's company from the very beginning, it warms my heart to see another pair begin their journey together. I look forward to watching your friendship grow over the coming years, Keely and Jack!

Oh! Teach us to live well!

Teach us to live wisely and well!

Surprise us with love at daybreak;

then we'll skip and dance all the day long.

And let the loveliness of our Lord, our God, rest on us.

Psalm 90:12-17