Shannon and David: The Wedding

Two years ago, she was on a girls night out. Two years ago, he was on a guys night out. The bar was crowded as she watched the failed attempts of a young man to gain the attention of one of her friends. He watched, his sides splitting with laughter as his friend got shot down. They caught each other's eye, realizing they were both enjoying watching this fiasco. Over drinks they laughed the night away. Two strangers. Two hearts. Two years ago, that laughter over a friends misfortune grew into something more. Two years ago, that laughter sparked love.

I found it so easy to connect with Shannon when we first met. Which is funny because it was the worlds worst client vendor meeting solely in the sense that I was horribly unprepared. I got there late due to computer glitches the night before, I probably looked like something dragged through the mud because I tried to dress without a mirror, and to top it off, my slideshow of images I like to bring, totally froze up and took like 20 minutes to even turn the computer on. Any photographer watching me probably wanted to run me over and take my client to safety. But despite all that, Shannon and I just clicked. She totally didnt care that I was horribly unprofessional. We just clicked. I've talked more to Shannon than any other bride I've ever had the chance to get to know. Now, after being able to share in her wedding and seeing the love that is so relateable {yes, that's a word...sorta} between her and David, I'm so thankful that she chose me out of my craziness to share in her wedding day.

Dwell in Possibility...
Cassie

Reynolds Kiddos: The Sneak

Decorating a home is tough stuff! I used to think I was this great decorator...but now that I have a ton of space to decorate, I'm seriously overwhelmed! Oh sure, if I wanted to spend $3,000 per room, I could have exactly what I want...but there's that frightening little three accompanied by a whole lot of zeros that's holding me back.

So, editing has been my escape. Andrew comes home from work and I'm knee deep in editing with a frustrated look on my face. "Havent found what you want yet?" "Nope...but I've got tons of editing done." "Oh, well...that's good. Are we just never going to have furniture?" "Yup." "Okay, sweet."

Lucky for me, I have amazing clients to edit. I mean, take a peak of a recent family turned kiddos shoot that we had. I'll have more to come soon but just look at this sweet little girl!!

Dwell in Possibility...
Cassie

The Little Things

For anyone who knows me well, it is a well known fact that the most random of little things make me happy. For instance, today, there was a display at a local department store of china covered in this hideous poppy pattern. But, being that I cannot resist anything poppy related {thank you oh Wizard of Oz}, I squealed and immediately began trying to find a use for at least one piece of the china. "Yes mother, I know they're hideous...but com'on! They're poppies!". I left the store without a hideous poppy plate or cup. But still, I was happier because, well, they're poppies!

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter {and if you dont, you should} you might have rolled your eyes at a post where I mentioned that I may have possibly spent extra money on something I ordered for myself just so that it would come gift wrapped. But com'on people! Who doesnt love opening up a present in the mail from your grandmother? So, hypothetically, gift wrapping a present to yourself should have some sort of the same effect, right? So when my little gift wrapped honey pot from Sur La Table arrived, it was a like a gift of happiness to me!!

And, to top of three lovely little warm and fuzzies...I've been wanting really big red juicy strawberries lately. In cereal, alone, dipped in chocolate, covered in whipped cream...I'm not picky. I just wanted strawberries. So today, in celebration of a Cassie Day {which, for those of you who dont know, Cassie Day's are a day with my mom when she calls and goes "I miss you, I need a Cassie Day" and we go out for a day of whatever} my mom bought me this huge flat of strawberries!! My fridge has a big bowl full of them now!! Happiness!

Dwell in Possibility...
Cassie

Backyard Dreams

For so long, owning a home seemed this unattainable thing. And then, once we purchased our first home, the list of things I wanted to fix or change or add to, they just kept piling. Go figure right? I'm told that the list never goes away. But oddly enough, I love being able to check things off that list.

Andrew took a few days off this week so from Thursday to Saturday, we tackled our backyard list. The downer of living in Florida is that the majority of your grass is in fact, sand and weeds. So, after numerous trips to Home Depot and $600 later, our backyard is starting to shape up. Hopefully by the end of next weekend I'll have some pictures. I'm getting all these comments on Facebook asking to see photos of our home...but, you see, I have this problem - I cant show photos of unfinished work. It bothers me to have people come into our house when it's not done. I find myself excusing it by saying "this room's not done, this room will still have all this shelving added, the office doesnt have any of the new furniture, our living room is still waiting on the new couch, I'm painting my piano red, we're mounting the tv"....and on and on it goes.

But today, as Andrew and I begin a new week, suffering from allergies from being outside kicking up dirt and weeds for the past three days, I'm having to force myself to slow down. The busy season is beginning and I dont want to lose sight of things.

I have twelve gardenia bushes and trees in our new yard...it probably wouldnt shock you to know they're my favorite flowers. The first gardenia bloomed last night; and oddly, I plucked it. Normally I let them bloom but this one, I wanted it at my desk to remind me to remember to slow down and enjoy every moment. So as the overwhelming scent floats through my office, and I work feverishly away, I'm going to slow down. I'm going to enjoy life.

Dwell in Possibility...
Cassie

Portrait House: Mockingbird

Have you ever shown up somewhere and wondered "what am I doing here?" - I'm sure its a familiar feeling to someone out there. I've talked a lot about my feelings and thoughts on WPPI in recent posts. And if you will recall, I mentioned that I went to a workshop with Laura Marchbanks. Walking through the doors that day into this beautiful country club, I remember thinking two distinct things. One, I couldnt help but be green with envy of the location. I wanted this location for every wedding. Okay, not every wedding but seriously, this was amazing. Two, I wondered, what in the world I was doing at a shoot that A. I knew nothing about and B. I wasnt even sure what to do, I mean did I just take out my camera and wander around or did I wait for people to direct me? Did I have rights to all my photos? Did I have to turn in my work at the end of the day to the teacher and cross my fingers for a gold star?

So, the Photoshoot Phor Phamilies...no, I'm not a horrid speller, well, actually I am but that was on purpose!

Dwell in Possibility...
Cassie