Taeler Williams | Senior Portraits

Taeler Williams may call herself “short and sarcastic”, but I call her full of fun, laughter and JOY of the Lord! I have had the pleasure of getting to know Taeler and her family through our church Crossroads of Life in Byram, MS. And we became even closer to Taeler as she spent many hours in the car with us during our spring break mission trip to YWAM Nashville! Seriously, with so many little kids needing potty breaks on our family mission trip, it took no less than 10 hours to complete our 6 hour drive haha! To say it was a lesson in patience is an understatement, and this spirited young lady created a Certificate of Completion in the Course of Patience for my husband who kept declaring that he was going to learn patience this time so God would move on to the next lesson haha! In all seriousness, this girl has reminded me that loud laughter really is the best medicine!

Taeler, Papa God has such amazing plans for you! He has gifted you with a voice to proclaim His Gospel message to all He puts in your path! He will use your gift of laughter to reach many for His Kingdom! He has given you this gift to share, and you share it well!

As you step into this new season, I pray specifically for abundant grace. Grace for each place as He moves you. Grace for the transition. Grace as you wait on Him. Grace as you allow Him to work in you and through you.

Taeler, you are a young woman full of God’s GRACE and POWER! You will perform great WONDERS and SIGNS among the people! I can feel His excitement over all He has planned for you!! Keep you eyes on Him. Walk with Him hand-in-hand. Experience His delight in you.

 

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Sydney Bearden | Senior Portraits

I had the best time with Sydney last Friday at the Town of Livingston for her Senior Portrait Session!

Sydney originally reached out to me back in January for her senior portrait sessions, and I am so thankful that we had such beautiful spring weather for her session on Friday! Sydney found me through her friend Hannah who is also a Meridith Lee Senior from earlier in the year!

Capturing Sydney with her beautiful blue eyes and radiant smile was such a joy and highlight to my week! I have enjoyed editing these images and thinking about our time together!

Sydney, I have prayed for you as I edit your images, and the verse that keeps coming to mind is Jeremiah 29:11 –

 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

I pray that the Lord with give you abundant JOY and GRACE for this season of transition! I pray for PEACE that surpasses all understanding as you finish well your senior year and begin to step into a new season with more independence! Keep your eyes on Jesus, allow Him to guide your steps. He will lead you in triumphant processions!

The Gregory Family | A Downtown Jackson Family Session

Meet the Gregory family. A joyful, fun-loving, Jesus filled family that I had a BLAST spending time with recently!

The Gregory kids gave Ms. Karen a family session for Christmas. With a very active family of seven, we had to overcome some scheduling conflicts to make this family session happen… and I’m so thankful that Mr. Todd was such a trooper and didn’t allow his ankle surgery and cast stop us!

I first met Ms. Karen and oldest daughter Lauren when I was a missionary in downtown Jackson at We Will Go Ministries. In fact, the Lord spoke Isaiah 26:3 to me through Lauren just before I moved to the Middle East. “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.”  This is a Word the Lord knew I would need as I faced so many challenges in the years to come. I met second born Rebecca this past fall when she became one of my 2019 #meridithleebrides !! I loved every second of my time with her and fiance Adam in December at their engagement session and I can’t wait to shoot their wedding in May!

The Gregorys chose Downtown Jackson for their session, and I am loving the urban feel of their images! We spent time on the corner of Capitol and Congress Streets, as well as just down the street at the Mississippi State Capitol. I especially love the shots in front of the white brick wall around the Govenor’s Mansion!

Karen and Todd, as I spent time with you and your amazing kids, the Lord kept bringing Psalm 127:3-5 to my mind. “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.” You have raised up your children in the way they should go, and now as you begin to release your arrows out of your nest and into the world I feel the Lord saying to trust Him to continue to build their lives on the firm spiritual foundation He laid for each of them. Oh what a beautiful heritage the Lord has given you in Lauren, Rebecca, Alyssa, Noah and McKenna!

Hannah Alford | Senior Portraits

Getting to photograph senior portraits for a fellow missionary?? YES PLEASE!! Hannah was referred to me by our mutual missionary friend and I am SO THANKFUL!!

Hannah is such an encouragement to be around! This girl is confident in her identity in Christ and imparts that to those she is around! She is full of the Joy of the Lord and radiates His love so well!! Can’t you just see Him shinning through here even in these images?

Hannah, as I have prayed for you the Lord has given me this verse for you…

She is clothed with strength and dignity and laughs without fear of the future.

1 Samuel 12:16

He has such good plans for you!! I see you taking your college campus by FIRE of REVIVAL! The fire in you is not meant to be kept in, let it out and you will start wild fires of revival that can not be contained! When the enemy comes to attack, just laugh in his face because the JOY of the LORD is your STRENGTH!!

The Proctor Family | Parham Bridges Portrait Session

I had so much fun capturing these family portraits of the Proctor Family at Parham Bridges Park the day before Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Regina first contacted me early in November to see if I was available for Hayley’s upcoming June wedding at Bridlewood of Madison! In my initial reply, I sent over my wedding package information and suggested a meeting at my favorite coffee spot, The Urban Sip at We Will Go Ministries. Mrs. Regina quickly replied that they LOVE We Will Go and the Urban Sip! We both felt from that moment that this was a Jesus connection!

Annslea and I met with Mrs. Regina, and Hayley FaceTimed in from school. I so enjoyed hearing Hayley’s proposal story and wedding plans, and especially how Jesus is the center of it all! As we emailed back and forth about wedding plans, Mrs. Regina decided that she would also love updated family portraits while Hayley was in town for Thanksgiving. This also gave Hayley and I a chance to meet in person, which is so important to me! I always hope to begin a relationship with my brides throughout the wedding planning process so that I am a trusted friend on their wedding day. And I loved that I was able to meet and work with her whole family! I walked away from this session thinking, “this is a family I would love to get to know and spend more time with.” Their love for Jesus and one another shines through their beautiful smiles!

Proctor Family, I have prayed over each of you as I have edited these images. The verse the Lord has given me for you family is, “My children, our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18) I witnessed this verse lived out as I watched your family lovingly interact with one another. I pray these portraits bless each of you, and they will be cherished memories for generations to come.

Casalee Burroughs | Mini-Session | Highland Village

Casalee Burroughs, beloved daughter of God, Bride of Christ and warrior for His Kingdom! Your heart for Jesus is so beautiful and shines BRIGHTLY to everyone who meets you!

Several weeks ago I was hanging out in the Urban Sip, the coffee shop that is part of We Will Go Ministries. Casalee is a WWG missionary and barista in the Urban Sip. She recently graduated from Brandon High School, and will begin campus life at Belhaven University this fall. As we talked about my return to photography and growing a new business, she mentioned that she needed headshots for the Belhaven theatre department. She was preparing for a summer mission trip to Exuma, so we set a date shortly after her trip.  I was excited to get the shots that she needed, and hear about her trip!

Casalee is beautiful inside and out! Not only does she have flawless skin and enchanting eyes… not only does her stage experience make her a pro as she “performed” in front of my camera… not only is she STUNNING… but she had me in tears telling me stories of how Jesus used her and her team to touch the lives of children in the hard to reach mountains of Exuma. This girl’s passion for Jesus and making His name known encouraged my heart in ways words can not describe. Nothing matters more than glorifying His name. There is no inconvenience when there is an opportunity to share His love.

Casalee, as I have edited your photos and thought back over our time together, Proverbs 31:25 keeps coming to my mind.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

This verse describes you so well, dear friend. I feel so much excitement as you step into a new season. Holy Spirit has such beautiful plans for you, precious one! You carry revival where ever you go! Spread the FIRE!

Abigail Grace Wilkerson | Senior Portraits | The Town of Livingston

Abigail: father rejoiced or father’s joy. Gives joy. The intelligent, beautiful Abigail was King David’s third wife, described as “good in discretion and beautiful in form.”

Grace: the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.

Abby Wilkerson, the name your parents gave you was a prophetic word of the beautiful, intelligent, blessing of a young lady you are today! 

I first met Abby in the spring of 2011. I was working with her dad Kelly at Morgan White Group  and our department decided to have a BBQ to meet everyone’s families. I was also living at We Will Go Ministries where she served with her mom Amy, sister Katie, and their homeschool co-op group CHEC. Shortly after I moved overseas, her family sold their home and moved on base to serve full time with We Will Go. Over the years I have had the honor of watching Abby grown into a beautiful, talented young woman with a BIG heart for Jesus and love for His people.

Abby not only smart, but a hard worker! While still in high school, she has been dual enrolled at Holmes Community College. She will continue her education at the same community college this fall, taking full advantage of scholarships offered. She then plans to transfer to Mississippi State University, her parent’s alma mater.

Abby and I had so much fun at her senior portrait session at the Town of Livingston! This girl is so fun to laugh with and I was so pleased to capture her joy and laughter in the images from her session! I love to pray over my clients as I edit their photos, and I can feel the Lord’s excitement over Abby’s future! Abigail Grace – keep your eyes on Jesus and hold His hand tightly as you take each step. Your Heavenly Father delights in you, beautiful girl! And He has amazing plans for you!!

Pittman & Danielson Families | Family Portraits | Pelahatchie, MS

Oh how I LOVED my time with the Pittman and Danielson families for their family photo shoot in Pelahatchie, MS!

I first met Alex and her mom Chris in January of 2013 when they contacted me about shooting Alex’s wedding to Ty Danielson at the Cornerstone Club House! Alex was the first bride to hire me because she loved my work, which was a HUGE confidence boost for me as I was just starting my business! Before I had only shot a few weddings for friends willing to take a chance on me. I felt like this was my big break!!

Alex & Ty’s wedding was a perfect day full of JOY!! It was so obvious that this beautiful bride and groom were truly in love with one another, and with Jesus! And as an added bonus, their families were so much fun to be around! The flowers were amazing, and so much thought and work went into each detail of the decorations.

Getting to photograph beautiful, Jesus centered weddings with joyful families are my dream job!

It still remains one of my favorite weddings ever. Images from their wedding were quickly added to my Facebook cover photo and used for marketing to future brides! It was a day I will never forget!

Five years have passed and I was OVERJOYED when Alex and I first started talking about taking family portraits! It took a little time, but we finally nailed down a date that worked for everyone… and this session was well worth the wait!

The Pittman and Danielson families have grown since I saw them last. Alex & Ty now have little 17 month old Phillip who is all boy, full of energy, and a little ball of fun!! The Pittman’s have also recently added a new daughter-in-law to the family. Alan & Madison, the family newlyweds, were recently married in Jamaica! I love destination weddings!

Without further ado, I introduce to you Chris, Chris, Adrienne & Jack Pittman; Ty, Alex & Philip Danielson; and Alan & Madison Pittman!