Meeting Craig in the parking lot, Matthew said, “Christy’s only been waiting ten years for this session!”

Craig probably thought Matthew was kidding, but it was true. He photographed our family when Ruthie was a baby, so it was TIME for us to have another session with one of my all-time FAVORITE photographers!

These were taken last year before Ross left for his internship at KLRC in Arkansas. Oddly enough, I can share frog dissections and deer hanging out in my backyard, but when something is REALLY special in my heart, sometimes I have a harder time sharing it publicly. In a strange way, Ross’ graduation, an incredible trip with Matthew and THIS session almost seem ‘too special’ to blog about. (Okay, I’m also kind-of nervous about reducing the image size and quality for my blog since a really AMAZING photographer took them.)

But these photos make my heart too happy NOT to post!

(And soon, I WILL also share about one of the best days of my life AND a trip to one of the most beautiful places on earth!)

More of our photos were posted on their blog here:
https://obristimagery.com/bloglist/2024/5/11/martin-family-gwinnett-heritage-center-portraits

If you have time, look around their site! You’ll be amazed at their talent!

Our kids went to preschool together, so it was fun catching up with dinner afterwards!

I’m not sure if it was the preponderance of avocado toast and charcuterie boards or all the little boys in linen jumpsuits, but a few years ago, Matthew and I realized almost instantly– 30A was WAY too boujee for us.

But when my parents recently invited my sister and I to ride with them to Santa Rosa for their fishing trip, you KNOW, boujee or not, us girls did NOT miss that chance for family fun at the beach!

No one should worry though…

After spending plenty of time in that gorgeous, clear ocean, we also hit up a Goodwill, ate a big box of Snicker Ice Cream bars in one night, rolled our eyes at a $100 candle, enjoyed onion rings as an appetizer and someone WET THEIR PANTS FROM LAUGHING SO HARD ‘made great memories.’

When we first arrived and I jumped off the dock into the inlet, a concerned neighbor came out and yelled, “I won’t even let my DOGS swim in that water!”

Whether or not the water was actually dirty, I’d stay there again JUST based on that gorgeous LIGHT that broke through those sweeping trees!

There’s not much I love more than how photography captures sentimental memories forever. If you haven’t followed my blog for a while, here’s how it works:
It’s not uncommon for me to pull-out my hard-drives to not only reminisce about my OWN children’s growth, but my CLIENT’S children too! It’s such a joy to not only watch kids grow up, but document it as well.

I started taking photos of Halle and her family before she even hit double-digits. So when her fiancé, Kyle, texted about ME being there for her SURPRISE ENGAGEMENT, I was thrilled to get to be a part of their MOST special moment!

The entire evening was so fun!

When I got home, I pulled a few images of Halle over the years. I saw one with her dad, very similar to one we had randomly taken just a few hours earlier with Kyle. I thought it was a beautiful imagery of her being surrounded by LOVE!

When hiking to the highest spot in Georgia, we brought PARTY!

Well, his name isn’t actually “PARTY,” that’s just what Jonathan calls him.
Well, Jonathan doesn’t actually call him that. It’s just the pretend voice Jonathan’s family uses for him.
Oh, Jonathan’s a dog (…which, clearly, can’t talk at all).

Okay, never mind!

Mine and Ross’ hike was made complete with PARKER (aka: “PARTY,” spoken in a weird, dog-voice)!

Ross had his machete and knife with him, so as the guys discovered the silhouette vibe, they had fun reenacting a fight. Naturally, right?

She photographs well.
She photographs OTHERS really well.
But Rayna certainly doesn’t love being in front of the camera.

I had to beg her to let me snap a couple of photos of her on the side of the road.
She gave me about 5 minutes, then she was D-O-N-E.

So I get-what-I-get-and-don’t-pitch-a-fit!

Always a pleasure to catch-up with Scott, Lauren, Copelyn, Brooks & (the one-and-only) Holland!

I’ve been so blessed to watch this beautiful family grow-up! I am so grateful for the relationships and memories photography has provided me over the year! Praise the Lord!