Here are some of my thoughts that helped me stand by her side and document their wedding day!

First learn from others. I had read how Jasmine Star photographed her sister’s wedding. Also last year I was the third shooter for Char of Char’s Photography for her sister’s wedding. I saw first hand how Char handled both roles. She was amazing both standing by her sister’s side and behind the camera. Char gave us clear roles and responsibilities for the day that was so helpful.

In order for me to fully commit to shooting their wedding I needed to find a second shooter that my sister was comfortable with style and being in front of the camera. Also the second shooter would need to be someone who will take charge and be confident when I would be in the photograph myself or could not cover a part of the time, like the ceremony. Though I did ask my sister if I could pick up my camera once I was down the aisle to photograph her and my dad. Yep I asked. I did not need to worry as Daylene of Daylene Wilson Photographic was the person for the job. Daylene’s present, understanding of her role and knowledge of the timeline were all things that allowed for me to be present and not feel like I needed to be everywhere.

As I was in Maryland before the wedding I planned on taking time on Thursday to photograph my sister’s details: her wedding dress, shoes, and jewelry. I love photographing details and knew that I wanted to use the barn as the backdrop and that it would take a little longer. My sister and I had this pocket of time to spend together, talking. This would give me more down time in the morning that I could be present and not miss out on shooting her beautiful details. Plus my sister had dreams of not being able to find her dress. I was not going to be responsible for it missing.

I also photographed the invitations another day before the wedding. My mother spent hours hand writing all the beautiful calligraphy and I wanted to make sure it was photographed to its fullest! I know that at most wedding I do not have this ability; however my goal was to make time and this served as a way for more time in the timeline.

Another way that allowed me to be present was creating a timeline that allowed for downtown as well as time for Daylene and I to photograph the day. The day started with making time for a family brunch together and a first look was included too! I will share a general timeline in another post.

I also knew that I could not be responsible to do my hair. Jamie Halcott from Baltimore Bridal Hair and Make-up was amazing!! I have been in numerous wedding and I usually do not like my hair. Not this time, I LOVED my hair and she had it completed with a half hour and it lasted all day. Jamie was an artist and extremely talented. I would recommend her to anyone!!!

Another part of the plan was that I had to be released from all mother duties that day. Myla was a flower girl and Lyndon as groomsman and so everyone in our family needed to be dressed and ready. Thankfully there were many hands to help do Myla’s hair and get her dressed and ready. For the most part she was on her own and did great playing with the other children who were there! She was one exhausted flower girl as we tucked her into bed that night.

Some of my last thought to share includes a promise I made to my sister to squeeze her hand throughout the day. The day goes bye so fast I wanted to take small moments and freeze them with her. Moments like her stepping into her dress and pausing in front of the mirror as tears well up in our eyes.  I also had to acknowledge that I love being behind a camera and being able to photograph her wedding would bring me much joy! I am so thankful that I had the privilege and honor to photograph Laura and Drew. More from their wedding will be coming soon! I promise, this week!

Hair done and dress on is how I started shooting the day.

I shot both digitally and film for my sister’s wedding, which was a first for me too!

If you could see my feet I had my Tom’s on until it was time for me to me in the pictures!

Thank you Daylene for capturing this picture of me working above and the rest of these throughout the day!

As I walked the tears flooded. There was no hiding behind a camera.And more tears… and there were some mothering moments, like put down the wreath.

I am the luckiest girl to be walking with him nine years later through life discovering God in the details together.

“We can all see God in exceptional things,

but it requires the culture of spiritual discipline

to see God in every detail,

be ready to discover the divine designs anywhere”

Oswald Chambers

I was so honored to be able to photograph their family and their love. Elias is now nine months old, about the same length of time Darlene carried him waiting for his arrival. The love she has for her son is evident in her sweet and gentle disposition towards him and the smile that never seems to leave her face. As she waited for her own Darlene would often babysit and serve other mother’s with their children. She shared the best part of being a mother is that she does not have to leave. Elias is hers to keep.

We headed out into the outdoors where they love to spend time together as a family. I might say it was the most perfect warm bright spring evening. They were awesome to follow me on a trail that was much longer then I had  expected. It was worth the photographs under the tall tall trees. I left our time together encouraged listening how Darlene is loving motherhood and her fast growing little son. ENJOY!!!

the canopy of trees was beautiful!there is another smile…showing his three little teeth.and in about two seconds that rock was in his mouth.Mama’s kisses.his little hand holding on. melt my heart.this book is read each day before nap time and he seemed to love all the sounds.

Flowers from Grande’s gardenExploring and looking for items in my parent’s barn for the wedding.Fresh rhubarb- YUM!

You can find the recipe here.a surprise mother day’s gift…do you have any good juicing recipes?Wedding prep…finalizing the flower girls dress and making confetti with my dad!Shooting Laura’s dress in the barn might have been my new favorite dress shot. We used to play in the barn for hours as kids.Out in Baltimore for a bachelorette party with my sisters!Bridesmaid Brunch on Federal HillWedding day!!!!First strawberries of the season from a farm. Last year we were sweating and picking them. Hoping to pick our own soon!Attempting my own little tomato garden. That is all I plant and hope to keep them alive.I never shot this many rolls of film in one day…I’m excited and nervous to see the result. Waiting for the scans!Yes the pool open…on the right her foot is pulled back and she totally splashed me with the ice cold water!

I wrote these words back in December and have had to remind myself of these truths weekly. The end of December we decided to start working with a new practice of doctors. My attitude meeting with them was that we would take the next steps that they would recommend in order to try our best to understand and work with my unexplainable infertility. It has been a little over three years since the loss of our second child and I was not ready to give up this desire of having another baby.

In the process of taking their next steps I found my heart angry at what I needed to do (more extensive charting, blood work, and meetings) and how I needed to wait for appointments. I am not good at waiting. Yet, I wrestled and concluded that God was in control of timing and he was allowing me to wait some more. I started another full panel of extensive blood work with the hope that the results would reveal something the doctors could fix and definitely solve. In February the result revealed that my levels were normal. Normal. This was not what I wanted to hear at this point, I felt hopeless. I wanted a clear problem and an answer. Conversations with the doctors continued. It was determined that the next step would be discussing surgery and that the more blood work most likely would not reveal any new problem. I did not want to go through surgery; however I wanted to be willing to take the next steps if the doctors thought it was best.

Upon our return from St. Lucia I had another follow up meeting in which the strong recommendation came to schedule an appointment with the surgeon. I scheduled an appointment ten days later and all the while asking God that I would not have to do surgery. My prayer was not necessarily get me pregnant just not surgery.

The afternoon before meeting with surgeon I took a pregnancy test. I had given up on them over the last couple of years as they only yielded disappointment. However there was a slight sliver of hope that I might be pregnant as I was attempting to follow the doctor’s orders to chart. I stood in shock when the test turned positive. I stood thinking about of all the times of wanting it to turn positive but only to have it be negative, all the years of waiting, crying, praying, and hoping I would become pregnant again. And now, it was happening and I was surprised.

It was completely all of God’s doing. I used to like to think that I planned out my life and that I could even plan the perfect timing of the children I wanted in my life. I was never in control, only an illusion.

I was not expecting it and at the say time could not be happier. The trusting and hoping does not stop now. God loves us being dependent of him when we wait, when he answers or does not answer. God has sustained us through this valley and has walked with us. Though my heart can be tempted to fear what if we lose this baby. I know for sure the Lord will and can sustain us through another loss if that happens and it is also the Lord who is sustaining and growing this gift of life. He gives and he takes. I do not need to fully understand His ways. He continues to walk with us as we wait the arrival of this baby come mid-November.

My favorite moment was sharing with Myla that she was going to be a big sister. Her first question was how did we know that there was a baby growing? Try to explain that to an inquisitive four and half year old. Seeing her faith grow in God answering her prayers has brought me much joy. Her faith is beautiful. She understood that we could lose the baby and has prayed for God to grow the baby. Her response was simple and has encouraged me not to fear, “If your belly gets bigger then the baby is growing”. Myla wrote the sign and decided that she wanted her picture taken on our front steps for the photos. She is wearing my t-shirt that I wore when I was five when my baby brother was born. Myla is hoping for twins, though we are pretty definite that there is one baby growing. We wait to meet this baby with excitement, fear, and much hope.

“When you wait for the Lord, you can be secure in the reality that he rules over all things.” Paul Trip

I am thankful to all of those who have served and to all of those who currently serve to protect our freedom.

Thank you for all your time, service, hours of training, time away from family, and your love for our country!

Contact: Elizabeth Reich

Jenkins Baer Associates
24 West Chase Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

Phone: 410.727.4100
Fax: 410.727.4130

Lyndon Sentz

Lyndon Heath Cabinetry

717.413.2942

Kelly Walker

Artstar Custom Paintworks

443.739.4106

On Pearl StreetDrew, I’m so happy that you asked Laura to marry you! You are perfect for her!LOVE this one!!Laura you are beautiful and so thankful to have you as my sister!

You are going to be a stunning BRIDE!!!