Phew! Finally sitting down with my feet up after a crazy few weeks of back to school, traveling, tons of editing and a calendar full of sessions. Quick recap: At the end of August I attended an AMAZING photography workshop, and then started my SENIOR year of college the following week. I have a pretty full course load consisting of four writing classes and a math class (which I'm pretty sure is going to be harder for me than all four of the writing classes combined! Ugh!) On top of school, I  recently got a new part time job at a tanning salon. I've been working mostly nights, heading straight there after school. Most days gone from 8:45am until right around 10pm.

On top of that, Julian just purchased his first house! *So so proud of him!* Lots of my weekends have been spent helping him unpack & get everything looking perfect.

On top of that, I've had at least one photo session every week and tons in the works for October, including an awesome wedding!

& On top of that I just got to spend a perfect week in The Outer Banks in North Carolina courtesy of Julian's parents! 

So basically - senior year, work, photo shoots, emails, editing, packing, unpacking, traveling, beach!, coffeecoffeecoffeee. Yep. That pretty much sums the month of September up.  Super exhausted but it's all good stuff so I can't even complain.

Sidenote of busyness: I'm currently booking into December. CRAYYYcray I know! So if you're interested in a session please don't hesitate to contact me. I seriously hate to have to turn people away.

xoxoxo

What is it about summertime that makes it so hard to say goodbye? I'm not a huge fan of the heat, but I would be lying if I said I won't miss the sun wrapping its warm arms around me. I'm going to miss the green grass beneath my bare feet. I'm going to miss my tan, freckly skin and those days where the sun didn't set until 9. Summer isn't even my favorite season. Actually, it's not even in my top two.  It's the little kid in me who dreads having to go back to school. I have this panicked feeling inside my stomach as if EVERYTHING is going to change once the leaves turn orange and the breeze turns crisp. I'm always trying to hold on to everything because I'm scared of what's around the corner. This is going to be my last year of college. I will officially have my bachelor's degree. And then what? Well. I have no idea. 

 

Here's to another season gone and past. Here's to not knowing what to expect. Here's to pumpkin spice lattes, comfy sweaters and apple picking. 

Alright, maybe I'm a little bit more ready than I thought ;) 

Let me start off by saying - where has this workshop been all of my life?! Aside from the fact that I got to meet and learn from two of my photography idols Justin & Mary, I also got to meet an amazing and inspiring group of local (and not so local) photographers. The workshop started off with a little meet and greet and some champagne and was followed up with a eye opening lecture that took us back to "the why" of photography. I mean, why do we even take photos anyways? As Mary put it, we take photos to create a legacy. To pass memories down to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of my favorite things that was said at the workshop was "If there was no photographer around, would this actually happen?" Justin & Mary strive to create authentic, natural and meaningful images. Honestly, I have always admired their style of photography but never knew exactly why. I now know that it's because their photos are real. They tell a story. And each couple's story is different. 

After the lecture portion of the workshop we got to shooting. Justin & Mary taught us how to create and capture authentic moments with some of their go-to tricks. We practiced on two couples and a bride, as well as some of our new photographer friends! I am overwhelmed (in the best way possible) with how much I learned from this workshop and I cannot wait to put my newly acquired skills to the test. 

A few weeks ago Julian's sister asked me if I would watch Jonathan while they went to a wedding. Of course I said yes! They were staying at a rental house in Old Saybrook, CT. When Allyson told me that the house was really artsy looking, I knew I had to bring my camera! It turned out to be the perfect summer night for scooter riding and ice pops in the driveway. Jonathan was such a good boy - but he doesn't like to hear the word "no." But really, who does?! Anyways - when I told him he couldn't play with the tools in his dad's truck, I got "UNCLE JILL, I DON'T LIKE YOU!!!" ;) He still loves me, though. I swear. 

Xoxox