Carol + Ethan :: Wedding Photography, Columbus, Ohio

rachelmagreephoto8223_36.jpg

The snow makes everything still.

It was a phrase that came to us mid-Advent, I think, as we were bustling to tie ribbons and check items off lists. We wanted to slow down, because waiting is what that season of anticipation is, after all. But slowness requires quiet, and quiet, stillness. And stillness in a world of movement and deals and bang-for-your-buck is just hard sometimes. So, we put it in big-lettered boldness on our mantle:

J O Y   I N   T H E   S T I L L N E S S

And we kept finding it, not only tucked away in the fire-lit evenings of cold December, but also on the altar on the day before Christmas Eve.

As the white snow fell down in big, fluffy flakes outside the stained-glass windows, the church where Carol and Ethan were committing their lives to the hardship and bliss of marriage was full of all the joy in the world. And all of the stillness. 

It was a beautiful sight to witness, these two very young ones, surrounded by their friends - souls brimming with courageous faith - who were defying all the hustle and bustle of the world by sitting in silence, waiting for their life to begin together.

It was an honor to witness your day through the lens, Carol and Ethan, and may the joy continue to be tucked in the stillness of your freshly married hearts.

Enjoy,

Rachel

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Best of 2017

My favorite things about this year:

- Discovering the secret to shooting weddings pregnant is High-Protein, Low-Glycemic Luna Bars, Vitamin Water, and a turkey sandwich with basil mayo. You know. Basic.

- Watching Tim fight with the bounce

- Looking forward to shooting a wedding with my sister (more on this later)

- Planning and shooting our first ever styled shoot

- Working on our fun rebranding projects with talented people

- Shooting a stack of pancakes, then eating it

- And as always, witnessing people at their most intimate and seeing them form and foster relationships

All of these, but really, my favorite thing about running this little business this year has been the self-searching we had to do when we decided to keep things really running (and kicked up a notch) when we rebranded over the summer. It was then that we decided that our reason for doing what we do is to illuminate the beauty that God has planted in the world all around us.

As Fyodor Dostoyevsky said, "Beauty will save the world."

Enjoy these little slices of beauty, and thank you for allowing me to capture them on camera.

Rachel

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

Amanda & Andrew :: Wedding Photo, Columbus, Ohio

Amanda & Andrew :: Wedding Photo, Columbus, Ohio

...Maid-of-Honor Toast / Best Man Toast / Groom Toast...

I always love it when the reception schedule for the wedding we're photographing looks like this. It's always a treat to hear from the bride and/or groom at their wedding, smitten and joy filled in this climax of a moment.

The words shared by the groom and this wedding were particularly inspiring to me. He said, and I paraphrase, "I'm grateful to both of our parents, married some 60 years total between the two couples. It is because of you that Jordan and I get to stand here."

It's that cyclical, engendering, never-ending fount of indestructibility. Indestructibility. Life that gives life that gives life that gives life that....

I realized all in a moment the opportunity that my husband and I have - that all couples have - to plant the seeds of tireless self-gift that enable their children and those all around them to do the same.

At risk of a wedding photographer sounding a little obsessed, I will say without restraint that every single wedding I witness is an invigorating slice of encouragement to me. It's an encouragement not only to recommit to my own marriage, but to recommit to every relationship in my life. This groom made it clear how important it is - that each choice I make to serve the other person is one little shard of glass in a life-long mosaic that is a proof that fulness and joy are on just the other side of that sharp pang of self-denial.

So, Matthew and Jordan, here's to the beginning of your many seed-spreading years.

Enjoy!

Rachel

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

The Boyden Family :: Family Photography, Columbus, Ohio

rachelmagreephoto1117

It's starting to become one of my favorite parts of fall. I get a call from Kate to photograph her beautiful and growing family of girls. (Last year's shoot was especially fun.) This year they were just as sweet as ever, especially the newest addition :-).

 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

The Bartow Family :: Family Photo, Columbus, Ohio

The Bartow Family :: Family Photo, Columbus, Ohio

My cousin, Andrea, and I have traveled similar paths this year. Both of our pregnancies led us to the hospital way earlier than expected, yet both have given us beautiful, healthy babies. Miracles!

I want to say a couple things about these photos: 

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...