“When are you going to let me take dope photos of you and Josh, man?”
That was pretty much how this shoot began. I was over my gorgeous, newly engaged, best friend hoarding her perfect muse qualities. Beyond that, these two just really love each other and.. she gets me.
I’ve decided THAT is the trifecta for my creativity to flow.
Someone who values art + love + trusting me.
Ha, yea right, as if I could label what makes anything creative happen. But on this day, it surely was!
We’ve all glamorized the whole idea of “living your dreams” but its really so much bigger than that, isn’t it? Rachel and I met at the very first wedding that I shot. After that, we became friends and she would come along on my out of town weddings as my assistant. We would spend road trips discussing what life would look like for us one day and dream of the future. I wish I could say that having the dream was enough. Don’t get me wrong, the dreaming part is crucial, but it doesn’t work without a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. Things we have both given endlessly, side by side. I’d do anything for this chick, and when I say to her, hey- I have this vision for your engagement shoot, even if my dress criteria was oddly specific, haha she goes with it, because she gets it and she’d do anything for me, too. I prayed for a friend like Rachel my entire life. I didn’t find her until I was nearing 30 but she was worth the wait. Once I knew and loved her, I prayed for a man like Josh for her, and look at us now! I mean, Josh went right along with what I wanted because he loves Rachel (and is a low key model, obviously) and I am beyond grateful for him, for her, for this life I have found myself in, constantly surrounded by the most talented, amazing people. Its relentless really, the way creative types can just feed off of one another.
Before I get into more about these lovebirds, let me shout out the glam squad that brought her look to life.
Mallory at http://www.malloryfitzgerald.com/ gave her the perfect glowing, glamorous look that was both timeless and unique, just like Rachel.
Maylin at https://www.styledbymaylin.com/ made all of her boho dreams come true with her incredible textured updo.
ok, ok, and here’s the fun part- His loving Fiance’ is his hair sylist! SWOON, right???
Ok, now that you have the wealth of knowledge of who can make you look this good (you’re welcome) we can move on. I was three hours early for this shoot, ha ha WHY??? One, because it was totally my concept and I felt completely responsible for the way it would turn out. Two, because even after all of these years, I get so nervous when I shoot that I could vomit and being early helps. While there, I walked and looked and routed our path. There was a story I wanted to tell and I knew the city of New Orleans could help.
*This is where I dive into my weird process so hang in there* We began in the Bywater at Hotel Peter and Paul, which is the result of a four-year restoration of the former St. Peter and Paul Catholic church and school. If you know Rachel, you know that she’s a big fan of Jesus and so I wanted to incorporate that foundation as our beginning, too.
With the foundation set, we were off on our little stroll. I wanted to spend some time appreciating the quaint nature of the area but adding an edge. Rachel is a free spirit, her ability to love a million things at once is like a super power, and truly, I was used to her easily being distracted by details so i wanted to keep things simple, but man! She has her eyes on one thing: JOSH. If you know him, you know that he is steadfast and constant. I can see the way he cherishes her just in the way he looks at and speaks to her. He can be quiet, but he is no dud. He was 100 percent down for thumb wrestling and a Birdman imitation (check it out in black and white) which gave us ALL the laughs. It was fun to play with light and shadows and things I usually steer clear of and these two just soaked it all up and never knew I was a nervous wreck the entire time. Oooooo eeeee the imposter syndrome is REAL, ya’ll.
Ok, so this is when it gets sentimental and weird and personal.. You are free to scroll beyond the words of my heart and look at the pretty pictures, but it’s where my mind goes for inspo and this is my blog and I can do what I want.
Rachel is no stranger to tragedy. Most people who know her, know of all she’s endured and how much loss has been in her life. This is because she is very open and honest. Hers is not my story to tell, but the Marigny Opera House was one of the locations I wanted to use because of the history behind it. Blessed back in 1848 (so says the plaque outside its doors) it was Holy Trinity Church and was sadly destroyed by a fire in 1851. From then it was rebuilt and damaged by the Hurricane Betsy and then Katrina, hit after hit. But today, the space sees celebrity weddings and performances of all kinds and is a place full of art and joy and love and inclusiveness and so many glorious things that brings people together. I guess you can say it’s made it, just like Rachel. And seeing the way God worked in her life and brought she and Josh together is beyond my realm of comprehension. But if any one person deserves to be spoiled with comfort and thoughtfulness and kindness, its her.
I hope we can all come out of our darkest days and find the time to laugh and dance and rejoice and be grateful for the journey, just as she has. It’s no wonder Josh looks at her like she is magic- SHE IS!
Last, but certainly not least, I took these kids to Hot Tin to kick back and enjoy one another and the adventure they just set out on and conquered. Rachel says she would have chosen me to shoot this monumental time even if I wasn’t her best friend, we will never know if that is true. But, I do know that I am lucky to have her in my life and to have been a small part of something as big as their love is.
