“Love, and do what thou wilt…let the root of love be within, of this root can nothing spring but what is good.” —St. Augustine of Hippo

I traveled to St. Augustine last month for Nicole + Justin’s engagement session. There’s nothing better than shooting in a new location, particularly one as old as St. Augustine, Florida. And it did not disappoint. It had been years since my family spent one of its classic vacations in the old city, so it was like I was seeing it all again for the first time — this time through appreciative eyes.

And what I saw through the lens was perhaps one of the sweetest couples I have met. Not only were they calm, cool and collected, but they were also playful, loving, in love. Justin proposed to Nicole in St. Augustine at Castillo de San Marcos. The fort is a symbol of strength, protection, everlasting — the perfect foundation for a successful marriage. They’re off to a good start, and the rest will soon be history.

“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss,
It’s a sip of wine, it’s summertime!
Sweet summertime!”
—Kenny Chesney

I recently hit the road to spend some time with Amy + Andy on Jackson Lake in Georgia. It was a breezy summer afternoon — the perfect opportunity for the pair to toast their engagement. Amy is putting together a soft, vintage wedding at the end of the summer. The simplicity of the natural lake surroundings helped set the tone of their upcoming nuptials, but it was the loving moments between the couple, and their best four-legged friend Birdie, that truly captured the tone of their union. Congratulations, Amy + Andy!

A couple weeks before her wedding, I met Tawanna at her girlfriend’s house to take a bridal portrait. The rainy morning kept us inside, so we did most of the shoot around a staircase and balcony. Tawanna told me she wanted a shot with her bouquets — the bouquets she has caught at her friends’ weddings over the years. She said the four she had with her was just a small sampling. It was a cute way to commemorate the occasion. And soon it will be her turn!

Just weeks before my best friend was to be married, we decided to shoot an impromptu bridal portrait. We dolled her up before one of her fittings and shot the portrait right in the boutique. La Mariée Haute Couture Bridal in Sarasota has a fabulous mirror that provided a simple backdrop for the shot that was displayed at her wedding reception.

Sara’s wedding was photographed by Reign 7 Studios — they did an amazing job. (I already had my hands full as a bridesmaid and her wedding planner!) But I did snap a few shots of her gown the morning of her wedding, along with the cute hanger gifted by her sister-in-law.

… Beautiful boy. —John Lennon

That’s the song that came to mind when this little guy was born, and one year later, it still holds true. I finally got the chance to meet Mr. Brooks in person a week before his first birthday. This little man is one of the happiest babies I have ever seen, and his smile just melted my heart…over and over and over. He’s going to be a heart breaker, if he isn’t the sweetest boy in town!