So, this little film touches on these things about one particular family I happen to know and love, the Clarks.

The Clarks are one-of-a-kind. Kelly is one of my close friends, and, if you haven’t run across her or her incredible business, you’re missing out. As a photographer, she’s one of few that always inspires me, and as a bag-designer/entrepreneur she has amazingly proven herself as someone who can follow a passion for business without letting it overrun her life. She’s a believer, wife and mother first, and a businesswoman second. And I strive for the same type of order in my own little world. I love her, her husband, and their two girls, and I hope you’re as deeply moved as I am by seeing how this family of four came to be…

Chapel’s Adoption Story | the feature from stillmotion on Vimeo.

Oh yeah, allow me to introduce to you the fall 2011 intern here at followell fotography – Ashley Howard. I didn’t get her permission to divulge a whole lot of her personal business, but you basically need to know this: she’s cool, she’s got a killer wardrobe, she’s (borderline) obsessed with Harry Potter, and she’s got a deep-rooted passion for photography. To the 11 brides whose weddings I’ve yet to shoot in 2011, Ashley is the newest confirmed person on your wedding guest list. And you’re gonna love her.

Oh, and how great are her bright blue eyes?

Interested? Here are some of the details:

• Must attend and assist at 10-15 f|f weddings over the course of the semester

• Spend around 4-8 hours per week in the studio

• Must reside in the greater Jackson, Mississippi area for the full duration of the semester term

• Monthly one-on-one training sessions with Robby to critique photos, test shoot, and learn technique

• This is an unpaid position

I’m looking for someone with a passion for photography, with or without the aspiration to pursue it professionally. A kind heart and teachable spirit would be a definite plus. Oh, and fun people get preferential treatment.

If you’re interested, send in a contact form via the link at the top of the blog and we’ll be in touch. All inquiries must be submitted by Friday, August 12.

I can’t show a whole lot of the images I took as Beacon has first publishing rights, but, here are a few that help give a glimpse in to the fantastic week I had last week. What a great experience…

The Beacon team: me, Tracey Harrison (editor), Marlo Kirkpatrick (writer), and Ethan Milner (videographer)

No, what struck me yesterday afternoon as I opened up my new license and let it take the place of the card that has sat in my back pocket for the last four years was how different life is now versus then and, quite frankly, how different I am. So, let me describe to you the differences between old me and new me (and, in the process, humiliate myself by showing off my ghastly and incredibly unfortunate license photo from five years ago)…

(I told you it was terrible)

I’m in college, two weeks from graduating. I’ve got the perfect home in an MC dorm room, and have been spending the last several months interning with Kelly Moore-Clark and have this subtle idea that maybe I would like to pursue photography a little bit more intentionally. Last month I purchased my first SLR camera–a Canon Rebel. My first wedding as the primary photographer is three weeks away. I own one lens, one flash, and my new camera. I’m all set.

I’m dating the prettiest girl I know and am saving feverishly for an engagement ring–hoping the few weddings I have booked will help me arrive at the funds needed to make the big purchase. I’m pretty sure that if I asked her to marry me tomorrow, she’d say yes. Let’s hope I’m right.

I’ve decided to work full-time at Mississippi College upon graduating. Since I’m not positive what I want to do with my life, it will be a good opportunity to pay the bills and buy me some time to find my career calling. I can’t wait to have a real job, an apartment (!!!), and be done with school!

Life has never been better.

Hmm, where to start? Well, I’ve been married to the only girlfriend I’ve ever had for  2 & 1/2 years. She’s the only girl for me. Period. I loved her when I met her, but have fallen in love with her in an even bigger way over the last five months as I’ve watched her carry our first baby with a courageous spirit and pronounced grace. A little girl named Meg will be changing our lives forever in August. I can’t wait to meet her, and I really hope she looks like her mom.

Last year, we were able to build our first home. It’s literally perfect for us. It’s right in Olde Towne Clinton (I hope I die living in this community), and just two blocks from my studio. Oh yeah, my studio!…

The business is such a tangible reminder of God’s gracious provision in my life. I started “followell | fotography”–officially–four years ago and have shot right at 125 weddings since then. It’s been incredibly busy, but I haven’t grown even the slightest bit tired of brides, grooms, cakes, sparklers, flowers, dresses or tuxes. I love the stories I’m asked to document, and even more the people whose lives tell them. I know that I’ve had the best clients a photographer could ask for. Just last week, the business was awarded membership into the International Society of Professional Wedding Photographers (ISPWP). I’m the first (and currently only) Mississippi photographer to be a part. What blows my mind even more, though, is that the photographers who sponsored my application (and, coincidentally, have been my greatest creative inspiration since the start of my business) have become great friends. Ben & Erin Chrisman are about the classiest people I know and have become fast friends of ours. I hope to make many outrageous memories with them in the years to come.

I’ve had Heather Vines around at the studio managing the world for nearly two years and can’t believe that I’ll be seeing her go in just three weeks. I’m excited for the experiences that lie ahead for her and Eliott (as they move to Australia!), and excited about Sally Garcia joining the team. But, I am certain that there are certain voids that will always exist after Heather’s departure from f | f.

A community of friends surrounds us that pour goodness into our lives daily. We feel so supported in all of our endeavors because of the people that believe in us and motivate us toward living lives rooted in the gospel. We are richly blessed.

So, marrying the wife of my dreams, starting a business, building a home, and a baby on the way… while things are crazy and happening so fast, I am completely certain of this: life has never been better.

///

Thanks for the opportunity to take a few minutes to be introspective and rant on about the greatness of my Savior and the way He’s carried me so graciously the last four years. And thanks to so many of you who care enough about my world to read a bit about that journey. Honestly, all I can do now is exclaim my excitement about the next 4, 5, 10 years and where they’ll take the Followells…

During my month off I take on one session that is considered to be purely experimental. It’s for me. I can do what I want, and not have the burden of delivering any certain quota to the client. Jonathan & Anna have been busy over the last year developing a side business of making frames and other handmade goods. Since the beginning, they’ve used f | f images in every frame they sell, so all that free advertising earned them some new pics! Take a look at their (fantastic) work here.

For you photographers out there, my goal for this shoot was to: a) shoot through things (even more than I already do) to see what kind of effects I could produce, and b) really play in Lightroom. In learning the software, I wanted to have some fun images to really see what I do something with. I’m happy to say, I’m proud of the results…

That’s a total lie.

Justin actually CREATED my web site (he’s a genius) and he and Sally are two of Jess and my closest friends. As glamorous as it would be to have been hired to shoot in NYC for the two of them, we actually just had a double date-getaway right before Christmas and had a total blast. We saw shows and shopped a ton, and got to know these two even better. We love ‘em. The session came about because of a debt I owed to Justin for the work he did on my site. Check out his freelance web development business here. Love you guys! Thanks for your patience as you waited for these to come alive…

One of my favorite pictures I’ve ever taken:

Which only makes me want to rant for a quick second about how very grateful I am for all of the weddings and portrait sessions God has provided in the next few months. With a baby on the way, it’s even more important that this business does provide for my family, and all of you who’ve entrusted us with the privilege to create something for you are to thank. I can’t wait to work with each of you.

About the baby, Jess is doing FANTASTIC. We’ve made it through the first trimester and have had only positive reports with each visit to the doctor. We’re just about a month away from knowing if the baby inside is a he or she, and it conveniently works out that we’ll be finding this out on my birthday next month. What a gift.

Yesterday, I shot a wedding down in Orlando and today I’m off to a photography convention in Las Vegas called WPPI. Can’t wait to spend some time with friends in the business who inspire me and have a whole lot of fun while doing so. If you’re a photographer who happens to be going, I’ll be working the Kelly Moore Bags booth and would love for you come by…and buy.

To wrap up, one of the things I did last week was edit the lesser-necessary images that were needing to be worked through which included some of Jess and my pictures from California this past summer. When I look at the picture below I feel refreshed and reminded of this: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

The blog has been a little quiet the last few days while we’ve been traveling, but I’ll be back in full force next week with some great stuff to show you guys, along with a year-in-review type of post at the end of next week that I’m particularly excited about.

I hope this holiday means days of rest for you and an opportunity to reflect on why this time of year is indeed so great. And it has nothing to do with time off work and holiday sweets (ok, maybe partially) but so much more the chance to celebrate with the world the birth of a boy whose life saved it.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I’ll leave you guys with a quick iPhone shot of Jess and I in NYC!