Dallas Portrait Photographer | Rebecca

Oh my word am I in love with these images. This is Rebecca and I sort of introduced her here. She is such a beautiful person inside and out. Not only does she have an incredible spirit, but she is also one of the most encouraging girls I know. Rebecca needed some head shots done because she is an incredibly talented aspiring actress. I don't do head shots very often so we made a whole shoot out of it. And it was SO fun! We went out to White Rock Lake and explored just a little bit. We definitely made an adventure out of it! Also some other exciting news.. The Boy helped me out with this shoot. Because he is a super sweet, awesome trooper he sometimes comes along on shoots with me to help assist me in carrying all my equipment, but this time he took control of the camera. And he got some really awesome shots! I was SO proud of him! Thanks Travis for taking the time to not only help me with my shoots, but actually learn about this passion of mine. It means so much to me! And thank you Rebecca for spending the evening with me and totally rocking this shoot!

This picture above is one of the awesome pictures Trav took. He's a pretty good photographer if I do say so myself... But I may be just a little bit biased ;)

Dallas, TX Wedding Photographer | Abnormal Marriage + Sneak Peak

Hello blog readers! I'm sorry it has been so long! I feel like school has already taken over my life and it's only the end of the second week.. This is going to be a very packed semester! On that note, I just wanted to leave a thought with you this Friday before your weekend begins and your super cute date nights begin. My pastor is currently going through 1 Peter and we've hit the part that talks about marriage. In essence we are having a series on marriage packed inside a series through 1 Peter; my pastor is nothing, but thorough! ;) The Lord has really been working in me as I reach a season of my life where marriage isn't a far away thought anymore. I very well could be getting married in the next couple of years. I mean how crazy is that?! Well, obviously not that crazy to all of you engaged couples and newly weds.. clearly. But it is a crazy idea, or at least it should be in today's culture.

First of all, marriage was not intended for a basic, humanistic, pleasurable purpose. But because God is so unbelievably gracious and gives us above and beyond His desired purpose in everything in life, including marriage, it is incredibly pleasurable and fulfilling to us as humans. However, the sole purpose of marriage is for God to receive glory through that relationship and for it to symbolize Christ's deep and intimate love for the Church. You remember that typical "marriage passage" in Ephesians that we so often take for granted? Remember the command God gives us through marriage? "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior...Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her..." (Ephesians 5:22-25). It doesn't say wives submit to your husband because it gives your husband pleasure and husbands love your wives and give yourself up for her because it gives your wife pleasure--- It says nothing about OUR personal gain, but about GOD's personal gain. We are to married to represent the relationship between Christ and the Church. The Church is to submit to Jesus Christ as he is the ultimate authority. And Christ loves the Church so much that He gave his very life, His beautiful, precious, and important life, for the Church just to show her His love. Our marriages are to depict this vision in every aspect and not be wrapped around what we as humans can take from a marriage. As is our relationship with Christ: God doesn't need us. He can do anything he wants whether we are submissive to him or not. But he still loves us, and we are to love him back by showing our obedience to him whether we get anything out of it or not. 
  
Something also brought to my attention through this series was we live in a society where people go into marriages not expecting it to last. Marriages in our culture are seen as a selfish act and once that selfish desire is not satisfied (which it won't if your only goal is trying to produce selfish desires from your spouse) it's time to move on to find happiness else where. But clearly that is not what God intended. When God gave Adam his wife, Eve, Adam said "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh..." (Genesis 2:23). From the very first marriage God ordained, it was never intended for them to leave each other. Flesh of my Flesh. Think on that phrase for a minute. Leaving your spouse is the equivalent to losing a limb. I don't know about you, but I like all of my limbs in tact! And so does our marriage. You become one with your spouse when you say I do. You make vows and promises to each other before God that you will stay with your spouse through every trial that comes your way. And it is our job to honor those vows as God honors His vow to us when He promises he "will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5). God calls us to have an abnormal marriage. One that stands out from today's society. A marriage that lasts through trials and turmoils. And that is the challenge I have been requested of God--- to prepare myself for an abnormal marriage. And that is the challenge I leave with you today!


Now all of this to say, if you are currently in a marriage where you find yourself seeking selfish desires or have gone through a divorce or currently going through one, that DOES NOT MEAN God loves you any less or doesn't love you at all. In fact it's the exact opposite! Not that he loves you more than others but that he wants to help you through difficult times in your life! He wants to hold you when a trial has been thrown your way. He knows you can't handle life on your own and he wants to handle it for you. I know this can be a sensitive subject for many. Just know, there is no judgement here. And there is no hatred from God. Would God send His precious son to die in our place if he didn't have an ever lasting love for us? Probably not. We are ALL equal in God's eyes. No matter what trials or situations we have gone through. 


And with that being said.... Here is that sneak peak I promised you! I know, you were probably thinking can she just stop talking and show me the picture already?! Haha! This is my beautiful friend Lindsay who finally got married a couple of weeks ago! Let me just say, she rocked this shoot! 

Waxahachie, TX Family Portrait Photographer | Shaw Family

Ok friends, are you ready for a walk down one of my treasured paths? It starts by introducing the Shaw Family. I absolutely adore them! I started going to Stonegate Church almost a year ago, and I did a lot of volunteering up in the youth. This is where I met James, Christine and their 3 sons Caleb, Justin, and Ryan. Those boys are the most hilarious group you will ever meet. Not a Sunday goes by that I don't get a good laugh at how fun these 3 are. It's like a never ending cycle of sweet guy goofiness. And I find it SO entertaining! Then there's James and Christine. Their testimony is so sweet and encouraging. Not only are they just a fun, happy, loving, sweet couple to be around, they are also so willing to share their hearts with you when you need some godly advice. I don't know how many amazing words of wisdom they have provided me with this past year. I cannot express how thankful I am for this sweet family! God was so gracious to put them in my life. And I finally got to meet their daughter, Jamie! As well as Christine's mom and stepdad. It was such a blessing to make more sweet memories with you guys! Thank you so much for being awesome clients, but such amazing friends as well. Love you guys! 

So sweet. I love taking pictures of sweet, happy couples. But two? That's even better! 

Frisco, Tx Portrait Photographer | Anna

Can I just say this is one of the most gorgeous girls I have gotten to work with? Oh my goodness is she beautiful! Anna and her sister modeled for another "practice" shoot during my internship and I had the privilege of working with Anna that evening. She made my job SO easy - all she had to do was stand there and look like her gorgeous self! She even braved through the hot weather for me! Anna was the first shoot of the internship and when I started editing through this beautiful set, I was so excited! This is by far one of my absolute favorite shoots!

By the way seniors, it's that time of year again! This is the perfect time to start thinking about those infamous senior pictures you will be needing very soon. Start booking now to reserve your session! :)

love,

Julie Kay