Horseshoe Bend in Page, Arizona at golden hour is nothing short of magical. Add in a gorgeous bride and groom and 60 of their closest family and friends bathed in the warm desert light and you have something like a dream. Sheri + James said their joyful, tearful “I dos” earlier this month canyon side and I had the honor of being there to capture it all.
Here we are in the heart of a frigid winter (even for us Floridians at times) and I’m dreaming of warmer days. So why not share a peek into Alexa and Jordan’s seaside Sanibel Island wedding from this past summer. Revisiting these images is like a treat! I can almost hear the lull of the waves and the rustle in the palm leaves and nearly feel the sweet summertime sun on my skin…
In reflecting on the last year I took some time to note things that had given me life or drained me in the past. (It’s an effort in aiding in decision making for this “decision fatigued” gal right here. And the idea is all thanks to Emily P. Freeman and her “The Next Right Thing” podcast!) Something that undeniable breathed life in to my work and inspiration was the process of shooting creatively with film. (You can check out my past blog post about the process and love affair by clicking here and here.) So I set out to spend more time behind my film camera pointing it at beautiful things and lovely light by marking down a few “inspired styled shoots” in my calendar. This is the very first of them…
Anna Grace’s Senior Session at Dark Hammock Legacy Ranch was nothing short of a dream…
Just a little sliver of a peek into the beautifulness that happened last night at Rachel's Senior Sesh involving a magical breeze, a piano in a field and a stunning young lady with a heart of pure gold.
Sebring, FL Senior Photography with Caroline Maxcy Photography and a piano in a field.
I admit, one of the best things about my profession as a photographer is that I get to marvel at God's handiwork day in and day out. Gorgeous landscapes, the beautifulness of the human race, breathtaking love and the gift of a seemingly simple glorious moment. But never am I more speechless than when I am stepping into the home of a family with a newborn. A little miracle. Last month I ventured to the home of Jamie, Corey and their brand new baby boy Lane. There was a simple ease about these first time parents (Corey even admitting that he had never even held a baby before Lane.) They were naturals and so evidently completely in love, these three...
xoxo,
Caroline
Tis the season of engagements. Which means next year is the year of weddings. I have never had so many weddings booked for the following year before in the history of Caroline Maxcy Photography. And I am loving it!
As part of my wedding package offerings you have the option of a complimentary engagement session. I include this because, well, I think it is good for you to get comfortable in front of the camera and for us to get to know each other a little better before I follow you around with a camera–all up in your personal business–on your wedding day. Haha. But secretly I offer this complimentary session because love stories are pretty much one of my all time favorite things to capture with my camera. It's purely selfish. I admit. And when things come together like they did for Lisa and Trevor and their Bok Tower Garden's engagement session, I die.
It was a Thursday and the skies were perfectly covered in a soft haze of clouds (ideal photo conditions if you didn't know). Which also meant we had Bok Tower Garden's pretty much all to ourselves as we wandered around the expanse of fields, and rolling hills, and oak tree hammocks, and glass-like ponds with giant lilly-pads, and quiet mansions surrounded by lush gardens. Then we headed to Trevor's family home with a tree-lined entrance like none other... and I could go on, and on, and on... But the most beautiful thing about the day was the evident love between these two. They are goofy and tender and sweet to the core and to top it all off I have the pleasure of calling them my dear, dear friends.
Lisa and Trevor, thanks for letting me tell your story. And I can't wait to celebrate your love-filled wedding day come next May!
xoxo,
Caroline
Credits:
Photography: Caroline Maxcy Photography
Hair and Makeup: Michelle Trinder Cathey
Venue: Bok Tower Gardens
It is so much fun to look back at your path sometimes and put little stars on those spots were God worked extraordinary things in your life that at the time seemed so uncertain, where your steps were shaky and the path hazy. Hindsight is 2020, they say. As much as we are encouraged to keep moving forward, keep striving I can't help but love those times when we get to look back and marvel at His plan all along the way. When I moved back to my hometown 3 1/2 years ago it was one of those hazy times. But I had no doubt God's hand was in it all (or rather it was all in His hands) but through a season of uncertainty I had to walk/stumble in complete faith. By the grace of my dear God he brought some truly incredible people into my life at this time. Old friends become closer than ever and new friends became dearer than I could have ever imagined.
I remember the first time I meet Amanda. It was in the Havery's kitchen (where most gatherings seemed to happen those early days back). Sweet and seemingly shy she simply grinned as all the fellas talked of their dear friend, her crazy beau Elic, off at college. Little did I know that this pairing of names "Elic and Amanda" would become so familiar in my life. The crazy beau Elic came home. Then Amanda jutted off to nursing school at UF. Then I watched as their relationship grew over the next few years into one of maturity, where commitment and faith took center stage. I've studied the word of God with these two over open bibles and slices of pie every Wednesday. I've prayed with these two over futures and families and faith in the Lord. And now I get to celebrate with these two as they bask in the glow of engagement (and come March, marriage!). Congrats Elic and Amanda and thanks for letting me take a walk with you two in a gorgeous park for these photos...
xoxo,
Caroline
I love fall family photo session season for a handful of reasons; gorgeous weather, gorgeous places, happy authentic families, new faces and old faces too. The later just might be my favorite. <3 Getting invited in year after year to capture a family's story melts my heart. I love watching them grow. I love the familiarity. I love it when the kiddos are calling me Aunt Carrie as we go on adventurous hunts for the "perfect photo spot" on the family ranch. I have been telling the Belflower family's story for three years now and loving every minute of it. From casual family sessions, to Tea Party Birthdays, to Back-to-School adorableness I know I am going to be delighted by what they have come up with everytime. And this fall family session was like none other. Two words... Feather. Ballgowns! Too much cuteness.
Thanks for having me!
xoxo,
Caroline (a.k.a Aunt Carrie)
Tis the season for costume donning. Last year this time in a casual conversation about costume ideas with Rebekah Ritchie Adams I saw her eyes widen with the mention of two words "paper dress". It was decided. We would start constructing her a paper dress (inspired by my own Paper Princess Bride costume from thee years ago. You can check that out here). To start things off Rebekah chose the novel "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett for her inspiration and materials and the next thing we knew we were in a cloud of carefully folded and fanned paper, clear wire, metal fasteners, exacto blades and lots and lots of tape. But the thing that we quickly realized is that each of our "perfectionism" tendencies in crafting meant… an unfinished product come dress-up time. Fast forward one year later, sit us back down in that cloud of paper and voila the dress is finished, and just in time for dressing-up (plus a photo shoot) this year… just barely.
The dress is an artful construction and representation of the story of "The Secret Garden" and gives new life to the printed pages of an enchanting story. Using pages from that novel and other vintage gardening and botanical books the dress came together piece by folded paper piece to create a wearable work of art, complete with a hidden door tucked between the pages and a skeleton key draped around the neck.
The story of The Secret Garden while enchanting certainly has a bit of a dark feel to it so we decided to style a photographic session around this dark, magical whimsey allowing the story to unfold along the way. We ventured to an abandoned home with a wildly overgrown garden entryway and crept our way through branches and barren thorny rose bushes. Then just past sunset we explored a small forest green and overrun by gorgeous vines. Here is where the story blooms. The results were breathtaking, I'd say.
xoxo,
Caroline
“And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Credits:
Photography: Caroline Maxcy Photography
Hair and Make-up: Michelle Trinder Cathey
Model: Rebekah Ritchie Adams
Paper Dress Design and Construction: Caroline Maxcy and Rebekah Ritchie Adams
Jewelry Design: Rebekah Ritchie Adams (Bekah's Heart)
Flowers: Publix Super Market
“One of the strange things about living in the world is that it is only now and then one is quite sure one is going to live forever and ever and ever. One knows it sometimes when one gets up at the tender solemn dawn-time and goes out and stands out and throws one's head far back and looks up and up and watches the pale sky slowly changing and flushing and marvelous unknown things happening until the East almost makes one cry out and one's heart stands still at the strange unchanging majesty of the rising of the sun--which has been happening every morning for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. One knows it then for a moment or so. And one knows it sometimes when one stands by oneself in a wood at sunset and the mysterious deep gold stillness slanting through and under the branches seems to be saying slowly again and again something one cannot quite hear, however much one tries. Then sometimes the immense quiet of the dark blue at night with the millions of stars waiting and watching makes one sure; and sometimes a sound of far-off music makes it true; and sometimes a look in someone's eyes.” ― Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
Today is the day of Sneak Peeks! Here is a little glimpse into my absolutely beautiful and sweet day at the beach last weekend with Rose & Johnny...
Rose & Johnny's beachside wedding at the Boca Bay Pass Club in Boca Grande, FL with Caroline Maxcy Photography
Could there have been any more gorgeousness to Lisa and Trevor's Bok Tower Engagement Session in Lake Wales last night?? I don't think so... (Thanks Michelle Cathey for your make up and styling loveliness!)
Pretty much everything about Emily and Will's "almost" 1 Year Anniversary session from this past weekend where they got all dressed up in their wedding day duds was to die for. Here is a little peak into our dreamy, magical, love filled day...
Central Florida One Year Anniversary Photography with Emily & Will and Caroline Maxcy Photography.
Thank your Michelle Trinder Cathey for your makeup, hair and styling magic for the day.
And another thanks to Ladonna at Hobby HIll Florist for the gorgeous floral creations you dreamed up for the day, including this whimsical floral crown.
One year ago today my family grew by three when my brother and his bride (and her two dear to my heart kiddos) got hitched. And one year ago today, about this time (9:30 p.m.) I was probably about ready to kick of my shoes and fall into bed after a frenzy of planning and prepping and just all out celebrating for months on end leading up to it. The day was breathtaking and while I was there to mostly participate in the day's festivities I couldn't help but capture a few details along the way.
In honor of their one year anniversary I thought I'd share some of my favs that I captured on that day...
Happy Anniversary Chet & Jen!!!
xoxo,
your sis
