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…
Congrats to Alexa and Jordan who tied the knot on the shores of Sanibel Island, FL in their military wedding this past weekend! What an honor it was to be there to capture all the love at their gorgeous celebration! Thanks for having me!
xoxo, Caroline
Alexa + Jordan — Sundial Beach Resort — Sanibel Island, Florida Military Wedding Photography
This past weekend Jess and Kyle said "I do" in the prettiest of intimate, lakeside ceremonies. From Jess' gorgeous bridal style, to the sentimental sweet details to the loveliest of lakeside strolls as newlyweds beneath the oaks, this day was beautiful through and through. Plus you couldn't help but feel all the love from their friends, family and loved ones who travel from as far away as New Zealand!! I loved being there to capture it all! Thanks for having me you two!
xoxo, Caroline
Jess + Kyle's Lakeside Lake Placid, Florida Wedding Photography.
Vendors:
Photo: @carolinemaxcyphoto
Second Shooter: @amandawarnockphotography
Wedding Dress: @olivia_bowen_bridal
Flowers: Kelley's Florist
Bride's Makeup: Holly Slade
Elsa with Starz Salon - Bridal Party Hair
JAM Inc. - DJ
Smoke Shack - Catering
Penny Sapp - Wedding Cake
Kathy Allaire (Bride's Aunt) - Flower Girls Hair
This girl was a pure joy to photograph for the most recent issue of Heartland Living Magazine! Candice is evidently gorgeous and so good at what she does as a model (this first photo below was literally snap one for me!) but after spending a few hours with her on a sunny afternoon in downtown Sebring you find that she is just as much sweet, humble and completely down to earth as she is beautiful. Which may just explain why I was ecstatic that she ended up on the cover of the April/May issue of Heartland Living. Here's a little glimpse into our downtown Sebring session complete with a stop at the local Soda Shop "popping" with color (my favs!). Be sure to pick up the most recent issue of the magazine to read more about her story and how she is "living her dream" as a small town Central Florida girl.
Credits:
Editorial - Heartland Living Magazine (click here for the full story)
Photography - Caroline Maxcy Photography
Make-up - Brittney Fann of Beauty fit for a Queen
Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Britt who tied the knot this weekend in the sunniest of spring days! I'm loving all their citrus details, pretty Tuscany inspired florals and smiles for days and days. <3 Caroline
Credits:
Photos - Caroline Maxcy Photography
Video - Isaac Leimeister
Dress - Calvet Couture Bridal
Dress designer - Pronovias
Florist - Coopers Flowers Wauchula
Greenery- Whole Sale Garland
DJ- KW Sound Keith Weems
Cake’s - Shelby Albriton
Congrats to Jennifer and Casey who tied the knot this weekend! I loved spending the gorgeous day with these two and their nearest and dearest!
xoxo, Caroline
Credits:
Photography - Caroline Maxcy Photography
Videography - Brogen Productions
Makeup - Holly Hendry Slad and Jen Lindley Maxcy
Hair - Amanda Carter
Flowers - Hobby Hill Florist
Cake - Darlene Bracht Celentano
DJ - Belanger Media Group
Photo Second Shooter - Sarah Sandel
Heceta Head Lighthouse / Florence, Oregon
"What though my joys and comforts die, the Lord my Savior liveth; what though the darkness gather round, songs in the night He giveth." - from the hymn How Can I Keep From Singing
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It’s hard to think of God being in the darkness when He is described as the complete absence of it. He is nothing but light. And yet it has been in my darkest times, in the blackest of nights, when I have felt His presence most near.
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In those first few days, weeks and months after my dad unexpectedly passed away I found myself unable to sleep. At night my aching thoughts that ran deep pushed me outside my home nestled in the wilderness. And in the black of night I heard it sing. Every time. “Birds don't sing in the dark?” I thought. But this one did. Each night for me. As if my Heavenly Father was telling me in the darkest of places that it was going to be okay with His own perfect, unexpected tune in the darkness.
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I guess that’s maybe part of why I’m so sentimental about lighthouses, the towering beacon that sings in the night. And on this late afternoon stroll on the Oregon coastline where I captured this image I liked to imagine how many times this light pierced the inky black darkness of the Pacific and lead ships safely home.
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5
To say this editorial piece for Heartland Living Magazine was fun to shoot is an understatement. I love when teams come together and just click. That was this crew. I don't think a single one of these nine models had meet before this day and by the end we all had a genuine full on dance party together (keep scrolling to check it out). Plus when I get to work with some of the most talented folks it makes it an extra special treat! Thanks for all who came together to make this amazing! And thanks to Cindy and Jessica at Heartland Living Magazine for dreaming up this celebration fit for ringing in 2018 in big time style!
Design and Planning: Cindy Sebring Adams and Jessica Pleger
Catering: Jessica Pleger with Pink Pineapple
Hair: Jen Maxcy
Makeup: Morgan Mccullers
Talent Agency: Jess Anderson Talent and Modeling Agency
Models: Leja Apple, Breanna Childs, Sarina Hamme, Victoria Huchins, Olivia Jones, Kyle Konopasek, Bryanna Maturen, Nicholas Plumer, Matthew Tanner
Photography: Caroline Maxcy Photography
Last weekend I spent my Saturday lakeside celebrating this gorgeous pair for my last wedding of the year and we couldn't have asked for a better day surrounded by lots of golden sunshine and the sweetest family and friends! Congrats Laura Lee + James!
xoxo, Caroline
Laura Lee + James - At Home Lakeside Lake Placid, FL Wedding with Caroline Maxcy Photography
Cape Perpetua, Oregon / October 2016
I worked all weekend long photographing my last wedding of the year and a sweet multi-family session on Sunday. So Monday was my full on Sabbath this week. I didn’t set an alarm and slept in with my hubby. I drank not one but two cups of Santa’s White Christmas coffee. I sat on the couch and read my bible and a Christian women’s magazine @deeplyrootedmag that made me laugh and cry and feel totally inspired. I pondered and prayed. Then I loaded up and headed to my favorite park with a rented film camera and a roll of film in hand and wandered. The sound of the shutter all alone in the immense of a forest is something to take your breath away. A sweet gift. I slowed down. I breathed deep. And I waited to press my finger down to release the shutter for just the right time.
Behind the lens I smiled. And I whispered prayers of thankfulness to my Heavenly Father for quiet beauty and space to breathe just one week away from Christmas. And how forever ago when He created Sabbath he thought of me and this moment and how much I’d need it. And when he asks us to be obedient to things He knows what He is doing. He knows what’s best.
The hustle of what we’ve made Christmas pressed in from all sides on this Sabbath but I’m thankful for a moment of wandering in the quiet of the wild and being refreshed by my Savior.
On Tuesday, refreshed, I sent off a handful of film for developing and processing filled with images spanning three weddings, a sweet family session and captures from that restful stroll in my favorite park. And now we wait...
I never imagined (but should have guessed) how much capturing images on film would teach me about way more than just photography. With every roll of film I learn more and more about holding things lighter, about being slow and intentional, thoughtfully responsive and less instantly reactive, patient and purposeful but certainly not perfect. And I'm learning to be okay with that.
It's a practice in the art and beauty of patience.
Christine and Dan's Sunday wedding celebration in Lake Placid was the second of a double header for me last weekend and I left there at the end of the day feeling truly energized and full of so much joy and excitement for the honor of what I get to do. It is all because of the sweet souls and joyous smiles that are in these images! Spending the day with Christine and Dan and their closest family and friends was a gift, just like every one of my Caroline Maxcy Photography brides and grooms. Today I'm off to photograph my last wedding of the year and it can't help but to feel a little bittersweet. Thank you all for inviting me in to tell your story!
xoxo, Caroline
Christine + Dan – Intimate Backyard Lakeside Lake Placid, FL Wedding with Caroline Maxcy Photography
