Hunter Brooks Debut — Lake Placid, FL Newborn Photography

In honor of Hunter Brooks Maxcy turning 1 month old today you all get not one but two blog posts in one day. Just one week after my nephew Hunter made is debut in this world I headed over to his home to capture the whole family with their brand new addition. I am trying to get this baby boy quickly comfortable with the camera. I see a whole slew of photo shoots down the road.

Welcome to the family, Hunter! 

There are so many artist credits in this post. First of all the painting in the room including the beautiful tree mural was done by Hunter's incredibly talented mom, Jen. The peg board design and totally cute fox was done by Hunter's bright and beautiful artist of a sister, Lexi. And the gorgeous quilt you see throughout these photos was created by the ever so talented Melissa of Blustitch. Head over to her site, become a fan of her's on facebook and definitely commission her to create your next one-of-a-kind modern quilt. She did such a wonderful job of pulling me into the design process by asking for my input and design ideas as well as sending over design sketches and fabric selections along the way. She is a gem and her quilts are simply lovely and totally love filled. Thanks, Melissa!

Welcome to the World, Hunter! — Sebring, FL Birth Photography

Just one month ago I got the call and walked through the doors of Florida Hospital in Sebring, FL just past midnight on a Saturday morning. Nine hours, over 1000 pictures and videos and a whole mess of joyful tears later we welcomed my nephew Hunter Brooks Maxcy into the world and I witnessed it all, yep, all of it, in an experience that I can describe as nothing less than miraculous.  As Hunter took his first wailing breaths in this world as they laid him on his mother's chest, quivering lip and all, I couldn't help but to think about how this is how we all begin, right here. Wailing and terrified and beautiful all at once. And with many prayers and lots of love this little guy will one day be 18 and then 40 and then, lord-willing 80 someday (and maybe even way beyond that, who knows where health and technology will be 80 years from now). But this day, right there in that moment his journey in this world began in one of the best birthday parties I've ever experienced. Thanks for inviting me, Chet and Jen! And, of course, welcome to the world, Hunter Brooks Maxcy!

Back To School — Central Florida Children's Photography

There has been a mix of excitement, anticipation and even some dread in the air over the past week. But no matter how you feel about it, as of today school is back in session. My prayers go out to all the kids and teachers that are hitting the classrooms again and gearing up for a brand new year filled with lots and lots of promise and the guarantee of adventure along the way.

In honor of all of those that are heading back to classrooms all over central Florida today I share with you a few of my favorites from last week's Back-to-School shoot with the adorable, and rather studious, Daveigh.  Kindergarten never looked so good. 

I hope it was all you hoped and dreamed Daveigh! Here is to many, many more first days filled with anticipation and joy!

Abney Family Sneak Peek — Palm City, FL Family Photography

This weekend I got to hit the road through beautiful Old Florida countryside to meet up with the Abney family at their home in Palm City, FL for a sunny morning family session. And today is Parker's 3rd Birthday! So I thought I would share a sneak peek from our session, just for Parker (and his super sweet mom and dad too). Happy Birthday, Parker!

A sneak peak from my sunny shoot with the Abney family in Palm City, FL this past weekend.

The Foster Family — Sebring, FL Family Photography

In the midst of an adventure filled summer, right smack-dab in the middle of a two day break between a week long youth service camp and a week long missions trip to Mexico I got to escape on a lovely little family session with the sweetest of sweet (and super photogenic) families, the Foster family. You may recognize Justin and Amber from their gorgeous August wedding last year. I love repeat clients, especially ones as charming and photogenic as this pair. Our session took us from the tree lined roads of Highlands Hammock State Park to the family's very own blueberry farm for a little bit of sunset berry picking. It was lovely and such a sweet breath of fresh air.  

Editing this session has gotten me all inspired and pumped for this year's Fall family session season which I have already started booking up. If you are interested in capturing your family this year in an artful, authentic and imaginative way contact me and let's get you in the books!

Alaina + Jeremiah — Sebring, FL Wedding Photography

I seriously love weddings. If you happened to make it over to my "about" page you would find that you could probably catch me tearing up at lease once at every wedding I photograph. Yep, I am a full fledge softy when it comes to love stories. But I am an extra sentimental person when it comes to the love stories of those near and dear to my heart, my family. Last year I sat across the table from my cousin Alaina and her fiancé Jeremiah (JJ) at a local coffee shop and gushed at their love story. Jeremiah's best friend is Alaina's older brother Zach and they had hung around each other a lot, but JJ still remembers the exact place he stood when his eyes were open to Alaina. He remembers telling Zach, "your sister looks beautiful." I think Zach probably squirmed a bit. :) Then he waited... and watched the way she interacted with people... the way she worshiped the Lord and... he fell... head. over. heels. And earlier this year, he made her his everlasting bride. Tear.

Here are a few glimpses into that beautiful day at the Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring, FL. Congrats Alaina & JJ!

You may remember my "Daddy Daughter" post from early April about the bittersweet side of Alaina & JJ's celebration where I filmed a daddy-daughter dance in November with Alaina and my uncle Dennis just a month before he passed away from terminal cancer. Check out that post and video by clicking here.

Christian's Senior Sneak Peek — Sebring, FL Senior Photography

At last night's photo shoot at Highlands Hammock State Park... we were on our 3rd rain reschedule, literally almost got struck by lightening, had to take a 45 minute rain delay, stumbled upon a giant wild hog (on foot!), almost got carried away by mosquitos and could have used a canoe for 99% of it... but you wouldn't have been able to tell any of that by the contagious smile and beautiful images we captured of this joyful, charming and all around gorgeous gal. Happy Senior Year, Christian!

Christian's Senior Session at Highlands Hammock State Park.

Courtney + Dustin Sneak Peek — Honey Lake Plantation Wedding Photography

Caroline Maxcy Photography happily hit the road this past weekend for the destination wedding of Courtney and Dustin. These two are a genuinely laid back pair and opted for an intimate gathering of their closest friends and family at Honey Lake Plantation in Greenville, FL, five hours away from both of their home towns (and mine too). So we all ventured out just a few miles from the Florida Georgia state line to celebrate this sweet pair at this gorgeous old Florida property covered in giant oaks dripping with spanish moss, ancient cypress forests, miles of wooden fences, meandering roads and it's very own shimmering lake. I just returned on Sunday and am, of course, sorting through the hoards of gorgeous photos from the weekends festivities involving everything from a mid-morning skeet shoot to an hour long bridal portrait session in the most gorgeous of opulent white ballrooms. But I couldn't help but to let these few sneak peeks slip out... Enjoy!

Chelsie + Corey — Central Florida Wedding Photography

After spending two weeks away from the professional photo side of things doing ministry in Mexico and my own community, this past week and a half has been full on business. I've been returning inquiry emails, keeping up with current clients, booking weddings (include my first 2014 wedding set for March in Raleigh, NC), and gearing up for this weekend's upcoming destination wedding at Honey Lake Plantation in Greenville, FL. There is a five hour drive ahead of me today, but I couldn't leave without sharing with you all a little bit about my process involved in getting ready for a wedding. While wedding blogs, my fav photographers sites, Pinterest and such provide a sea of inspiration which encourages me to challenge myself to look deeper and stretch farther to capture the true essence of a bride and groom's wedding day; there is always something so refreshing and inspiring about taking a look back at my own wedding photography experiences, remembering the excitement of the day, the beauty in the unexpected and the genuine love that spilled over all along the way.

Chelsie and Corey's Zolfo, FL wedding just this type of wedding. Thoughtfully planned at Chelsie's family's ranch, perfectly crafted with exquisite details and overflowing with evident love between the pair this wedding was rich with detail and charm. It was gorgeous to say the least and I have spent the past week immersed in the images from their day as I wrapped up editing these photos. From a gorgeously sunny, breezy day, to joyful flower girl that wants to stand just ahead of everyone else, to a surprise round or two on a go-cart track, to the sun setting over a happily married at-ease pair of newlyweds; it is never a bad idea to approach the day with a vision, ideas, hopes and a plan but to hold it all lightly in open hands ready to embrace the authenticity of the moment and the unexpected delightful surprises along the way.  

From my Backyard to Mexico and Back — Mexico Missions Trip Videography

Not that anyone is holding their breath for my blog posts but I know that it has been a bit of a long while since I last shared with you all. This summer has been wonderfully full. And while I have been booking and photo shooting all the long the way from a family session at a blueberry farm, to a beautiful baby bump, to my very first boudoir session, to a vintage guitar with a story, a good chunk of my summer has been filled with some incredible opportunities for ministry (my other full time, volunteer, job).

Mid June I loaded up a handful of youth girls in my car on a Sunday night and didn't leave their side until that Friday. We had our Summer Youth Camp, entitled "Be" right in our home town of Sebring, FL where we learned to serve and love our neighbors, being the "hands and feet" of God, right in our backyard. The week took us everywhere from the basketball courts of an inner city neighborhood to singing in the halls of nursing homes and I was the 24/7 mom to an incredible group of young women walking alongside them all along the way. But that is a whole post all on it's own that'll come at a later date...

With just two days to catch up on sleep and laundry I hopped on a plane with another group of incredible youth kids to journey across the US then across the border to spend a week in the Gaudalupe Valley of Mexico. On a missions trip lead by Phil and Mindy Steiner of Be2Live we served and loved on the kids of Casa de Paz orphanage in El Porvenir, Baja California, Mexico. While my head and body is still exhausted from the trip my heart is full and I hope to share more about all of these experiences soon (after I get a little caught up on all the photo work I have been neglecting over the past few weeks). In the meantime I wanted to share with you a glimpse into my Mexico experience through a video I pulled together for a presentation in church this past weekend. This was a seriously quick edit but definitely gives you a feel of the work God allowed us to be a part of for a time.