Christine + Billy | Staunton, Virginia Portrait Photographer

Firsts of anything are always scary. I feel like I've said that exact thing on the blog before but it's so true. I've always wanted to do engagement shoots and weddings but I've been scared. I don't like letting people down and I always like to be prepared and able to deliver. Even if the couple may like the photos, I want to be happy with them too. So, I've put a lot of thought into whether I'm ready to shoot engagements and weddings and I guess until recently, I never really had an answer. Shooting couples is not something I'm experienced at but it's something I'd absolutely love to do professionally, so guess what? You have to start somewhere. Or I guess I should say, I have to start somewhere.

Mrs. Sapp, my tenth grade English teacher, is an incredible person and I've loved her since the day I met her. She's just that warm, fuzzy person who can make you laugh but who you can talk to about anything, too. She contacted me in the winter, asking if I'd be willing to take some photos of her and her husband. As usual, I was shocked that someone was asking me, an 18-year-old, to photograph them, but I was so excited to have the opportunity! This was the point where I told myself I'd start with couples. Maybe not weddings, but definitely couples.

We ended up waiting to shoot until spring rolled around and yesterday was the day! I had prepared myself as much as I possibly could with posing and had told my little self that I could do it! We shot at the beautiful campus of Mary Baldwin, where Mrs. Sapp and Billy (I will forever call her by her "teacher name") were married and it was a blast. It was such a wonderful experience for me and I'm so thankful they put up with my excitement and technical difficulties at the same time. Mrs. Sapp and Billy, thank you for trusting me with your portraits! I hope you love them!