December 2017 - Melodee Lynn Photography

Stephanie and Mark’s session in Scottsdale, Arizona is at the top of my favorite sessions for 2017!

At the beginning of 2017, I had one goal. To be published on a wedding blog. In order to do that, I set to work planning my very first styled shoot. As always, I jumped in with both feet and figuring everything out as I went. As I was in search of vendors for this shoot, I reached out to our local creative community for referrals to some of their favorite vendors. That’s when Stephanie entered the picture.

I was given a few names for some fabulous macaron artists (I say artists because making macs is a definite art!) I reached out to one vendor and when I didn’t hear back after a few days, I tried another one. After looking through Decadent Macaron’s website, I reached out to her. It wasn’t just her fun website and great looking product that drew me in but one line of her website, “Do everything for the glory of God.”

In this creative industry it’s very, very easy to take credit for everything we do. For the pictures we take, for the product or service we provide. I put in the time. I took that picture (not the expensive camera), I was published….the list of “I’s” can go on and on and on.

While I’m the one holding the camera in my hand, I know I’m not the one who put it there. I didn’t give myself the desire, the drive. I see where I’ve been and where I am now, and there’s no way I got here on my own. I take the photos and am excited when I see the back of the camera because I see growth with each click of the shutter. There’s only one reason I’m here, at this time and place. It’s because He’s called me here.

I know when it comes to her business, Stephanie feels the same way. It’s evident if you follow her on social media. Since our first styled shoot together at the Royal Palms, we have both grown by leaps and bounds. Watching her business grow to new limits has been amazing to watch from the sidelines. I can’t even imagine how she must feel!

Stephanie and Mark,

I know this last year has been an insane time of growth for your business. I truly feel like the best is yet to come for you two. I see your hard work and I see where you’re placing your trust. You haven’t built your business on the failing sand, but on a strong foundation, with Christ as the cornerstone. With Jesus in your heart and macarons in your hand, you’ll be unstoppable.

Stephanie’s skirt was handmade by Emerge, Designs by Jen. Follow her on Instagram!
Make-up | The Sparkle Bar

Well it wasn’t too surprising how fun it would be to photograph these two for their engagement session. Ashley’s parents here in Arizona are some of our very best friends. My husband and her dad are a bundle of non-stop giggles when they are together. Yes. Giggles. Did you know two mature grown men could giggle? If you know Jim and Ryan you know this all to be too true.

Her parents are the ones we call when our fridge breaks. They call us when they need an iron. She calls me when she needs something photographed for her blog, My Plant Based Family.

And on the days where we just need coffee….we have each other’s backs.

The moral of the story, Holly and Jim are life-long friends.

On our way to our session as Ashley and Brandt were telling me how they met and what life is like in the U.P. of the great state of Michigan, Ashley mentioned her job. At Starbucks.

Holy cow…did you hear the angels singing? Me too.

I’m almost 99% sure that Starbucks is the sixth love language. At least, I know it’s mine. You’re having a bad day? I bring you Starbucks. You want to make my day? Bring me Starbucks. I’ll be your best friend forever. (Currently I drink an iced coffee, extra ice, no cane syrup, with cream and raw sugar…I’m just throwing that out there).

Ashley has worked at Starbucks for a year and a half! And while Brandt is a coffee connoisseur now, he only stepped foot into Starbucks for the very first time right before they started dating.

And now, he’s hooked on those caramel frappucinos (who isn’t)! But his addiction did come with time. When he walked in for the very first time, it was to see her at work. He said when he walked in, he saw her face light up when she saw him. At that point, all he could think about was how she looked at him and couldn’t concentrate on ordering anything but black coffee.

That’s it? She said. Black? Oh come on. Really?

Really. That’s how I like it. (In his defense, he says that the bitterness of black coffee is the only way to wake a man up in the morning…also, he couldn’t think of anything else but her).

I think it was all over at that point. For both of them.

Thinking about that moment, him walking in, her standing at the counter, all dressed in Starbucks green smiling away, melts me. Not because I’m a loyal fan of Starbucks, but because I’m a fan of these two.

Brandt and Ashley,

I know since it came up in our conversation, that neither of you will ever forget your Starbucks moment and I hope you don’t! I hope that you’ll have those moments every single time you see each other. I hope that when life is hard, for better or worse, that memory will be the forefront of all the rest.

I keep looking at these pictures, seeing the arching trees and the two of you standing underneath them and I can’t help but see God’s banner of love over you. I pray that no matter where you go or what you do, that the world will see it. They will see there’s something different about the two of you. They’ll long to know the kind of love the two of you share and I know that because of it, you will be a blessing to everyone you meet. Because you were to me.

xoxo,

Melodee