It's time.

Ok, here it goes. I'm doing this photography thing. I have wanted to persue it for a long time, but I've always been scared of what people would think. That sounds really stupid, but it's the truth. Do people look at my pictures and think, "she thinks she is way better than she really is"? Thankfully, I've had some great support along the way. My husband has been incredible. (It's still weird to say husband. I feel like I just graduated high school yesterday). He has helped with the building of the website and has been awesome about all the new equipment purchases. My best friends have been awesome, too. Meredith and Caleb acted like they had just seen Angelina Jolie when they saw the site for the first time. So, thanks for that. Random side note: I recently had a dream that Angelina Jolie became a Christian right after I found out that I had an inoperable brain tumor. Anyway, thanks to Kristen and Laura J. Two of my best friends who don't hand out major compliments often so I know that since they were excited and complimentary, I was on the right track. It means a lot. Sometimes I think that we as human beings realize what it means to others by simply telling them, "Great job." I know, I know, enough of the acceptance speech. P.S. The site isn't up yet. I'm still doing some tweeking, but it should be up and running by the end of the week:)

I guess the next acknowledgement should go out to the most important part of my life, Christ. Where to start? For some reason, I don't have a job. I have interviewed and even gotten offered a job in Georgia, but to make a long story short, it didn't work out. I have been given the one thing that most people need more of, and that's time. I don't like free time on my hands. It makes me crazy. I like having a million things to do, but for right now, I have tons of free time. I've had time to develop my photography "business" and that's all because of Him. He's been closing doors in my face left and right and here is the one door that has been opened. I'm still trying to figure out this next year, and honestly, I still feel very uneasy about it all, but I'm learning to trust. I had my whole life after college planned out...it involved getting a job pretty easily right out of school. Go with me here... I had made my shoes, designed the style, color, fit, height of heel...everything. And now, I'm having to watch those shoes sit in the closet while I put some other ones on. That was a complicated way of saying that this is not what I planned, but I'm learning to trust exactly where I am because I know that HE is in total control of my life. And guess what, all of these photography opportunities are an unexpected blessing. So in short, Praise God! I'm starting to like these shoes better than the others:)

The face of Mary Smith Photography: Ellen and Justin Spencer. Ellen is stunningly beautiful and I adore the picture at the top. For now, it will be the picture that I put my name on. I'm proud of it.

TANNER AND MASON:

I have known Tanner for forever. We went to school together, she was a year older and we were in show choir together. Her and I have steadily become great friends. I have some great yearbook signatures from her:) That was a wierd comment. Anyway, Tanner and Mason got engaged early in the summer. I asked her if I could take some shots of them for practice. Of course she agreed because she is awesome. She was nervous before, but I don't know why. It was so fun. We went downtown to Morris Avenue and sure, the first few minutes were...hmmm, awkward? They always are. But we laughed and everybody calmed down. Mason, her fiance is super funny and they have a great chemistry together. I feel like we got some pictures that were very "them". I am using quotations a lot. Like Joey. Well, here are some of my favorites...Enjoy!

(This is Meredith and Caleb...we made pizzas one night at our house. Just thought it important to put a face with a name.)