Until we meet again <3

Seeing 2017 go so soon.

We’re going to close this year with all the sessions neglected on the blog. We were able to fulfill some of last years hopes and dreams (booking a solid summer, traveling ect.) but we didn’t get any better with blog upkeep. Don’t fret though, it’s in the works.

We are forever grateful for those that have followed our journey, encouraging words are some that stick with you for life. & a huge thank you to the wonderful friends we met and photographed this year. Seeing so many faces in front of my lens brings so much joy to my heart. Like, I love y’all for real. I love hearing your love stories, your triumphs, your good news, I love being able to give you moments that you’ll look back on in 10-15 years and smile over. It brings me the purest type of satisfaction to see so many people in love or growing families, joining families, remembering families & to be able to put your personalities into one little photograph. Y’all are the real MVP’s!

Have plans for 2018?

This year I will be back at it when the weather warms up. But, with my family. I plan to fill weekends with your beautiful faces but I intend to photograph my kids, boyfriend & family more than I ever have before. A promise to pick up my camera daily and photograph the tiny little moments that usually only I see. Because kids aren’t kids for long. I plan to continue to travel. And I hope to expand into food photography wildly this new year!

So, let’s look back at Southern Cotton’s 2017!

Celebrating 2016.

What an incredible year 2016 was for us.

We moved out. Ventured on our own. Booked some fabulous weddings. Participated in Birmingham’s Big Fake Wedding! Entered some national contests. Finished school. Photographed family non-stop. Did a ton of personal work. Met some incredible people! Saw some gorgeous bellies, families, couples & kids. Supported other small businesses – promoted whole heartedly. But most of all, we grew.

What will 2017 bring?

For us, we plan to – be present more. Blog more. Gift more. Get published again. Book a solid wedding summer. Continue to meet & connect with great people. Try something new. & travel.

Thank you. For your support. Your love & encouragement. My clients push me to continually be better and my friends/family keep me going when I’m unsure of myself. There’s no way I’d be here without y’all. I really am grateful for all of y’all!

Cheers to this crazy new adventure of a new year!

A little kitten for Valentine’s Day?

             The Roman Emperor Claudius II was fighting many wars. He wanted a strong army, but many men did not want to be soldiers. Claudius thought the men wanted to stay home to be with their wives and children instead of leaving to fight his battles. In order to persuade men to become soldiers willingly he decided to make getting married illegal! No one in all of Rome could get married. Valentine, who was a priest, believed that people needed to get married. He thought that if they were not married, they would be tempted to sin by living together without being married. So he secretly performed marriages anyway. He performed the weddings in secret places so the Roman soldiers would not find out, but eventually they did. Valentine was arrested and brought before the Emperor. The Emperor thought Valentine was a well spoken and wise young man, and encouraged him to stop being a Christian and become a loyal Roman. Valentine would  not deny his beliefs and he refused. He was sent to prison until he could be executed. While he was in prison he sent out letters to his friends and asked to be prayed for by writing Remember your Valentine. Valentine was killed on the 14th of February around the year 269.

Did you know that this was the reason we celebrate the love we share with others on this day? I’m twenty five & shamefully did not know this! The handsome little man on the blog today is not nearly old enough for marriage but he knows the love of his mommy & daddy, his two older sisters & a LONG string of Chappy & Tally women that let him know he’s loved everyday! Carter Allen, my little kitten is hitting milestones so incredibly fast! He’s 4 months old now & during his Valentine session he sat up on his own! He’s such a sweet little guy & I have a feeling he is going to spend a lot of his time in the future in front of my lens!

We hope you all had a love filled Valentine’s day! Time to mush!

Beautiful Baby Belly!

This beautiful couple is expecting their first little buddle of joy, Mr. Raiden! This beautiful belly was so relaxing to capture on film. Mostly because this momma to be has such a natural beauty, but also because this first time daddy was very comfortable and full of smiles! (An odd occurance for me!) As this couple prepares to welcome their little boy into the world, it was a pleasure to be apart of this treasured time in their lives! Good luck you two!