I'M KRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY | glamour shoot

While in Oklahoma, I had the special privilege of being photographed by Kristen of I'm Kristen Photography. She is not only a talented artist who is a thrill to work with! But, she is also my Cowboy's sister-in-law. What a happy mix! 

photo via: imkristen.com

Back in April, Kristen spent a month in beautiful Santa Barbara, California with her husband Caleb - my guy's twin brother,  their sweet boy, Rowdy, and their little-one-on-the-way, Ryan. Daniel joined them for the month. I spent much of my April with them, seaside. And Kristen + I had some good, deep, funny, heart-to-heart, inspiring conversations. 

I learned that she is an adoring wife [ read their romantic, hilarious, sweet love story here ]  devoted mama, and a busy, very successful photographer, gifted storyteller, writer, and she runs a charming Instagram clothing shop for littles [visit it here!] Kristen handles it all with an easy grace. She loves her little family with a passion and is the kind of woman who [I can tell] would do a n y t h i n g for "her people" [ read more about her family and life here ] -- much like her "Mama Bear" - who went to be with Jesus just a few months ago [ read more about her Mama's journey at imkristenlearning.com ] 

Kristen has walked through more loss + grief this year alone than most of us can imagine and yet she is consistently hopeful, outward, and loving toward others + upward-looking-toward-Him. She + her husband lost their sweet little baby, Ryan Day, recently, and shared the heartache and story here on their family blog [I so admire her openness to write about something so many of women walk through in their lives and very few people openly discuss] 

She is fun to be around, funny, and also serious + seasoned. You can tell, just by being in her presence for an hour - this young woman has seen some life: she has stood atop the very highest heights of happiness, and... she has bravely waded through the very deepest depths of heartache. She is a thinker. A smart, sharp business mind. She absolutely loves Disneyland [ we spent a day there together + this California girl has never explored the Magic Kingdom with someone who smiled bigger when walking down Main Street, whipping out the park map + planning where-to-go-next, and riding the "Dumbo" ride! ]  Her joy and her heart is her husband + their babies. She is wildly creative. She is an actual, real-life "foodie" [ not a poser-foodie like so many of us ;) ] + can find the best taco stands, food trucks, and restaurants in an given city, at any given moment [I swear, it's one of her gifts!] She is disarmingly perceptive. Good at "reading" people and really taking the time to get to know them, to ask thoughtful + pointed questions, to listen carefully and then to open up and [ very-honestly ] share her heart, advice, and thoughts. She's one of those people I feel that I could could comfortably tell just about anything ... and she would never be shocked or ignore or judge. She would take the time to listen and try to understand and love. 

What a joy it is to become friends with your boyfriend's family! Kristen, thank you for sharing your fabulouness with me as you styled and shot these dream-come-true-for-me-photos. I so hope to spend more time with you, share more Wal-Mart-stories ;) and "beach" with you in the days&years to come :) 

[ connect with kristen ] 

blog

instagram 

 twitter

pinterest.com/imkristen

facebook 

Note from Kristen about booking [ and really, you should do it. ] 

 - to book your own i'm kristen portrait or headshot session, 

especially in the maryland/virginia/dc, new york/boston, or oklahoma to dallas areas E-MAIL ME HERE (i'll also be traveling around san francisco + the lake tahoe/nevada areas in coming months.)

enjoy these photos! she made my Carrie Bradshaw-wanna be dreams come true!

You will be seeing many more of these shots at my upcoing magazine and online website for women:

Graceful Magazine 

See more photos here at Kristen's blog. 

*** 

+++ Thank you again, Kristen! +++

And friends,

Book this girl. Fly her to + hire her for your wedding, 

engagement,  family events, blog headshots.

 She is uuhh-mazing.