Weddings. Captured.

Recently, Derrick and I were blessed to do a wedding video at our church for Joe and Stacie Ange. I love helping him with weddings and feel blessed that we get to work together in this way. This particular wedding was one of my favorite videos to shoot - because I love capturing everything live. As is. Do or die. The excitement of seeing the final product play out before you.

The whole ceremony was captured and shared with the bride and groom. My dear friend Ashley Shelley reminded me that this is important. You're so caught up in the moment that you later forget half of what went on. Derrick also did a simple highlight video for the Anges - which I love. Check it out above.

My personal favorite wedding video that Derrick has ever done was the one for my best pal and her husband last June. It was a gorgeous fairytale setting. Lights glistening and crickets chirping. And I was blessed to be the maid of honor. I love the feeling of the video. I love that you can see and feel their happiness. And I love the preacher's words in the background.

The video was shot and edited a year ago, so Derrick has grown so much as a videographer since. He has new equipment and new techniques. But it's still one of my favorites and always will be.

  

This reception was done at Rumley Center at Campbell University. We just shot the reception, and the setting wasn't ideal. It was a dark room the week before Christmas...but I am so proud of the way that Derrick pulled it all together. The final product turned out great, capturing the enthusiasm of the couple.

I get excited whenever Derrick finishes a new video. Creating something and seeing the finished product is really cool, and I'm blessed that he lets me be a part of the process.

So do you need a video? Want your love story captured or your special day to replay? How about a video for your business or band? I just happen to be marrying a pretty awesome videographer who can hook you up :)

5: Business Ventures

I love mixing hobbies, passions, talents, and dreams. And it's great when that mixture can create a product that you can look back on for years to come. A product you can be proud of. It's also a blessing when that product brings in a little extra money.

Photography - Derrick and I both enjoy photography. I love warm, cute, capture-a-private-moment photos. Derrick is great at the magazine-editorial shots. I enjoy editing, making something good even better. He is meticulous about editing and knows a bit more than me.
It's something we both love - and something we can do together. Last year I was blessed to do three photo shoots: a wedding, a couples' christmas pictures, and individual shots...I hope to grow even more this upcoming year and have the opportunity to do some more photo shoots. Of course, it seems like everyone is getting into photography these days, and I'm definitely not the best out there. It's just something I enjoy.

Music Videos - I have always told Derrick that he would be good at music videos. We both have a passion for music. All kinds of music. And we both love the art of music videos. In fact, when we first started dating, we would spend Monday mornings (before we had class that afternoon) watching music videos. Now, he has the opportunity to work on a few Meet the Band pieces, and we're hoping that he can start doing more in the music industry. If you know a band or artist who would be interested in having anything from a 30-second concert/cd annoucement to a music video to a behind-the-scenes meet the band documentary done - let us know!

Book Series? - I published a book three years ago and haven't done much since then. It was a great experience, but the book had no deeper message that I was passionate about. It was a story. Not a message. Since 6th grade I have written probably a couple dozen short stories and novellas, many of which I had forgotten about until recently. Those stories, those characters, those messages are something that I was passionate about, and I hope that I can be passionate about it again.
There could, very possibly, be another printed book in the near(ish) future. I have been working on the first book in a series. A book about redemption. A book about finding your way back home. A book about regrets and heartache. A book about secrets. A book about God's forgiveness, grace, and mercy. There is still much work to be done - but stay tuned!

Here's a very small morsel for anyone who is interested. I'll be keeping you updated!

"Victoria Ryan had been driving all night. No one knew where she had gone. That had been her plan all along. The dusty Texas road was laid out before her. A path to anywhere she wanted to go. Anyone she wanted to be. Now, in Northern Texas, she was as far away from herself as she could run."