A review of 2017!
Planning for an engagement session | Maryland wedding photographer
Hi Friends!
As I chronicle my personal process down the aisle I wanted to share something that you'd be able to benefit from- planning and preparing for your engagement session.
After you've searched and searched and searched again, you've found the photographer that speaks to your style and the way you envision your big day to be documented. You look over their website, Instagram, Facebook page, Google page, and Pinterest, and decide this is it! They have to be a part of my love story. You complete the necessary documentation and then move onto step 1: The engagement session.
For me and my Fiancé, we are a modern chic couple that loves to have fun but are also very focused and driven. So we looked for a photographer with similar qualities to us: produces great images, down to earth/personable vibe and overall just fun to be around. We want people around us who are going to add joy to our big day and moments leading up to it as well as make out day seamless. We want vendors who understand our needs, our vision and our love.
After deciding on our wedding photographer, we started to correspond with them frequently to share the vision of our engagement session: look, location, day/time, overall vibe. One way we really communicated what we were looking for was by creating a look book or vision board using Pinterest. We created a pinning board, found images we loved, and invited our photographer.
Then it came down to the actual visuals. As I am a planner, I broke down everything I need: Hairsyle, Makeup, Outfit. Below you can see what I used to create the vision I wanted for myself.
Friendship & Bridesmaids | Maryland Wedding Photographer
Hi Loves!!
One major aspect of the wedding planning process is deciding who is going to stand by your side on your big day and help you turn up on the moments leading up to it!
Me personally, I struggled so much with this because I have an amazing group of girlfriends! Honestly all my friends are lit and so amazing and I LOVE EACH AND EVERYONE OF THEM. I went to an all girls boarding high school, so my friends from high school are my sisters.
I knew for sure that my amazingly brilliant and beautiful sister in law was going to be my Matron of Honor. She has been in my life since I was 8 years old! Thats almost 20 years. She's supported me and seen me through lots of major life events. Love her! She keeps me on pace and calm.
After solidifying her and her role- then came the challenging part. I have a group of best friends, a GROUP. As much as I wanted to have all 25 of my closest most cherished friends I had to choose only 8 women to match up with my fiance's fraternity line brothers. So I sat long and hard, thought and thought and thought some more. Who could I not envision my day without? Who can I rely on for this next step? Who is going to keep me covered in prayer? Who is going to make me laugh? And who would be reliable in the midst of all they have going on in their own lives to make time for me? When I finally stopped and thought about my friends and what they meant to me it became so easy and so clear.
Choosing bridesmaids is not about who you've know the longest, its about choosing the ones who were/are there for you, the ones whose bonds are the most meaningful, the ones you love no matter what, the ones who don't judge you, the ones who listen, the ones where you see them and don't even have to speak but are communicating anyway, the ones you need for whatever reason, the ones that make you laugh with one word, a gif, a meme or a look, and the ones who are there when you need them no matter how long its been since you last spoke.
In my group of bridesmaids I have everything I need and then some; and I have an even larger group of best friends who support me through and through! (I LOVE YOU BEAUTIES! -Shoutout to my middle school friends: Sarah!!, Dom/Dani, My Madeira sisters: Bree H, Lina, Justine, Haile, Bree Rob, Andrade, Janet, Renee, Taylor D, Mia, Stuart, (oh my gosh its so many more of you I need to name)-my college friends: Ivon/Aidi, and my work friends- who've become sisters) * just forgive me if I've accidentally missed you*
Say hello to my bridesmaids- #IssaSnackPack
These beauties are everything to me. I love them! They are all so smart, talented, FUNNY, supportive, loving and amazing. So blessed to have them
Countdown to Wedded Bliss | Wedding tips and planning
#IssaCelebration
Hi Lovies!!!
It's Gemini Season! So this past Thursday was my birthday and I'm so blessed to see another year! Birthdays are such a big deal to me because it's an opportunity for a rebirth or rebranding and a celebration of your journey from the year before. I actually love my birthdate (6/1) because it's smack dab in the middle of the year, so I get to evaluate the previous months and make a plan for the ones ahead. And did i mention that I share my special say with two iconic American figures: Marilyn Monroe and Morgan Freeman!
For my birthday this year I took off from my 9-5, participated in a boot camp class and spent time with my beautiful family; but I also took a moment to reflect on the year. In 2016, 3 Major moments happened to me.
In 2016 I celebrated being a mom for a full year-that in itself is major. People always say parenting will change your life and if totally has! It's been a challenging and eye opening experience with much reward. I have learned so much from my little guy and I'm truly blessed by his presence
The love of my life and my best friend, proposed to me and asked for my hand in marriage! It was such an an intimate and meaningful experience and yes, planning has commenced! (I'd love to hear what you all are planning for your big day)
Last but definitely not least, I started Radiant Imagery by Jocelyn Renae! This moment was a giant step in fulfilling the desires of my heart. Photography has been a passion of mine for a loooonnnggg time and having the courage and the support of my family pushed me to follow my dreams. In this short time in business I have met some amazing people who have given me a chance and trusted me with the magical moments in their life and I'm so appreciative of them.
I indulged myself with a couple of self portraits and yummy macaroons !
