We’ve had the privilege of spending this week in Nashville with this sweet family we cherish, and as we were looking back at previous blogs from past mini-sessions with The Grays, and read what we wrote, we realize what we’ve been saying about Zach and Jody for years only becomes more and more true to us the more time we spend with them. We’ve been so incredibly blessed by their friendship, and really, what we wrote last year, we want to share again today because with every year that goes by, we just feel more and more thankful.
The Grays were the ones who taught us how to use our gifts to truly love and serve others
They were really the ones who made us believe that there was room for two more photographers in Phoenix when we didn’t think there was; and then they were the ones who encouraged us that there was room for two more educators on a national level when we thought that level just didn’t need us; and our life has been changed forever, in large part, thanks to them, because they’ve never believed that success was for the chosen few. They’ve always believed that’s it for those who choose.
And without them and others who lit lanterns along our road or stoked the fire within us along the way, we might still be working a day job instead of living our dream.
How do you even begin to thank someone for that?
We’ve realized the best way we can is by paying it forward. By being a latern-lighter and a fire-stoker, too. So that, together, we can change more lives for the better.
The most special part about this year’s session that we shot alongside another one of our cherished friends, Katelyn James, is that last year, Miss London was still in Jody’s belly! So it was beyond special for us to get to finally meet her and see that precious smile! It’s been such a joy to document this sweet family as they grow. Their family is bursting at the seams with more laughter, more joy and more personality than ever, and we had a blast with them. We made total fools of ourselves, (think ridiculous voices, candy bribes, animal noises, the works), and while we don’t usually do family sessions, but we’ll always make fools of ourselves for Z&J! Here are just a few of our favorites.