There’s a special kind of joy that emanates when two people have endured some of life’s most difficult storms and come out the other side stronger, with an unexplainable peace that is hard to describe.

Maybe that’s why it’s been so hard for us to put this one into words. This engagement session is a personal one for us.

Back when we were still grading spelling tests by day and building this dream by night, Todd Watson was already making an impact in our lives. He leads one of our favorite companies on the planet, Showit, which we recommend to every photographer and business owner we know. Not just because the website platform is beautiful, but because the heart behind it is. We’ve watched him build a company that treats its team and customers like family, which if you know Todd, is just an extension of who he is.

Anyone who knows him will agree, it’s such a gift to be Todd’s friend. He is so fun, incredibly kind, and generous in a way that inspires us daily. We always leave a conversation with Todd better than when we entered. He’s so intentional with the way he lives his life. He’s constantly learning, endlessly pursuing growth, and is an incredible example of someone who treats anyone and everyone who comes across his path with an open-handed, genuine love for others that is rare to find in this world.

But the truest thing we can say about him is this: we have watched him walk through some of the hardest, darkest seasons a person can face, and we have watched him do it in such a Christ-like way. Lovingly. Steadily. Faithfully. You learn who someone really is in their lowest moments, and what we’ve seen reinforced about Todd is that his character and his deep faith run all the way to the bottom.

That’s why Todd and Kara’s story has been such a beautiful, encouraging, unexpected gift this year. A story only God could write. We know our C

reator is the one who specializes in making all things new, in bringing beauty from ashes, so we really shouldn’t be surprised he brought these two together. Getting a front row seat to watch it all unfold over the past year has been such a privilege, and there was nothing like finally getting to celebrate together in person.

Kara is the kind of bright that doesn’t dim, even after every incredibly difficult storm she’s walked through. She carries a warmth that fills a room before she says a word. We’ve known her for years now, first when she helped take newborn photos of our first son, Beckett, just days after he was born, and again for our daughter Emily. She’s a treasured friend of one of our most treasured friends, Alisa, and we’re truly in awe of how the details of this story were stitched together. Getting to know Kara more in these past months, watching her and Todd fall in love, has been such a joy.

Todd and Kara are getting married in less than a month, and Jordan is so honored to get to stand up beside Todd as one of his groomsman. So really, this session was not a regular job for us at all. It was more like an afternoon with two people we love, celebrating a love story only God could write.

They flew in from Arizona and stayed with us here in Tennessee, and from the first night we got to double date with them, we could feel it. The ease between them. The way Todd looks at Kara like he still can’t quite believe his luck. The way she looks back at him the exact same way. They hold each other in such high esteem and can’t stop smiling. There’s so much respect between them and so. much. fun. They absolutely light up around each other, whether our cameras were up or down, which made our job really easy (or really difficult, depending on how you look at it!)

We could not narrow down our favorites from this session! Every frame felt like proof of something we already believed, that the Lord really does redeem, really does restore, and really does write better endings than we could ever imagine.

Todd and Kara, we LOVED our time with you guys and are counting down the days until we get to watch you say “I do.” Here’s to the next chapter of the most beautiful story God is writing! What a privilege it is to get to witness it all up close!