If you’ve been following us on facebook & twitter, you will see that we frequently post photos of our two tabby rescue cats.  We adopted these boys from FurKids and since then have been going back to take the FurKids featured cat of the week photos.  We love being able to support them through photography.  We’ve discovered that better photos can really help these cats get adopted and find loving homes. If you have room in your home for a FurKid, check out the website or visit the shelter.  Although, I will warn you that it’s so hard to go there without bringing a cat home! ;)

Last week we spoke at Lilburn Elementary Career Day to 3rd and 5th graders about non-traditional jobs in photography and youtube.  I remember in elementary school, I used to want to be an artist.  I loved to draw and paint and even take pictures.  It wasn’t until high school that most adults taught me that being an artist was not a practical career.  And so I began my way on a confusing journey.  I got my bachelors in Chemistry at Georgia Tech, thinking one day I would continue on to med school and then become a doctor.  After all, that’s where the prestige and money was, although my heart was not in it.  I wonder at what point in your life you forget about what you truly love to do because all the worries of the world sets in.  Fortunately, for me, I somehow found my way back after a long detour.

It was nice to open up their eyes to see the possibilities in creative careers for a change. I hope that in their future, more people will continue encourage them to do what they are passionate about.  As a bonus, they gave us 2nd place for most interesting careers after the S.W.A.T team & bomb squad, but who could really compete with them. Even we were swooning. :)

After 3 years of dating and talking about their future together, they decided to go shopping for a ring.  They will be married one week after their 5 year anniversary!  Here are some photos from their engagement session on a historic farm.  Emily loves owls so she wore a lot of owl jewelry and also a necklace made from her mother’s china, which I thought was such a sweet detail.  If you’re wondering about the “I Like You” book they’re holding, they’ll be saying a few lines from the book for their wedding vows. :)

Click on each image to pin it to pinterest

A few “save the date” ideas

Just a teaser from Emily and John’s ‘I Like You’ historic farm engagement session at McDaniel Farm Park. Check back next week for more photos!  And to know what the book is about. ;)

They had their fall wedding at the Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center.  It was a beautiful venue with the convenience of shooting wedding portraits right outside the venue with all the red and oranges of fall colors.  I loved their handmade programs and colorful bouquets. One of their favorite things to do together is to watch movies, so they decided on a movie theme for their wedding with name cards that looked like admission tickets and popcorn boxes during the reception.

Ceremony & Reception Venue: Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center // Photography: Esther JuLee Photography // Wedding Planner: Fanti Events // Hair & Make-up: Wedding Line // Florist: Flower and Gift // Wedding Dress & Bridesnaids Dresses: David’s Bridal // Shoes: Chinese Laundry // Groom & Groomsmen Tux: Men’s Wearhouse // Programs: DIY // Cake: Publix // Rings: Shane Co Jewelry // Favor’s: Christina Collepardi // DJ: Complete Music and Video

It’s about time I gave my blog a little love.  These were from Fiona and BJ’s wedding at Georgian Terrace Hotel.  You can read more about their story and see their engagement photos here.

P.S.  Really sorry about the lack of updates.  I’ve been doing an internet purge / fast for the past few months.  Probably not recommended for most businesses to stay away from blogging and social media that long, but it’s been really refreshing.  It helps me work more productively, connect with people face to face, spend time with the ppl I love, and even catch up on all the books I’ve missed out on most my life.

Instead of doing a year by year resolutions list, a few years ago I put together a 30 before 30 list.  I realized over the years, I kept switching them out as I crossed out each goal, which in turn, made me feel like I accomplished nothing. This year, I merged my old list with current goals that I have.  It’s my last year to really get these in!

1. Get photography published in print (post coming soon)
2. Become an integral part of a non-profit using my skill-set
3. Do a photography mission trip: Egypt & Haiti
4. Go to Italy and eat real Italian food
5. Go to Antelope Canyon & see the light shafts
6. Go on a cross country roadtrip slash adventure
7. Read 2 books a month for a year. Find me on goodreads.
8. Learn to change a tire
9. Take tango classes
10. Break 150 in bowling
11. Visit all the continents (except Antarctica)
12. Snowboard on the west coast
13. Run a 10k
14. Finish Insanity
15. Learn to play tennis recreationally
16. Read the bible from cover to cover. No skipping around.
17. Journal once a week
18. Complete Rosetta stone for French or Spanish
19. Take a cooking class from vikingschool
20. Cook all the recipes in the cookbook my gfs made me
21. Host people at our house twice a month
22. Learn to play five of my fave songs on guitar
23. Take social dance classes swing or salsa
24. Declutter entire house
25. Redesign every room in the house
26. Plant a tree
27. Grow an herb garden & keep them alive long enough to cook
28. Get to know one new neighbor
29. Skydive
30. Donate $10 to charity for every item on the list not completed.

Here’s to new beginnings and my new herb garden!  It’s the best use of our bathtub yet. Growing squash, cilantro, peppers, thyme, basil, and parsley.  Let’s just how many of this serial plant killer doesn’t kill this year.

Anyone want to do any of these with me? What are your goals/resolutions?

Venue: Wild Dunes Resort / Charleston’s Island Resort | Dress: | Bridesmaid Dresses:  | Veil: | Rings: | Other Jewelry: | Paper Goods: | Make-up and Hair: | Florist:  | Officiant: | Cake:  | DJ: | Favors:  | Guestbook: