There’s a place in New Zealand, just by the sea, that’s second to see a day before the rest of the world.

It’s called Te Mata Peak, and during her month expedition through New Zealand and Fiji, my friend Sarah got to see it. She was there teaching photography with a program called IPS, and hearing her stories makes me want to drop everything in my life and move to a cottage in the shade of the Remarkables.

She just blogged about her best sunrise view and I fell madly in love.

Ahhhh can you just imagine?

She’s such an exceptional photographer, and shot so many with me this year. But as one of the most encouraging, whimsical dears I know, she wins everything as a blue-eyed, curly-haired, endlessly-hopeful, letter-writing friend. Suffice to say it’s been a memorable year.

Post-wedding shoot in a field of sprinklers? Of course.

She doesn’t live nearby, so whenever we hang out it’s almost always work-related. Except for this weekend! We somehow have the next few days dedicated to parties, shopping, ice skating and whatever other Christmastime shenanigans we can find. And I’m so excited! We love the beauty of our work, but we’re still JUST GIRLS WHO WANNA HAVE FU-UNNNN. (….someone’s been to a few too many wedding receptions.)

I’m about to post another favorite wedding from summer, so in the meantime go explore Sarah’s Ampersand Photography blog and fall in love with her heart, soul, and the other side of the world.

This afternoon was unusually simple.

My lenses and I didn’t arrive to catch a life-altering Event attended by beaming crowds and busy caterers.

No programs were dropped by aisle runners or guestbooks filled with indigo-inked attendance.

No group shots for the Christmas card or graduation caps for the slideshow or any other all-important Reason for a photo shoot.

Just a girl and her mother at their happiest: dressing up and going out, together.

Meredith is beautiful, dignified and accomplished, with a heart as prone to elegance as it is to serving…she’s like the girl pearls were created for.

Mary Susan is a speaker and musician in Tennessee, and more the soul described with bright metallic tones. And while she and Meredith couldn’t be more different personality-wise, they share a love for beauty and Chanel (Chance – always and only) and both have a striking resemblance to GORGEOUS.

Lovelovelove.

Love their matching smiles!

We were at a new B&B in Hamilton called Zion Springs, and the hosts were kind enough to let us use part of their house too!

Their favorite!

Mary Susan is a pageant diva and gave a lesson in walking, waving and receiving a crown. It was soo great haha.

My favorites.

No wait, these are my favorites.

They began telling different memories – the bright-eyed girl watching her mother getting ready who’d then watch her daughter step out and away – and I felt so privileged to see their hearts unfold.

And then we ended with delicious food and light at Magnolias.

I so loved our time together and look forward to our next day out! …either here or in Tennessee.

<3

It’s always a special honor to photograph a photographer, since you figure they’re totes more discerning than the average happy person and won’t be impressed as easily. (At least that’s how I psych myself out for each shoot.) But Susie was such a joy!  She’s a wedding and portrait photographer down in Missisippi and was in DC visiting her fiance. As part of growing and defining her business we got to do this shoot and I’m so happy it worked out! She has a beautiful poise and grace about her and her EYES are gorgeous. We had the strangest day with disappearing streets and spontaneous freak storms (running through blocks and blocks with plastic bags? bonding time for sure.) and we decided that while we’re quite opposite as people we’d be quite happy as friends. She’ll be married this fall and then moving up here, so I’m looking forward to hanging out again : )

It was difficult to narrow down my favorites, but here they are!

Sweet framing, God.

We found a perfectly-musty used bookstore just in time for the thunderstorm that dropped by – no cozier place to be stuck at!

Aaaand favorite!