Cayleb and Jayden Get [Together] Session

Cayleb and Jayden were 12 day old identical twin boys when I had the opportunity to shoot their first few days in the world.  There was nothing fancy about this session, not many props, not many pictures... but so much love.  Megan (their Mom) is a true inspiration... a single mom, working hard, and pouring her heart, soul and life into making these boys lives amazing.  Their life is already amazing because they have her as their Mom.  Megan is just one of those people that brings light wherever she goes... I can't help but hug her and smile every time I get the chance to see her.  Thank you for letting me share these special moments with you, girl.  You're doing an amazing job... keep it up.

And my favorite...

Timm & Shannon's (impromptu) E-Sesh!

On this last day of February I thought I would leave you with something special...

Have you ever met those people that immediately put you at ease, and you realize almost seamlessly that you can be your absolute self around them?  Enter Timm & Shannon.

Timm and I met a few months back while shooting a wedding last season.  While we were putting details together for a project we've combined forces on, he mentioned that he was proposing to Shannon at the Biltmore (see that story here).  Timm's opinion was that after he was done proposing I could take them anywhere, and shoot them on the grounds (yay!).  Timm and Shannon are definitely in love, and definitely know how to have fun (as you can see!).  They are genuine, caring, open and honest.  It was such a pleasure getting to be apart of this special moment... as well as the tears, laughter, snowball fight and snow angels that followed...  Congrats you two.

Oh riiiiiiight... I mentioned a snowball fight didn't I?

And you'll have to forgive me... I have 2 favorites this time... (in order)

Heather & Justin Married!

It was a cold, cold day in the middle of October and I was lost... very lost.  Lemme tell ya... GPS had it wrong folks... I could not find this location, and I was running out of gas... AND I had forgotten the bride's cell number at home!  Not good.  So I called my husband, panicked... and then saw the sign... Villa Franca Estate Wedding (followed by an arrow)... I hung my head.  If I had just kept driving instead of freaking out and wondering if I had gone too far everything would have been okay... sigh.  Luckily when I got there Heather hadn't even started getting ready, and I had 5 hours until the ceremony started for pictures (yay!).  ... Okay, enough about me...  Let's roll back a few months...

I had my website up for all of a week, and I got a call from Heather...

"Is this Rachel Fesko?"

"Yes, it is!"

"I'm getting married in October, and I saw that you still had my date available... can you send me a contract?"

"Uh... Sure!  Would you like to get together for coffee or dinner to get to know each other?"

"No, that's fine.  We can do that later."

So about 5 months later we met, and I finally was able to speak to Justin!  It was about a month later that I received another phone call from Heather...

"Hey Rachel... they double booked my date, and I have to move my wedding..."

... gasp...

Because I have the most amazing clients ever... the bride that had scheduled to have her bridals taken on the day of Heather's new date was able to move her appointments so that I could shoot Heather & Justin' wedding!

I absolutely loved being apart of this wedding day, and apart of the family.  This day was full of adventures, cold hands, and warm hearts... And the quickest outdoor ceremony that I've ever been apart of... Congrats you two... many happy memories to come.

This one was NOT my idea...

And my favorite...

Visit to LA... Louisiana that is...

When I was growing up my Aunt Kari would come visit every Christmas and over the summer.  Kari and my mom are 18 years apart, and my Mom had me when Kari was 10... so we've always been super close.  Kari has been like the big sister I never had, and even though we're 850 miles apart we're on the phone constantly.

So now Kari is married to Vance and lives in Louisiana with her two kids... Lydia and Caedmon.  Lydia and I are just about as far apart as Kari and I are... so the cycle begins again... Earlier this year Ryan and I went down to visit while my grandparents were here from Australia.  I just now finished going through all the pictures... and decided to share :). 

One afternoon I took Lydia into downtown Lafayette, and had the best time.  We had wardrobe changes and everything!  Later that same day we took the whole family out for pics... here are my favorites from the week.

All pictures of me were taken by Ryan Fesko (the hubby)

Some of the pics with Lydia at the historic house next door and in downtown Lafayette...

The family pics that night and the next day...

And my favorite...