09/19/2025
Fairytale on the Bayou...
On September 8, 2021, I sat on the steps of our camper watching my kids gather their things for the pool. We were staying at a campground just 45 minutes from our hometown, which had been devastated by Hurricane Ida only a week earlier. While we were still more fortunate than many - there was so much weight of the uncertainty, the discouraging reports, and the heavy realization that life for our community would never look quite the same.
Some of my wedding clients had already reached out with heartbreaking news—venues destroyed, weddings postponed. COVID had taught me how to adapt to change in the wedding industry, but this felt different.
Then out of nowhere came a text that reminded me all of this was temporary. It was from Hannah, a bride referred to me by a past client. She needed a photographer for her wedding—in just 10 days. Thankfully, my camera gear always travels with me, so even without access to my home, I could still say yes.
On Hannah and Brayden’s wedding day, I set aside my own worries and simply showed up for them. For one beautiful day, I was able to focus on love and celebration instead of loss. Their families welcomed me with such kindness, and Hannah’s mom—so aware of what we had been going through—showed me a compassion I’ll never forget.
This post isn’t about me, but about gratitude—for the Beal and Bourg families (and Dane) who welcomed me in the middle of such a hard season. You’ll always have a special place in my heart.
Happy Anniversary, Hannah & Brayden. ❤️
