2018 Recap & Favorites!

Well HELLO there! It has been awhile but I am still here! :) At the beginning of 2018 I set a goal for myself to blog every wedding that I shot this year… and if you follow along with me you may notice that did NOT happen. 2018 threw me a few curveballs, including the addition of another job that I am absolutely loving! I am having to re-learn how/where to budget my time and will be making a few changes to my business in the upcoming year to ensure clients receive the greatest experience possible. In lieu of individual posts, I want to post a year-long recap with a few of my favorite images.

Many people reading this have been following my photography journey from the moment I announced I would be starting a business back in 2015. I’ve tried to be fairly transparent with the process that this has been for me and this post is no different! Placing images side by side that were taken up to ELEVEN months apart has been so helpful for me to see inconsistencies in my work. However, many of the images also made me feel proud as I remembered the intentional, educated decisions that I made to capture that specific moment as beautifully as possible.

I did something a little crazy earlier this year… I unfollowed more that 300 photographers on Instagram. I realized I was starting to feel the pressure of conforming to trends/styles that weren’t my own and comparing myself to others who have been in business three times longer than I have. Yall! SO UNHEALTHY. I started to question everything about something I once did simply because it made me feel so alive. So I began stepping out of my comfort zone and pursued creating images that made my heart feel so full at times I could barely stand it. (If you’ve been on the other side of my camera you know exactly what I’m referring to… and there are usually some squeals involved.) The result? Personal growth, shared joy, and a deep satisfaction in my work knowing it was from the depths of my very own heart.

If you’ve made it this far in the “wordy” part of this post (thank you!) here are a few take-aways from BGP’s 2018 season: I love joy. True, genuine expression of how people feel in a specific moment. I saw huge growth in my ability to make bold decisions about locations and lighting to create the images that I wanted. I pushed myself and worked hard to learn how to use off camera flash- on manual. It has been an absolute GAME CHANGER for reception photos! I bought my very first film camera (that’s a story for another blog)! Oh, and I obviously LOVE veils! I couldn’t get enough of them this season and intentionally incorporated them into portraits. Wow, what a year. I will always look back on 2018 as a milestone for my business. This was the year I truly felt my knowledge, desire-to-serve, and skill fully merge to define “Bethany Grace Photography!”

To be truthful, it was extremely difficult to narrow down the photos below to an even barely reasonable amount. Some images may look familiar to you, others have been caged up in my hard drive begging for daylight. I would hate for this year to pass without sharing them. I hope they bring you as much joy as they bring me!

Happy New Year!

Rachel Baldwin | Senior Session

When Rachel’s mom told me she wanted her senior session to be with the horses that mean so much to her, I was simultaneously excited and terrified! I have always been mildly fearful of horses because I really just don’t know how to read them. My fear quickly turned into complete enchantment the moment I laid my hand on the warm, fuzzy nose of a stunning gentle giant.

The rest of the evening felt like a dream. A jaw-dropping mountainscape for a backdrop and beautiful, joy-filled high school senior as the subject. It was a recipe for pure perfection… and that is exactly what we got!

Richard + Caroline | Married!!

These faces probably look familiar from their Downtown Lynchburg engagement session in February! I first met Caroline when she was just in eighth grade, so seeing her step into her delicate wedding gown was oh-so surreal. 

I'm a serial Weather Channel stalker the week leading up to any wedding. My heart continued to sink as the 80% chance of thunderstorms never waivered- even the night before the wedding. BUT we woke up to sunshine and a forecast calling for beautiful weather until the exact hour of Richard + Caroline's grand exit! 

The bridal party and family spent a quiet, calm morning preparing for the day ahead and it was clear the bride and groom were so loved by everyone around them as they helped pull the final details together! Caroline + Richard were married in Virginia's oldest church. I had been looking forward to seeing this beautiful venue and it did NOT disappoint! The dark wood and beautiful stained glass windows set the stage beautifully for the sacred covenant that would be taking place beneath its cathedral ceiling.

After Richard + Caroline were pronounced husband and wife, guests enjoyed barbecue while celebrating the new couple! I loved the unique details that were included in the reception to make it their own... breaking a cookie instead of cutting the cake and waving ribbons on their way out the door! Portraits were scheduled for after send off, so I met back up with Richard and Caroline after they drove away. The moment that we stepped out of our cars, the skies just opened up on us! They handled it like absolutely champions and we made the most of our time together before parting ways.

This was truly such a special day filled with this sweet couple's closest friends, family members, and influential people that had poured into and prayed for them over the years. <3 

Wilson + Brittany | Wedding

Brittany and Wilson's wedding day was nothing short of elegant and romantic! The forecast had been calling for thunderstorms all week long but when the big day came, we never saw a rain drop. The bridal party was so attentive to their sweet friend's every need and there was no shortage of laughter and happy tears.

I loved watching the way that Brittany took in and cherished each moment of this day. It was so clear that this precious bride and groom had prepared not just for their wedding, but to step into their new roles as husband and wife... there was a sacred heaviness as Brittany walked toward Wilson and each element of the ceremony carried great meaning.

The reception was full of dancing, tacos, and a maracaexit! It was perfectly fitting for a Cinco de Mayo wedding... or as their very clever hashtag called it-

Cinco de Caldwell!

• Venue: Old Pate Chapel

• Coordinator: Hanna McNulty

• Dress: Bride's House

• Cake: Savanna Ames//@once_upon_a_pastry

• Band/DJ: Brandon Smith//Lynchburg Sound, LLC.

Sharon + Miley | Mini Session

Even if we've never met, you probably already know that I love dogs. Unashamedly LOVE them. So when my sweet friend Sharon asked me if I would be up for a dog-mom session, the question practically answered itself! It was so cold on this April morning (Spring, where are you!?) but we had so much fun hanging out with smiley Miley! Brace for cuteness!

Nicholas Nary | Senior Session

Senior sessions are always fun because I still remember that season... trying to finish high school strong but bursting with the anticipation of what's ahead. Nich is heading off to Liberty University in the fall and had a few fun ideas of his own he wanted captured to commemorate this season of life! Needless to say... this was a session filled with a LOT of laughs!

The Thompson Family | Family Session

This session has me ready for springtime and sunshine! We had an absolutely beautiful day to capture 5-month-old Jase's Easter pictures and family photos!

Kevin + Abby | Lifestyle Session

I made a top secret trip last week for a very special session! 

I couldn't be more ecstatic for these sweet friends of mine welcoming their very first baby this September. Congratulations, Abby and Kevin! Baby Williams is so blessed to have you as parents!

Richard + Caroline | Engagement Session

This engagement session was extra special to shoot and even felt a little bit surreal. I first met Caroline when I was her summer camp counselor her eighth grade year!! (Can I get a holla from my “eighth grade ladies WHAT WHAT!?”) Life took us separate ways, as it tends to do, but I was beyond ecstatic (and a bit nostalgic) when she contacted me about capturing her wedding this August!

February weather can make scheduling sessions difficult- we even had to reschedule because of chilly rain the week before. We decided to take a chance with a new date, despite an 80% chance of rain. As the day drew closer we watched that percentage drop to ZERO and enjoyed a beautiful sunny day without even a jacket in tow!

We enjoyed a walk on a Lynchburg trail with a few hundred of our closest friends (and all of their dogs!) Caroline and Richard were absolute champions being surrounded by so many people while I followed them with a camera and even explained “the nuzzle.” They posed like naturals and Richard kept us laughing until the very end!

Caroline and Richard I am so honored to play a small role in this beautiful love story, I am counting down the days until you are husband and wife! 

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Jake + Brittany | Lifestyle Session

When Brittany first contacted me about capturing an in-home lifestyle session for her, I couldn't say YES fast enough! If you've ever had the pleasure of meeting Jake and Brittany then you know it is impossible to be around them without an abundance of laughter and smiles. This couple is so full of life, joy, and love for one another. I'm so thankful that they invited me into their home to share a cozy cup of coffee on this cold, rainy Monday!