“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.”
My name is Holly and I am a portrait and wedding photographer residing with my family in Joplin, Missouri. I love my husband, Josh, and our daughters, Gracie May and Emma June, more than words could ever say. The first time I ever met Josh, I knew that I had just met the man I was going to marry. He has given me a life filled with laughter and unconditional love. I love all of our silly inside jokes, how particular he is about certain things, and the way he makes me feel when he walks into a room. Before my first daughter, Gracie, was born, my mom always told me that Gracie would be my forever friend and an ever constant healing for my heart; truer words have never been spoken. Gracie is a living testament of the grace and love that she has brought into our lives. Emma was a sweet surprise in our lives and she makes our little family complete! I still can't believe I am a mama to not one, but two beautiful girls! I enjoy spending my days with my girls, giggling, playing, being silly, hearing Gracie's sweet voice say, "Mommy!" and watching Emma grow, smile and seeing my girls bond together. Gracie loves playing fashion show with her Barbies, loves to sing & dance and would go be okay with going to Target everyday. I love that Gracie and Emma look exactly like their daddy. They are simply perfect!
Coffee and I are best friends. I use lots of exclamation points and smiley faces to express my excitedness in all forms of contact, such as email or text! I'm a firm believer in wearing what you love and rocking it with confidence; I'm partial to lots of floral patterns, dresses and colorful statement necklaces. I've watched The Office, New Girl and The Big Bang Theory about a million times. I love to read and I am a huge Harry Potter nerd. Traveling is must and so are vintage photo booths. DIY crafts and shopping are my therapy. And I'm thankful for having a husband that is okay with my lack of cooking skills and my talent for ordering takeout more times than I would like to admit. :)
When I shoot weddings, I look at every bride and imagine my own daughter getting married someday. Every father daughter dance makes me cry because I think of Gracie's own daddy dancing with her at her wedding. I see all of my brides and grooms not only through my motherly eyes, but also as a woman who was a bride once upon a time. I relive my own wedding memories, watching as the bride nervously fidgets with her hands and reassuring her that the nerves will melt away when she walks down the aisle and sees her groom. It is one of my favorite moments when the bride walks arm in arm with her father down the aisle, and seeing the smiles on both the bride's face and the groom's face is priceless. Also, I am a sucker for a crying groom, so if the groom cries, I'm without a doubt going to cry! Another one of my favorites parts of a wedding are the dances. I can't begin to express the number of emotions that come out during those moments of dancing. I can look through past images and still hear the song that was played and the emotions that I felt, too. I still get excited and smile & dance when I hear Bruno Mars' “Marry You.” I still tear up when I hear Brad Paisley's “Then,” or Tim McGraw's “My Little Girl.”
My favorite part of a session that happens on occasion is chasing the light of the sunset at the end of the day. Watching those last seconds of light disappear over the horizon as I capture the final photos is an indescribable feeling. I am truly in awe of how many milestones I get to be a part of when I photograph your life's memories. I read a quote once that really resonated with me that said, “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that's gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” Each and every person I photograph is the heart of the magic that creates the light and love in their photos.
