June 2016

Amberly & Daryel | Engaged

We traveled to Mississippi last weekend for Amberly and Daryel’s engagement session. The entire day it looked like rain. I kept praying it would hold off, and it did.

Clarke County, Mississippi is where I grew up, so it was great to be back “home” in the country to capture this sweet time for Amberly and Daryel. We went to several old stomping grounds in Enterprise for some fun shots.

These two love birds were so much fun. They were up for just about anything (thank you Daryel) which made for some awesome photographs. It won’t be long and October will be here.

June 22, 2016June 22, 2016 by joyleighphotography Categories: Engaged 2 Comments

The Wards | Family

Wade, Robin and Sammy (as Terry likes to call him) have been friends of ours going on two years now. We met them at church and are in small group together. Wade (and Robin) are actually the leaders of our small group. An all around sweet and compassionate family that we are proud to know.

We had a cookout at our home Memorial Day, and while the grill was going it was the perfect time to take some family pictures for them.

We’ve been holding a secret. A secret that when we were told, we almost fell out of our chairs.

Sweet Sammy doesn’t look too happy about the TWINS that are coming in December to make this family a party of five!!

We can’t wait to welcome their new additions after Thanksgiving this year.

June 20, 2016June 20, 2016 by joyleighphotography Categories: Children, Family, Kids, Pregnancy Leave a comment

Sowell Sisters | Children

Let’s be honest here. I take pictures of my girls each and every day. But, I’ve always hired other photographers to take the big moments of their lives — newborn, birthday, family, etc sessions. My husband, family, and friends have always asked why I don’t take them on big occasions myself? Well, I finally decided I’d take Lenley’s 1st birthday pictures and see how it goes. You know how your own children are your best and worst clients? So we will see how her smash cake session goes in the coming days.

I still love someone else taking our family pictures. So we will still try to have someone else take our family photo every year.

Here are some of the girls that I took Sunday afternoon. The ones of Lenley will be part of her first birthday pictures.

June 15, 2016June 13, 2016 by joyleighphotography Categories: Babies, Children, Kids, Sowell Sisters Leave a comment

Laura & Sheffield| Mommy & Me

I met Laura through instagram when we were both pregnant with our littles. It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year ago, and now we both have our babies (almost toddlers) here with us.

She messaged me about doing a mommy & me session a few weeks ago, and we made it happen yesterday afternoon. It was HOT, I’m talking Alabama August HOT (it’s only June). However, that didn’t stop that sweet little man from giving me plenty of smiles.

Here are a few of my favorites from their session.

I loved captured these sweet moments for a lifetime of memories!

June 13, 2016June 13, 2016 by joyleighphotography Categories: Babies, Family, Kids, Mommy & Me Leave a comment

Alaina & Matt | Engaged

I’ve shot quite a few engagements, but never a surprise engagement. But that’s exactly what happened last Saturday night.

I got a text from a friend, Julie, asking if I would be available the next evening. When she told me it was going to be a surprise engagement — I got butterflies. I’d never shot a surprise engagement before, and didn’t really have a lot of details so I was a bit nervous to say the least. But, after conversing by text with the client I started to get excited!

The bride-to-be had a canceled and then rescheduled flight, so the proposal that was supposed to take place at five in the evening, it ended up happening at ten at night!

Everything turned out perfect. She was surprised, there were many tears of joy, and the setting at American Village was a gorgeous background for their pictures.

I’m excited to be their official photographer for the wedding, too.