I am not even sure where to begin with this post. Sometimes fate is a major player in life. I was meant to meat Abbey. She was meant to come into my life. She has changed my life probably more then anyone else I know. I met Abbey years ago, she was a good friend to one of my Incredible childhood best friends. I had been following Abbey for a while. She was living in Tampa working as a Wedding and Family Photographer. I had always loved photography, more then anything, so I used to browse her website on almost a daily basis. I just couldn’t believe it. This woman, was working, she turned her passion into a career. She had a full time job she loved, that she got to be creative with every single day. At this point in my life I was still stuck in a corporate cubicle, so the thought of even being my own Boss was to much to handle. Abbey and I got to know each other when we were both Bridesmaids in our mutual Besties Wedding (Love you Trace!). Once I got to know her, there was no way she was going to shake me. I had no idea that my friendship with Abbey would literally change my life.
I mentioned to Abbey that I loved photography, wanted to get better at it, did she have tips etc on how to start a small business. We chatted a bit and became facebook friends where she swapped stories and advice with me. One day she made the call that allowed me to become who I always wanted to become. She asked me to meet her in Orlando. There was a Wedding there, that I could assist at if I wanted to. I had never been more terrified or nervous in my entire life. Up until that point I had only photographed children and families. I had always dreamed of photographing a Wedding, but never had the chance, or the guts. That day, I became a new person. I left the Wedding that night knowing in my bones that this was what I was meant to do. I think I cried the whole way home because I wanted it so bad. I didn’t want to go back to my corporate job. How could I make this work? How could I make a living documenting the lives of others? How could I get Brides to trust me with the most important day of their lives? The images that Abbey allowed me to photograph at the Wedding that day spread through the magic of facebook. I had friends of friends calling me, asking me to document their Wedding day. I was given one opportunity after another, all because Abbey had taken a chance on me.
5+ years down the road, and this girl it literally my rock. We have been through so much together. Almost daily we consult about business. About life. About where are lives are headed and where they have been. About the amazing Brides and Grooms and family clients that have come into your lives. Abbey drives from Tampa often to shoot with me. She’s my better half, fills in my wholes. We make an incredible team. Both in photography and in friendship. I was even lucky enough to have Abbey, in the labor and delivery room when I gave birth to my son. To both document the moment, and to be there for me as well. I cannot imagine where I would be without her. Certainly not living my dream, as both a photographer and a Mother. Abbey was important in both those roles. She helped me cultivate and grow my business. When I was pregnant with a high risk pregnancy and shooting Weddings until I was 7 months pregnant in the heat of a Florida Summer Abbey took care of me, made sure I had everything I needed while I was working. Brought me water, food, extra memory cards. Lugged my camera back around so that I could continue to take care of my clients. One night after shooting together, after having Brides and Grooms and their families tell us how amazing we worked together we laughed and said we were like each others sould mates, or to quote Pheobe from friends, we were each others Lobsters. That’s exactly what we are. Because even though distance keeps us from merging our businesses together, we continue to be the other persons strength, inspiration, and sounding board.
So, when Abbey joined me in Savannah to photograph a Wedding with me (interrupted her vacation nonetheless to do it). I jumped at the opportunity to photograph her amazing family. I had planned to photograph them on a beautiful Savannah road, covered in oaks and Spanish moss, surrounded by carriage homes. Then the rain started. So, I headed up to her hotel room instead. I think it was perfect. It shows that its not all about the location. Its about the family. I get swept up in finding new locations sometimes, when really, I need to get back to focusing on the families, and their relationships with each other. Thank you once again Abbey. For showing me what I needed when I didn’t even know I needed it. I love you my Lobster, you are one of my best friends, and I am a better person because of it for a million different reasons.
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