Beth, Kevin & Baby Goat

I wrestled with where to begin with the words for this one. Not because it’s so deep or so heavy – it’s not. This was the most delightful little shoot born out of an idea, and some magical lighting and an old farmhouse... I wrestled with this one because I just have so many thoughts and there was simply nowhere to begin.

I shot this couple's wedding back in 2014 and even then I was at a loss to explain the depth of tenderness that I felt for them or to know where to begin with the words. I’ve never seen more heart-felt happy crying at a wedding, not before or since.

Her family is not the most dependable, to put it gently, so Kevin walked down the aisle to collect his bride and walked her back up to stand before God and the congregation and to marry Beth and make promises to keep her forever. There were a lot of tears for that, from a lot of people, but those tears were after the ones that Beth and Kevin had already shared while standing around the corner from each other an hour before- hand clasped but not peeking, praying together over their new life and whispering endearments and promises to be kept. Then there was the hugging, so much hugging, and all of it desperate and real, the kind you feel down to your toes. At the reception the pastor had Beth sit in a chair opposite himself and he gave her the father's blessing that she was missing and I swear there wasn’t a dry eye in the entire room. Yes, weddings are often tearful and tender and heartfelt but somehow these two seem to keep all of that passion for life and each other and hold onto it.

This little anniversary session was wrenching my heart in ways that made me want to turn away from my computer and give them their privacy as I was editing, and yet they are so stunning together you can’t do anything except stop and stare with your mouth open a little bit.

Just a couple of kids in a rented farm house playing with the kittens and loving on their baby goats in a way that makes you think "they must be so young and lighthearted and fancy free" and yet then you catch the look in their eyes and you’re so dead certain that they have been loving each other like that for years and years.

This shoot was a combination of a celebratory anniversary shoot that just delighted in their life together and this perfect little piece of land and farm house but they have been gifted to take care of, and also a little bit of a marketing shoot to give them some photos to use for their little farm “Olive and Honey.“

They’re hoping to start programs where children can come out and learn about the goats and milk them and help take care of them and also to run a small dairy farm and sell milk and cheese etc.

So if you want to follow the two cutest little goats go onto Instagram and look up @olivesandhoneygoats and prepare yourself for the sweetest little farm posts. And these four darling kids (and a couple of kittens).