You know when things just work out perfectly? Carmen and Paul are one of those things for me. I know that sounds weird - stick with me.
Back in April I was having a really scary time in my business (quitting your job and going in to business for yourself is tough sometimes). I was worried constantly and doing everything I knew how to bring business through the door. One of the things I did was confide in my friend Hannah. There's more to this story, and it's really cool, but the short version is that we started talking about something, which led to something else, which led to something else, each topic more fortuitous than the last. We made some awesome discoveries in the course of this conversation, which went on for the better part of a day total. At the very end of all of it, after every topic had been exhausted Hannah mentioned Carmen.
I was looking for clients who are like Hannah's sister Rachel. Running a business involves identifying your "ideal client". So far, Rachel is mine. Hannah said she knew someone kind of like Rachel with similar hobbies and personality. Her name was Carmen and she'd just gotten engaged. Hannah and Rachel talked, and in the end Rachel mentioned me to Carmen.
During this period of time where my business was super scary I spent tons of time in prayer asking for something (someone) to show up. I'm sorry to say I don't always dedicate much time to prayer but I REALLY did during this time. It was all I did.
Then I got an email. It was Carmen. Within the week Carmen and Paul had hired me.
These two are adventurers! They love to hike and even got engaged up on a mountain. I knew we had to do something cool for their engagement session and Carmen wanted mountains. I did some research, she did some research, and in the end I decided Fall Creek Falls was our best bet for an awesome shoot. I looked up the park and realized that traveling here would put me 4 hour away from home! I didn't really want to get a hotel room and then like a lightning bolt I remembered that my friends had planned a camping trip for that weekend. I tried to remember where they said they were going. Phone call. Where are you guys camping again? Fall Creek Falls.
Perfect. I'll see you there.
YES, that IS a butterfly to the right of the photo. Totally real - promise. How magical is that?
I love this view off the edge of the waterfall! I want to shoot in locations like this all the time. All. The. Time. Someone hire me for photos and go adventuring with me?
The second half of our shoot was quite the adventure. We knew where we wanted to end up and had rough directions for how to get there. Getting to the look out involved about a half mile hike both directions. I LOVED working with Paul and Carmen because I said "mile hike" and they said "ok". It's not every day you get clients who don't mind a sweaty walk to get their photos.
This is the happy couple and their precious dog Indi right as we set out for our hike.
After a bit of hiking we thought we had arrived at this lookout point, but then discovered we were not in the right place. We kept hiking, turning off on random trails that we thought would lead to the lookout. Only to discover after three false trails that we had been originally right the first time and needed to turn around. I promise we're not dumb, it's just honestly not that easy to tell.
So, we finally found the correct trail leading to the lookout. Getting to this point involved a wardrobe change in the woods, climbing down into the rocks then back up while holding camera gear (me), or a dog (Paul), or wearing skinny jeans (Carmen). Not your typical mountain experience. We deserve props for even attempting this.
I think the view was totally worth it.
Thanks for being willing to do all the ridiculous things I asked of you guys. I loved working with you and I can't wait to see you again for your October wedding!