Things I Love Thursday


What's with all these series?
You might be thinking.
Well, as a photographer/Etsy shop owner my days are mostly filled with taking photos, editing photos, buying supplies, marketing, trying to do math, emailing, driving, sewing, knitting, making other artsy things and all around general craziness that goes along with all of that.
Which leaves not as much time for blogging as I would like.
And since I always have more ideas than time to actually implement them, I thought having a series/feature, a regular routine of some various posts, would help me during my busier weeks, so I at least know I'll have one or two posts scheduled as opposed to being radio silent over here. 
And hopefully you'll enjoy them too of course!

This series is one that, similar to Fashion Friday's, I've been thinking about for a while. 
I think it all started when I was doing some cleaning out in the fall and I came across various treasured things of mine that, as silly and unimportant as they may look to the average Joe, actually mean quite a lot to me.
For instance, the colorful lion piggy bank that used to be my Mom's when she was a little girl, the collection of hand sewn felt Winnie The Pooh characters I made when I was 8, the miniature peter rabbit tea set that my grandmother bought me when I was little, or that necklace my best friend made me in high school which I really probably wouldn't wear now but I love so very much.

I love the stories the things we own tell.

They seem insignificant to most, but to us they hold cherished memories, stories from the past or of the future, and a seemingly unimportant knick knack can be oh so much more.

And while I was cleaning things out I realized this.
It also made me realize what things I really valued and meant a lot to me and helped me realize what I needed to keep and what I really didn't. 
It's not so much that I'm putting too much value in the things of this world, and owning stuff, but it's more that I appreciate more the things I do have.
Because I really have been blessed with so much.
And if showing you a few photos of some of my cherished belongings/junk each week helps remind me of that and prevents me from buying less junk when I go thrifting, well gosh darn I'm going to do it.
Because that's partially why I started this blog in the first place.
To be reminded of the little things in life that make me happy and that even when there's seemingly nothing to be happy about or thankful for, there really always is.
You just have to look harder sometimes.

So, starting next week I will be introducing...


I'm pretty excited about it.

Urbanna

A few weeks ago Meagan and I took a roadtrip to Urbanna.
Adventures with this lady are always the grandest.
We usually end up belting out soulful ballads at the top of our lungs in the car (Sometimes actual songs, sometimes made up songs. All completely in tune of course) eating Chickfila at least once, exploring abandoned houses and of course documenting everything with our cameras/iPhones all while pretending to be models.
My kind of outing.
Here are a few photos from the day.
Also be sure to see Meagan's gorgeous post from our trip as well!
P.s. I know. Meagan is stunning. I can't get over it either.


Just Givens


Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

There are some things that are just givens.

Like listening to Norah Jones on a rainy day
Or going to the dollar store before you go to a movie to load up on as much junk food as possible
Or if you can't sleep you listen to the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack
Or if you wake up at dawn you listen to the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack
Or that you drive with the windows down as frequently as possible, good hair day aside
Or when you're reading a story to little kids, you obviously have to have different voices for all of the characters
Or if you pass a field of dandelions you have to pick at least one and make a wish
Or when a Taylor Swift song comes on the radio, you turn it up and sing along at the top of your lungs, because let's be real, everyone does it regardless what they think of her
Or when you take a photo with your film camera you always look at the back of it to see the photo, forgetting for a split second you're not shooting digital
Or going for a walk barefoot because it's warm enough to
Or getting sand in the books you bring to the beach but being okay with it because when you re-read them next fall it will remind you of good times
Or drinking coffee in the morning, even if it's not to wake you up but to just hold something warm
Or telling a stranger you like their dress because they look like they could use someone being nice to them
Or when you're in the middle of nowhere and it's the most gorgeous day you've ever seen, you stop, stand still, close your eyes and just breathe. Because you need to take it in and feel the way you feel right then and there and not forget it

Wake Up With The Rain

Came across these photos from last Fall.
They're nothing extra special really, but they remind me of a really great day with some of my favorite people.
It was rainy and wet but nonetheless beautiful.
A Norah Jones on repeat kind of day.
A knitting in the car kind of day.
A almost too chilly to not have a scarf but not quite chilly enough to have one kind of day.
One of my favorite kind of days.



Life According To Instagram

This week I...

-Shared some beautiful words that have spoken to me lately
-Had several successful photo shoots, including a bridal, wedding and styled shoot that I'm exceptionally excited about!
-Went to see The Great Gatsby. It was amazing. I'm already planning on seeing it again when it comes to The Byrd! If you haven't seen it yet, you need to! I'm this close to re-reading the book again. I'm obsessed I tell you.
-Talked about how I love shooting at night 
-Felt like traveling again (then again, when do I not?)
-Shared some photos of a beautiful lady on a beach
-Spent some good time with good friends
-Talked about how I, as a photographer, see the world
-Posted one of my favorite engagement sessions to date!
-Was thankful for the rain that came when I wished for it last week
-Celebrated my beautiful and amazing Mother, who is incomparable. I love her dearly. 


Follow me on Instagram at @agirlnamedleney

Night Scenes

The Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel
Shot with 35mm film/ Minolta x-700

"I'm in love with the way you're in love with the night"

I love shooting at night.
I don't do it very often but when I do there's always some sort of romanticism about it that makes me automatically love whatever images I capture.

Ej & Eliza

Meet E.j. and Eliza.
Have you seen a cuter couple?
I know.
They're adorable.
Not to mention such troopers!
You might not be able to tell, but the day we took these photos was freezing.
I didn't hear one complaint out of either of them the whole time though!
They were fabulous.
I really loved doing this engagement session.
In fact you long time readers might recognize the location from this photoshoot!
Yorktown is such a fun place to visit. I love that it's on the water, and it really is such a cute little homey town.
But anyway, I had a lovely time with these two, they were natural models and just downright drop dead gorgeous together so they made my job super easy. ;)
Enjoy!

 
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Check out more here.
Interested in getting some portraits of your own done?
Email me for more info: by.leney@gmail.com


The Perfect Love

Photo Cred: Meagan Abell

A friend of mine recently shared the following words with me, and I felt pressed to share them here.
I think they are so wholly beautiful and amazing.
I don't know the original source of these words, but I think I need to keep them in a place where I can read them often because their message is one I don't want to easily forget.


Everyone longs to give themselves completely to someone- to have a deep soul relationship with another- to be loved thoroughly and exclusively.
But God, to a Christian, says:
 "No, not until you are satisfied, fulfilled, and content with being loved by me alone- with giving yourself totally and unrservedly to me- with having an intently and uniquely personal relationship with me alone, discovering that only in Me is your satisfaction to be found, will you be capable of the perfect human relationship that I have planned for you.
You will never be united to another until you are united with Me... exclusively of anyone or anything else, Exclusive of any other desires or longings.
I want you to stop planning,
stop wishing,
and allow me to give you the most thrilling plan existing- one that you cannot imagine. I want you to have the best. Please allow me to give it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things- keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am.
Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait.
That's all.

Don't be anxious...
Don't worry.
Don't look around at the things others have gotten or that I've given them.
Don't look at the things you think you want.
You just keep looking off and away up at Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you.

And then when you're ready,
I'll surprise you with a love far more wonderful then any you would dream of.
You see, until you are ready and until the one I have for you is ready (I am working at this moment to have both of you ready at the same time), until you are both satisfied exclusively with Me, and the life I have prepared for you, you won't be able to experience the love that exemplifies your relationship with Me, and this is the perfect love."




My heart is so full with how incredible God really is.


Traveled

Image via my Instagram

I have wanderlust something fierce lately.
I just want to go explore and discover new places and see new things.
For now I will have to be satisfied in doing so with a good book I suppose.
Which is almost just as good.
Almost.