David & Rebecca // Hines Wedding

When they started talking about a year ago, I don't think even David and Rebecca could've pictured how beautiful this day would be. She was from California and moved to Alaska; he was from Georgia, born and raised. But what God joins together, let no man part asunder. 

Everything about this day was sweet and personal. From the DIY table decorations to the heartfelt vows they wrote for each other, all the work that was put into preparation paid off. Grandpa performed the ceremony; there was hardly a dry eye as the couple recounted God's hand in the timeline of their relationship, and looked forward to His continued guidance as they promised each other faithfulness in the best and the worst of times. It was a small, intimate wedding, which I think is especially beautiful. Looking around at the reception, every person there was meaningful in the lives of the couple. 

David and Rebecca, thank you so much for letting me a part of your special day and showing such an example of Christ's love for each other and those close to you. Best wishes to you in your future life together!

Thank you to Anna Claire from AC Photography for second shooting!

 

Brother, Let Me Be Your Shelter

feel free to open this up in another tab and listen as you scroll: 

Brother

ramblers in the wilderness we can't find what we need

get a little restless from the searching

get a little worn down in between

like a bull chasing the matador is the man left to his own schemes

everybody needs someone beside em' shining like a lighthouse from the sea 

face down in the desert now there's a cage locked around my heart

I found a way to drop the keys where my failures were

now my hands can't reach that far 

I ain't made for a rivalry I could never never take the world alone

I know that in my weakness I am strong, but

it's your love that brings me home 

brother let me be your shelter

I'll never leave you all alone

I can be the one you call when you're low

brother let me be your fortress 

when the night winds are driving on 

be the one to light the way

bring you home 

and when you call and need me near

sayin' where'd you go?

brother I'm right here

and on those days when the sky begins to fall 

you're the blood of my blood

we can get through it all

Thank you to NEEDTOBREATHE for this song which inspired this shoot. It kind of stops my heart every time it comes on the radio. These photos stop my heart a little bit, too. Also huge thank you to my model Abby, who was willing to traipse through the wilderness with me. Pun totally intended. It was glorious to be able to get out and create something again, and I'm ever so grateful for the moments when the life is full of music and beauty and things like this happen!

Walk With Me: Stars in the Night

 

hallelujah

we're running to you 

on fire from the mercy in your eyes

and through the dark 

singing we are yours

your love will lead us through the fight 

like stars in the night

The guest blogger for this entry doesn't actually know that he is the guest blogger. 

Watch the video below and you'll understand. 

I can’t help but think how the stars kinda like God’s promises to us.In the night of our shame we can hear Him in the sky echoing through the night, there’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.We all have those days, those season of life we just wish would go on forever, you know, where the sun is shining the sky is open before us and feels like, feels like dreams could go on forever. Then everyday comes to an end doesn’t it? The light gets chased from the sky and the night comes in, Darkness falls and we fall too. Fall into the doubt and shame. We lose hope, we lose faith. The midnight of the soul reminds us that we’re still in this world trembling in the wake of the fall, and yet when the night falls the stars come outAnd I think about how sailors used to be guided by the stars, you know, fixed their gaze on the constellation and through the darkest night they just kept sailing. And I can’t help but think how the stars kinda like God’s promises to us. In the night of our shame we can hear Him in the sky echoing through the night, there’s now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. In the night of our confusion and our pain we don’t even have words to muster, we can gaze upon that promise where He says, “the spirit intercedes for us” cuz we don’t even know what to pray for. I know my life is gonna see some nights, but I’m thankful that the God who created both day and night remembered to make the stars. I’ve got a feeling that if I keep my eyes fixed, I’ll see the sunshine again.-Mike
Posted by Tenth Avenue North on Thursday, April 16, 2015

the photo was taken on the Irish beachside at Inchydoney Resort - I'd do anything to go back

Walk With Me: Miles to Go

Sometimes life throws you curve balls. For instance, a month with fewer days, a leaky water bottle, an incapacitated laptop, and travelling in a foreign country can sometimes heavily delay blog posting. 

Without further adieu, ladies and gentlemen, the long-awaited words of Miss Grace Doolittle. 

Miles to Go 

by Grace Doolittle

Winter reminds me of a journey.

A melancholic season alternately distant, cold, and yet at times comprised of warm and bright. There are the beautiful hidden jewels of a snowy day, the diaphanous splendor of early morning sun as it kisses fresh snow, illuminating the world far better as a pair than either ever could alone.
Of course there are the dark days too. Grey, cold, and uninviting, accentuated by the howling winds that make their whistling ways through every available crack and crevice, sinking into your bones. It’s days like this that magnify the struggles and press with invisible hands the blankets on my bed in a forceful persuasion to sleep, to suspend my efforts, to give in to complaint and up to life. 

It’s days like this that I imagine Robert Frost at his table, dripping words onto the page: and miles to go before I sleep…

Winter reminds me of promises, unbreakable and eternal—so taken for granted that, like spring, we merely expect their eventual fulfillment. Beautiful promises that take cold winter and dark valleys to remind us how much we need their light; and when at last they do arrive they seem a far lovelier thing for their absence.

I am thankful for the dark, cold nights of the soul, for the barren, lonely places on my knees where I question the promises and feel forsaken; they only test my faith and prove my trust, making the sunlit, grassy slopes, the home with its faintly twinkling lights through frost-paned windows, all the lovelier.

Let us gather then, in the midst of the cold and dark—you who are wandering through deep snow and biting cold, fighting through the dark night of the soul and yearning for home with miles yet to go. The promises are still there, and truth is still true.

There is always grace for the long journey home. 

Model: Jenna Sliwinski 

PC: Rachel Lynn Photography 

Walk With Me: Haiti

I could not be more excited to launch Walk With Me,

 a monthly blog series that will be hosted here this year featuring someone else's work, adventures, and heart. 

 I am so honored to start this series off with the photographs and words of a precious young woman I have been privileged to meet and get to know over this past year. 

photo taken by Allie Joel Poteat

Brie Rotelle has beautifully shared not only her photographic memories from her trip to Haiti a month ago, but also her deep love for the people she encountered. 

On that note, I'll hand it over to Brie as she tells you her story. 

*     *     *

     After my college semester ended last December, I hopped on a plane to visit my best friend Courtney in Haiti. She had lived at an orphanage for three months, helping to care for 19 children. I went down to visit her, get a glimpse of her life there, and learn to love the people that she loves. I took lots of pictures, but I have been hesitant to share them because I don't want to do it in the wrong way. The people in these photos are real people, who go through real life, who feel and think real things. I want to make sure that they are shared in respect and dignity for those who I now call my friends. With that being said, I hope that these photos can give you a glimpse of the life I experienced while in Haiti. 

These are the hands of Courtney, my friend, and Rudulph, a 4 year old  boy who constantly looked up at us to hold him. 

I went with Courtney and Ebnod (her good friend) to visit Ebnod's family. It was a 5 hour bus ride, so I got to see a lot of the beautiful country of Haiti!

These two girls are neighbors/cousins to Ebnod that came to hang out with us. I noticed that hospitality in Haiti means let you sit down, give you food, and carry on with life as you chat. 

This is Ebnod, one of the strongest women I have ever met. I really respect her attitude towards people and her determination to, through God's strength, thrive. 

I'm pretty sure that this is conch, which was defiantly out of my comfort zone to eat, but eat it I did! They had been saving this for us... just another example of hospitality and care!

This is Courtney with Ebnod and her mom. 

A glimpse of their friendship. 

This is David, a boy in the orphanage who constantly had a smile. He cares deeply for the others he lives with and shows it through his carful consideration of them in their interactions. He would patiently point and quiz me on my Creole (which consisted of words like mouth, nose, and hello), smiling when I got it right, and waiting when I got it wrong. I love his servant's heart and am so thankful for the chance to get to know him.  

Mishline is the quiet, sweet one of the group. She was the first one to tell me she loved me, a moment I'll treasure forever. This photo was taken by Courtney. 

Richard is the oldest boy, and does as much if not more as the women who work in the orphanage. He is so responsible and cares so deeply for the rest of the kids. His faith is everything to him, which is a beautiful thing to see. 

Taking "crazy" pictures with David, Lidia, and Michael

Courtney says that if Tanya was one of the seven dwarfs, she would be bashful. Her young joy rubs off on everyone around her. 

Wilky, the most gentle boy with the sweetest laugh, drawing. 

All dressed up for the Christmas party at school!

They all were taking silly pictures with Courtney's computer. Laugher was very much a part of this time!

Peterson playing with one of his new toys

Everyone loved the ring-pops we brought them! The perfect combination of candy and toys.

Wilguens, Courtney's friend, with someone from another orphanage. His love for God comes out in everything he does, and his humility, even through all of his accomplishments, is a beautiful picture of God's work in his life. 

This is Stacy, Ebnod's daughter. I think she is SO beautiful!

-Haitian sunset-

New Year, New Ideas

Well, I missed the end of the year blog post - so I'm doing a start of the year blog post. 2014 was absolutely amazing and I am SO excited already for what is coming in 2015. Rachel Lynn Photography has some announcements coming up within the next couple months that I am pretty stoked about, and hope you will be too! 

To start off all the wonderful things, I realized that over the holidays the Facebook page passed 500 likes! Yay everybody! You're all fantastic. So, I would like to offer a free 8x10 print of the photo of your choice - whether it is from a shoot you've had with me in the past or one of the other photos from more artistic shoots that I've done on my blog. Follow the three instructions in the photo above and your name will be entered into a drawing for the photo. The last day to enter is Sunday, January 18th and the winner will be announced on Monday, January 19th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day!  

Enjoy!