Gorgeous Couples Session in Abilene TX | Angela Wilson Photography

Oh my goodness, five more days until Christmas! Can you believe it? I was just telling someone a couple of days ago that this is my favorite time of year; between the holiday spirit, the lights, the food, the movies, pictures, and tree I just can’t decide what I love most.

With this being said, this season has been a busy one. I have found myself everyday racing around to get things done (on both personal and business levels). It seems I race to get a gallery out, make sure everyone’s gifts have been bought, deciding on food menus, and did I order this in time for Christmas Eve delivery? Pray for UPS because these poor men and women work their ever-living butts off this time of year. I’m setting out treats next year for them. So, with all this racing around, I find that I don’t get to enjoy it! I do this to myself so I’m not really complaining, rather I’m explaining. I think it’s time to sit back and reflect on how I want to spend December 2020, what to change. I know I can’t be alone, right? What are you going to change for 2020? Tell me below!

December 30th is my daughter’s fifth birthday. Would you believe I actually cried on Christmas Eve of 2014, at 6:00pm because I was coming to the realization that I would not be having a Christmas baby?! Lord, what in the world was I thinking? You guys, I actually wanted to have a baby on Christmas day! Here I am stressed about a birthday five days after Christmas when just a few short years ago I was praying – it’s amazing how hindsight works, really. I try so hard to make her birthday feel separate and special from Christmas but it’s very challenging!

Moving on, I get to tell you about a special couple I hold near and dear to my heart, Lauren and Riley! I worked with Lauren’s mom, Wendy, a very long time ago – we’ve kept in touch over the years and she reached out to me in 2018 to shoot her daughter’s wedding. I know this is going to sound like an exaggeration, but I swear to you, I turned the offer down at least four or five times. I felt that weddings “weren’t my thing” and that it’s too precious of a time, that you can never get those moments back if something happens with your camera gear. She’d remind me every month or so and finally, a photographer friend of mine said she’d come to Texas and shoot it with me, to not be afraid!

Well, that was the turning point. A small seed was planted in my mind and I considered it more and more. Finally, I contacted Wendy and let her know I’ll consider taking the wedding. Fast forward to a month later, we met at a tea house to discuss wedding day plans and formally become a team!

That day was amazing in multiple ways. First, I got my first taste of how important having a timeline and sticking to it was. Second, emotional storytelling is the most important aspect of photography for me. Third, the weather does not bend to your will. I cannot explain in a blog just how cold that wedding day was. And what’s worse, poor Lauren braved this freezing cold wind in a sleeveless (beautiful, mind you) dress with nothing over it. If you go through the pictures it is obvious the entire crowd was freezing – seated guests were covered in blankets, my second photographer was in a parka, and most of the bridal party is shivering or cowering from the bitter cold. No one wanted to take pictures. Everyone wanted to hurry the ceremony up so that we could warm up in the comfort of a big beautiful barn. To say it in short form: we got what we needed, there was no creativity, and we hustled our little booties inside. I’m proud to say one of the pictures of the bride and groom was a finalist in last year’s Shoot and Share contest.

There’s a reason for this backstory, I promise you. Lauren sent me a message on Instagram a couple months ago asking if it was possible for a couple’s session in the fall. While I had a packed schedule, I made room for her last week without hesitation. She mentioned she wished she had more pictures of just her and Riley and I was more than happy enough to comply.

The weather was glorious! Very few clouds were in the sky, no wind, and 60-degree weather – this was in stark contrast to their wedding last year! Her husband is a character as you can tell in the pictures below, it’s hard to get a serious face from him. I ran through a ton of prompts to help with emotion and movement for pictures and it worked like a charm.

My favorite part? Their dog, Cash! What a treat it was to meet their Chocolate Lab. So well behaved, he waited patiently in the bed of Riley’s pick up until the sun had fully set behind the hills for my favorite spot. This sweet boy sat on command and made eye contact with my camera just by calling his name. Of course, I couldn’t stop giggling because it was so adorable, but his ears would perk up if you said “treat”. Dogs will ALWAYS have a piece of my heart.

I want to take this time to wish all of you a Happy Holiday season and I hope Santa brings you everything you want! Most importantly of all, please remember the true reason for the season. Here’s to 2020, cheers!