There is something so beautiful about a woman who is expecting! There’s a warmth and a glow, a genuine excitement that is noticeable- even without words. What I love even more, is when an expectant father is just as thrilled to be welcoming a precious life into this world. His gentle touch, his protective stance, his tender heart are apparent as he interacts with his wife and his sweet baby.

Such is the case with Alex and Shelley, a couple I’ve had the privilege of capturing since before their engagement. How awesome to have been a part of so many of the major milestones in their life over the past several years!

Now, just weeks away from celebrating the birth of little Audrey; I too am sitting on pins and needles. I can’t wait to see how adorable she will be. A little princess who is sure to carry a Coach bag in one hand and a fishing pole in the other! A little girl who will grow up knowing the love of a mom and dad who have anticipated this day their whole lives.

Thanks Shelley and Alex for trusting me with another precious moment in your journey. I can’t wait to hold sweet Audrey and tell her just how blessed she is to have you both as parents!

Hands down my favorite of the day. Love how he loves his girls.

I usually don’t post portions of weddings on the blog as “stand alone sets,” because I feel like a story should be told from beginning to end.  However, I just keep coming back to Rebecca and Ryan’s first look.  It was powerful. Moving.  Humbling even,  to know this couple trusted me enough to be there with them- raw emotion and all. And, since I came up with that rule, I’m choosing today to modify it for the sake of giving you not only a precious Friday pick me up, but a glimpse into why these first look moments truly are so priceless. Besides, these images really do tell a story, from the stunning bride waiting patiently for her groom, to his pleasant surprise at seeing the love of his life; from smiles to tears, tender hugs to big laughs. This is a story of anticipation and great love. It’s the story of their very first look.

You see, I always encourage brides to really consider this as a viable and wise option for their day. It helps the schedule to run smoothly, provides ample time to capture lovely couple images without cutting into the reception and honestly aids in the calming of nerves for both the bride and groom. What I also share is that a first look is so intimate, personal and touching- oh and it doesn’t have parameters on it. A first look gives you more than a glimpse to soak in the beauty of the moment. In fact, 10 years ago, my husband and I experienced a first look and it’s the single moment I treasure the most from our entire day- besides when our pastor pronounced us husband and wife!

Yet, as with many things in life, words aren’t always enough to convince. Sometimes we need to see with our eyes and experience with our hearts the beauty of these first moments, without a large crowd… just 2 people, completely in love, setting eyes on one another for the first time on their wedding day.

For some time now, my creative juices and those of my family (specifically my awesome hubby, Rahul and my talented cousin, Sarah) have been working in overdrive! You’ll be seeing some really fun changes over the next couple of months that will reflect some of those late night brainstorming sessions; but this evening I want to introduce you to a new feature annie agarwal photography will be incorporating after sweet couples say, “I Do.”

The wedding spotlight will:

- showcase a few key shots to help you catch a glimpse into the awesome celebration of the bride and groom

- hold you over until the full length blog post is up

Lauren and Adam were the first wedding of 2011, so I thought it fitting to let them be the trial run for this new idea. The newlyweds also have their own site, where I’ll make some posts and general updates about the progress of their images. We’re still tweaking this system, but will be offering it to those tech savvy couples when they “Save the Date” with annie agarwal photography.

See… I told you- lots of fun and creative ideas are in the works. But for now, enjoy these images of the lovely Lauren and her handsome groom, Adam!

I’m still here! I’ve just been so busy working, planning and dreaming… (that’s another post all together), that I’ haven’t posted in a bit. Here are a few things I’m working on. Each will soon find their own place on the blog, but for now, enjoy these delicious sneaks!