While it may just sound like an excuse for procrastination, I really am glad I put off blogging this couples’ session for almost an entire year. 

I’d seen Morgan and Laramie around at our church for quite some time, and had always “pined” from a distance so to speak (haha!). They just seemed like such rad people and my husband and I had been longing for some more Young Married Couples of America friends (or YMCA for short- you can thank Laramie for that one).

So last December, when I found myself stuck indoors with my calendar nearly empty (thanks, Idaho Winter 2k16), I suddenly had the urge to do a cozy, intimate, in-home couples’ session for play. What’s better than being able to snuggle up with your loved one and fur babies on a gloomy winter day? 

One big reason why I love this business is that I know it’s not my own- it’s God’s. So whenever I have ideas in mind, I always like to pray about who I should ask to be my “models” so to speak, and God really blessed me when I asked him about this one. Morgan had already mentioned to me that she and Laramie had been wanting Christmas photos to send out to friends and family, and I instantly knew they would be the perfect couple for what I had in mind. So not only did we get to knock out 2 birds with one stone in that aspect, but little did they know it was the perfect opportunity for me to worm my way into their lives 😉 (Okay I’m mostly kidding here, but seriously- I was excited for the perfect excuse to hang out with them!) 

Little did I know that this day would just be the small beginnings to an incredible friendship. I look back on these photos fondly, and whenever Mike and I are over at their place, I can’t help but grin when I see them hanging on their walls. I hardly knew these two when we took these pictures, and yet, there’s nothing I would really change about them if I went and did this session now. Their love was so easy to capture; they are some of the funniest, sweetest people I know, and it’s always a blast hanging out with them. You can tell that God truly did make them for one another; they compliment each other so well. 

This probably sounds like a mushy love letter, but I don’t really care, because that’s kind of what this friendship with Morgan and Laramie has been from the beginning. The four of us even laughed about it on one of our first double dates- how Mike and I had been thinking “Should we ask them to hang out? What if they don’t want to. We don’t want to come across too clingy. They’re too cool for us.” And Laramie and Morgan had been feeling the same way! 

As we get ready to head to Mexico with them later this week, I can hardly believe Mike and I had gone so long without getting to know these two! If anything, it’s shown me what beautiful connections we can make with people if we just take a small step outside of our comfort zone. I’ve always been a person who above everything, treasures the friendships in her life, and Morgan and Laramie are no exception. 

I know I’ve said it before, but I hope you guys know how much Mike and I love you (and of course, Hardy, Ford, and Clooney!) and how thankful we are for your friendship (I mean c’mon, I wouldn’t have been introduced to the glorious world of Anime if it wasn’t for you two). I feel so honored that I was able to capture these moments of you guys last Christmas, and know that we’ll get lots more amazing photos on our trip! 

If you and your significant other are needing Christmas photos this year, or are the type to prefer snuggling up on the couch at home vs hiking or camping for fun, I would LOVE to be able to do more sessions like this one this year! Let’s make it happen. 

MAKAYLA MADDEN IS AN AWARD WINNING PORTRAIT AND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER BASED OUT OF BOISE, IDAHO (BUT SHE LOVES TRAVELING!). SPECIALIZING IN BOUDOIR, SENIOR, AND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY, MAKAYLA LOVES GETTING TO KNOW HER CLIENTS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A UNIQUE AND CUSTOM EXPERIENCE. TO BOOK YOUR SESSION, VISIT THE “CONTACT” PAGE.