Monday, July 23, 2012

Kenneth + Mary: married love // paris, tx couple portrait photographer


luck will leave you cause it is a faithless friend
and in the end when life has got you down
you've got someone here you can wrap your arms around
so hold on to me tight
hold on, I promise it'll be alright
we are stronger here together than we could ever be alone
so hold one to me, don't you ever let me go.
//michael bublĂ© // hold on

                                                
                                    So these fab people are my uncle and aunt.                                              
Yep. I'm rather blessed with incredibly gorgeous family.  Born with it! ;)

He's hilarious. She's an artist. They're both precious children of God.
The truth is, they're some of the coolest people you could ever meet. Ever.
They've been married 5 and a half years...but they were sweethearts ages before that. Ever since I can remember, if there was Kenneth, there was Mary. Period. And that's one thing that, despite all the years together, has never changed.
They are clearly deeply, madly, hopelessly in married love. :)
Despite the abundance of shared smiles, giggles and jokes that clearly shows they make each other very happy, the married days have not been easy for these two. 
Several years ago Mary was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which, with its complications, has lead her to face the grim reality of 22 surgeries {the latest of which she was just released Friday to go home from the hospital to recover from.} EDS is a condition that really has effected almost every area of her extremely active lifestyle. Because, frankly, Mary is one of the liveliest  people I know. She is bold, vibrant, creative, athletic, and determined: a girls' volleyball couch and high school art teacher that lives with such vigor and tenacity that I have always thought of her as inspirational. 
Some people would say that it was an injustice for someone "like Mary" to have something as serious and debilitating as EDS. But I think it should be seen as quite the contrary. Mary is a very strong person. More importantly, Mary serves a God whose very weakness is stronger than man's strength. It is her faith in Him that, despite all the pain and despair she faces, allows her to maintain an optimistic outlook on life which means that is rather a blessing in disguise that God would trust someone "like Mary" to carry this burden and learn more of Him, His sacrificial love and suffering. She  may not have the strength in herself to carry it, but the Lord does and when she is overwhelmed, He will lead her to the Rock that is higher than herself.
God knows and has always known Mary's needs more than any doctor or specialists could ever begin to fathom. And one of those needs I believe He has filled is in blessing her with Kenneth: A husband that is gentle in his care, genuine in his concern, and incredibly faithful in his love for the woman God has joined him together with.
Another grand blessing that is even now, hard for me to wrap my mind around is how God delivered them from what they thought was a permanent vale of sorrows. When she was diagnosed it soon became very clear that due to her EDS it would be impossible for Mary to successfully carry a child to a survivable age. Though they struggled with the prospect of barrenness for some time, through more research it became clear that it would be possible for them to get pregnant. And so it was that, in God's perfect sweet timing, they were blessed with Atlas Elizabeth who is today one year old, rambunctiously active, and mind-blowingly healthy for such a rocky start to life. 
This necklace is a gift from Kenneth to represent their family. 
The Daddy bird, Mama bird, and baby bird. :)
I suppose it should be briefly mentioned that there is a bit of a unique height difference between these two...of course its a great challenge for me as a photographer to think outside the box of go-to poses but I think it makes them that much more interesting. Its a neat look and they pull it off smashingly. ;)
I told them to dance and Kenneth totally went for the awkward 8th grade side to side slow dance....sadly, his dancing skills may be a bit on the rusty side. ;)
And then he dipped her. All my faith in him was restored.
He also earned some brownie points with me for willingly going along with replicating a "Pinterest pose" I was trying hard to describe.
And also carrying her. That was pretty cool, too. ;)
I'm not supposed to let you know that Mary was in a hole and Kenneth was on a bit of a hill for these...but...now you know. Whoops. ;)
gracious sakes alive. rawr.
Feel. the. love.
'Cause it's you and me together and baby all we've got is time
So hold on to me, hold on to me tonight 
~Through Christ's Love  

By the way, don't know if you can tell but the other day, I BOUGHT VSCO FILM!!! It has been sooooo worth it. Its brilliant. Simply brill-E-ant. :)

13 comments:

  1. Wow Allix! These are gorgeous shots. Each and every one of them! You shot so many great poses - I love it! :)

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  2. ALLIX. I love these. like a lot. that's all. :)

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  3. awesomesauce. beautiful work, girl.

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  4. Whoa!! Girl, I am in LOVE with your photography skillz. ;) You're amazing!!

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  5. ohmyword! these are absolutely beautiful and perfect <3

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  6. They're amazing. You're amazing. And I can't think of anything else to say...speechless. :)

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  7. holy gorgeous girl, and those lensflares are probably the new best thing. :) BOOM. I love 'em.

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  8. These are so gorgeous, Allix!! i lovelovelove all the different poses. and the sunflares. gah. ;)

    xx

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  9. These are a-mazing, Allix!! Especially love the ones in the field of him carrying her...super sweet. =) Your photography is so inspiring, Allix! The Lord has given you such a beautiful gift! =) Blessings!

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  10. these are so gorgeous, Allix! :) you did a great job!

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  11. gurl. just... gurl.... I'm in a state of lovely shock. oh, myyyyyyy.

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  12. Lllllloooooovvvveeee em! Thanks for doing such a good job!

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  13. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE these!!! You have an amazing gift!

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Hey!! You're commenting!! You are so nice :) Thanks for making my day. :D