On this eve of Thanksgiving, I’m reminded of all the things I’m thankful for. There are the obvious things, like having a roof over my head and a loving family, as well as the smaller things, like the way my son smelled as he fell asleep rubbing my arm as he lay on my chest. Among the things I’m most thankful for is that I’ve been allowed into the most intimate moments of people’s lives. I’ve been in business for six and a half years now and every time I think of how far I’ve come (and have yet to go!) I can’t help but smile. I’ve always thought that my smile was more of an inner smile, until a client at a commercial shoot last week started laughing and said, “Do you realize that you smile every single time you take a picture? Without fail. Every time. It’s something I’ve never seen!”
I smile because I’m thankful for you. Thank you for sharing your hearts. Thank you for trusting in me. Thank you for loving one another wildly and unabashedly and valuing the importance of the littlest moments and choosing to document them on film. Thank you for referring me to friends like Dana and Ryan, who were recently wed in an art gallery in front of their closest friends. And thank you for being comfortable enough in your own skin to laugh, cry and rejoice in front of me. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly and am grateful for the opportunity to serve you.
– Holly
Here are a few of the many people that made this day possible:
Venue: Panama City Centre for the Arts
Photography: Holly Gardner Photography
Cake: Fatty Patty’s Bakery
Officiant: Dawn Brooks
Hair: Indulgence Salon & Spa
Makeup: Becca Griffith
Rentals: Panache Tent & Event
