Welcome to my new blog! Thank you so much for taking the time to visit! I’m definitely breaking some key blogging “rules” by posting this so late in the day, but I was too excited to wait any longer to share it!!!!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a blogger…long before I ever wanted to be a photographer. This is my first time blogging though (if you don’t count the embarrassing Xanga I had as a freshman in highschool), so bear with me as I’m still figuring everything out!

Even though I’m so excited, this is also a SCARY thing for me! Putting yourself out there is scary sometimes. Leading up to the moment I posted this, my mind has been filled with questions like: What if my sister is the only person who ever reads my blog?? What if I only ever have FIVE facebook fans?? What if people don’t like my pictures?? What if people don’t like ME???…but I’ve come to the realization that it’s okay…There will always be people who don’t like you or what you’re doing no matter how good it is. I’ve learned the hard way that living your life based on what others think is very unfulfilling (cliché..but so so true!)…no matter what happens I’m so thankful and excited to be pursuing this dream! I may only shoot THREE of my own weddings this year…but that’s okay! I’m choosing to never stop learning or growing and I’m so excited for the journey that comes with being a small business owner!

My dream is not to be a full-time photographer like a lot of others who enter this industry….My husband (who is my bestfriend and biggest supporter!) works full time during normal business hours and I can’t imagine being away from him every weekend! But I love people and building relationships, photography, planning, and the wedding industry as a whole – and I am so excited to be involved with it part-time!

Starting a photography business is like starting any other business though…it’s a HUGE investment – both of time and money. And the fact of the matter is: around 50% of small businesses fail within the first year and NINETY-FIVE PERCENT fail within five years. It’s risky and it takes really hard work to succeed…props to my photographer friends and mentors who have loved and supported me and who have worked so hard to succeed in this industry already!! I’m so thankful for your help and influence.

To those of you who already know and support me…thank you so much! It really means so much to me! And to those of you who don’t know me yet, I hope you’ll come back to see my images, learn more about my life as a newlywed in Richmond, and my love for Jesus, crafts, coffee, thrifting, home décor, and weddings!…You can also learn more about me by clicking the “meet annamarie” button in the search bar…and I’d be so thankful if you shared my blog and new facebook page with your friends!

I’m so excited to get to leave you with one more peek of Amanda’s bridal portrait session, because she is now officially MARRIED! How cute is she?? More soon!