We know we’re blessed beyond belief.

We have been counting our blessings, enjoying our crazy, and laughing at the memes along the way.

As I edit a few family favorites, these two above photos popped out to me as a perfect summary of the last six weeks, really since the start of 2020. The personalities on these two are strong ya'll. Lots of crazy and lots of love, these two are keeping me on my toes and keeping me going. I wouldn’t change it for a thing!

It dawned on me while editing these today just how quiet I’ve been on social media, a tiny bit on purpose. That’s a big no no for wedding photographers. It’s expected of us to keep a consistent marketing presence at all times and not just consistency, but quality as well. Your brand needs a voice and gains value if it’s recognizable and relatable. However, it just didn’t feel like the right time to shout from the rooftops that I want to be your wedding photographer, we’re in uncharted territory, so I decided to give myself a little grace and enjoy solely being a mama during this little chapter in life. I took a much needed hiatus from social media (something that can be so refreshing for the soul), we’ve also had a good bit going on in our lives. Now that we’re finally taking a moment to breathe in all that’s happened the last couple of months I thought now is a great time to document our experience, even if it’s just for us to look back on.

We have been busy. Busy busy busy during 2020. We asked for most of it. Everything, but a pandemic, but we knew this time would be overwhelmingly busy, we just never could have imagined quite how much.

2020 came in like a storm for us and remained so. It was a roller coaster of excitement, anxiousness, disappointments, and pure joy over and over like we’ve never felt before, and we’ve been through a lot …this time around it was all just well…condensed. Before we knew it we were saying yes to moving our family 700 miles away, something we sought out and chased, but when it happened, it happened fast.

Huntsville Alabama has been calling our name for some time now, we believe in God-winks, and boy were there so many saying this is where we belong! We are so glad we said yes! We are planting roots and settling in for the long haul!

Since January, we celebrated a milestone birthday for Charlotte, daddy’s birthday, had birthday parties, sickness, nightly projects to get the house ready for sale (we’re talking many wee hours and exhaustion), more sickness, painting galore (I’m certain I qualify as a professional painter by now), took pride in the whole process of staging and photographing our home, put our house on the market, accepted an offer on day three, put an offer in on a house in AL, lost the sale of our home (yup, just as disappointing as it sounds), put our house on the market again, accepted an offer on day two (phew!), hopped on a plane to AL, said goodbye to daddy for five weeks, put in a new septic unexpectedly (the most stressful and expensive event we experienced), were struck by major sickness throughout our home (no I don’t think we had COVID-19), said goodbyes, had last days of school, lost goodbyes, lots of bittersweet emotions, went through all of the logistics that come with a big move, did our best to emotionally prepare our kiddos, and then finally packed our kids and dogs into a car and made a 724 mile journey in the midst of a pandemic (15+ hours in the car) while avoiding all public stops and no overnight stays. Phew. Thanks be to Audible and crushing books while driving. This was all just days before the shelter in place order took effect and all in a two month time-frame. Luckily I was well stocked on lysol at the time. No longer the case.

…Thank you wonderful AirBNB host for offering your last can to us!! The kindness and generosity we have felt since arriving here in Alabama has been overwhelming. This state is filled with beautiful souls!

All in all we survived, and as always, we’re stronger together because of it.

Maryn Graves Huntsville, AL Wedding Photographer

Some of my favorite quotes that kept us going….

“Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character.” Psalms 105:19
“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” -Winston Churchill
"Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead." -- Nelson Mandela.
“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. When life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus, and keep aiming.” - Unknown
“The man on the mountain didn’t fall there.” - Vince Lombardi
“Take the risk or lose the chance.”- Lawrence Westfall
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” - Jennifer Lee
“Never give up on anything you can’t go a day without thinking about.” - Winston Churchill
"Don't give up on your dreams, or your dreams will give up on you." - John Wooden.
"Press on. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." -- Ray Kroc.
"I don't focus on what I'm up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest." -- Venus Williams.
“The biggest adventure you can take is to live the life of your dreams.” - Oprah Winfrey
“Without dreams and goals, there is merely existing, and that is not why we are here.” - Mark Twain

…. and lastly

“If anyone ever tells you your dreams are silly, just remember there’s a millionaire walking around out there who invented the pool noodle.” - Unknown

In the midst of it all…a pandemic breaks out…

We are thankful, we know so many are struggling, juggling school and work, or illness and uncertainty, many are finding creative ways to get through this trying time, several including us are living with a little fear, but we are doing our best to count our blessings all while our hearts go out to our community, the nation, and the world right now. We’re all in this together..six feet apart, of course. We are each weathering this storm differently in our own unique ways.

Now, we’re spending our days social distancing, having dance parties, baking cookies, having family sleepovers, hiking, taking long walks, pausing more, catching up with dear friends on video chat, getting settled into a new home, taking on big projects to pass the time (putting a play-set together is not an easy task ya'll), getting acquainted with wonderful new neighbors, and going a little stir crazy. We are counting every blessing and are so very thankful for a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, healthy bodies, mostly steady work...and these two beautiful souls that make every single day worth living.

Our hearts are full, so full.

Just like many others we’re taking the time to pause and breathe in the extra moments, slow down a bit, make more meals as a family, juice more, and bake more cookies… it’s all about balance right? haha. We have literally been spending TOO much time in the kitchen.

Where do we go from here?

All the while, Maryn Graves Productions has been quiet these last few weeks as I've shifted my intentions as so many have, just temporarily. I’ve purposefully given myself this much needed grace. MGP is my heart and soul, but I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. Our little family has been busy making this dream come true a reality and tackling every obstacle along the way, I’ve been taking care of my couple's behind the scenes who have made some very difficult decisions to postpone their special days (I am here for you all, in any way I can help!), we’re taking extra precautions to keep our family safe, and reflecting on the things most important to us during this current chapter in life.

I am also coming to realize I need some more hobbies ya’ll! I now have a lengthy checklist, haha! Currently, I’ve become a little obsessed with decorating our home. As a non-essential employee and creative, I have too much creative energy I need to get out, so I’ll just keep pretending I’m Joanna Gaines until I’m back at work full-time :) Silver lining is that we are very settled into our new home, even our garage is cleaned out!

However, as our new community and state begins to slowly reopen and we approach a new normal, I too am excited to get back to work and serve this wonderful new community that we are so proud to now call home here in Huntsville, Al.

Hello Huntsville!

Let’s chat, are you interested in photography? Not quite ready to book? Want to just say hello? Planning a wedding for 2021? Curious about MGP or how I plan to implement safe sessions in the near future? Let’s connect. I am SO excited to meet you and your beautiful families.

We’re all in this together! It would be an honor to capture your memories and a little piece of this history for you!

Thanks for taking a minute to get to know me! Can’t wait to meet YOU!!

XOXO, Maryn

#hsv #huntsvillebride #huntsvilleweddings #huntsvillephotographer #huntsvilleal #hsval #huntsvilleweddingphotography #huntsvillevenues #huntsvillealabama #southernbrides #southernweddings #alabamaphotographer #alabamaweddingphotographer #alabamafamilyphotographer #alabamafamilyphotography #TNphotographer #Tennesseebride #Tennesseeweddings #Tennesseephotographer #nashvilletn #nashvilleweddingphotography #southernbrides #southernweddings #alabamaphotographer #alabamaweddingphotographer #alabamafamilyphotographer #alabamafamilyphotography #Tennesseefamilyphotography #tennesseefamilyphotographer #tennesseeweddinghotographer