Friday Phone Dump

A few of my favorite iPhone captures from the past month:
(more are available here or by viewing simplybeffie on Instagram)

Lately, I've become quite a fan of apps with a built-in camera self-timer. I love pictures of me and Zach together, but a lot of the time, it's just the two of us. Since we're rarely able to hand the camera off to someone else (read: we probably need some more friends), and since there's only so many "put your face next to mine and I'll hold the camera out in front of us" pictures one can take, using the self-timer has been a pretty good alternative for capturing our day-to-day life.


A few quick life updates via Friday's Letters, because it's been a while:

Dear Zach: I'm so insanely proud of you for finishing your first semester of college; you worked so hard! Enjoy the rest of your short break before summer classes start up next week. Womp.

Dear Weather: I understand that it can't be sunshine and 80 degrees every day, but do you think you could schedule your gross clouds of doom some time while I'm stuck in an office. It's just cruel to see pretty blue skies all week as I'm working only to have thunderstorms in the forecast for the entire weekend (you know, when I could actually be outside enjoying the weather.)

Dear NCIS: How am I supposed to wait until September for Season 11? I don't do well with cliffhangers.

Dear Duke University: I know our relationship wasn't the greatest, but I feel like things have been better between us in this post-graduate year. Needless to say, I'm a little hurt that my NetID is no longer valid. Bye-bye, Duke email address :(

Dear Roadtrip-less Weekend: I'm actually pretty excited for you. It's been a while.

Dear Pullen Park: You are a ridiculously cool place. I predict many picnics together in our future :)

Dear Life: I've said this a lot recently, but it absolutely blows my mind, so I'll say it again. Roughly a year ago, I was living in a dorm, finishing my final exams, applying to any job opening I could find, and skyping with my long-distance Marine Corps boyfriend. Um, what? I'm now living in an apartment in a new city, I'm forever finished with final exams as I have a college diploma, I'm a full-time graphic designer for a nonprofit organization, and I'm married. How is it possible for that much to happen in a year?!

Dear Allie Brosh: I'm glad you're back. And I've been there.

Dear Apartment: Since we're spending the entire weekend in town and it's supposed to rain, be prepared for many creative indoor projects. Yay!

Happy weekend, all :)

Senior Portraits // Corrie: Sneak Peek

A couple of years ago, seemingly out of nowhere, friends began approaching me with requests to photograph their engagement portraits / weddings / families / etc. I thought it was cool that people liked my photography enough to ask me to capture such significant moments in their lives despite the fact that I had never promoted myself (or even viewed myself) as a photographer, just an artist. I also thought it was cool to see photos that I had taken featured on save the dates, Christmas cards, and wedding guest books.

However, it didn't take long for me to learn that I had no desire to make a part-time job out of photography! After shooting a wedding last summer, I hung up my camera and went almost an entire year without agreeing to a photo session.

Then... my sister asked if I would take her senior portraits.

How was I supposed to say no to that?

Of course, I couldn't (say no, that is). I was beyond honored that Corrie -- and my mom, since we all know these photos are more for her than for my sister -- wanted me to document her during her final month (eek!) of high school.

I drove into Winston-Salem this past weekend and came out of photography retirement just for a day. Here's just a few shots I captured during our time together.









I'm so excited to share the rest, because they're crazy good! (Keep in mind that you only have to be an adequately talented artist/photographer when the subject is insanely gorgeous.)

However, I'm a huge advocate for individuals and their families being able to view their photos before the rest of the world sees them via social media (I feel like I'm sharing secrets that aren't mine to share, plus I just know how weird it is to have lots of people texting you about photos of yourself that you haven't yet seen), so you'll simply have to wait a week to see more.

What a tease :)

Currently // May

ATTEMPTING to write one snail mail letter every day in May. I just took four letters to the post office, and it's only the 3rd day of the month, so I'm off to a solid start.

BRAGGING on my college Spanish partner who got drafted to the NFL last weekend.

CLEARING out clutter in the name of spring cleaning. In the apartment, in my office, on this blog (hello, redesign in process). Fresh starts are oh-so-good.

DELIGHTING in the feeling of holding a printed publication that I designed.

ENJOYING the little things, like lunch dates and four month anniversaries and getting a really good roll in Pass the Pigs.

FEELING creatively-inspired for the first time in a quite a while. Insanely inspired. Look out, world.

GETTING ready to hit up Starbucks for half off frappucchinos :)

LOOKING forward to dinner in Durham tonight with some of my dearest Duke friends.

LOVING absolutely everything about this website.

PACKING for a weekend roadtrip to Winston-Salem.

PLANNING some upcoming blog posts for this little space and figuring out how it fits into my post-graduate, newlywed life.

PREPARING for a month of celebrating my youngest sister and her high school graduation.

RAVING over the turkey burgers Zach made for dinner last night. And the jambalaya he made the night before that.

REFLECTING on my life a year ago: days away from submitting my final college paper, traveling to the beach with my high school friends, & getting my diploma and a diamond all in the same evening!

SMILING at an email my dad sent me after seeing one of my recent projects:"Has anyone ever told you that you should go into graphic design? :)"

TACKLING new art projects. I can't wait to share more soon!

TAKING more pictures. (Ironically, this post has no photos. Whoops!) I find it easy to only break out my camera for "big events" like birthdays and weddings and trips, but I absolutely love the recent photos I have from our day-to-day lives.

THINKING that we need a mini-vacation. Thoughts on where we should go?

Happy weekend, friend!