enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

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I mentioned last week that Amanda of Driver Photo contacted me about an E&P photo shoot (her reason for why is unbelievably sweet). We were so happy to take her up on it two Saturdays ago. Amanda and her husband Nate came to our house and we shot downstairs (I really wanted to capture a bit of home in the photos) and then we wandered around the neighborhood. (The beach was much too windy!) I am so thrilled with the many shots they got.

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This is the third photoshoot we've embarked on and by now, we're almost pros. Paul has the forehead kiss down-pat and I've mastered "look-down while thinking about something sweet" gaze. Also I am well-aware that standing on tip-toes usually looks cute in photos.

But in all seriousness. I love them so much. I love seeing how we've grown over the past few years and even since our wedding. I know that sounds strange – it's a comment usually reserved for kids when comparing photos. But adults grow too. We change and adapt and learn.

And we are really learning. I think in some ways we are still settling into the grove of two again and in other ways are feeling the pressure over what's next. Working on staying open is important. Working on being kind is more important. Working on patience and trust and faith every day. As Professor Mad-Eye Moody would say, "CONSTANT VIGILANCE." Marriage is awesome, but marriage can be hard.

But long story short, THANK YOU Amanda & Nate. Thank you for reaching out. Thank you for being so sweet and wonderful (and quick!!) to work with. We're so honored and we will treasure these photos.

I am anticipating some questions … the art on the walls is from left to right : 5×7 print from For Me, For You in a C&B frame / art I made after taking Kal Barteski's script school workshop in a West Elm frame / a canvas I designed and had printed by CanvasPop* / a print by Austin Kleon from 20×200. The pink ikat pillow is by MoxieMandie. Our gray couch is West Elm and that photo of us on it was taken from the loft window on our second floor bedroom. That black and white striped rug is Crate & Barrel and those fantastic poofs were knitted by Robyn Devine. (See more of our downstairs here & here.) My dress is Old Navy and my arrow bracelet is Odette NY. My nail polish is by Essie, but I am not sure of the name.

*we were gifted this photoshoot but there was no pressure to blog about it. this is not a sponsored post, though I absolutely do recommend this photo team. 🙂

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49 responses to “so much photo love.”

  1. christen Avatar
    christen

    wonderful pictures!

    Like

  2. Sonja Avatar

    SO lovely pics! So lovely E&P!

    Like

  3. Amy Avatar

    These are so beautiful! You guys look great together, and the photographers definitely did a wonderful job 🙂

    Like

  4. Mandie Avatar

    They are really stunning! I love the black/white on your sofa…perfection.

    Like

  5. Kathy Avatar

    Congratulations on your 2nd wedding anniversary and your photographer has really captured both of you and I love the surrounding home ones…. you should get these done every anniversary…would be great to just have the “anniversary photo book” might need a book that you can update and put pages in but they are beautiful, no wonder you are so thrilled. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

    Like

  6. jodi Avatar

    so beautiful! what a sweet gift for you both. happy, happy anniversary.

    Like

  7. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Love the pictures and I love your straight hair!

    Like

  8. Debie Avatar

    Sweeeeeeeeeeet 🙂

    Like

  9. emily Avatar
    emily

    congratulations! These photos are gorgeous, and so sweet. I know you will be so happy you captured your home as well, as you look back. My faves are the ones outside the coffee hut 🙂

    Like

  10. Michelle Avatar

    Such sweet photos!! The love shines through.

    Like

  11. Cecilia Avatar

    we grow too. i love that. and now that i think about it, when i see pictures of my parents, who are very, very much in love, it’s either them when they were 20, or now that all the kids are out of the nest. i’m talking about couples pictures, you know. it makes me want to document mine and my husband’s love through the years ahead. you and paul are so lucky to have these photos.

    Like

  12. sherried Avatar
    sherried

    Great pictures. They made me smile. Have a great day.

    Like

  13. Michelle e Avatar

    Congratulations on your anniversary!! You’re so right about knowing your poses 😉 but seriously – you look so flirty and feminine in these pictures. Just gorgeous. 🙂

    Like

  14. Cheryl G. Avatar

    You two are adorable and the photos turned out amazing!

    Like

  15. Stephanie Avatar

    darling. so glad you guys are together.

    Like

  16. Jo Avatar

    u 2 r just way too photogenic, it’s too cute. love the picture on the couch which i noticed from ur week in the life pages. it’s lovely to find someone who can catch a couple’s feelings so perfectly. congrats on getting the right fit,
    jo xxx

    Like

  17. Libbi M. Avatar
    Libbi M.

    thank you for sharing this super sweet story. i adore the love that you both share.

    Like

  18. jenn Avatar

    you are beautiful.

    Like

  19. Christina C Avatar
    Christina C

    Thank you for sharing, they are all beautiful but the black and white one is my favorite!

    Like

  20. anka Avatar

    You two look beautiful together!

    Like

  21. Kim Avatar

    The photos turned out so great! I love that they are not ‘posed’ and show you guys just enjoying life together!

    Like

  22. Betsy Avatar
    Betsy

    Beautiful photos, beautiful couple!

    Like

  23. Carrie Rosalind Avatar

    Such sweet pictures! Glad you and Paul captured this time in your life, and love that you chose to do them in your home. 🙂

    Like

  24. ashley Avatar

    Your photos are amazing. They really look natural, not cheesey or posed at all. You two look like a couple who has fun & is madly in love. Really digging the bright pink dress too 🙂

    Like

  25. mer Avatar
    mer

    LOVE! i feel like i can hear your laugh when i look at these 🙂 marriage is hard, but you guys make it beautiful… love watching your journey!!!

    Like

  26. patsy de la torre Avatar

    thanks for sharing! i love the second photo the best- it’s so cool when the body language in a photo conveys the emotion without seeing the faces.
    also, you are rocking the bright pink dress!

    Like

  27. Megan Avatar

    These are amazing!

    Like

  28. Jenny Meyerson Avatar

    Love how you both look at one another. Truly that is magic.

    Like

  29. laura k Avatar

    Constant vigilance! Love it! I’m adapting to living with my partner, too, and you’re right. It’s wonderful but also requires a lot of awareness and adaptation and, yup, constant vigilance.

    Like

  30. Amanda Avatar

    I left a comment over on Amanda’s blog but I’ll leave it here, too:
    “I’ve been reading Elise’s blog for a little over 2 years now and from everything I’ve read there, it seems that you have captured the essence of E&P. Gorgeous photos!”

    Like

  31. Jennifer Avatar
    Jennifer

    It’s so great that you have these! You guys look fab – what a gift!

    Like

  32. Destiny Avatar
    Destiny

    Beautiful photos! It’s always wonderful to capture a moment in time. Also wanted to say that you are absolutely right; marriage is hard, but TOTALLY worth it. I never understood the whole ‘working on our marriage’ thing (I thought if you had to work on your marriage that you didn’t have a good one) until I got married almost 9 years ago. It’s a constant work in progress, but when I look back over all we’ve been through, I’m so thankful that we did work at it.
    Wishing you and your husband a lifetime of happiness.
    PS> I love reading your blog and i love that you often use the word ‘rad’! 🙂

    Like

  33. Nita K. Avatar
    Nita K.

    Love these photos! And your straight hair, too. Very cute.

    Like

  34. Linda Niehoff Avatar

    What sweet photos. The love definitely shines through.

    Like

  35. Krystal Avatar

    beautiful as always ❤

    Like

  36. Ali Avatar

    Elise. I’m not married. But I have been in a relationship for 7+ years and you DO have to work on relationships/marriages to make them work. full stop. no butts about it.
    Love the photos of you and Paul. So special!

    Like

  37. Amanda Driver Avatar

    So happy you both loved the photos! Here’s to many more years of love and happiness… ❤

    Like

  38. Trish Avatar

    how sweet! we just had our 2nd anniversary too but didn’t do anything “significant” to celebrate it. we should do something like this for our next. thank you for the inspiration 🙂

    Like

  39. Karen Avatar
    Karen

    Those are so beautiful! I really loved looking through them, they seriously made me teary-eyed – which seems a little ridiculous because I don’t know you personally, but you guys are so clearly happy and in love and so young and cute…
    Plus, I’m a sap! 🙂
    Great pictures, and as always thanks for the peek at your world – I am a rare commenter but I check every day!

    Like

  40. Rob Avatar
    Rob

    these are awesome!

    Like

  41. Skye Avatar

    These are absolutely gorgeous! How sweet of Amanda and Nate! These photos really show off your love and how happy you are together. I love what you have to say about working on a relationship, too. And the Mad-Eye Moody quote made me giggle. 🙂

    Like

  42. shaina longstreet Avatar

    these pictures touch my heart. Thanks for sharing them. What a beautiful gift. ❤

    Like

  43. Kelsterjean Avatar

    Love the photos. You both look so happy!

    Like

  44. Josie Avatar
    Josie

    Fantastic photos! Love them!
    My finace and I are getting our engagement pictures taken next month. I was wondering if you have some pointers for us. I’m a bit nervous that I can’t pull of such great pictures as yours.

    Like

  45. elise blaha Avatar

    the trick for us is, honestly, a cocktail for Paul. I totally understand that might not work for everyone – but for him, it just relaxes him a bit and he has more fun with it. Also keep in mind that the first 10-15 minutes are going to be SUPER awkward. You will want to cry, but soon youll settle into it and it is much better. …. ALSO. Our engagement photographers encouraged us to just talk to each other. We did and and ended up with more candid and beautiful shots. Good luck!! e

    Like

  46. Chrystina Avatar

    What an awesome shoot!!!

    Like

  47. Josie Avatar
    Josie

    I think that will work for Mark too 🙂
    Maybe I just have to let it go, and enjoy a nice walk with just the two of us (and a photographer following us)…

    Like

  48. Lisa Avatar
    Lisa

    Elise, your hair looks totally awesome on these pictures! But you would rock a side swept bang, I promise;)

    Like

  49. nichole Avatar
    nichole

    However you got through them, they are lovely. Congrats! 🙂

    Like

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