In His Grace Photography

Get you Copy! It came out today!

I loved Old San Juan! It was the perfect landscape for an engagement session days before the wedding. When choosing a place to have your E-session, Look for great backdrops to show your love, even from a distance.
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Lighting always makes the shot! Black & White and contrast tacks a photo from Bla to BAM!

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Lighting always makes the shot! Black & White and contrast tacks a photo from Bla to BAM!

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To all those going back to school soon, some of you for the first time in a long time. So many are hoping and wishing you the best! If you need help ask for it. If you are confused or fearful talk to someone. If you are sad, tell someone. You are not in this alone.

These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and full of love for you, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as you promise to love each other today, tomorrow, and forever.

These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, and with the slightest touch, will comfort you like no other.

These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief fills your mind.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes; tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will tenderly hold your children.

These are the hands that will help you to hold your family as one.

These are the hands that will give you strength when you need it.

And lastly, these are the hands that even when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch. -Daniel L. Harris
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A polka-dot has the form of the sun, which is a symbol of the energy of the whole world and our living life, and also the form of the moon, which is calm. Round, soft, colourful, senseless and unknowing. Polka-dots can't stay alone; like the communicative life of people, two or three polka-dots become movement... Polka-dots are a way to infinity.

A wedding ring is a symbol of commitment; a promise, a pledge, and a vow. The promise is to forsake all others, to stay devoted and true; the pledge is to honor that promise selflessly, to see the whole thing through; and the vow is to keep that pledge unwaveringly, until the days are few. It is a mutual agreement to become one instead of two.

The two together “Perfection”
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This is a good thing! For your kids! Th he coach is the cover md of Chesapeake Bay Wedding Magazine

There is still time to book your Christmas Session :)

History lesson day....the wedding ring.

The wedding ring dates back to 3000 years, and the first to use this tradition were Egyptian, Greek, and Roman Weddings.

Egyptians used a ring in the form of a serpent, and the ring represented eternity since a circle has no beginning or end. They also believed the open space in the middle represented the unknown. Well, that could not be more of the truth when it comes to marriage 😝.

When the Greeks invaded and conquered the Egyptians, they loved the idea of the wedding ring and what it stood for, so they adopted this wonderful tradition. Of course, they changed it to represent their God of Love, none other than Cupid.

It was not long before the Romans conquered the Greeks, and they also adopted this tradition. Many of these rings were iron and had inscriptions that symbolized that the wife was in control of all household items. (Hmm, that is interesting 🤔) Later gold was the standard and represented value and purity.

So there you have it, some three thousand years later, the gold ring still represents Love, Eternity, and Value, and that, my friends, is your Saturday morning history lesson on the wedding ring. 🥰 You're Welcome.



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"Love should be like a lighthouse: Unwavering, Assuring, Constant, and most of all, a Bearer of Light, rain or shine."






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mehndi

Those moments before you walk down the aisle can be a blur. There is so much going through your mind. I always tell my brides, take it all in and enjoy every moment.

What was going on in your mind the moments before you walked down the aisle?

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There is so much beauty in God’s creations. Although this is a dark time in our history, beauty is out there and to be found if we look for it. It is in a smile from a stranger, it is in the life found in a newborn’s cry., it is in the lights on a Christmas tree, and the love of a family member. Look for the path and follow it and you will find Joy.

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We many times, don't remember days... We remember the moments.

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"Every king was once a crying baby and every great building was once a map. It’s not important where you are TODAY, BUT where you will reach TOMORROW."Unknown.

Even adults have days like this, don't let today ruin tomorrow. Everyone has to start somewhere, and sometimes we have to start over.

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"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." I cannot believe that it is almost Thanksgiving. I know these times can seem dark, between Covid growing and recovering from this crazy election. But light and dark even in photography are essential.

Light always shows off in the dark places. Cloudy days when the sun is hidden makes colors pop. I was reminded of this afternoon as I was driving down the street. It was raining and quite a dreary day, but I noticed how vibrant the trees were as I drove through town. They were magnificent!

So while there is so much darkness in the world, the light always makes things beautiful.

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Reflections always intrigue me. One of the definitions Websters gives is "something produced by reflecting: such as
an image given back by a reflecting surface." The surface is what makes things so interesting.

This photo was taken with the reflection being from a piece of artwork on the wall. It like like you get to capture two different realities.

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I still have not gotten used to the time change yet. I hate losing my light so early. But there is one good thing about this season. The sunsets are pretty amazing!

What are your thoughts on Daylight Savings?

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# beachshoots

YIKES, TWINS! I cannot believe these girls will soon be 10 years old. Time Flies! Happy Birthday, Month Ava and Lilly. Grauntie Loves you!

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“She looked like autumn, when leaves turned and fruit ripened.”― Sarah Addison Allen

What is your favorite part about this season? Mine is the cool misty mornings, the smell of pumpkin spice and cider, and the beginning of nights in the hot tub.

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It’s Yo! What are your plans? Is the year of the bringing out the lion in you or making you blue like the Blues Brothers? Let us know.

There is so much unrest in our country right now. I think peaceful protests are needed and are good, but when it turns violent and kills innocent children, something needs to happen. ⠀
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This was from our local protest. These children are our hope and future.⠀
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@ Easton, Maryland

I know it it has been a while, We were on Vacay, and while I wanted to post, time got away from me.⠀
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What does this sweet face say to you?⠀
How are you personally going to be a world-changer for this next generation? ⠀
Are you listening? ⠀
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While I would like to be a good listener, I know personally, I like to talk, but I am striving to be a better listener, but not just a hearer, but putting my listening skills into doing skills.⠀
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“And when you get the chance to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance.” ⠀
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Sitting out accomplishes little to nothing. Participation is required to find pure joy in this life. I am so glad that the African American culture is stepping out and trying new sports that were typically white person sports. ⠀
On a side note, I think this would be a good Wheaties box 🤣⠀
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Some personal shots from the Easton Protest. More photos here. https://www.inhisgracephotography.com/blm

In these uncertain times, there is so much emotion! I am thankful that even I times of pain and suffering, there are beautiful moments of Joy, even tears of joy. I am so grateful for those moments!

Are you choosing joy in these times? How are you doing that? For me, I am trying to focus on the blessing I have. Things are lightening up, everyone in my family is healthy, and vacay starts in a couple of days 😍

My friend Steve Moody's Entertainment Connection did this and it is amazing! Please share!

Covid-19 effects on REAL people in the Wedding Industry - PODCAST with Steve Moody In this podcast...Wedding Industry Insider, Steve Moody, shares a very personal story on the effects of Covid 19 on the Wedding Industry. For more informatio...

Faith allows you to do what would seem to be the impossible. This is Dianne #2 and her husband. They are pretty amazing. At a time of life when they should be enjoying the golden years, they are raising their granddaughter and two nieces almost full-t time. When school was in session, I would see this amazing woman at the bus stop every day. When they were too small to go to school, he would take them on long walks around town. ⠀
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Neither she or her husband are much for words and did not talk much about faith, but more perseverance. I genuinely think that it is not just the now that there may be change. I believe it is the faith and determination of those who have walked this road of racism, with grace and dignity, that is a big part of the change. It is that grace and dignity that have allowed those who have followed in their footsteps to have their voices heard more clearly. These little girls with benefit from the faith and perseverance will help them to have even more of a voice.⠀
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I am not saying that the George Floyde murder and the countless other lives that have been lost due to a fallen world, did not have a roll, but I think it has given those who are walking in faith and perseverance to have a voice.⠀
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I went to to the local protest here on Saturday, and it was a beautiful thing to see so many black and white, have a voice that demonstrated more unity than I have seen in a long time.⠀
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How does your faith help you get through difficult and sometimes unfair situations?⠀
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🙏🏾 @ Easton, Maryland

True faith crosses every tribe, tongue, and color. We all have our differences for sure, but pure faith always leads us out of fear and toward love. How boring this world would be if we were all the same; if our stories were the same, if we all looked alike. Imagine a world without color. As a photographer, I value vibrant colors for the beauty it brings us. I appreciate black and white for the simplicity and contrast it brings. I feel with black and white; you can genuinely see the emotion of the story. ⠀
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Both are necessary, but the point I am making is that color and black and white are both beneficial, not just in photos but in life. As humans, we should value diversity, not run from it. Faith helps us do that.⠀
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This is Diane, she is a white woman, but she has faith, and she values diversity. Because of her faith, she is free to love her neighbor genuinely. She is not fearful of her love for her neighbors but values the differences. Now is the time to let your faith rise up and be the change that this country truly needs.⠀
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🙏🏾 @ Easton, Maryland

I am headed out to our local protest. No story until Monday. In the meantime, be safe and have faith :)⠀
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Aren't these girls beautiful? There is something about that childlike faith that is very special. When children are born, they are born with faith and trust that they will be cared for and loved. It is a natural thing, and it is only through bad experiences that that faith is marred. This can be by family values and upbringing, society impact, trauma, or all of the above. When faith leaves us something has to fill its place. It is usually filled with something that is less desirable and can come in the form of pride, anger, power, but ultimately, all of those are driven by fear.⠀
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When people have fear, they act on their own understanding, which can lead us to not act in love. When we have faith, we can walk through difficult circumstances and persevere. As I have talked to numerous African Americans in the past months and days, one thing has stood out. Those who have had faith have pushed through the struggle and worked harder to succeed, and they have achieved. When I see these friends and their faith during the battle to overcome, the many hardships they have had to walk through, the injustices that have occurred time and time again, and they still press on in faith and thrive despite all they have walked through in life. It challenges my faith.⠀
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When I think about the times that I have had perceptions or reacted in a certain way, or not asked questions to have understanding, it is all based on fear in my own heart, from experiences, upbringing, and wrong perceptions, that caused my faith to be marred. Well, No More! I want to walk in faith, not fear! I want to be a faith builder, not a fear builder. It is a vicious cycle.⠀
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These girls were so full of joy and love, and yet, I know they, even at their young ages, have had their faith rocked. We have the opportunity to change that for these girls and the generations that follow. We choose faith over fear and love instead of things that have filled our hearts. Asking to understand is a first step, instead of seeking your answers out of anger. Have faith that your question will result in a truthful answer. Faith to Trust!⠀
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How has your faith been rocked? How have your actions been based on fear and not t @ Easton, Maryland

Thank you for all of your support and love for Miss Geneva. She truly is a special lady, and it has been a joy to get to know her and her faith these past few years. Now you can meet her daughter, Harriet.⠀
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You know part of her story because you know her mom. She grew up in Ohio, the youngest in her family and basically an only child because of the age differences, which, as previously said, was progressive in integration. But still racist. She attended the school where her mom taught. Before she began school, her mother took her to check it out and give her the rules. She asked her, "you see all these kids in the hallway? What color are they?" She answered black. She said, "do you see any white people? Harriet answered, "no." Geneva continued to tell her. "In this school, you have to be on your best behavior, the rules and grace given to white children, is not the same as with black children. You cannot even talk to a neighbor in class, or you will end up in the hall and miss your lesson. Education is the only way you will ever make it as a black woman in this country."⠀
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Harriet took that to heart and tried her best to be a teacher's pet. When she was around 11, she noticed that after recess, someone would always go into the school and take all the black children's pencils. Harriet being one for justice one day, went in and saw the perpetrator, a white girl, how came from a wealthy home. Harriet proceeded to tell the teacher who and what had been happening. However, instead of the teacher disciplining the white child, she reprimanded her and sent her to the back of the classroom for the rest of the day.⠀
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When Emmet Till was brutally murdered, it took a toll on Harriet. She sincerely wanted to join the Black Panthers and was ready to sign up, but her mother being a peaceful protester, would not allow it. If fact, she would not even allow her to attend the peaceful marches for fear that she might get hurt or injured. She was allowed to serve and feed those who were in need.⠀
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Her experiences did not stop her from succeeding; She was able to go to college and have a successful business. However, even with her job, one of her bosses was extraordinarily racist and unkind to most black people. By irony, he was kind to Harriet, and when she questioned him, he told her, well, you are white on the inside. What in the world does that mean? 😡

Still, Harriet succeeded but feels that the color of skin, is just that. She said, "We all come from different backgrounds, of course. My experiences are not yours, nor are my experiences the same as every black person, but we all deserve respect." Like her mother, she also has said faith has played a considerable role in her life. She said she does not know how to fix things but, having FAITH, and HOPE, and most importantly, LOVE, mountains could be moved.

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Meet Geneva! She is my neighbor and is 100 years old. She indeed has seen much until about 10 years ago. The year she was born, the second youngest out of 6, in 1919 in Lexington, Kentucky, was a year of turbulence. It was a post-war year, and the white Americans were trying to enforce the continued domination of the black culture. That year there were a multitude of race riots, and 100's of lynchings. It was known as Red Summer and called the year of racial violence. While she did not remember these times, that is the era that she within she was brought up.

By the time she was 12, the great depression had hit. More than half of African Americans were out of work, with many white leaders calling for the firing of African Americans so that that white man could stay employed. Lynchings tripled between 1932- 1933. Geneva was blessed to be in a safe environment. While she lives in a southern state, her father was a sharecropper, which usually would mean you would not get paid fair wages or paid at all. This was not the case for her family, as he made a good living them.

Geneva was blessed to have an education, while her brothers never got more than a third-grade education, she and her sister were able to graduate from high school. Geneva had a gift in art and sculpturing. This drew the attention of a wealthy white Dr. who encouraged her to continue her education. She graduated as the valedictorian of her class and had hoped to attend the University of Kentucky. While her score was more than adequate, she was denied acceptance. This caused the kind Doctor to sue the school, and while she was denied acceptance still, they had to pay most of her way to Spelman College, one of the top African American Colleges in America.

By the time, WW2 began, Geneva entered Spelman with a major in Education with a concentration in Art and Sculpting. There she studied under some of the best sculpture at that time. She graduated in 1944 and went on to teach at Alabama State. Alabama was a much more racist area than she had ever experienced. Some terrible things happened and she left a year later, to go to Ohio with her husband.

Ohio was a more progressive state as far as racism. She was able to teach in an integrated school., but that does not mean racism did not exist. It very much did. There was no tolerance for black children. If you did anything that a white teacher did not like, you were sent out of the room, which would mean that you missed your lessons. The hallways were filled with black children, who very possibly would end up in special ed the next year because they spent more time, in the hall than in the class.

Her experiences caused her to be heavily active in the civil rights movement, participating in most of the major marches and peaceful demonstrations.

In the 1970's she got glaucoma, which eventually led to complete blindness. She continued sculpting as long as she could, you will see one of her sculptings in these photos.

When asked what helped her get through her hardest moments, she answered, "Faith... You cannot live without it. Jesus walks with me, and I with him. He guides me even though I am blind. You have to Faith. It is the only way to live this life."

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Change is inevitable. I had totally planned out my posts for the next 2 weeks. Then a man, a brother in Christ was murdered by someone who we should trust. In the next few days, well who knows however long this rabbit trail takes me, I am putting my normal work on hold. We will journey together to hopefully find some truth, hopefully, find some commonality, find some understanding in each other....learn to listen to each other.⠀
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This project is truly pressing my faith. I am pretty fearless in photographing others from a distance, this is challenging me to engage others openly and to capture them with this word called faith in a time of chaos. I am going to go past my fear, which yes, I do have and push toward... Faith... Hope...and... Love!⠀
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Join me on this endeavor, every day will be a new day and a new person and their perspectives. Somedays, you will see mine.⠀
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All photos will be in B&W, not because some of the color ones were not good but because the color does not matter. Here is a question is this person holding faith, black or white? I will not tell you, because it really does not matter and that is the point.⠀
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I look forward to seeing you every day. Feel free to share your thoughts, hurts, and perspectives.⠀
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