Every Friday on Instagram, I see a ton of people doing #FridayIntroductions! Well today is Friday and it aligns with a special day to me so I thought I’d expand it into a blog post! I’m sharing 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Me and I bet you can relate to some of them! 🙂

1) Today is my birthday!

I’ve just entered the last year of my 20s!! Where has the time gone?! I’m not big on presents but woke up to a BIKE in the kitchen and squealed haha! Thanks Shaun!! I have been talking about getting a bike for months and wanting to ride Koa in a trailer on the back. We are getting a trailer today and I can’t help but smile that this is 29 haha! 🙂

2) I’m musically included

I grew up playing the piano and then played the clarinet and tenor saxophone in high school. I was actually the Drum Major in our marching band! No, the Drum Major doesn’t play the drums LOL (I get that question a lot). The Drum Major leads and directs the band on the field during football half-time shows (and in competitions). High school was an exciting time! Speaking of high school…

3) Shaun and I met at a party 12 years ago 

It was my junior year of high school and his senior year. We caught each other’s eye at a party, danced and then we went home and talked on AOL Instant Messenger (remember that?!) for hours into the morning. We spent the summer as close friends and started dating 5 months after we met. We’ve been together ever since!

3) My ‘Top 5 Favorite Songs’ change daily

I love so many genres of music and I can never nail a ‘Top 5’ or even a ‘Top 10’. The music I listen to depends on my mood and atmosphere. If you asked me today what my favorite 5 songs were, I’d list these:

Keane- Somewhere Only We Know (this ALWAYS stays in my top 5)

311- Love Song

Drake- Once Dance

Tyrese- Sweet Lady

Justin Timberlake- Strawberry Bubblegum

Random right? And I just realized after reading this list that it’s all male artists lol! Soooo not intentional but those happen to be on my mind in this moment. I haven’t even scratched the surface of hip hop, 90s boy/girl bands, country, worship music, etc… Sounds like another blog post in the making haha!

5) I’ve cried at every Disney Pixar movie

Every. single. one. As soon as a preview for a new Pixar movie is released, I just have to see it! Those movies just tug on my heartstrings and they all have such a good message! A few faves: Up, Wall-E and Monster’s Inc. I can’t wait to show Koa all of classics as he gets older.

6) My favorite ‘me time’ activity = going to the movies alone

If you told me leave the house, turn off work and hang out by myself… I’d go to the movies! Even if my family went out for the day, I can’t have ‘me time’ at home. I’ll just end up opening the laptop lol! I have to intentionally seek out ‘me time’. There is such a fun feeling that comes over me when going to a movie theater by myself. I love the Paragon movie theater with leather reclining seats and the fact that you can bring in My Pi Pizza. Give me my pizza, drink, jellybeans and either a comedy or sappy movie and I’m in my happy place.

7) I’ve broken both of my arms

But not at the same time, thank goodness! Left arm when I was in kindergarten and then right arm the weekend before 6th grade. My friends had to carry my books and write all of my classwork for me LOL! #silverlining

8) I give each of my couples a playlist while editing

When I’m ready to edit a wedding, I compile a playlist of songs that remind me of each couple! I choose songs based on their first dance, reception vibe and overall personality. Yep, there’s a little party coming out of my home office on editing days!

9) I can eat an entire bag of Starburst Jellybeans in one sitting… and I’m not proud of it

It’s an obsession!! They are sooooooo good, ya’ll. I buy a bag every now and then when grocery shopping and I have to ask Shaun to literally take the bag from me half way through. And he eats the rest haha.

10) I have a marketing mind…some friends call me a marketing guru

People often ask me what I did before quitting my 9-5 and pursuing wedding photography full-time. Here it is in a nutshell: While attending ODU, I interned in the marketing department at Z104, WGNT and the Vrginia Beach Amphitheater. I graduated from ODU with a Bachelor of Science in Communication (emphasis in Public Relations) and went on to work in the marketing department at Hampton Coliseum promoting family events, sporting events and major concerts! I was promoted to Marketing Manager there after a few years and we added two smaller venues under our belt. After having Koa and realizing I was working myself to death working a 9-5, working concerts at night, shooting weddings anddddd being a wife/momma… I decided to look for a more ‘normal’ 9-5. I left the Coliseum and took a job at the Daily Press newspaper as the Social Media Specialist! I eventually made the decision to quit the corporate world and pursue entrepreneurship full-time. I took the leap this past March and I couldn’t be happier with my decision! I love that I still get to use my knowledge of Communication and Marketing in my photography business (and Let’s Wed)! Strategic marketing plans, effective copywriting, social media advertising, case studies, focus groups… it’s all my jam. Combining my passion with my educational background is the best of both worlds. I’m actually putting together a marketing workshop for creative entrepreneurs so if that sparks your interest, stay tuned!! <3

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading some random facts about me! Do any of these relate to you? I’d love to hear more about you so feel free to comment! 🙂