the shooks, a year in review
hello all — here is another long winded post. it’s just hard to keep things short when i get to talk about the amazing couples i’m lucky enough to work with.
in december 2024, i received an inquiry for an engagement session from brooke. she and her then fiancé, cody, had recently gotten engaged, and brooke already had a vision for their engagement photos. she described something moody and editorial — almost like something you’d see in a high-end fashion magazine.
this was a style i personally hadn’t explored much before, but one i had always wanted to get into. honestly, knowing the style brooke wanted and knowing i wasn’t the most experienced with it yet, i almost told her no.
thank god i didn’t.
we photographed their engagement session in february 2025 at the wonderful Osteria Olio in athens, georgia — an incredible italian spot with amazing decor, great vibes, and even better food. we were all a little nervous at first, but those nerves didn’t last long. brooke and cody are absolute naturals in front of the camera. the way they look at each other and the way they love each other comes through so effortlessly in photos, and it made the whole session such a joy to capture.
during the shoot we talked a bit about their wedding plans. they mentioned maybe running away to the mountains and getting married somewhere quiet. they weren’t completely sold on the idea of a big traditional wedding, but at the time they weren’t totally sure what direction they wanted to go.
then in mid april 2025, brooke reached out again with some exciting news.
they had made a plan.
brooke and cody decided to have a small courthouse wedding in west palm beach, florida in mid may, surrounded by their immediate families — and they asked me to come photograph it.
i was beyond excited to say yes!
the night before their wedding, i met them at their awesome airbnb in delray beach, florida. they were having a small dinner with both sides of their families at a fantastic italian restaurant called Tramonti. i still think about that restaurant — it was that good.
watching their families interact with each other and celebrate brooke and cody’s love was really special. they welcomed me in like i had been part of the group all along.
after dinner, we headed down to the beach and took a few sunset photos along the coast. it was the perfect way to start the wedding weekend.
the next day was their wedding day, and it was simply perfect.
brooke and cody both got ready in separate airbnbs, surrounded by their families. the incredible team at Adorn Artistry handled hair and makeup and absolutely crushed it. during the getting ready portion of the day, my focus was on capturing the small moments — the details, the smiles, the excitement, and the quiet anticipation before one of the biggest moments of their lives.
once everyone was ready, we headed to the courthouse for their ceremony. it was short, sweet, and full of emotion.
brooke and cody were officially the shooks.
after the ceremony, everyone returned to the airbnb where a private chef prepared dinner for the group. we spent the evening eating, laughing, and celebrating the newlyweds together.
a few months later, brooke reached out again with some more incredible news.
they were expecting a baby.
during our conversation, brooke mentioned that she and cody wanted me to continue capturing this next chapter of their lives as well — and honestly, wow.
being trusted to come back again and again to document someone’s life milestones is one of the greatest honors this job can give.
in november, i photographed their baby shower, and in december we captured maternity photos at a really beautiful airbnb up in ellijay, georgia.
what an incredible year brooke and cody shook had.
in the span of a year, they went from engaged, to married, to expecting their first child. getting to know them and watch their lives change so much in such a short time has been incredibly special, and being trusted to capture these moments along the way means the world to me.
i’m so excited for them as they step into this next chapter of life as parents.
it’s safe to say at this point that brooke and cody feel like family now — and i love that more than anything.
