I’m Stephanie, a wedding + lifestyle photographer based in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Warrenton, Virginia. Whether I’m by the mountains of Colorado or Virginia, my soul feels at home, surrounded by rural living and the raw beauty of nature. I genuinely love what I do, and feel so passionate to share the enthusiasm and joy of these celebrations with you!

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June 28, 2018

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Ollie and I are back from Florida!!!! Gosh, it was the BEST trip! Mostly because Ollie and I got to hang out with Alex for over a week, but we really enjoyed our adventures on and off the road. 🙂 Looking at these photos below, you would have thought this trip was a road trip for my pup! HAHA! There were many “firsts” for him, so I was excited to include Ollie on this adventure!! And this is only the first of many more in the future. 🙂 He got to experience his first long road trip, the beach/water, boat ride, sleeping freely outside of a crate at night, and a golf cart ride in the middle of a thunderstorm!!! I love these memories I’m creating with him while he’s only six-months-old!! 🙂

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

It’s crazy to think that Alex has been down in Florida for a month already. Time has flown!! When we first started seeing each other, we were both a little nervous about the idea of long-distance dating. I’m SOOOOO glad we were optimistic and didn’t allow fear to hold us back! God has been involved in our relationship since day one and I’m forever grateful Alex walked into my life at a very unexpected time. Even Alex wasn’t looking to date anyone before residency, but God gave us the wisdom to know this was a part of His plan! I don’t want to be too mushy for this post, but my heart is definitely in Florida! 🙂 In the meantime, I’m very fortunate to have the capability of driving down to see him and take my work on the road. His residency program is going to get crazier over the months ahead. Fortunately, his busy season will be during my hectic fall wedding season. We will be able to push through those months ahead, but before then, we are trying to see each other as often as possible. After August, we aren’t sure if we can see each other until Christmas. I don’t even want to think about it… 🙁 So I just won’t think about it right now and enjoy these upcoming trips!!!

If you are planning to visit the Florida Panhandle and want to connect, whether you are an interested client or a business owner, I would love to make plans to get together during my future visits! 🙂 I’m already counting down the days until I see Alex again!!!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures

I was PRETTY nervous how Ollie would deal with a 14+ hour road trip, so I made sure to stop often for potty/drink/eat/walk breaks. Our first stop was in Richmond to visit this pretty friend!!! <3

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

I was nervous how Ollie would handle the long drive, but he was a great passenger!!!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

While we visited the Atlanta area, we made sure to stop at Stone Mountain to check out the incredible mountain carving. Ollie loved it, although, it was pretty HOT. 

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Oh, be still my heart!!! <3 We finally made it to Florida and were reunited!!! I loved taking an evening just to relax! Ollie loves snuggling with Alex, especially while watching baseball! Haha! Alex is so proud. 😉 Also, on a super random note, thanks to Alex and his friend, Joel, I learned how to cut efficiently cut a mango!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Over the week while I was visiting, I wanted to make sure Alex was settling in his new home. I took on the kitchen first and I love the results!! I love this color of blue we picked for the walls!!!! And the white under the chair rail brightened the room as well. 🙂 We are currently on the hunt for a table I can fix up. Another fun project I’m looking forward to tackle when I visit again in the future!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with OllieDestin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

After these photos were taken, I managed to also clean and seal his tile grout. But gosh, even the lemon juice, baking soda, vinegar and water trick took some time!!! Still worth it though. 🙂

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Friday vibes. <3 

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

I definitely caught myself a hunk! 😉 Haha! Alex tried going fishing, but the algae wasn’t ideal. But we enjoyed relaxing beach time and then headed out to a local dog beach park with Ollie and Mi Gente tacos!! Yummm.

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Ollie showed proof he could doggie paddle! Haha! I’m SO happy Ollie loves the water!!!! SCORE!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

I cannot tell if Ollie or Alex had more fun! HAHA! Gosh, I’m seriously the luckiest!!!! <3 <3 <3 Love these two!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

THIS was fun!!! Alex’s friend, Robbie, owns a sailboat and took us out Sunday afternoon! Oh my gosh, I’m convinced to buy one in the future! 😉 It was a very relaxing experience!!! 

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with OllieDestin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with OllieDestin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Loved our sailing adventures!!! But the weekend soon came to an end and Ollie and I had to say goodbye before Alex left for work. 🙁 Gosh, I’m getting teary-eyed just thinking about it… Alex has made me mushy!!! Ollie and I cannot WAIT to road trip down to him again in a couple weeks!!!! 

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Ollie and I made a pit stop up the east coast at Bald Head Island to visit some friends on our way back to Virginia. Lots of firsts on this trip for Ollie, but he road on his first boat AND didn’t sleep in a crate overnight! So proud of him. 🙂

When we got off the ferry, rain was POURING!!! We tried taking shelter, but it was intense!! The funny thing was I looked outside and laughed at the golf carts pulling up to pick people up from the ferry… Well, I totally forgot that it’s a golf cart only island. So you know what that meant? My friends were one of the golf carts that pulled up during the monsoon… I didn’t take a photo, although, I should have!! It was quite the scene!!! HAHA! I quickly loaded up my bags and held on to Ollie, but to my surprise, he sat quietly and patiently by my side on the cart as we drove through the thunderstorm! Again, I was one proud momma! Although, once we finally got inside, he went BONKERS. After being in a car of 12-hours, it’s understandable. Fortunately, he showed his better colors the following days!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Bald Head Island is beautiful!!! Lot of spanish moss, palm trees, marshes, beaches, quaint beach homes … and it’s not commercialized at all! I really enjoyed exploring around with everyone!! And the coffee shop on the island had some of the best chai tea lattes I’ve ever had! Yum.

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Love my frands! Also, I am SOOO happy to have a water pup!!!! He loved the ferry ride back to the main land!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

Another 6-hour drive back, but we made it back to VIRGINIA!! Road tripping with this guy was fun!!! 🙂

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

While I was visiting Florida, I was able to take photos of some new friends! <3 I cannot wait to share more from these sessions, and I cannot wait to photograph more sessions and weddings in the future!

Destin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with OllieDestin, Florida Road Trip Adventures with Ollie

XOXO!

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