FIVE

June 7, 2019 Taylor Leigh

Those kids in the picture had no idea what was in store for them. The idea we had of marriage went out the door pretty early on. I’ve come to learn that the idea of that adventurous amazing marriage doesn’t grow and take root on those mountaintop experiences!

It happens in the places you don’t expect. The Netflix-watching and board game-playing. In the small moments of serving and praying for one another.

It grows in the ugly and unglamorous places. In the monotony of grinding it out to pay the bills and mortgage(s). In the the new city miles away from family. And being apart more than we were together.

It grows deeper than ever in the dark places. In the fights. In the labor and delivery of a beautiful baby boy. In the insecurities of this new extra and sagging skin. Did I mention ALL THE INSECURITIES?!

It grows in the realizing it’s better to be friends than to be right. In saying sorry over and over again. In breaking down our pride and realizing Jesus covers all of it and leaning in to love even harder.

That is the soil where love grows deep.

The Lord is FAITHFUL. What an amazing half a decade!

I blinked and five years have come and gone. I dream of our story. Our fairytale. I’m honored to be your girl and to do this life with you. I made it all this way without a “wood” joke… you’re welcome.

Happy Anniversary, Mr. Whitson.

To many more!

Where? What? Why?

May 13, 2019 Taylor Leigh

I’ve obviously been a little MIA on my blog. It has been a busy 18+ months. I figured I would give a little update on what has been going on and what is coming to Taylor Whitson Studios.

In July of 2018 we welcomed our first born, Finley Eugene. It was love at first sight. He was perfect in every way and we couldn’t be more proud to be his parents. It has been such a whirlwind for the past 10 months.

I have been so blessed to be able to stay home with him and watch him grow and learn day in and day out.

Being a SAHM became my new job, but I knew I still wanted to help financially but not skimp on my time with Finn. I continued teaching with VIPKID, later switching to GogoKid (teaching English to Chinese students online). I work Monday through Friday ranging from 4:30a-7:30a until Casey has to leave for work. It has been a huge blessing to be able to teach these children day in and day out. They really make that time of morning….fun.

Before Finn came along, I went to the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida with one of my favorite families, The Trobaughs. It was their first trip, Casey was in California for school, so of course I tagged along for the fun.

That trip sparked my love for all things Disney all over again. Speaking as a former Cast Member, I guess it truly never goes away, you just learn to deal with the heartache of not being there. HAHA. I knew I wanted to play a small part in the magic again, and that trip all Tara and I could talk about is what a good fit being a Travel Agent would be. The day we returned from our trip I started researching. After months of looking for the right fit, I stumbled across Off to Neverland Travel. It was more than the right fit and everything I was looking for. Thankfully, they thought the same and in July of 2018, I became a Magic Maker! It has been so much fun to learn and grow in the industry. I have truly been blessed to be able to work wherever the military leads us, but this doesn’t even feel like a job. I am loving every second of it. If you are looking for a travel agent I would love to help! (Email me at taylor.whitson@offtoneverland.com)

Then I got brave and decided I wanted to get back into running. I reached out on a local Mom Facebook Page with my interest in a “stroller workout group” of sorts. I quickly got a reply about an interest from a girl named Morgan. We planned to meet up and discuss our desires for a healthy lifestyle and a mama friendship. We met and as I always jokingly share, I came home and told Casey… “I don’t know if it will work out…she’s a little too crunchy for me”. Much to my surprise we became fast friends (SHES NOT THAT CRUNCHY!), as did her little guy Liam and Finn. Literally, Finn is obsessed with Liam. I also gained my mom squad that came at just the right time! (Shoutout to Auburn City Library Baby Story Time)

So here we are…. with all that being said. Therefore, if you need a photographer…I’m still your girl. Travel Agent I’m your girl for that too.

In between all of this, my sweet husband as been working his tail off as a Marine Corps Recruiter here in Auburn, Alabama. We don’t get to spend nearly as much time with him as we would like and it is even rare that we get a full weekend together as a family. I’ve watched this job take a toll on him mentally, physically, and emotionally. It sure is hard to watch. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers as this duty “never sleeps” and he keeps trucking along to the end. We would be lost with out his support and hard work.

I truly can’t thank everyone who has supported me through all these adventures. Without you I wouldn’t be able to stay home with my little guy and enjoy each and every moment with him. It is a huge blessing! Be on the lookout for more great additions here.

Thank you for supporting a mama and a dream by supporting my small businesses.

2019 Mommy and Me Mini Sessions

March 19, 2019 Taylor Leigh

The bond between a mother and her child/children is one of the most special in the world. It doesn’t matter if you’re a mom and your littles are young or old, or if you’re a mom, and you want to schedule this session for you and your own mom…we will make this session work for you.

This would make a wonderful early Mother’s Day gift for your wife or mother! Inviting Grandma along would even make a great opportunity for a beautiful generational portrait!

If you'd like to purchase a gift card to give to that special mom in your life on Mother's Day, I will have dates available after Mother's Day to accommodate those who are interested in going that route. (Contact me to set up a gift card)

Who? : Moms of all ages and their children; Grandparents are welcome!

What? : 30 minute mini sessions with up to 20 digital images via private online gallery

When & Where: Accepting booking now through May 5th.

How Much: $85

Sessions are by appointment only and a session deposit is due upfront to reserve your session time.

Happy Mother’s Day!

A Letter to My Mom on Mother's Day

May 12, 2018 Taylor Leigh

Mother's Day. A day where the internet is filled with posts of those proclaiming that they have the best mother. It is heart warming knowing that so many people are as supported and filled with love about the woman who brought them into this world. This year, my first Mother's Day, I thought the most important gift I could give to my mother is an open letter to highlight just how perfect she truly is.

Today is her day, one day that is set aside to celebrate her, because every other day of the year she puts everyone else's needs first. (Literally, everyone) Prime example, is the numerous questions and concerns I have had every day of this pregnancy. She has selflessly sacrificed and cared for my brother and I in ways that leave me speechless as I prepare myself for motherhood.

For those that weren't around for my upbringing, you should know that this woman deserves a trophy and then some. I was a handful. We argued like cats and dogs when I was a teenager. Little did I know then, she wanted what was best for me, and had been there (even though she told me a million times) and had done it before. I remember thinking, "I'll never be like her". But boy do I hear her come out of my mouth a lot these days! Ha. I'm pretty thankful for it.

My parents divorced when I was 3 years old. It has always just been my mom and I (Hunter too, I guess lol). It created a bond between us that I know only a few people have and I wouldn't trade it for anything, even through the tears and heartbreak that came with it. We have been to hell and back and we survived, TOGETHER. I've watched her go through hard times, and she always came out stronger on the other side, all while instilling those strengths in me.

From a young age she taught us about Jesus, how to speak to others, and how to love SPOONFULS of peanut butter. Never forgetting that she was a Mom (and a Dad), coming home from a LONG day at work to help with homework, cook us dinner, and listen to our nonsense. She was and is my greatest TEACHER.

Casey and I had just been talking maybe a month and a half before he asked me to be his date for his first Marine Corps Ball. Backstory, we had A LOT of mutual friends, but had never actually met. At the time I was working at Disney World in Florida and he lived in North Carolina. He offered to fly me up for the event. For those that know the story know I wasn't extremely interested in him at the time and didn't want to miss too many days of work as well. I called my mom for her advice, thinking she would say a BIG NO WAY! First words out of her mouth, "Heck yeah, if anything else you'll get a fun night and free dinner." HAHAHA. She is absurdly supportive. My number one cheerleader, and always encouraging me to "GO!" Later, when she found out I would marry that Marine and he would take me away from home, she told us how excited she was for our adventures. Inside, she was probably upset, but she never let that show. She again, supported us and encouraged me to, GO!

She went without MANY times so we could have it all. Looking back at my childhood, it was a picturesque life. That's because my mom was strong. She didn't let things affect us. She went without the meal, the clothes, the trips, and the things she wanted so Hunter and I could play travel ball, have presents under the tree on Christmas morning, have vehicles when we were 16, and go to college and GRADUATE DEBT-FREE, just to name a few. (As if just one of those things isn't enough).

You were there for every milestone in my life and pushed me towards my goals and dreams as if they were your own. You encouraged me when I felt like giving up, and were the best ear to vent to on days when I needed it the most. You reminded me of my worth at every turn, to find my path and go for it, but also to never settle for less than I deserve. Mom, the truth is, even though I am about to be a mother myself, I still need you. I will always need you. When I don't know why Finn is crying, when I need to know if something is "normal" or not, when I need to tell you about my "save of the day", and when I to share the good and the bad, I still need you. The best feeling is knowing you're always there. Always on my side. I have no idea how you made it all look so easy but I hope to be at least half the mother you were to us. Thank you for not letting us see that it was hard, but rather focusing on enjoying us. For making us a priority, and for being there for EVERY thing. You have always been doing, acting, and living a life that does not sit down and expect things to happen but makes them realities. Thank you for filling our lives with so much fun, joy, laughter, love, and SOME AMAZING music. Thank you for teaching me how to cook (mainly spaghetti, because we all know it's a specialty). I hope to instill in Finn the strength you have always instilled in us growing up. Thank you for still holding my hand, even though I am now the one that will need to a hold a little hand. I learned from the best. You have given me everything that I have ever needed and wanted, but most of all a love that is unconditional. You are my best friend. You are the reason I am who I am.

I love you. Happy Mother's Day.

2018 Mommy and Me Mini

February 26, 2018 Taylor Leigh

Taylor Whitson Studios is offering Mommy and Me Mini Sessions again this year!

This would make a wonderful early Mother’s Day gift for your wife or mother! Inviting Grandma along would even make a great opportunity for a beautiful generational portrait!

Who? : Moms of all ages and their children; Grandparents are welcome!

What? : 45 minute mini sessions with up to 15 digital images via private online gallery

When & Where: Accepting booking now through May 5th.

How Much: $75

Sessions are by appointment only and a session deposit is due upfront to reserve your session time.

Happy Mother’s Day to you!

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite mommy and me photos I've captured!

Holland Maternity

October 4, 2017 Taylor Leigh

My husband is currently in San Diego, California for Marine Corps Recruiters School. We sold our home before he left, while waiting on new orders. Therefore, I came back to my hometown while we waited to hear about our next duty station (RS Montgomery, PCS Auburn, btw). While here, I was honored to snap these images for my sweet friend Brittney. She is patiently waiting the arrival of baby Willow. As if she couldn't get any prettier, add that pregnancy "glow" and BOOM! Brittney and I have been friends since middle school, she was a bridesmaid in our wedding, and now I am able to capture these moments before her next adventure, motherhood. To view the full session go HERE.

Harper Rose

March 11, 2017 Taylor Leigh

Little Miss Harper Rose made her appearance about a week ago now. We are neighbors to Mom and Dad, and are very honored to call them friends. Miss Harper is everything we expected and more, I just CAN NOT GET ENOUGH OF HER CUTENESS!! I was able to capture some images of her, and it won't be the last time! She did a wonderful job! Check out some previews below! :)