Molly Flanagan Photography

erin+wilkes | polk county, nc

Molly Flanagan — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:50:20 +0000

I grew up in a community that was so small, when people asked you where you were from, you didn’t tell them the name of your town–Tryon or Pea Ridge, or Green Creek–you simply replied, “Polk County”. Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Polk County was small, friendly, beautiful, and everybody knew your business. And I feel very blessed that I was able to call it home for most of my childhood. A couple of weeks ago I had the chance to travel back to Polk County to shoot a wedding for a girl that graduated a year behind me in school. I have been referring away weddings recently, but when Erin described her vision for her wedding day, I knew that this would be a perfect fit for my storytelling style of photography. Erin+Wilkes day was simple, no stress, no fuss. Very much like Polk County itself– intimate, filled with friends, and unassumingly beautiful. It was 100% real. And every detail reflected who they are and what they love.

This is the story of Erin+Wilkes wedding day.

Thanks to Erin Drago Photography for 2nd shooting and also for sharing that delicious pizza with me at Sidestreet!

10 on 10 | May

Molly Flanagan — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:29:33 +0000

May God give us eyes to see what matters most in this life. -John Piper

Now visit Sara Tegman | St Louis, Missouri Family Photographer to continue your way ’round our pretty little circle!

soul shooting workshop | newport beach, ca

Molly Flanagan — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:46:15 +0000

Kellie Hatcher, Sarah Robertson, Rosina Waszaj and I are teaming up to teach a workshop on Sunday, June 3rd, 2012 in Newport Beach, CA. The four of us share a passion for shooting from our hearts to creating images that evoke emotion. We believe photography can be so much more than merely documenting events or taking pretty pictures. When you forget about the rules, forget about what “everybody else” is doing, and start shooting from your heart, you can find your own voice and create images that are truly moving to you personally. If you are interested in going deeper in your own photographic journey, we would love for you to attend our workshop where we will explore the creative process of soul shooting.

Registration opened yesterday and we received a wonderful response! There are a few spots left, so visit our website for more information then email us at soulshooting@gmail.com to reserve your place! (The workshop is open to professionals and hobbyists alike)

You can check out more of our work here.

www.soulshooting.com

elliot goes to the hospital

Molly Flanagan — Tue, 01 May 2012 13:35:12 +0000

Last month I went to the Children’s Cancer Center with my friends Dave & Melissa. They were gracious enough to share a little bit of their story to accompany these photographs:

April of 2011 was a difficult month for our family, but the month didn’t start that way. We had 2 healthy children – a 4 year old daughter, Addie (who is now 5), and a 21 month old son, Elliot.

Elliot was healthy from birth, and progressing normally. He had never been sick before other than a common cold. But, around the beginning of last April we noticed a rash on his chest and a few weeks later he had an unexplained bruise on his arm. Then on Sat, April 16th he developed a fever. We ended up taking him to the ER the next day, and found out after some lab work that he had Acute Lympohblastic Leukemia. We were stunned, confused, and heart broken but soon became surrounded with the love and support of family and friends, who graciously pointed to our great God.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
- Psalm 139: 14-16

Throughout the past year we’ve visited the outpatient children’s cancer center at least once a week, and sometimes 2-3 visits in a week (this is what Molly came and took pictures of for us). We’ve also spent about 25 nights in the hospital. Elliot has had 17 lumbar punctures which he gets put to sleep for, about a dozen of both platelet and blood transfusions, and dozens and dozens of chemotherapy administrations at home, in the cancer center, and in the hospital through various routes (IV, oral, spinal, shots – some of which we administer at home). The treatment has been tough, and had its ups and downs on him—and our family. Watching your child suffer is excruciating. He still has another 2 years of treatment left, but we just arrived at what is considered “maintenance” and this is supposed to be much less intense. Elliot’s prognosis is good, but we know that our precious boy’s life is in God’s hands.

We love our boy and as much as we would gladly take Elliot’s pain and suffering away, we know that we can’t keep him from pain in this life. Our hope is in Jesus who can, and one day will take away all pain from his people. Jesus was the substitute who suffered in our place on the cross. Our faith is in Him, the Great Physician, who knows his little frame and will one day make all things new.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
-Revelation 21:4

to yaden

Molly Flanagan — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:48:08 +0000

yaden’s sixth birthday. yaden is an expert bee catcher. and, in the words of my ruby, “a very silly boy.”

10 on 10 | april

Molly Flanagan — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:00:13 +0000

Too often my hope is in my ever-changing circumstances. I say things like, “I really need the baby to take his nap this morning,” which is a fine thing to say and a fine thing to look forward to. But if come lunch time and the nap didn’t happen and I’m so emotionally wasted by it that it ruins my afternoon … then I’ve probably put more faith in that nap than in the never-changing circumstances of the gospel.

God mercifully intercedes in those moments and shows me his ways are above my ways. By God’s grace I can resist the temptation to treat my children as interruptions to my will for my life. Instead, God enables me to treat them as precious gifts he is using to shape me into his image according to his will for my life.

-quoted from Gloria Furman

Now visit Shannon Harrison of Jack & Ruby Studios | San Diego, CA

10 on 10 | March

Molly Flanagan — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 12:00:52 +0000

Today is March 10th, time for 10 more pictures. If you are a stickler for details, you may notice that almost every piece of furniture has been rearranged since last month. I have a bit of a furniture moving obsession. Okay, maybe more than a bit… it might qualify as a disorder. I am so thankful to have married a very easy going man.

Thank you, Mr Flanagan, for happily living in a constant state of rearrangement.

To see past months, click here.

Now visit Gretchen Davis | Portland Lifestyle Photographer.

every joy on earth | greenville, sc

Molly Flanagan — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:56:30 +0000

A boy’s story is the best that is ever told. – Charles Dickens

playdate | anderson, sc

Molly Flanagan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:10:02 +0000

I brought my camera along on a playdate, and this is what I saw.

Thank you for your amazing hospitality, Melinda! xo

Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.
Romans 12:10-13

10 on 10 | February

Molly Flanagan — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

January was a crazy rainy month, which is so odd for South Carolina. After two weeks of grey skies, I started thinking it was going to be raining for the rest of my life. All I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with a warm blanket and watch time pass. It was totally depressing. I mean, like, our living room was almost totally dark by 3pm. It was just awful. We finally had a day of sunshine and I was so excited about the sun finally coming out, I figured it would be a great day to shoot my 10.

Enjoy!

Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12

Now please visit Kristin M. Young | Central Florida Photographer to see what lovely Kristin has to share this month. xoxo

(see past month’s here)