2016 - Year in Review

2016 was quite the year! Thank you to everyone who chose me to photograph such special moments in their lives!

In February my husband Grant and I traveled to New York and Israel with his school where we learned so so much. Israel was one of the countries I only ever dreamed of visiting and it was so cool to see that become a reality. 

In April, I had the opportunity of traveling with to Uganda to help with grief relief at an orphanage in Seeta. It was so eye opening and life changing to say the least! Not only did I find myself helping the kids at the orphanage grieve but I also found the experience so healing for me and my loss of my brother. 

The biggest event of the year came in November when the first baby in both my family and my husband's family was born to my sister-in-law on my husband's side. What an incredible gift it has been to see her already grow to two months old!

In additional to the weddings and engagements photographed this year, you will find a few of the above life events scattered into the mix. I can't thank each and every one of you enough who have chosen me to photograph a moment for you! I am forever grateful!

A big thanks to my second shooter this year which included Caitlyn O'Neil, Kaela Lee, Julia Green, Monique Serra and Juliana Schutte. You all are such talented individuals!

the gift of engraving

This post is about something that is very personal that I want to share with you all. As many of you know, I lost my brother a year and eight months ago. It's been an unimaginable time learning to cope with the loss of losing someone that I love most in the world, all while trying to continue on with life and figure out some way to make sense of all this.

One of my dearest friends gifted my mom and I with engraved necklaces shortly after Brady's passing and that engraving has become something that is so personal and dear to me. The truth is, the necklace doesn't bring Brady back but it does give me something that I can wear at all times and remember him by.

With each Christmas and Birthday that passes each year since losing Brady makes me search harder and harder for that similar gift to give him just like my mom, sisters and I have. Not only is it hard to find a gift for someone who has lost a loved, but it's been even harder for me to find the right thing to gift my dad to remember his only son by. I tried racking my brain to think of ideas that would involve a signature of some sort and nothing ever seemed to come close until about a few weeks ago. 

Since my dad doesn't have social media I have decided to share this early, in hopes of maybe helping someone who has lost a loved one just like me and needs that perfect gift idea for Christmas. I literally cried when I opened the package that held the engraved watch inside and I have no doubt that it will be such a gift for my dad to finally have that "something" to wear at all times that reminds him of Brady.

This wood engraved watch is probably the best gift I will ever be able to give my dad! On the back of the watch as you see in the photos above is where I had Brady's signature engraved into the wood. This time of year is hard for us and for anyone who has lost a loved one and I am so thankful that Brady's memory can come alive through this special gift I get to give my dad.

If this post is something that strikes a chord with you and is something that you want to gift to a family member or friend make sure you click on this link and enter your email to receive $25 off a wood watch engraving:

https://www.woodwatches.com/gi/6179

I chose the Frankie Dark Sandalwood for my engraved gift but you can also choose from the following options for engraving:

• JORD can engrave the back plate of the following series: Fieldcrest, Reece, Frankie35, Frankie, and Conway. The cost of engraving is $35.00, and you can choose block or script engraving.

• JORD can engrave the side of the cedar wood presentation box that the watch comes in. The cost of engraving is $45.00 and you can choose block or script engraving.

• For character limitations, please visit the website!

• Engraving will extend your delivery time by up to 7 business days so plan accordingly, customization is not a last minute thing! 

If you decide to engrave a watch for a loved one, be sure and let me know as I would love to hear your story! 

2015 - Year in Review

No words can say how thankful I am to have worked with so many incredible people this past year! I wish I could fit every single photo from every moment of the year into this post, it means that much to me!

A special thanks to my second shooters in 2015 which included Kaela Lee of Kaela Mey Photography, Hailey Joy of Hailey Rygh Photography, my brother Brady Jackson as well as my husband Grant.

A very indescribably tough part of this year included losing my brother Brady, who worked countless weddings with me throughout 2014 and the beginning of 2015. I say with full honestly that he was without a doubt the best second shooter I have ever had the opportunity to work with. You are irreplaceable Brady! I included a few images that Brady captured scattered throughout this post but the most memorable photo he took is the last image, which was taken at our sister's wedding in March. 

Most of all I want to thank God leading me through this year. I could not have finished out this year without you holding me up when I did not have the strength and making me laugh when laughter seemed impossible! 

-Bethany Small

Snow Day | JORD wood watches

I have always been a long time fan of the snow but now I am officially a fan of wood watches too! About a month ago I received my JORD wood watch in the mail. I was so surprised to find the watch keeping with its wood trend, by being packaged in a wood box with the JORD logo on top. I am always a sucker for packaging so this definitely was a plus! 

I have been wearing my JORD watch almost everyday for the last month and have nothing but good things to say about it! I was a little tentative at first thinking, "how can a wood watch hold up?" but the test of time has made me realize that this watch the real deal!

I was gifted this incredible watch so I can vouch for any gift receiver out there that this watch is perfect for birthdays, holidays and all the above! Have a family member or friend's birthday over seas? JORD makes it easy to shop online with free shipping worldwide. Customize the sizing to fit your wrist (or your friends) perfectly, and set your worries at ease with a 1 year warranty included with the watch. 

It's time for you to try your JORD wood watch at www.woodwatches.com

JORD Wooden Watches