The Lipscomb Family: A Tale of Being a Family Photographer for Life

You’ve heard me talk about being your photographer for life. (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, be sure to click that link first and then come back here!) So by now, you know how special it is to be a family’s photographer for every single milestone and celebration. The Lipscombs were no exception.

So today, I have a slightly different blog post for you.

I want to tell you more about the Lipscombs. 

Let’s rewind back to the Summer of 2015.

Abbie was a peppy, bubbly junior in high school with a strong desire to learn how to become a photographer. She found me and boldly reached out, asking if she could intern with me. (Side note, high schoolers and college students: Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone about an internship opportunity. What’s the worst that could happen? They say no? Ok, move on! But what if they say ‘Heck yes!’?! Which is exactly what happened with me and Abbie!).

While I had considered hiring an intern, I hadn’t gotten around to it (that ever-increasing to-do list of an entrepreneur is REAL). I met with Abbie and after talking with her, realized she could be the perfect fit.

So in the Fall of 2015, she started interning with me and took on the forever title of “Kendra Martin’s First Intern”. She tagged along at weddings and helped wherever she could. She helped me at home with administrative tasks. I taught her some things along the way.

And OF COURSE, I photographed her high school senior photos that year!

And what would prom be without professional photos? I was honored to take her prom photos in the Spring of 2016!

Well…Summer 2016 hit, and Abbie was off to college. We hugged goodbye, and I gave her as much good luck and well wishes as I could. Just like a proud photographer mama would do.

Yeah sure, I was bummed to lose her help, but I was even more bummed not to see her sweet, bubbly face on the regular anymore.

But just a few months later, Abbie’s older sister, Kayla, reached out and asked if I would take some college senior photos of her in the Lowcountry! 

Well, ABSOLUTELY!!! 

I’d heard Abbie talk about her sister quite a bit and felt like I already knew Kayla. So I drove to the coast and took her photos.

Four years later, I was doing the exact same thing for Abbie. How had it already been 4 years?! 

I was back at it, taking senior photos of Abbie in the spring back in the Spartanburg area since the world had shut down.

Then heading down to Charleston in the fall to take photos at the College of Charleston. Gosh, I just LOVED watching how much she’d grown in four short years.

It was always so fun taking pictures of both Abbie and Kayla. And of course, the more time I spent with them, the more comfortable they became around me… which made for BEAUTIFUL and truly authentic photos.

In the Summer of 2021, my phone dinged. It was a text from Kayla. She had just gotten engaged to her long-time boyfriend, Henry, and she wanted to know my availability for the following Spring! I WAS ECSTATIC!

Not only was I so pumped for Kayla and Henry, but the sheer fact that they wanted me as their wedding photographer and didn’t even choose a date until they confirmed I was available was one of the highest honors!

They found their venue shortly after getting engaged, and we set the date on our calendars!

I took their engagement photos and Kayla’s bridal portraits, and then in May 2022, the two tied the knot.

In the Fall of 2022, Abbie and Liz got engaged, and just like Kayla and Henry, they booked me as their wedding photographer.

We took their engagement photos in Charleston last fall, and we’re all eagerly awaiting their Fall 2023 wedding!

Meanwhile… Kayla and Henry just welcomed their first child! And I got to photograph their newborn session and had the honor of photographing them as a family of three for the first time.

I have stayed in touch through all of these milestones with both Abbie and Kayla. Abbie’s even gotten behind my camera to photograph my own family when we’ve been down in the Charleston area!

I LOVE the conversations I get to have with both of these ladies, as well as their mom. Their entire family has become like a second family to me. I’ve been documenting their lives for the past 8 years, and I can’t wait to keep going.

And I could tell you other stories similar to this one.

Stories where someone hired me for their senior photos or engagement photos, and we clicked so well that they kept coming back to ask me to photograph their growing families. 

It is TRULY an honor to be someone’s lifelong family photographer.

You might be interested in reading:

• 5 Reasons to Invest in an Heirloom Album for your Photos
• Your Photographer Beyond the Wedding Day: Why I Love Becoming Your Family Photographer
• How to Use Your Photos After You Get Them Back from Your Photographer