They met at the restaurant where he worked and had just hired her brother.  But it wasn’t for a few more years that they started hanging out and really getting to know each other.

Karen and Brad are both animal lovers and they’re both passionate about running and fitness.  So the fact that they get to do these things together only strengthens their relationship!  A couple of years ago, a friend of theirs brought Run for God to their church where a group gathers to study the bible but also trains together – whether it’s for a 5k or a marathon.  The focus of the entire thing is to help people relate their running with their walk with God.  As Karen and Brad studied together and ran together, they started signing up for races together too.  And less than a year ago, someone gifted them their entries into the first Rock ‘n Roll marathon/half-marathon that would be in Raleigh, NC!  They knew it was time to up their game and training, but since it was something they could do together, they knew it was possible.

When this past April rolled around, they made their way up to Raleigh for the weekend’s adventure.  They shared their ritual pre-race breakfast, although both will admit to pre-race jitters because of what laid ahead.  Little did Karen know that some of Brad’s nerves were from what he knew would follow the race! They didn’t stick together for the 13.1 miles, but knew they’d find each other at the finish line.  As she ran and cried and admired the beautiful surroundings of the quaint town, she couldn’t believe she was running a half marathon and would get to fall into the arms of her favorite side-kick when it was all over.  And when she found him after crossing the finish line, she burst into tears… tears from the pain of what she’d just done, but also the emotion that comes with accomplishing something like that!

As they recovered with snacks and cooling down, they found the perfect spot for their ritual post-race photo.  They stopped a woman and asked if she’d take the photo and while Karen was climbing up on the base of the statue of Sir Walter Raleigh, Brad explained what he was about to do and asked if she would get video instead.  As Karen smiled for a picture, Brad asked her to slide over a bit.  When she looked over at him, he was down on one knee with a diamond ring in his hand.  He’d run the entire race with it laced (securely!) inside of his shoe!  And after one of the most memorable races for either of them, he asked Karen to be his wife.

Karen… I can’t believe I’ve known you since you were 10 years old.  But it just makes it that much more exciting for me to capture this time in your life!  God has brought an amazing man to you and I am so thankful for the way he loves and cares for you and Jimmy.  I can not wait to capture your wedding in June!

We began at the river front in Columbia close to where they first met… where the restaurant Brad worked at used to be.

The scenery, the light, and especially their laughter was all perfect!

Oh my goodness, I love this one!!

And I know this one is similar but I loved it too…

All of my couples always ask me whether I will help them know what to do for the photos.  And my answer is yes, I’ll direct them and tell them how to pose.  But almost every time, there comes a point in the session where they get comfortable and just know what to do… and that’s when images like this happen.  And I love it!

You guys will also be proud of me… I didn’t hold it against them at all that they were wearing Gamecock colors :-)

Still a favorite!!

Another ones of those where they just got lost in each other… all I did was capture the moment.

We headed over to their church for some running photos on the track behind the building, but with the front lawn full of pumpkins, we had to get a few photos here first!