A couples first home. Those precious memories of painting and planting and planning and creating a life with the fuzzy four legged kids you’ve adopted together. I first met Jake and Leah right before their wedding in Botswana’s Okavango Delta last year (click here to view their previous shoot). Almost a year later I found myself in their home town of Dilley, Texas to shoot Leah’s brothers wedding. It’s hard to describe how quickly friends can turn into family, and how their home can become yours in a matter of moments. I think Jake and Leah may just be one of those exceptional couples, who know the precise way to open their doors so that you feel like you had always been inside (either that, or Southern Hospitality is WAY more powerful than any of us ever knew;). Whatever the reason though, this green door on a quiet street became the gateway to a familiarity that I miss every day I’m away from it. The only way I could think of to thank Jake, Leah, Pula and Little Bells for their warmth and kindness was to offer them a few portraits of this phase in their lives. A way to try and freeze time for them and for myself, and create a reminder of every wonderful feeling that this home fed into all of us. Jake and Leah, these pictures have taken me longer to edit than I’m proud to admit, but I know they’ll be received with the same love I’ve put into them. I hope they’ll be the happy new addition to the walls of your home that we planned them to be! I love and miss each one of you (mostly Bells – the rest of you can fight over second place;) and I hope before long, we can return the favour and welcome you two in Cape Town! Such love and hugs to you guys, Claire xxx